Welcome Archive

Winter is Over

The Board and staff of UnitingCare West would like to say thankyou to everyone who has generously donated to our Winter Appeal. Once again the Winter Appeal has been a huge success, raising funds to help those less fortunate through the colder months.

Every donation no matter how small counts! We provide support to hundreds of people in need every winter and we simply could not do this without your help. We are very grateful to the various groups who ran fundraising activities over the last few months in support of the Winter Appeal.

Above is a photo from the Boarder Sleepout arranged by Wesley College after the students decided they wanted to do something to assist people facing homelessness over the colder months. They raised $3,600 for the Winter Appeal.

From left Graham Lawson, Teacher at Wesley College, David Gee, Principal of Wesley College, Chris Hall, CEO of UnitingCare West and Mike Lans, Head of Board at Wesley College, pictured with Wesley College Boarders.

Annual Public Meeting attracts large crowd of supporters

UnitingCare West was delighted that over 100 supporters attended its third Annual Public Meeting on Tuesday 10 November.

Held at the Uniting Church in the city, the organisation was also extremely honoured to welcome the President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, Reverend Alistair Macrae, who was our guest speaker.

During the afternoon event, CEO Chris Hall and Chair of the Board, Wendie Wilkie, welcomed guests and there was an opening reflection provided by UnitingCare West’s Mission Development Leader Robert Watson.

During the meeting, Mr Hall outlined how UnitingCare West had helped to make a very real difference to the quality of the lives of around 30,000 West Australians during 2009.

“We currently provide over 30 community services and programs at 27 locations throughout the Perth metropolitan area, with some outreach into the south west region of the state,” Mr Hall said.

“Our services are crucial, they help people who are homeless, who are battling mental health issues or substance abuse, or who are in need of crisis assistance.”

During his speech, Mr Hall also acknowledged the commitment and passion shown by UnitingCare West’s staff members and volunteers throughout the year.

“I acknowledge with great pride the dedication and hard work of all our staff and volunteers at UnitingCare West,” he added

“As an organisation, we reflect on the last twelve months with much appreciation and we look to the next twelve months with a great deal of excitement.”

UnitingCare West Partners with Schools to Strengthen Service Learning

On the 4th of May 2009 the Honourable Robyn McSweeney MLC Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors & Volunteering; Women’s Interests launched UnitingCare West’s School Teacher’s Booklet at a function held at Penrhos College. The booklet is a resource designed to assist schools to work in partnership with UnitingCare West to strengthening Service Learning opportunities for students from kindergarten through to year 12.

UnitingCare West’s mission is to support, serve and empower those most in need.

As part of our work we are committed to advocacy on behalf of those we work with, taking a leading role in raising awareness about injustice and oppression in our community, and to taking action to influence social change.

“By working with schools to strengthen Service Learning we hope to create long term benefits for our community and for its vulnerable people, as the students move onto adulthood taking their social justice learning and values with them” said Wendie Wilkie, Chair of the UnitingCare West Board.

The development of the booklet was supported by the Sangora Education Foundation. It is currently being piloted with the Uniting Church Schools and may be distributed more widely in the future.

Pictured above: Chris Hall CEO UnitingCare West (left), Hon Robyn McSweeney MLC (centre) and Wendie Wilkie Chair of the UnitingCare West Board (right) pose with students from Penrhos and PLC.

UnitingCare West, announced as successful tenderer

Fran Tilley, Executive Manager Mental Health & Disability Services

UnitingCare West is extremely grateful to have been announced as a successful tender for the provision the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA) Personal Helpers and Mentors Program.

This program is part of the implementation of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health. The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program assists people with severe functional limitations resulting from a severe mental illness to manage their daily activities and access a range of community, social support, accommodation, health, welfare and employment services.

UnitingCare West has been granted a total of $3.6 million for 3 sites;

Clarkson / Upper North District,
Joondalup / Upper North District and
Scarborough / Lower North Metropolitan District.
UnitingCare West looks forward to working with people in this program.

Victorian Bushfires

The Victorian Bushfires have caused destruction and utter devastation for hundreds of people. UnitingCare have set up a Bushfire Disaster Appeal, please click here to make a donation. Nothing is too small, every little bit counts.

UnitingCare West Announced as WA charity for the Mirvac Foundation

From left: Chris Hall (CEO, UnitingCare West) & Evan Campbell (CEO, Mirvac)

Mirvac recently launched UnitingCare West as the inaugural WA charity for the Mirvac Foundation. This national Foundation brings alive Mirvac’s commitment to social responsibility through a company- matched staff giving program and employee volunteering.

The Foundation’s role through the generosity of Mirvac and its employees is to support the much needed community work that helps build a better future for countless Australians.

Mirvac has nominated Homelessness as its Foundation theme in 2008. UnitingCare West and Mirvac have a positive history of working together. Both organisations are therefore looking forward to the exciting opportunities created by the Mirvac Foundation.

Together we aim to complete three projects:

The renovation of a group home for homeless men who are preparing themselves to move to their own independent accommodation.
The creation of household tenancy kits for people who have a psychiatric disability.
The delivery of workshops to equip people experiencing homelessness with skills to better enable them to obtain housing and avoid eviction.

These projects have been specifically designed by UnitingCare West for the Mirvac Foundation in WA. They will enable Mirvac and its employees to directly and positively assist local people experiencing homelessness.

UnitingCare West extends its thanks to the Mirvac Foundation and Mirvac employees on behalf of our community and those experiencing homelessness for their compassion and commitment.

For further information or to find out more about business-community partnerships please contact Wendy Palmer, Business Development Manager on 9355 9113 or wendy.palmer@unitingcarewest.org.au.