Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau Inc

The President welcomed members to the first meeting at the start of another busy year for the bureau. The speaker was Michael Poulton, President of the CIVIC Committee of Management. Michael is a very experienced business man , who has successfully run several of his own enterprises, as well as giving advice and support to other organisations  in the disability sector , such as  sheltered work shops,  community health centres,  and other areas in the not for profit sector. CIVIC is the peak body of information services in Victoria and as such is the umbrella organisation under which the Maroondah Advice Bureau sits.

All, Not for Profit organisations which run on Volunteer help, are stretched for workers. Life style changes mean that as more mothers return to the work force younger people have little time for joining in voluntary work.

Michael came to CIVIC to help them with a strategic review. This partly consisted of restructuring the Committee of Management so that due diligence, safety  and governance is at the heart of the way they operate. These three areas must be of prime importance to all Committees of Management operating in the sector. Fiscal performance must also be watched.

It is a given that Committees of management must comprise of Volunteers but the help of experienced people from the community, who know how to find money through grants, and know how to grow the organisation, is also very necessary and important.

As the committee will be undergoing changes at the AGM in March Michael’s talk was very pertinent and well received. Afternoon tea was then served and enjoyed by all.

The speaker from’ Beyond Blue ’ being unavailable the afternoon took the form of an’ In House’ session, followd by afternoon tea.

The Ringwood office will be closing from 16 December 2011 and will re-open on 16 January 2012.

The Croydon  office will be closing on 21 December 2011 and will re-open on 16 January 2012.

As there are no hampers this year clients will be offered Christmas ‘goodies’ with their food parcels in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

From all at MCAB we wish you a Happy and safe Festive Season.

Although the numbers at the training session were lower than usual those attending were rewarded with a very enthusiastic and interesting talk  by Lisa from the Activate Church, which is situated in Melbourne Street just across  Civic Square from the Ringwood office.

The Activate Church is only three years old and is affiliated with  Australian Christian Churches. The aim of the Church is to work ,not only with those who go there with needs, but to work with other groups in the community who are also trying to break the poverty cycle. Their focus is on goodwill not “bible bashing”.

Once a month members of the congregation bring donations of  food which is passed on to MCABI and for which MCABI is very grateful.

Among the activities run by the four Pastors and helpers is the “Food at the Vault” meal available every second Friday evening between 6- 7.30 p.m. The two course meal is aimed at developing social interaction as well as just eating. To this end the evening may have a theme or music.

At the end of November an Op Shop  called “Stash at the Vault” is due to open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For one week each year the congregation goes out into the community to work on a project, such as creating a garden, and the Church collaborates with the police on the Council funded youth photograph program.

November training will be the last one for the year.

Kay from EACH (Eastern Acess Community Health) gave the meeting an explanation of the services of  EACH with particular reference to financial counselling. Unfortunately there is a considerable waiting list for help in this area  and as appointments are made in order of urgency some clients can wait up to several weeks for an appointment. However, reception staff at EACH are able to give clients simple advice over the phone during this waiting time

Kay gave the group information regarding a course which would provide  the participants with the skills to help our clients with budgeting matters.

MCABI is looking at becoming a part of this service with EACH providing back-up service.

Following a Committee of Management meeting it was agreed that six Volunteers from MCABI would do the course and space would be made available in the two offices for clients to attend appointments. When the system is in place, which will be in the next few months, clients of the bureau will be made aware of the availability of financial help.

The planned talk was changed but Chris and Melissa from Centrelink gave the Volunteers an interesting update of Centrelink business.

In a two week period 54,00 payments are made in the Ringwood area  covering pensions for sole parents, disabilities, family and the aged. With the change in the financial situation throughout the world more self-funded retirees are now eligible for Centrelink help. Access to services is generally available within a few days but some services have  waiting lists, particularly housing which may be 6-9 months.

Centrelink is open  between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through to Friday. Call centre open till 8 p.m.

A question and answer session followed then the usual welcome tea was enjoyed by all present.

This month’s speaker was Jeanine from Maroondah Halfway House an organisation providing crisis accommodation for those exposed to family violence. Referrals come locally or from across the state. Statistics show that one in three women experience family violence which can take several forms.  Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or financial. The service is available 24 hours a day seven days a week and is called the Statewide Domestic Violence Service. 

The service provides about 87,000 nights crisis accommodation per year. Most of the clients are women and 75% of those needing help are children.  The Service does not take referrals from the community but through agencies such as CAB, legal service and Centrelink.

The Service works with the Police who are often needed to support and help families to leave home when faced  with physical abuse. The family may need to leave urgently without clothing or belongings and the Service is grateful for donations of goods from groups such as Rotary and business to help initially with such simple items as new pillows, sheets and clothing.

The Eastern region of the service has developed a partnership with Centrelink during the last six months to see and interview clients  personally at home as many women have a reluctance, and feel there is a stigma attached, in attending a Crisis centre. The scheme is called “Safe at Home”

Previously, crisis accommodation consisted of a house where up to four families shared the facilities. Now, through partnerships with transitional, community housing and also some private agencies, more families are able to have their own living areas.

Assessment of help is determined around level of family risk although demand may outstrip availability. For example the Australian Childhood Foundation has long waiting lists for child counselling.  Access to court networkers and interpreters is available when needed.

It is generally felt that the level of domestic violence has not increased significantly, as there has always been a degree of violence in some relationships but the community is more aware of it, there is more reporting of it and there is more focus on available help.

Some information kits will be available in the CAB offices soon.

Unfortunately, due to winter coughs and colds and the school holidays the numbers at the training were well down but those attending heard a most detailed and informative talk.

The speaker from the Halfway House was unable to give us a talk this month and it has been re-scheduled for July.

So the meeting  was “Just about Us”, an informal afternoon with questions and answers and problem solving. As usual afternoon tea followed.

18 Volunteers and members were given  a very good insight into the work that EACH does with clients in financial stress.  Hayley, a Financial Counsellor from EACH told us of the sudden and unexpected changes to family finances which can occur when  faced with a crisis situation such as retrenchment, eviction or break down of marriage.

EACH’s financial counselling is available and free to low income earners and Centrelink recipients living or working in Maroondah, Knox, Healesville, Yarra Junction and surrounding areas. Clients are encouraged to call the service direct to assess the degree of urgency in attending to their problem. 

 Problems such as gambling, or  mental issues due to stress where perhaps the loss of property may be a real possibility are usually seen in 2-3 weeks while less immediate problems may need to wait for 2-3 months.

The financial counsellors at EACH are not financial advisors just as in CAB only options and help is given. Help may take the  form of advocacy with an energy or other utility provider, or with the banks. It may take the form of legal help with services such as Ombudsmen, or referrals to Legal Aid.

The problems facing clients come from various sources such as expensive contracts with mobile phones, contracts where reasonable repayment arrangements are not in place or hardship due to “churning” forced on vulnerable people by door to door sales people.

To access Each and for further information contact  9871 1800.

Head office      46, Warrandyte Road, Ringwood 3134

                             03 9870 4688     03 9871 1800

                             info@each.com.au each.com.au

Next month we will have a talk about  Halfway House

The 43rd. AGM of the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau Inc. was held in the Ringwood Room on Friday 1st. April. It was well attended by over 40 members and guests. Among the guests was our local member of the Federal Parliament David Hodgett, and  Councillors Anne Fraser and Alex Makin. Other guests included representatives from support bodies in the area.

After the presentaton of the formal business and election of office bearers  the gathering was entertained by a very interesting and informative talk by Monika Critchley on her work as a Court Network Volunteer.

Afternoon tea prepared by the Committee was then served.