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It is with great pleasure that we invite you to read the stories of the people featured in this year’s Annual Report: stories of small and big victories, great commitment and enormous dedication from our Staff, Board Members, Partners and Supporters. For over 30 years, we have been supporting migrants and refugees reach their full potential in Australia. Read between the lines and see whether there is any way in which you or your Organisation could be part of our journey.
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Spectrum12/13Migrant Resource Centre
Annual Report
Contents
03
04
06
07
08
09
10
16
18
24
26
28
29
30
31
About Spectrum
Our Mission
Our History
Chair’s Report
CEO’s Report
The year at a glance
Our 2013-16 Strategic Plan
Settlement and Family Services
Training and Education
Aged and Disability
Services
Our People
Our Board
Our Supporters
Get involved with Spectrum
2012-13 Financial Statement
Other Disclosures
Contact us
2Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
For more than 30 years, the Spectrum Migrant Resource
Centre has supported generations of migrants and
refugees to successfully settle and reach their full
potential in Australia.
Our aim is to build more inclusive communities by
working with our clients to build the skills, competencies
and abilities they need to participate fully in Australian
society.
We do this by providing a range of innovative and
holistic services to newly arrived and established
migrants: from settlement and family services to
education and vocational training, and assisting older
migrants and those with a disability to participate in
an active and independent life at home and in their
communities.
We also advocate on behalf of migrant communities,
bringing their voices to Governments and non-
Government organisations to help inform and shape
policy and service delivery.
Spectrum operates in Melbourne’s North and
West metropolitan region, an area with a rich history
of cultural diversity. Today, the North and West region
is one of the most culturally diverse in Australia.
About SpectrumMigrant Resource Centre
Our MissionOur mission is to work with migrants and refugees to help them successfullysettle and participate in all aspects of community life.
We do this by:
❚ Influencing society to build more inclusive
communities;
❚ Delivering culturally appropriate and responsive
settlement and family services;
❚ Empowering communities to identify and address
settlement challenges;
❚ Providing culturally-tailored, hands-on and
job-focused training that will lead to employment
pathways; and
❚ Assisting ageing migrants and people with a
disability to participate in life at home and in
the community.
2012-2013 Annual Report 3
4Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Our History
PrestonReservoir
Migrant Resource Centre(MRC) established.
1980
PrestonReservoir
MRC becomes NorthEastern Region MRC.
1993PrestonReservoir
MRC is incorporated.
1984
The organisation
moves to Preston.
1995
Spectrum’s Sunshineoffice is officially
launched to service migrantcommunities in the West.
Real People. Real Solutions. presenting the real life experiencesof five migrants and practicalsolutions to real problems, is launched.
2011Spectrum’s CEO,Rosemary Kelada,
is one of the 2012 TelstraVictorian Business Women’sfinalists in the Communityand Government AwardCategory.
The innovative Il Luogod’Incontro program forItalians with dementia islaunched.
2012A 40m mural is painted on
the side of Spectrum’sSunshine office by a
group of seven youngBrimbank people, as part of the B-creativeStreet Art mural project by City ofBrimbank
to engage youth through
street art.
2013
Launch of the documentary You Can Do. I Can Do. showcasing
Spectrum’s innovative multicultural anddisability care approach.
The Creative Cultures Exhibition opens in Melbourne, showcasing the work ofmigrant artists, among them painter Abdul Hamid Abdullah, finalist in the 2011 Archibald Prize.
Spectrum Education &Training (SET) is awardedthe 2010 Hume CityCouncil Business Awards for Most InnovativeProvider of Education &Training Programs and the2010 Victorian Small TrainingProvider of the Year Award.
2010
2012-2013 Annual Report 5
Former Spectrumemployee and Board
Member, Dr. AbdirahamanMohamed Farole, becomesPresident of the Somali Regionof Puntland.
Spectrum celebrates its 25th anniversary at Government House.
2009
MulticulturalHome Support
Service is established toprovide home and communitycare for the growing ageingpopulation.
1998Parentingin a New
Culture program islaunched.
2002
SkillFill isestablished to
support skilled migrantswho were falling throughthe employment system.
Awarded a Job Networkemployment programcontract.
2006
The Ethnic Youth Council is
established to give youngrefugees the platform to voiceand action issues important to them. North Eastern RegionMRC becomes SpectrumMigrant Resource Centre.
Spectrum ImmigrationServices (SIS) is launched toassist those who don’t qualifyfor free legal advice.
Spectrum Education andTraining (SET) is established.
2007
Parenting in a New
Culture programextended to newlyarrived Liberian, SierraLeonean, Congolese and Burundiancommunities.
2008
I was delighted to be appointed as Chair of the Spectrum
Board in December 2012, replacing outgoing Chair Sarah
Hayton, and I’m pleased to say that my first six months have
been busy and fulfilling.
Being an election year, we have seen
a number of key policy changes that
have affected our sector and have
prompted us to review our service
offerings and strengthen the capacity
of our business to succeed in a
changing environment.
There has been ongoing public debate surrounding the way
in which individuals and families enter the country, with
key policy changes introduced by the Federal Government
affecting those seeking asylum in Australia. In response,
the Spectrum Board took the strategic decision to expand
our services to deliver much needed support to these
vulnerable people.
Spectrum continues to have an important presence in the aged
care and disability services sectors. With Australia’s ageing
population and the creation of the Federal Government’s
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), delivered
through Disability Care Australia, demand for services in these
areas will continue to increase. This is another growth area
for Spectrum, and in response we have been working hard
to improve our governance and capabilities in our Aged and
Disability Unit.
We are now one year into our 2012-16 Strategic Plan. Under
the leadership of CEO Rosemary Kelada, the team has made
considerable progress over the last 12 months against each
of our seven Key Performance Indicators.
The Spectrum management team has taken steps to improve
the way the organisation operates and to strengthen their
ability to deliver quality service and support to migrant
communities by ensuring compliance with key regulations
governing the sector. This is absolutely vital: without it,
Spectrum’s ability to access essential funding is severely
diminished.
To facilitate this work, the Board approved several key
management appointments this financial year.
In March, Howard Morey joined the executive team in the
newly created position of Chief Financial Officer, charged
with improving Spectrum’s financial management and
reporting capabilities. Diana Mottram was appointed to
another new executive role, General Manager People and
Organisation Capability, in December, to guide the creation
of a highly skilled and engaged workforce that is supported
to deliver innovative services where they are most needed.
Robyn Shilton also joined us in January as General Manager
of our Registered Training Organisation. The Board has a
sub-committee working with Robyn to develop a stronger
compliance approach to the Spectrum Education and
Training work to ensure we meet all the compliance
expectations and responsibilities.
Lastly, the Board also approved the position of Policy and
Research Manager. This new role will focus on improving
the way in which Spectrum advocates on behalf of the
communities we serve and influencing policy regarding
service delivery to meet the needs of migrant communities.
The year has also seen a number of changes to our Board.
We have welcomed two new Board members: Hayley
Underwood and Georgia Prattis. Collectively, their
contribution to the Board reflects a shift in our focus
towards greater accountability and financial strength.
We were also delighted to have Gabriel Edwards back
on the Spectrum Board after a term of absence.
During the year, we also farewelled Durkhanai Ayubi,
Lyndal Turner Guy and Sonia Vignjevic. On behalf of
the Board, I would like to thank each of them for their
contribution.
Importantly, I would like to thank my predecessor Sarah
Hayton. Sarah had served on the Spectrum Board since
2006, and was appointed Chair in 2012. In recent times,
Sarah led the Board through the process of developing our
2012-16 Strategic Plan, which will see Spectrum become a
more disciplined, focused and effective organisation for the
benefit of all our stakeholders. I would personally like to
thank Sarah for her contribution to Spectrum and on behalf
of the Board, I’d like to wish her all the best in her future
endeavours.
Finally, I would like to recognise the fantastic work
of our CEO Rosemary Kelada and the Spectrum team
throughout the year. Their passion and dedication to
improving the lives of migrants in Australia is truly
inspiring.
Anthea Green
Chair’s Report
6Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
2012-2013 Annual Report 7
Australia really is the lucky country. As you read the stories of the people featured in
this year’s Annual Report, it is abundantly clear that
the work we do at Spectrum
has a profound impact in
helping migrants settle and
reach their full potential.
Whether it’s helping reunite
families, connecting people to
essential services, or simply
providing a sympathetic ear,
Spectrum provides people with
the support, tools and guidance they need to make the
most of their new lives in Australia.
Spectrum is in the fortunate position of operating
across a number of key growth sectors: migrant
settlement, aged and disability care, education and
employment.
This past year has been all about strengthening the
capacity of our employees and our organisation so
that we can continue to lend a strong voice and a
supportive hand to migrants and refugees. Ensuring
our compliance with the numerous regulations
governing our sector has been a key area of focus,
essential to assuring our ability to secure funding
into the future.
We have also consolidated the number of services we
offer, allowing us to focus on building our capability
to deliver in the areas where services are most needed.
We are well established in Settlement and Aged Care,
where we have a reputation for delivering innovative
and culturally appropriate services. We want to
leverage this reputation to further develop our
existing services into areas such as Family Services
and Disability Care.
In recognition of the need to support families on
the specific issues they face during their settlement
journey, we have recently appointed a team leader
and are now proactively looking for opportunities to
partner with other organisations to deliver high quality
services to migrant and refugee families.
With the introduction of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS), more Australians are able
to access disability support services. However, for
migrants – particularly newly arrived migrants –
awareness of these services and the ability to navigate
the system is very limited. With our bilingual care
workers, Spectrum is in a unique position to help
connect migrants and refugees with disabilities with
mainstream support and services.
Another key area of focus has been advocacy. Our
ability to advocate for migrants and refugees in these
key growth areas is absolutely essential to our ongoing
success. We have taken steps to further build on our
capability in this area by creating a new Policy and
Research Manager position, dedicated to further
developing our advocacy capability. We have also
expanded the capacity of the Research and Evaluation
Officer position to support this important work.
The wider-reaching unit focused on people and
organisational capability, and the grant writing
position has been aligned alongside the business
operations reach.
From an employee perspective, we have also invested
in developing the professional skills of our people,
supporting them to gain accreditation in the provision
of migration advice and guidance and training and
assessment services. We have also worked to ensure
ongoing accreditation for our Multicultural Home
Support Service (MHSS) workers. More broadly, we
have had an organisation-wide focus on occupational
health and safety and on embedding a culture of
continuous improvement. We’ve also worked to build
management and leadership skills.
Together, these changes allow us to focus on
delivering high quality, sustainable growth that
responds to the changing environment and the
needs of migrant communities.
Of course, none of this would have been possible
without the support of our Board, our partners,
and the incredible efforts of our employees and
volunteers. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing
support and commitment.
Rosemary Kelada
CEO’s Report
8Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
The year at a glance
12,209arrived onhumanitarianvisas
48,519arrived onfamily visas
55,685arrived onskilled workingvisas
Over the period July 2012 to June 2013, Australia welcomed 137,185 people from diversecultures and nationalities.
Of those entering Australia on humanitarian visasin that period, the top ten countries of birth were:
Spectrum operates within the North and West metropolitan suburbs of Melbourne, a rich melting potof cultures. It is one of the most culturally diverse regions in Australia.The North and West metropolitan region has a higher number of migrants who entered Australia on humanitarian visasthan the Victorian average:
Of those entering Australia on family visas in that period, the top ten countries of birth were:
➊Iraq
Afghanistan➋
❸Burma
➍Iran
Pakistan➎
Bhutan➏➐Nepal
➊People’s Republic of China
➋India
➓Sri Lanka➑Sri Lanka
➌Philippines
➒Indonesia
➓Malaysia
➍Vietnam➏Thailand
United Kingdom➎
➐United States of America
➑Pakistan➒Egypt
Source: DIAC Settlement Reporting Facility
Source: DIAC - 2012 Local government area profiles North and West Metropolitan Region.
15.1%of new arrivals in the North and West metropolitan regionentered Australia onhumanitarian visas
compared to 12.3%for Victoria overall.
35.4%of residents were bornoverseas compared to
27.7% of residents in Victoria overall
29.8%were born in a non-Englishspeaking country compared to
20.9% for Victoria overall
37.8%speak a language otherthan English at home
compared to 24.2%for Victoria overall
15.1%have low levels of proficiencyin English compared to
3.1% for Victoria overall
2012-2013 Annual Report 9
Our 2013-16 Strategic Plan
Settlement and Family Services
Settlement support
A migrant’s first days in Australia are crucial to
ensuring they settle successfully. As part of the
Humanitarian Settlement Services program (HSS),
a Spectrum case manager is assigned to people arriving
in Australia on a humanitarian visa. The case manager
provides early practical support to new settlers.
The case manager’s work begins before the client
arrives in Australia, ensuring that there is someone
at the airport to greet the new arrivals and take them
to their accommodation.
Once they arrive, Spectrum’s case manager visits
the client to discuss their short term needs and helps
connect them to all the services they require, from
finding appropriate housing to applying for a tax file
number, registering with Centrelink, accessing dental
care and if necessary, enrolling children in school.
Spectrum helped more than 500 people to settle in
Australia as part of the HSS program in the past
year in partnership with AMES.
Casework picks up from where the HSS program
leaves off. Through casework, Spectrum provides
clients with ongoing support for up to five years.
This might include support in finding employment,
connecting to family counselling services or legal
services.
When casework can’t provide direct assistance, clients
are referred to another Spectrum service or externally
to other organisations. Spectrum assisted more than
1600 new migrants in the last year through casework.
For clients with exceptional needs, we provide
Complex Case Management. This is specialised and
intensive support offered to people who have special
needs that make the settlement process more difficult.
These can include homelessness, chronic medical
conditions, disability, mental health issues, family
conflict or domestic violence.
Our case managers work with clients to build their
skills and reduce isolation, provide education and
encourage participation in the broader community.
The program emphasises people’s own strengths
and is tailored to meet each client’s individual needs.
Throughout the year, we provided Complex Case
Management to 20 clients, some of whom were
family groups. Four of these cases arose out of crisis
interventions, and these clients were provided with
immediate assistance. While two of the 20 clients
were offered crisis intervention support for a two-week
period, the rest required intensive case management
for up to six months.
When people are settling into their new life in
Australia, there is a lot of information to take in.
We take every opportunity to reinforce information
clients hear in those early days. One way is through
our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
This program is delivered in partnership with the
Northern AMEP, a consortium operating specifically
in northern Melbourne. While clients are learning
to understand and speak English, they are offered
orientation sessions in their community language. The
topics covered in the information sessions are similar
to those provided to individuals through casework and
Starting a new life in a new country can be stressful at the best of times, but when you don’t speak the language or are unfamiliar with local customs even the simplest tasks are difficult. This is the case for the majority of our clients.
Then there are those clients who have much more complex needs. Those enteringthe country on humanitarian visas often require more specialised support.
Our Settlement and Family Services unit aims to help new migrants and refugeesdevelop the skills and knowledge and provide support to begin to build their livesas part of the Australian community.
10Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Sometimes our case workers notice an issue that is appearing consistentlyacross a particular migrant group and step in to provide assistance.
This was the case with the newly arrived Chin community. Case workers noticedthat the men were having difficulty completing their Centrelink paperworkand consequently were missing their payments.
Spectrum’s Settlement and Family Services worked with Centrelink to run an information session for the Chin community. Centrelink’sCommunity Liaison Officer explained how the forms needed to becompleted and provided other helpful information such as thedanger and consequences of undertaking “cash in hand” work.
Settlement and Family Services ran just under 100 informationsessions like this, on a variety of topics, for almost 2000 clients throughout the year.
aim to provide migrants with practical skills
to settle in by reminding them of the services
and systems available in Australia. Spectrum
delivered five bilingual courses such as these
throughout the year, helping 125 students.
Reuniting families is one of the most important
aspects of our Settlement services. Our
registered migration agents provide many
migrants with advice in bringing their families
over to Australia.
To assist in this, last year Spectrum was able
to offer the microfinance initiative No Interest
Loan Scheme (NILS) to partially fund the visa
application fee. NILS is intended for newly
arrived families who are settling in Australia. The
funding is provided through Good Shepherd and
the National Australia Bank and allocated by
authorised organisations, such as Spectrum.
People can borrow up to $1,000. Spectrum’s
Settlement & Family Services issued 65 No
Interest Loans to the total of $33,564 in 2012-13,
with nine of those loans being used to fund visa
applications.
2012-2013 Annual Report 11
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Empowering migrant communities
The Refugee Action Program (RAP) is an initiative
of the Office for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
Based on an innovative community development
model, RAP identifies local solutions to address local
issues, working in partnership with service providers
and refugee communities.
Spectrum MRC is one of the key providers for the
North West area along with the Brotherhood of
St Laurence’s Ecumenical Migration Centre.
In the last year, RAP ran a range of activities including:
• supporting community members with job
applications;
• facilitating community information sessions to
junior doctors and allied professionals to ensure
they have basic knowledge/skills to deliver health
workshops to RAP groups;
• referring community members to parenting sessions
and to family service support and counselling
programs; and
• providing referrals to leadership courses.
Groups consulted through RAP include the Kurdish
Women’s Group, the Bhutanese Community, the
Turkmen Community, the Somali Communities
(Somali Action Group, Somali Association of Victoria,
Somali Youth Organisation), the Oromo Association &
Oromo Women’s Group, the Asylum Seeker Group and
Whittlesea Community Connections.
To celebrate Refugee Week 2013, RAP
produced a series of stories told by
individuals who are passionate about their
communities.
Driving skills are key to helping many refugees and
newly arrived migrants settle successfully in Australia.
Being able to drive not only increases the opportunities
for employment, it also means being able to go
shopping or to take children to school, sport and social
activities with ease. We often take this for granted, but
for someone recently relocated, being able to drive
could represent the key to a successful settlement
outcome.
Drive to Thrive is a driving program specifically
designed for newly arrived refugees. Participants are
assigned a buddy from a pool of volunteers, who
provide driving lessons. Drive to Thrive is funded
jointly by the Department of Immigration and
Citizenship and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Ongoing Settlement support Once migrants have settled in to life in Australia – finding a home, enrollingchildren in school, gaining employment - their support needs change. The focusshifts to helping them to live within societal and cultural norms and participatefully in their relationships with each other and the wider Australian community.
Spectrum runs a range of programs that work to empower migrant communitiesby giving them the support, skills and tools they need.
Two years after arriving in Australia with her husbandand young daughter after escaping Iran, a mother
was finally reunited with her 17 year old son with the help ofSpectrum’s migration agents.
A Faili Kurd, the mother arrived in Australia by boat in 2011with her family and was granted an 866 Protection visa.However, her son remained behind, having escaped fromIran to Turkey due to concerns about his own personalsafety and security.
Without her son, the mother had become anxious anddepressed, making her transition to a new life in Australia all the more difficult.
Eager to be reunited with their son, the family came toSpectrum seeking assistance to bring him to Australia. They were seen by one of our migration agents, whoworked with the family through the visa application process.
In July 2013, a Child visa was granted for their son andSpectrum worked with the family to organise his travelfrom Turkey to Australia. The boy arrived in Australia and was united with his family in Melbourne.
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12Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Twelve newly arrived migrants participated in the
Drive to Thrive program last year. The majority of
these were under the age of 35 and were pursuing a
driving license to help them gain employment. For
almost all participants, the program provided their sole
avenue of support in learning to drive. Happily, most of
the 12 participants obtained their license and just under
a third secured employment as a result.
Supporting strong and healthyfamily relationships
One of the most difficult aspects of resettling in a
new country is adjusting to different sets of laws and
cultural norms governing family relationships. While
parenting is never an easy job, doing it in a context
where cultural and social values can be very different
from those from the country of origin can add a new
level of difficulty to the task.
Spectrum’s Parenting in a New Culture program
engages community leaders and provides hands-on
assistance to strengthen and support parents in
developing positive parenting skills. Almost 380
parents from the Burundi, Sierra Leonean, Liberian
and Congolese communities took part in the program
over the last year.
The discrepancy in cultural and social values between
Australia and the country of origin is also one of the
issues underlining relationship conflicts in migrant
families. Spectrum’s Healthy Relationships in a New
Culture program promotes change in attitudes and
behaviour among communities from diverse
backgrounds in relation to violence against women.
The program is designed to meet the specific needs
of different cultural groups. Focus groups are held to
understand the issues and the information gathered is
used to develop a tailored training package.
Community representatives are then invited to attend four
training sessions to become Community Ambassadors
and, in turn, commit to deliver three information sessions
in their community and present a theatre forum, developed
in collaboration with an artistic director. Almost 300
members of the Indian and South Sudanese communities
attended one of 36 theatre forums in the last year, and a
further 11 community presentations were held. The
program has since been extended to the Somali and Iraqi
(Arabic and Kurdish speaking) communities based in
metropolitan Melbourne.
The Men’s Family Relationship Support Program
offers Iraqi, Sudanese, Kurdish, Somali and the Arabic
speaking Kurdish and Sudanese men a forum where
they can meet and discuss common issues related to
family relationships. The program is structured through
information sessions that cover topics such as family
relationships, parenting in the new culture, inter-
generational conflict, family breakdown, youth issues,
and family system transformation.
During the 2012-2013 financial year, 57 community
education sessions were run and a further 106 social
support sessions were held to enhance social
connectedness and strengthen networks.
2012-2013 Annual Report 13
Supporting migrant children to thrive in Australia
Adolescence is difficult at the best of times, but is all the
more difficult for young people settling in a new country.
Working in partnership with local councils, English
language schools, local schools, service providers and
TAFE colleges, Spectrum offers a range of programs
designed to help young people aged 12 to 25 from
migrant and refugee backgrounds thrive in Australia.
Sport has a prominent place in Australian culture.
Participating in sport can help young migrants and their
families to better connect to their local communities.
Through our Sports and School Holiday Programs,
young people are given the opportunity to socialise
and make friends while receiving mentoring support.
For youth from newly arrived communities, the Sports
and School Holiday Programs represent often the first
contact with organised sport.
The programs stretch young people beyond the physical
demands of the sport: they learn the importance of
arriving on time for a training session, how to use public
transport to reach the sporting facilities and to interact
with people from different faiths and cultures.
The Sports and School Holiday Programs, supported by
the Victoria Police and Local Governments, include
sport tournaments, summer camps, weekly soccer,
volleyball and basketball sessions as well as visits to
swimming pool, camps, attending sports events and
social outings.
From the many years in which we have been involved
with migrant and refugee communities, two issues
consistently emerge: a desire to have a voice and the
need for ethnic-youth friendly social activities.
Spectrum’s Ethnic Youth Council (EYC) consists of
young people aged 15 to 25 years who are passionate
about becoming leaders in their communities. The
members of the EYC meet regularly and represent their
peers in addressing issues faced by young Australians,
particularly those from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Every year the EYC plays an active part in the
celebration of Harmony Day with specific youth events.
Other activities undertaken on a regular basis by the
EYC include an annual Youth Leadership Camp and
activities during Refugee Week.
Supporting those who cannotaccess subsidised services
Spectrum established fee-charging immigration services
in 2007 to provide a valid alternative for those migrants
who, for a number of reasons, are not eligible for any
kind of free support, and to support those coming to
Australia on skilled migrant visas.
In the 2012-13 financial year, 281 clients sought our fee-
charging immigration advice. More than half came from
Africa and the Middle East, with a further 18%
coming from Asia.
14Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Homework is another aspect of life that presents
challenges for young people and their parents.
Although often fluent in many languages, migrants
may not arrive in Australia with a good knowledge
of English. Other issues, such as lack of access to
schooling in the country of origin or disrupted
education due
to conflict and war, make it particularly difficult for
parents to support their children with the homework
and to take active role in school activities.
Run entirely by volunteers, the Homework Support
Program offers students weekly support with their
homework and where needed, language, literacy and
numeracy skills. In 2012 the program expanded to
include a parent support program, offering literacy,
numeracy and computer skills so that parents can
better support their children while becoming active
members of their school communities.
Over the last year, the program supported 146 students
from schools in the Melbourne’s North through the
commitment of 50 volunteer tutors. The average
participation was about 55 students from primary
and secondary classes for every session.
Participants in the parent support program reported that
they were able to use the extra time they have available
while waiting for their children in the homework club to
“get help sending emails, learning typing, catching up
on the news and learning to use the computer”. They
were able to use these skills to communicate with family
and friends as well.
Highlights of the past year include five of our Year
12 students being accepted into university, one parent
becoming a member of their children’s School Council,
and two former students returning to the Homework
Support Program as tutors.
To celebrate Refugee Week 2013, EYC created and screened ‘Stories of the World’ a short film about the refugeeexperience of young refugees who came to Australia from Bhutan, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. The film explores the implications of being a refugee in Australia today. The youth featured in Stories of the World live in the Hume areasof Broadmeadows, Meadow Heights, Lalor and Glenroy. According to the 2011 Census, Hume is an area of increasingmulticulturalism, with 32% of the Hume population born overseas, a 25% increase compared to the 2006 data.
One of the stories presented in the ‘Stories of the World’ film is that of Khangendra Acharya.
Khangendra was two years old when his parents, forced to leave Bhutan becauseof their ethnic and religious background, took whatever they could carry andfled. He and his four year old sister were carried on their parents’ backsas they crossed a vast rainforest to reach security before settling in arefugee camp in Nepal. It is there that Khangendra was going tospend the following twenty years of his life, with no health oreducational facilities, amidst overcrowding, substance abuseand general lack of infrastructure.
Khangentra’s parent’s application as humanitarian refugeeswas eventually accepted and Khangendra and his familyarrived in Australia three years ago.
Coming to Australia after spending his entire life in a refugeecamp was a huge cultural shock for Khangendra, but he isnow a confident young man who just completed his year 12VCE and is studying to become a nurse, his dream being togain more professional skills to help and support otherrefugees. The involvement with Spectrum’s EYCprogram has given Khangendra the opportunity to learn important leadership skills that he is now using to support his community.
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2012-2013 Annual Report 15
Training and Education
Every student arrives at SET with a different story:
young adults who dropped out from mainstream high
schools, parents who return to work after having been
away from the workforce for many years, older people
who, for different reasons, are seeking to re-enter the
job market and feel inadequate to do so.
We strive to ensure that every student has a positive
experience, that everyone is treated with respect
and honoured for the experience that
he or she brings to the learning
environment. Our courses are
delivered through a
combination of intensive
classroom activity and
a supportive training
team to give each
student the
foundation to enter
their practical
placement with
confidence.
We are proud of the
number of SET
graduates who find
ongoing employment
with the practical
placement host employer.
All of our courses are designed
to help participants find sustainable
employment. In the 2012-2013 year we
focused our training programs on industry areas
where there is a great demand for workers: children’s
services, services for the aged and services for people
with disabilities. SET delivered Certificate III in
Children’s Services, Diploma in Children’s Services,
Certificate III in Aged Care, Certificate III in Home
and Community Care, and Certificate IV in Disability
in response to industry and community demand.
A significant number of our students also gained the
Certificate II in General Education for Adults, a course
to develop literacy, numeracy and education skills
while preparing the students to participate in further
study and employment. Certificate II in General
Education provides support for those returning to
the classroom after a break.
All of our accredited courses have a practical placement
component where students get the opportunity
to put into practice the theory that they
have learned in class.
Today’s workers are increasingly
expected to have qualifications
and high level knowledge
of regulations pertaining to
specialised industries. Our
students are among the
thousands of Australians
who are striving to
improve their chance of
securing sustainable and
satisfying work.
SET students tend to be from
areas of low education and
high unemployment. For
example, a large number of our
students come from the Hume local
government area, where education
levels are significantly lower than the
average for the greater Melbourne area, and
where almost 7% of the population is unemployed.
The Future Pathways program was funded by the
Australian Government Department of Human
Services under the better Futures Local Solutions
initiative and is specifically aimed at Hume residents.
Forty students attended the program with 33
successfully completing their training in either
Certificate III in Children’s Services or Certificate III
in Aged Care. Nineteen of the Future Pathways
graduates went onto further study or employment
immediately after course completion.
One of the ways in which we support our communities to reach their full potential is by providing training services specifically designed to address the needs of thecommunities while achieving sustainable employment outcomes.
Since 2008, the Registered Training Organisation, Spectrum Education and Training(SET), has provided opportunities that are industry recognised and that can lead to jobs in areas of high demand.
16Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Leyla came to SET after many years away from study. She was in her forties with older adolescent children
and English is not her mother tongue. Leyla was eager to gain training that would lead to a rewarding
career. Leyla graduated in 2012 and is now working in an Aged Care Facility.
“I came with my family to Australia from Turkey when I was 16 but
I had never worked or studied before. When I enrolled at SET I wasn’t
even able to fill in the application form. I was sitting there and I was
shaking, almost crying. I was telling to myself: Leyla, what are you
doing here? You can’t do this, you are not smart enough, your English
is not good enough. But then I knew that I needed to try, so I wrote
my name and asked the trainer to give me a chance, that I couldn’t
fill in the application form but I knew I could do the course.
During the course I learnt so many things: not just the subjects we
studied but life experience. It was hard. Now sometimes it’s difficult
for me to believe how much I have achieved. I look at myself
and I think, where did this Leyla come from? Has she always been
inside me? Every time I go to work I am so happy and proud. For me it
doesn’t feel like a job, it feels more like going to a party and every day
I work I meet my friend, and we talk and laugh and we share stories.
I feel so happy and blessed with my work.
I have become a different person.”
ʻ ʻ
2012-2013 Annual Report 17
459 1329
60%female
588
Certificates awarded with many students continuing their studies into the new financial year
Students received training delivered by SET, together with other partner training organisations
More than 60% of students described themselves as unemployed seeking full-time work and had achieved a year 12 education or lower
Our students were predominantly female
Students came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, including 588 Australian-bornData refer to the 2012-2013 financial year
People are generally happier in their own homes.
In recognition of this, our Multicultural Home
Support Service (MHSS) provides in-home assistance
to elderly and migrants with a disability, helping them
to live socially active and independent lives.
We understand how important it is for the elderly and
for people with a disability in particular to be able to
express themselves in their own language and interact
with others who understand their culture. For this
reason, we employ people who know the language
and culture of the person in their care.
Our MHSS support workers prepare meals, do
chores around the house, help with personal care and
grooming, and accompany their clients to appointments,
providing practical support that makes a real difference
in the person’s ability to remain independent for a
longer time.
Perhaps most importantly, our MHSS support workers
offer companionship; someone with whom their client
can exchange small talk, read the newspaper, laugh at
an old joke or simply hold hands while reminiscing
about the past.
The team also support the primary carers, providing
much needed respite and time away from their
responsibilities.
The program operates across Melbourne’s North and
West metropolitan region. In the North, we tend to
have clients from Italian, Macedonian, Greek, Arabic
and Turkish backgrounds, while in the West clients
are more likely to be Croatian, Spanish-speakers,
Macedonian and Vietnamese. There are also a number
of new and emerging communities in the West who
are beginning to require aged care support such as
communities from India and Burma.
Starting a new life in another country presents different challenges for differentage groups. For the elderly and people with a disability, migrating to Australia canoften bring isolation due to poor English language skills, the absence of familiarnetworks and, for the aged in particular, a change in the status accorded to eldersin their land of birth.
Spectrum’s Aged and Disability Services works to overcome these challenges,assisting older migrants, people with a disability and their carers so they can fullyparticipate in life at home and their community, helping them reach their full potentialas active members of society.
All our Aged and Disability programs are tailored to the specific cultural needs of theclients, bringing the solace of having the support of someone who knows the cultureand speaks the same language.
Aged and Disability Services
Predominantly: Italian, Greek,Vietnamese, Macedonian, Spanish,Latin American, Turkish, Mandarin,Maltese, Cantonese, Arabic,Croatian, Tagalog (Filipino).
18Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Providing opportunities to socialise outside of the home
is an important part of helping to minimise loneliness and
social isolation often felt by the elderly. Spectrum runs a
number of programs to help improve the quality of life
for our elderly clients and support them to maintain the
skills needed for everyday living.
Our Planned Activity Groups (PAG) provide
opportunities for members of specific migrant communities
to come together once a week at a community centre to
enjoy group activities such as basic English classes,
gentle exercise, information sessions on topics of
interest and culturally-specific activities.
Outings to art galleries and museums, and celebrations of
culturally relevant anniversaries, are also organised. In
the last year, clients visited the Botanical Garden, the
Immigration Museum, Parliament House, Werribee
Mansion, Melbourne Aquarium, Puffing Billy and
Ballarat Mansion, among other places.
We run two PAG programs:
• PAG High, for frail, older people aged over 65 who
live in Darebin, Whittlesea, Banyule, and Moreland.
In the last year, 78 clients from Italian, Polish and
Macedonian communities took part in the PAG
High program.
• PAG Core for people over 55 who are socially
isolated and disadvantaged who live in Darebin,
Whittlesea, Banyule, Moreland and Hume. Over the
last year, 63 Macedonian and 220 Chinese clients,
as well as clients from new and emerging
communities, represented by 15 Somali, 15 Sri
Lankan, 20 Assyrian Chaldean, 22 Punjabi and
22 Bhutanese clients.
Both PAG programs are funded by Home and Community
Care (HACC) through the Department of Health.
Ishtar*, an older Iranian woman, was referred to Spectrum’s Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged(ACHA) to help her apply for public housing. Ishtar, who lived with her husband and their 26 old daughter,initially claimed she needed housing that provided her with her own bedroom as her husband snored veryloudly at night.
However, as she came to trust her Spectrum ACHA worker, she revealed that she had in fact been a silentvictim of domestic violence, something she had never been able to discuss before, not even with her familydoctor. The first action was to refer Ishtar to a female Persian speaking doctor and to put her in contact with InTouch, a centre specialising in supporting women of migrant backgrounds who experience domestic violence.
During her next contact with us, Ishtar revealed that her husband and daughter had left, leaving her unable tocover the expenses for her rental accommodation. Facing eviction, Ishtar needed help to obtain transitionalhousing and to split her public housing application from that of her husband and her daughter.
When Ishtar left her house, we helped her find a place to store her furniture. After a period of ‘couch-surfing’between different houses, we were able to help Ishtar to secure transitional housing, although more practicalsupport was needed when she was asked to remove the furniture she had stored with her friends.
Ishtar also required legal support to initiate divorce proceedings against her husband and to obtain an intervention order. She also needed help applying for a Centrelink pension.
During this time, the Spectrum ACHA worker was at her side, providing emotional and practical support,advocating for her and linking her to the appropriate services. Today, Ishtar lives independently and happily in her public housing and with further support she has mended the relationship with her daughter, who now visits her regularly. *not her real name
ʻ ʻ
2012-2013 Annual Report 19
Photo
by A
lzheim
er’s Australia V
IC
20Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
The same philosophy behind these programs underpins
the activities offered at Spectrum’s respite centres: the
Clifton Respite Cottage and the Whittlesea Respite
Centre.
Our respite centres provide onsite respite seven days
per week to frail, older migrants with employed carers
or carers wanting to return to the workforce.
The service helps the carer to balance their employment
with their caring role.
The respite centres are seen as a home away from
home by participants and incorporate bilingual staff,
culturally appropriate activities, home-style ethnic
meals prepared on site by cooks and transport to and
from home.
In the past financial year the Clifton Respite Cottage
has offered respite opportunities to 105 clients from
the Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese and Macedonian
communities for a total of 20,597 hours. The newly
opened Whittlesea Respite Centre caters for 33 clients
from the Filipino and Chinese communities.
Spectrum also provides respite to carers of migrants
through our National Respite for Carers Program
(NRCP). The NRCP is designed to support and assist
Primary Carers of people who are unable to care for
themselves because of frailty or disability.
The NRCP offers up to four hours a week of respite to
carers of frail aged people from migrant and refugee
backgrounds. We consult with both care recipients and
carers to develop an individual plan which is then
carried out by our support workers that share the same
cultural and linguistic background as the clients. The
program is offered in the Northern Region of Yarra,
Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Banyule, Whittlesea and
Nillumbik. The NRCP is funded by the Department
of Health and Ageing.
In the past financial year we have assisted 84 carers,
with the majority of clients coming from Italian, Greek,
English, Macedonian and Vietnamese backgrounds.
Between 2006 and 2011, the rate of homelessness
in Australia has risen 8%, according to the 2011
Census. Taking into account the increase in population
that occurred between the two censuses, the actual
number of homeless people has increased by 17%.
Homelessness is not a choice and often arises as a
consequence of domestic violence, unemployment,
mental illness, family breakdown and substance abuse.
Homelessness is one of the main causes of disadvantage
and social exclusion.
The Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged
(ACHA) program was created to support older people
to secure or maintain housing and care in order to
effectively live in the community. The program is
designed to support those who are frail, on a low income,
in insecure rental housing or homeless, and who are from
a migrant background. Clients receive assistance and
support with care and housing and where appropriate,
are linked to existing community care services.
ACHA is funded federally by the Department of Health
and Ageing for people who live in Whittlesea, Darebin,
Banyule and Yarra and is offered by Spectrum to
Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mauritian,
Somali, Sudanese, Filipino, Indian, Egyptian, Macedonian,
Iranian, Afghanistan, Iraq, Maltese, Greek and Sir Lankan
communities.
In the last year, Spectrum offered direct support to 135
older clients and to an additional 38 people who were
dependants or cohabiting with older migrants eligible
for the service.
Social isolation, financial disadvantage, lack of
knowledge and confidence can impact older people
or migrants with a disability from accessing services.
New and emerging communities.
Photo by Alzheimer’s Australia VIC
2012-2013 Annual Report 21
For those eligible for Home and Community Care
(HACC) support, Spectrum offers additional support
through the Access and Support program. In the last
year, our bilingual support workers provided 568 hours
of direct client support, visiting clients in their homes,
assessing their needs and referring them internally to
other services provided by Spectrum or, where required,
referring them to external services. The Access and
Support worker also takes on an advocacy role as the
worker is sometimes the clients’ only voice.
The Access and Support program is funded by the
Department of Health and is offered by Spectrum in
the north and inner west areas of Melbourne.
Well before the digital era, social clubs gave migrant communities the opportunity to socialise in the new countryand build much needed networks.
The Northern Federation of Ethnic Senior Citizens was created by Spectrum in 1998 to give the representatives ofethnic social clubs located in the North East a forum to meet monthly to discuss issues of interest, shareexperiences and learn from each other.
Executive representatives from 72 ethnic social clubs representing around 3000 members from the Italian, Greek,Vietnamese, Maltese, Filipino, Macedonian, Spanish, Mauritian, Indian and East African communities meet monthlyat Spectrum to discuss common concerns, suggest new ways in which Spectrum can support them and also tolearn important living skills. The Federation represents another way in which we fulfill our vision of supportinggenerations of migrants and refugees reaching their full potential.
The calendar of topics presented monthly are discussed and agreed on with Spectrum’s Federation Coordinatorwho facilitates the meetings and sources relevant guest speakers and materials to support the discussion. Topicspresented in the past year include computer training, assistance to fill in forms to apply for grants and communityeducation. One highlight was the delivery of a first aid training session (organised with VicHealth funding) to show club leaders basic first aid techniques, a valuable skill to support members in emergency situations.
This program receives funding from Home and Community Care (HACC) Program while the grant to run the sessions is provided by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).
ʻ ʻ
New and emerging communities
Migrating communities change over time. Established
communities are those which have been present in
Australia for some time, and have developed strong
networks and are generally well integrated within the
general population.
For those in new and emerging communities such as
the Bhutanese, the Chin and the Sudanese, that support
network is not available and is exacerbated by poor
English language skills and a lack of awareness and
links to existing services and systems. These elements
can all contribute to a sense of isolation and can
translate in real disadvantage, preventing communities
from realising their potential.
Spectrum’s Small and Emerging Communities
programs are designed to provide information and
support, raising awareness of existing aged care
services so that the communities can fully take
advantage of those services.
There are different streams of funding available to
support small and emerging communities. One of these
is provided by the Department of Health and Ageing
(DOHA) under the Aged Care Service Improvement
and Healthy Ageing Grants Project (ACSIHAG).
Through ACSIHAG, Spectrum is supporting the
Bhutanese, Iranian, Burmese (Chin), Punjabi and
Sudanese communities living in the cities of Hume,
Moreland, Yarra, Brimbank and Moonee Valley. In
the past year, we have worked with more than 80
representatives of each community, helping them
connect to mainstream services in the aged care,
health, education and transport systems.
Another program designed specifically for these
groups is the Small & Emerging Communities
(SEEC) program. Similar to the Planned Activity
Groups, this program is funded by the Department of
Health (with the Bhutanese activity group funded by
the Aged Persons Welfare Foundation) and is offered
to those aged over 55 in Darebin, Whittlesea, Banyule,
Moreland and Hume and who are experiencing social
isolation. Around 80 clients have participated in onsite
activities and social outings throughout the year,
covering the Assyrian, Punjabi, Sri Lankan, Somali
and Bhutanese communities.
Funding specific, innovative programs using mainstream sources can be difficult, especially when the programstake an approach that is different from existing services and therefore present only
preliminary anecdotal evidence. But innovation is at the earth of Spectrum’svision and when our efforts are recognised (in 2007 with the Award for
Innovation and Excellence in Primary Health for MHSS and in 2010 in the Hume City Council Business Awards for Most Innovative Provider
of Education & Training Programs), we know that we are on theright path.
Our Il Luogo d’Incontro (The Meeting Place) is one such program.Made possible by a generous donation from a Northcotebusinessman, Il Luogo d’Incontro is a program for elderly Italianswith moderate to high levels of dementia. Over the last year, tenItalian men and women have been meeting weekly. Time spenttogether reduces social isolation, alleviates depression and
improves self-esteem.
They occupy themselves with familiar activities, such as preparinghomemade pasta, bottling olives, repairing tools or visiting the local
hardware store. The sessions are always accompanied by a deliciousmeal prepared by Italian cooks.
The program gives us the opportunity to offer a specialised and tailored service to a community which is still underrepresented
when accessing services.
ʻ ʻ
22Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Supporting peoplewith disabilities
Spectrum offers a number of
services to address the specific
needs of those with a disability
and their carers within migrant
communities.
People from migrant backgrounds are underrepresented
when it comes to using available services to help those
with disabilities to live a more comfortable and active life.
Our 200 bilingual support workers together speak more
than 50 languages, allowing us to match the clients
according to interest and personality as well as language
and culture.
We provide in-home support to facilitate access to services
in the local community, as well running activities such as
cooking groups, swimming at the local pool, or taking
part in social games nights. Sports also plays an important
part with regular visits to games during the AFL season.
Over the last year, we provided more than 13,500
hours of service to 66 clients with a diverse range
of backgrounds and disabilities, including autism,
intellectual and physical disability, Down syndrome,
hearing and vision impairments, cerebral palsy, acquired
brain injury, bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis,
neurological disorders and epilepsy.
The aim is to inspire our clients to find a way to pursue
their passions and interests while maintaining a healthy
lifestyle and learning new skills. We help clients and their
families to identify new possibilities and support their
independence, making sure they are always safe.
Special interest groups
Spectrum runs a number of innovative programs that
provide older people from migrant communities an
opportunity to socialise and form bonds with others
in the community.
Cultural Connections – Gardening across the Seasons
started as a pilot in 2011, bringing together students from
Parade College, the Sacred Heart Church Presbytery and
three groups of nine people with low level dementia from
the Filipino, Macedonian and Vietnamese communities.
Sacred Heart Church donated a part of their courtyard,
and over the course of the last two years, the older people
and the students have collaborated to create a village-
style community garden planted with herbs, vegetables
and fruits.
The benefits are mutual. The students gain an
understanding of dementia, while the weekly
activity provides the older migrants with an
opportunity to reminisce about the past while
engaging in something that is familiar and
meaningful.
Cultural Connections - Gardening Across the Seasons
is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.
Similar to The Cultural Connections, the Preston
Market Project is based on an innovative care approach
that offers culturally appropriate activities to the clients,
while providing respite to their carers. The project is as
simple as its name and involves taking three carers and
their care recipients on weekly outings to the Preston
Market for a two hour period. Our support worker stays
with the clients while their carers are able to do their
weekly shopping.
If we were to single out one element able to bring
generations of people together and to overcome
geographical, historical and cultural divides, that
would be music!
We have recognised this with the creation of the
Spectrum Multicultural Choir in 2006. The choir
brings together more than 50 participants from Assyrian,
Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese backgrounds. Their
average age is 60 and their oldest member, aged 85,
still sings loud and clear.
The choir meets monthly to rehearse a repertoire that
includes traditional songs in several languages, church
hymns as well as pop tunes. Last year, the choir undertook
six performances, including an appearance at the Darebin
Arts and Entertainment centre for the HACC Dementia
Alliance Expo.
2012-2013 Annual Report 23
24Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Our multicultural home support service strives to ensure
that, not only do we provide clients with support workers
who speak the same language as them; we go that extra
mile to try and match the regional dialect as well.
As a result, ours is a truly global workforce. Our 406
employees represent 63 different nationalities - from
Albania to Zimbabwe and everything in between –
and speak 45 different languages.
Our frontline employees are employed across a broad
range of disciplines including drivers, cooks, activity
group leaders, program coordinators, case managers,
aged and disability care respite workers, trainers,
teachers, receptionists, admin support workers,
migration agents, project officers.
They are supported by a team of professionals providing
services in HR, Finance, IT, Communications &
Marketing, Grants and Tenders applications, Policy &
Research, Business Development support and Quality
& Compliance.
Many of our employees either began as volunteers
with Spectrum and subsequently transitioned into paid
employment or joined us as recent migrants looking to
establish themselves in their first job in Australia.
In line with our 2013-16 strategic plan, Spectrum has
made a significant investment in its senior executive
team. Two new posts have been created - Chief Financial
Officer and General Manager, People and Organisation
Capability - and we have appointed a new General
Manager to our Registered Training Organisation.
These new appointments, together with our existing
management team, will ensure we have the skills and
expertise needed to take the organisation forward.
We are committed to providing our staff with the
tools, skills and knowledge that they need to deliver
exceptional services to our clients. To this end we have
supported individual employees to gain accreditation
in the following disciplines:
• Occupational Health & Safety;
• Migration advice and guidance;
• Training and assessment; and
• Leadership and management.
In addition, we have also commenced work on
reviewing and improving our IT infrastructure and
business systems and processes to make it easier for
our people to provide an even higher standard of
quality services to our clients.
Spectrum is proud of its unique approach in ensuring that our employee profilereflects the diverse client base that we serve.
Our People
The one element that unites our staff and makes them stand out is the passion they put into their work.We do our best to provide quality, personal support to each of our clients and, in return, our clients giveus the joy of witnessing the positive impact our work has on their lives.
Joanne Muscat had been a stay-at-home mum for 12 years, caring for her two children, one of whom is autistic. Three years ago, she joined Spectrum as a MHSS support worker working with the aged and people with disability in the Maltese community. And she hasn’t looked back.
“Working at Spectrum has given me the confidence to get out into the world and to earn a living, and to do this by doing what I had always wanted to do: working with the elderly.
I enjoy meeting every single client and every time I am assigned someone I have not met before, I look forward to getting to know their story, because every person has a story to tell, something that makes them special. But what really makes me smile with joy, is the time spent helping my clients with the personal care, indulging inthe vanity of choosing together an outfit or grooming the hair before attending anappointment. The look of incredulity in their eyes when they see themselves
in the mirror, this is for me the best satisfaction.”
ʻ ʻ
On 18 March 2013 at the Great Hall, Parliament House in Canberra and in the company of high profilefigures such as the then Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, CEO AustraliaPost CEO Ahmed Fahour and AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, one of our long standing employees BogdanaPoljak was recognised for her contribution to the migrant communities.
Bogdana was a finalist for Case Worker of the Year, as part of the 2013 Migration and Settlement Awards.
The Awards recognise the work of organisations and individuals that assist new migrants and refugees to settle, to feel included and to fully participate in life in Australia.
While Bogdana didn’t win that night, all of us at Spectrum were immensely proud to see the dedication andloyalty that she has shown to her clients over the years recognised in such a respected and high profile forum.
Bogdana was not alone in being recognised for her contribution. A number of other Spectrum employees were also nominated for awards: Dragica Arbutina was nominated for Case Worker of the Year, Essan Dileri and Samuel Sakama were nominated for an Innovative Settlement Program Award for the HomeworkSupport Group. There are many people in Australia today whose life has been enriched by the service all of our people provide. Our clients are truly fortunate to have the support of people like Bogdana, Dragica, Essan and Samuel during their settlement journey in Australia. We are proud of every one of you.
ʻ ʻ2012-2013 Annual Report 25
26Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Anthea Green – ChairpersonWith more than 25 years’ experience as a CEO in the health
and disability sectors and over 13
years’ experience on Boards, as
well as extensive experience in
government negotiations and funding
of social service policies, Anthea
Green brings a wealth of knowledge
to Spectrum.
“When I was approached by
Spectrum to join their Board as
Chairperson, I was very enthusiastic. I believe Spectrum to be
a very significant, respected and established organisation and
I was – and still am – attracted to the kind of work they do.
“I am impressed by the very strong sense of purpose and
mission Spectrum staff and my fellow Board Directors
demonstrate in their work.
“The sector is quite complicated when it comes to Policy
agendas and funding models. I’d like for Spectrum to grow its
revenue base and be a significant contributor to the services
delivered to the migrants and refugees who seek help and
assistance. I would also like to see Spectrum be a significant
voice and advocate on behalf of the clients it services.”
Tam Pham – Vice ChairpersonTam Pham is the Senior IT Manager for Cricket Australia. He
has more than 17 years’ experience in
working with leaders, executives and
committees locally and abroad on all
operational, strategic governance
aspects of IT.
“With my background in technology,
I want to help shape Spectrum’s
technology and future as it continues
to evolve with communities’ demand
and services. Technology influences the way we choose to be
informed but more importantly, it helps remove physical
barriers and distance and therefore facilitates social inclusion.
“As a former refugee who settled to Australia in the mid-80s, I
am attracted to Spectrum’s vision, strategy, purpose and values.
“Being part of Spectrum’s Board, it is important to strike the right
balance between all the things that we’d like to do and the limited
resources available, choosing what is best for our communities
and focusing on the quality of the services delivered.”
Sumith Perera - TreasurerSumith Perera is the Chief Operating Officer at Hall &
Wilcox Lawyers. He is a Chartered
Accountant with a broad commercial
background having worked in many
industries directly or in a consulting
capacity. This is Sumith’s second
stint on the Spectrum Board.
“My background in a commercial
environment has helped me
understand the challenges of a not-
for-profit organisation, including ensuring the decisions the
Board takes drive sustainable outcomes so that Spectrum can
continue to be a real voice and opinion leader for migrants
and asylum seekers.
“I have a strong affinity with helping others to achieve and
enjoy success in Australia. As a migrant myself, I can relate
to and understand the challenges faced by people who arrive
in Australia with little more than their personal capabilities,
ambition and drive.”
Gabriel Edwards - SecretaryA former corporate and public sector executive with
more than 20 years’ experience in
organisational development and
corporate affairs, Gabriel Edwards
is Managing Director of Engaging
People and is a highly sought after
executive advisor, coach, counsellor,
public speaker and facilitator for
Boards, CEOs and executives.
“The sectors that Spectrum operates
within are experiencing considerable change. As a Board
Member, I’m committed to providing genuine leadership and
support for the CEO and her team during this time.
“I grew up in a very large family with parents committed to
the values of diversity, equal opportunity and social justice.
Despite their own financial disadvantage, they were
committed to supporting and speaking up for people less
fortunate than themselves. This has been a theme throughout
my life and career.
“I love Spectrum’s focus on community engagement and
empowering its clients to reach their full potential. I couldn’t
think of a more satisfying way to volunteer my time and
expertise than to support Spectrum and I’m continually
humbled by the skills and dedication demonstrated by
Spectrum employees.”
Our Board
2012-2013 Annual Report 27
Georgia PrattisGeorgia Prattis is a senior partner at Myriad Consultants,
specialising in access and equity
related research and evaluation,
organisational change programs
and strategic planning. She
possesses extensive policy reform
experience in the field of diversity,
and has worked across the public
sector in a range of federal, state
and local government bodies,
NGOs and with communities
from immigrant and refugee backgrounds.
“As the child of post-war migrants to Australia, I understand
first-hand the many challenges that confront vulnerable
communities in navigating unfamiliar and sometimes
complex environments. It’s for this reason that I’m personally
committed to supporting any efforts that help our migrant
communities to achieve their full potential.
“I believe that the Spectrum Education and Training function
offers a plethora of opportunities for harnessing the cultural
capital that exists in the community. With extensive experience
in the management of Registered Training Organisations and
compliance and adult education and training, I am excited
about exploring potential innovations in this area.”
Gerri ChristieGerri is a former corporate and company executive with
more than 20 years’ experience in
managing private and not-for-profit
companies including six years as
the CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor
Service in Victoria. She has
extensive experience in the areas
of advancement and development
of organisations, particularly
those in the not-for-profit sector.
“I’m proud of being part of an organisation that changes
people’s lives and proud of the passion with which the team
at Spectrum work to give migrants and refugees the very best
start in their new lives in Australia.
“I hope that my contribution will one day support the
establishment of a foundation. There are only a certain
number of initiatives that can be covered through Government
funding, and there are so many ideas and projects we could
implement that would be really beneficial for our migrant
communities.”
Hayley Underwood (appointed June 2013)
Hayley Underwood is a Partner of
Moore Stephens accounting firm.
She is a Chartered Accountant and
Registered Company auditor with
particular expertise in the education
and not-for-profit sectors.
“Working as a finance professional, I
realise the impact the global financial
and economic crisis has had on many
people all over the world and the knock-on effect this has had
on social injustice and integration.
“Spectrum has a long standing history of providing settlement
services for migrants and refugees and I see this work as a
major contribution towards correcting the social justice
imbalance.
“I use my accounting experience to assist Spectrum’s Board
make informed and effective decisions with all their financial
resources. Having a strong financial base means that
Spectrum can continue to grow and offer an even broader
range of services to help our clients successfully settle in
Australia and be involved all aspects of community life.”
28Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
Federal Government
Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace
Relations
Department of Families, Housing,
Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs
Department of Health and Ageing
Department of Human Services
Department of Immigration and
Citizenship
Victorian State Government
Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development
Department of Health
Department of Human Services
Office for Youth
Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Citizenship
Victorian Multicultural Commission
Philanthropic and Corporate
Supporters
Aged Persons Welfare Foundation
Australian Unity Foundation
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
LUCRF Community Partnership Trust
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Newsboys Foundation
Optus
RACV Community Foundation
The Ian Potter Foundation
Local Government,
Community and Consortium
Partners
Alzheimer’s Australia VIC
AMES HSS Consortium
Banyule City Council
Banyule Community Health
Broadmeadows Family
Relationship Centre
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Cameo Memorials
CarerLinks North
City of Yarra
City of Whittlesea
Darebin City Council
Hume City Council
Drive National Training
Epping Secondary College
Good Shepherd Microfinance
Good Shepherd Youth and Family
Service
Greensborough Family
Relationship Centre
Helping Hoops
La Trobe University
Merri Community Health Services
Metropolitan Fire Brigade
Northern Melbourne Institute of
TAFE (NMIT)
Northern AMEP Consortium
Parade College
Relationships Australia
Rotary Club of Melbourne
The Salvation Army
The Water Well Project
VICSEG New Futures
Whittlesea Community Connections
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Spectrum
Volunteers
Xiaohua Di
Adam Curry
Ahmed Hafsa
Albert Yew
Alice Reed
Alison Weedon
Anna Buchanan
Anna Giannone
Annette Reeves
Athena Rogers
Bai Ying Kong
Barb Taylor
Bawi Phun Kul
Bawi Zahrin
Ben Barett
Ben Fulton
Celeste Fouache
Chris Stabb
Cinzia Curini
Claire Fraser
Clare Lord
Dadhi Ram Adhikari
Danny Ablahad
Deborah Thomas
Dilan Celtin
Dorothy Sofa
Eloise Molan
Elysia Annetell
Emil Altoe
Emily Wyckoff
Erin Oliver
Fiona Harney
Francesco Faraci
Gabriel Mabior
Gale English
GiannaTardio
Grace Olaka
Graham Young
Grazia Guerrisi
Gretta Jones
Haley Sageman
Hany Hoang Tran
Hugo Holliday
Isaiah Muchoki
James Lord
Janice Kho
Jill Thompson
Jo Allan
John Pinniger
Joo-Cheong Tham
Josif Janeski
Juana Pascuzzi
Julian Lowndes
Julian Rex
Julin Lee
Ka Kin Ko
Kara Miller
Kate Jackson
Kim Pickburn
Koula Bouras
Kristy Taylor
Larissa Curcio
Le Hanh
Lincoln Hoye
Lory Trimboli
Luz Lastimosa
Madeleine McCormack
Madeline Colquhoun
Mairead McGowen
Mairead O'Sullivan
Maria Franco
Mary Bolitho
Mary Giordano
Mary Militsis
Matthew Lorenzon
Merna Hijazi
Michael Finger
Mohammad Shoghian
Mohsen Zamani
My Khanh Kha
Nasim Marquis
Natasha Burns
Nessim Morcos
Nicholas Metherall
Nick Manuelpillai
Nirliah Ishadi
Norina Hamada
Norma McGregor
Oliver Ku
Rachel Lee
Raheleh Abdian
Reema Dadwal
Reza Mohseni
Rosalba Houghtoh
Roshni Chhetri
Said Rhora
Saliah Siryon
Sally O'Keefe
Saloney Shah
Sarah Jane Blunt
Sharni Burgess
Shemiran Khananishoo
Simon Winkler
Sonja Rolevska
Stephen Tran
Sunil Rao
Tamara Preuss
Tatyana Ristevska
Tegan Perry
Toby Burrows
Tom Cobban
Trevor Jones
Uma Rani
Jagan Mohan
Van Thanh Tran
Yanoula Fouras
The work we do at Spectrum would not be possible if not for the funding we receivefrom Federal and State Governments and our philanthropic and corporate supporters;the partnerships we form with Local Governments and consortium partners; and theefforts of our wonderful volunteers.
On behalf of Melbourne’s migrant and refugee communities in the North and West, wewould like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our supporters for theirincredible contributions throughout 2012-13.
Our Supporters
2012-2013 Annual Report 29
Do you want to support our work with migrant and refugee communities? There are many ways in which you can get involved.
DonateWe are also open to receive
philanthropic donations,
linking them to specific
projects that you want to
support. Contact us on
(03) 9496 0200.
ConverseAnother way to get involved is by joining the conversation and spreading the word about
the work we do to supportmigrant communities.Follow us on social
media.
Collaborate We believe in the power of
collaboration and are always open toopportunities to support or partner withothers to deliver value to our migrant
communities. It can be as simple as sharingexisting networks or working together tohelp connect our clients to your services.If while reading this Annual Report you
identify an opportunity to worktogether, contact us on
(03) 9496 0200.
VolunteerYou can volunteer your time
and expertise to assist in the delivery of our services. Volunteering provides you with an opportunity to offer skills
and expertise for the benefit of others. Forexample, an accountant could assist a newly
formed community group to prepare a financialreport, or a teacher could offer to teach Englishto people who cannot access English classes.
If you are interested in offering yourservices, contact our volunteer
coordinator atvolunteering@spectrumvic
.org.au.
Join inYou can join in one of the many
great events we run throughout theyear such as the annual Let the
Cultures Unite dinner for women orthe celebration of the Indian and theMacedonian independence days. Just
keep an eye on our website andsocial media for the full
calendar of events.
30Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre
2012 -13 Financial Statement
Revenue Total
Federal 30%
Other 23%
State 47%
Revenue by Service
Aged Services 53%
Settlement 24%
Training 20%
Other 3%
Expenditure
Aged Services 45%
Settlement 20%
Training 16%
Other 19%
New funding grants for 2012-13 20 successful grant and tender submissions. This
resulted in $1,094,044 in new funding to support the
provision of new and existing programs, including:
$237,500 From the Office of Multicultural Affairs
and Citizenship to fund the Refugee
Action Program over 2½ years.
$200,000 From the Department of Health and
Ageing to fund the Spectrum Respite
Centre over 15 months.
$150,000 From the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations
to fund Groupwise over six months.
$91,818 From the Local Solutions Fund,
Department of Human Services to fund
Future Pathways over 12 months.
$45,909 From the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations
to fund the Supported Work Placement
Project over three months.
$40,236 Additional funding from the
Department of Immigration and
Citizenship to fund the Settlement
Grants Program over 12 months.
$35,667 In recurrent funding from the
Department of Health to fund the
Planned Activity Group – Banyule.
$24,350 From the Australian Unity Foundation
to fund Il Luogo d’Incontro (The
Meeting Place) over 12 months.
$9,019 From the RACV Community
Foundation to fund the Drive to Thrive
program over 12 months.
2012-2013 Annual Report 31
The Carers Recognition Act 2012 promotes and values
the role of people in care relationships and formally
recognises the contribution that carers and people in
care relationships make to the social and economic
fabric of the Victorian community. Spectrum has taken
all practicable measures to comply with its obligations
under the Act.
Spectrum has promoted the principles of the Act to
people in care relationships who receive our services and
to the wider community by distributing printed material
about the Act at community events or service points.
We have also taken all practicable measures to ensure
our employees are aware of and understand the care
relationship principles set out in the Act. Spectrum
developed and implemented an employee awareness
strategy about the principles of the Act and what they
mean for employees, which included distributing
printed material about the Act at employee meetings
and discussing the implications for carers we provide
services to.
Lastly, Spectrum has taken all practicable measures to
consider the carer relationships principles set out in the
Act when setting policies and providing services by
reviewing our employment policies such as flexible
working arrangements and leave provisions to ensure
that these comply with the statement of principles in
the Act.
Other Disclosures
Spectrum MRC Preston Office
251 High Street
Preston 3072
Tel.: (03) 9496 0200
Fax: (03) 9484 7942
Email: preston@spectrumvic.org.au
Spectrum MRC Sunshine Office
161 Harvester Road
Sunshine 3020
Tel.: (03) 9300 8600
Fax: (03) 9300 8650
Email: sunshine@spectrumvic.org.au
Spectrum MRC Broadmeadows Office
1/1100 Pascoe Vale Road
Broadmeadows 3047
Tel.: (03) 9301 7400
Fax: (03) 9302 4048
Email: broadmeadows@spectrumvic.org.au
Spectrum Education & Training (SET)
61 Riggall Street
Dallas 3047
Tel.: (03) 9301 0400
Fax: (03) 9302 4048
Email: dallas@spectrumvic.org.au
Clifton Respite Cottage
Multicultural respite for carers
7 Clifton Grove
Preston 3072
Tel.: (03) 9480 2877
Email: info@spectrumvic.org.au
Website
www.spectrumvic.org.au
Contact Us
Social Media
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/SpectrumVIC
Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SpectrumMRC
Find us on LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/in/SpectrumMRC
Watch us on YouTube www.youtube.com/SpectrumVIC
Listen to us on SoundCloudwww.soundcloud.com/SpectrumMRC
www.spectrumvic.org.au
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