Welcome
Welcome to the latest Connections E-News! In this edition you can read Bernada’s story and you can read more on the impact we are having in the community by taking a peek at our 2011 Annual Report which focuses on community engagement.
At this special time of the year, we are also asking you to make a connection with your community in need this Christmas. Please read the story on the Connections Christmas Food & Gift Appeal to find out how you can help or simply click here to go straight to the Appeal section of our website.
On behalf of everyone at Connections, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.
Above: Bernada
Bernada’s Story
Bernada, 52, came to Australia from Croatia at the age of 20 to live with her uncle.
Her partner when she first arrived in Australia verbally and physically abused her.
‘He used to beat me up, but you don’t have the (skills), if I could speak English and write or do something, I could go out and have a job, I could cook. It was funny, he was a charmer, he could dance, he could sing, he could do all that.’
Bernada, her husband and five children were evicted from their home and soon after Bernada and her husband separated.
In 2010, Bernada started receiving help from Connections Case Worker Sid who helped her at the time of the separation from her husband. He has been there for her throughout the journey providing court advocacy, housing application assistance and help to understand and fill out Centrelink forms as she struggled with English as her second language.
‘Having the worker around to build up my confidence and encourage me to do better for myself only helped when entering into a new phase of my life from being married for twenty years to a solo mother with five children.’
For Bernada, the greatest thing Sid provided was his ability to be there for her and to listen to her problems.
‘It was important to me to have a worker who is patient and able to meet the demands brought upon me by losing a marriage, being evicted from our home and then being homeless with my kids, very stressful and emotional time for me.’
Bernada now knows she has someone to turn to if things get tough, she is always welcome at Connections.
‘Despite all the trouble I am so appreciative to have met all those wonderful people at Connections and will encourage others to phone your service should they need similar help like me.’
YOU CAN HELP
You can support more members of the community like Bernada by becoming a Connections Community Partner. Your regular contribution to Connections can make a significant difference in the lives of people like Bernada.
Make a Connection This Christmas With Your Community in Need
Will you make a connection this Christmas with your community in need?
The Connections Christmas Food & Gift Appeal supports disadvantaged children, young people and their families who would otherwise struggle during the festive season.
In 2010 the appeal supplied over 3000 gifts and 500 large food hampers. Now in its 11th year, this appeal is our largest on record, with more families needing our help.
We cannot meet this demand without your support.
How can you support the Connections Christmas Food & Gift Appeal?
- Donate Food Today! We are in desperate need of non-perishable food items; such as rice, pasta, tuna, coffee, tea and festive treats i.e. mince tarts, chocolate and biscuits. Donations can be made direct to our Santa Cave at 31 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley or at any of our other offices. To find an office closest to you, click here.
- Donate Gifts Today! We require gifts suitable for newborns, infants and teenagers of both genders. Donations can be made direct to our Santa Cave at 31 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley or at any of our other offices. To find an office closest to you, click here.
- Donate Today! Make your tax deductible donation in support of people in need this Christmas. To make a donation today click here or Freecall 1800 137 036 and speak to someone in Community Relations.
- Buy a Connections Christmas Card featuring a unique design generously donated by world-renowned picture book creator Graeme Base with thanks to Penguin Group (Australia). To download your order form, click here.
Connections Active Across the Community
Connections is active in close to 40 programs and services from 11 bases right across the community. As a snapshot of some of the work we are doing please see some stories covered in local papers.
- Wage boost for community jobs, Dandenong Leader
- Grant gives mum a fresh way to keep postered, Maroondah Leader
- Connected message of poverty, Crosslight
- Casey resident's flood trauma hits home, Casey Weekly
- Casey residents fighting the stress of flooding worry, Casey Weekly
- More family violence orders, safety notices issued in Stonnington, Stonnington Leader
To read each of these stories click here. To find out how you can stay informed on media stories across the sector, see the Keep Up-To-Date story towards the end of this E-News.
We aim to keep you informed of our work and activities. To read the latest Connections News click here and to go on our mailing list to receive your copy in the mail click here.
Engaging the Community
The 2011 Connections UnitingCare Annual Report is out now with Community Engagement as a key theme for the report.
Inspiring stories of Bernada and Janeen who have been supported by Connections in a time of need play an important part in highlighting the achievements of Connections over the past year.
‘Connections’ support has helped me to find myself again and I seriously owe my life, and my children’s lives, to you,’ says Janeen in her story that maps her cry for help and the response that she received by her Connections Case Worker, Kathleen.
This Annual Report also recognises the inspiring stories that are part of Connections day-to-day work as well as the people that give so much of their time to support the organisation. We also publish an interview with one of our staff members, Rabia from Child FIRST and provide a range of new information as well as reports on the previous year.
‘I had heard that Connections was a very supportive organisation and that staff were treated well and I wanted to work in an organisation where I could have the opportunities to learn and grow professionally,’ Rabia, Child FIRST.
Connections maintains a strong financial position while continuing to meet client targets and service delivery commitments.
Sector Leadership
Connections’ Chief Executive Officer, Angela Forbes, has been elected as the President for the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, the peak body representing over 100 child and family service organisations in Victoria.
Ms Forbes is looking forward to the opportunity to promote the rights of children, young people and families and contribute to wider public debate on issues affecting the child and family services sector in Victoria.
'I look forward to the challenges ahead. It's an interesting time for our sector. The member organisations of the Centre for Excellence are the lifeblood of many communities across Victoria and their work deserves to be acknowledged and their voices heard,' Ms Forbes said.
To read our full statement click here.
Keep Up-To-Date
Keep up-to-date with news from the sector – we provide a free service to all subscribers of this E-News by providing media monitoring of sector stories in the media. Click on the link below and choose either Sector Stories of Connections Stories to see recent media stories.
Become a fan of Connections UnitingCare on facebook.
Follow Matt Clear, Manager, Community Relations on Twitter.
Check out images from our events and activities on Flickr
Watch videos about Connections on our YouTube channel
Work With Us
We have a special job listing and application section – you can see what’s available and apply online. Find out about your next job...
