NNC 2009 - 2010 Annual Report - Newtown Neighbourhood Centre

TABLE OF CONTENTS2009 - 2010 Newtown Neighbourhood CentreAnnual Report5.6.8.10.12.13.14.16.19.21.22.24.26.27.30.32.33.34.37.38.39.49.What We Believe and What We DoBoard of Management ReportExecutive Officer’s ReportNewtown Neighbourhood Centre StaffNewtown Neighbourhood Centre VolunteersAdministration ReportPrograms Manager’s ReportFront Counter StatisticsCommunity Development ReportHousing Outreach ReportMulticultural Neighbour Aid: Communities from GreeceMulticultural Neighbour Aid: Communities from Former YugoslaviaShopping Service ReportBoarding House Project ReportNewtown Festival ReportAdvocacyInteragencies ListCommunications ReportCommunity EducationFinancial ReportNNC Annual Report for the Year Ended 2010Notes

PG 5WHAT WE BELIEVEAND WHAT WE DOOur VisionA just community that includes and acts.Statement of PurposeThe Newtown Neighbourhood Centre supports people throughcommunity action and provision of services to address theirneeds focusing on the disadvantaged and the vulnerablemembers in the community.What We Do At NewtownNeighbourhood Centre Inc.NNC is an Incorporated Association providing communityservices in the Inner West of Sydney.We offer services to the aged, people with disabilities, peoplewith mental illness, people from culturally and linguisticallydiverse backgrounds and people on low incomes.We give information and advice on community and publicservices, emergency accommodation, aged services, councilservices, children’s services and a variety of other support services.We also provide a community space to support different socialand political groups and activities.------------------Services ProvidedPractical support and companionship to the frail, elderly orpeople with a disability to enable them to continue to live athome and remain active in their communities.Door-to-door shopping, multicultural neighbour aid, socialand gentle exercise groups and other assistance such asmeals and transport.Support and assistance for people who have a disability andlive and participate in activities and services in the widercommunity.Practical support and information, travel and skills training,social support, financial assistance to attend activities (whererequired).Social support and practical assistance to the frail aged,people with disabilities and those otherwise disadvantaged,who are living in insecure accommodation, such as boardingand lodging type premises.Assistance or services to enhance the independence, orimprove the quality of life of frail elderly from both Greekcommunities and communities from former Yugoslavia.Information and referral services to all members of thepublic to enable utilisation of available community andpublic services, emergency accommodation, financialassistance, meals and other services.Other assistance or services to enhance independence orimprove quality of life of members of the public who areaged, infirm, living with physical or intellectual disabilities,with a mental illness, or who are on low incomes.Provision of an affordable meeting place.

PG 8 PG 9EXECUTIVE OFFICER’SREPORTI would also like to pay tribute tothis community for the support theyhave always shown to the NewtownNeighbourhood Centre.ServicesThe Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has experienced anextremely successful and productive year.A highlight is our weekly Essential Services Hub, in whichservices like Housing NSW, Centrelink, Inner West TenantsService, Neami and lawyers all attend to jointly run an outreachservice at the Centre. This is an invaluable service where peopleare able to solve a wide variety of issues and get the assistancethey need, all under one roof. This service has been madepossible by the commitment and support of our partners, and wethank them for their dedication to this project.Again, we have increased the services we offer to the communityand, with the assistance of volunteers, we have been able tointroduce the following: Career Counselling, Arabic and EnglishSpeaking Classes, and Mediation. We also now run an additionalfortnightly Aged Care Service to the Communities from theformer Yugoslavia.All of these services have been introduced without any extra funding.Mental HealthWe have continued work advocating for range of issues thataffect our local community. One in five people will experience amental illness at some stage in their lives.This year, NNC received funding from the Mental HealthCoordinating Council to develop a report sourcing theopinions of people with mental health problems regarding theircommunity support needs. These opinions have built on ourknowledge base and understanding of local requirements; andwill be used to shape our strategies to better meet these needsinto the future.As part of this project, we also developed our first educationalDVD / You Tube media, entitled “Building Resilience and WellBeing in our Community”, which was launched during ourMental Health Week event.Community SubmissionsNewtown Neighbourhood Centre has contributed towardsMarrickville Council’s Affordable Housing Strategy andthe NSW State Plan. Newtown Neighbourhood Centre alsoparticipated in the campaign to appropriately fund communityservices via the Community Service Section Program (CSGP).Consequently, the NSW State Budget contained the welcomeinclusion of an additional $10 million a year for the CSGP. Thisadditional funding is a fantastic result for the community sector.Expanding OpportunitiesDue to our expanding services all staff could no longer fit at theBedford Street offices of Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Butdue to the generosity of Marrickville Council and because of thesupport tthey always show to the local community, we are able torent some Council premises at below market rate. As a result, theNewtown Neighbourhood Centre has offices located at St PetersTown Hall as well as at Bedford St, Newtown. I would like totake the opportunity to sincerely thank Marrickville Councilfor the collaborative and supportive way in which they alwayschoose to work with the Centre.Organisational ChangeThis year has seen some new arrivals to the NNC staff team wewelcome Ellouise as the Community Development Coordinator,Julia to replace Sam whilst she takes twelve months leaveas the Centre Administrator, and Carlos the Boarding HouseCoordinator. Of course, with welcoming new staff, we have tosay farewell to current staff. This year, Vinka, Soniya, Marianneand Cyril left us, and we would like to thank them for their hardwork and support they have always shown to the Centre, andwish them all the best for the future.Volunteers & StudentsVolunteers and students have again supported us by enhancingthe services we offer. They assist in every area and we knowthat Newtown Neighbourhood Centre would not offer all theactivities it does without their support. On behalf of all the staff,we would like to say thank you to all the volunteers and let youknow how much we appreciate the work you do.Thank You’sI would like to thank our funding bodies: Ageing Disability andHome Care, Community Services, Mental Health CoordinatingCouncil, City of Sydney Council, Marrickville Council, StreetSmart, Greater Inner West CommunityTransport, Petersham RSLand Community Building Partnerships NSW. Further thanksmust go to the other service providers who support and partnerwith us and are just as committed to improving and enhancingthis community.I also would like to pay tribute to this community for the supportthey have always shown to the NNC. Thank you for wanting toget more involved with your community by becoming a memberof the Centre, volunteering, attending a group, or just beinginterested in the Centre. I would especially like to thank the serviceusers who are always appreciative and committed to the Centre.I would also like to thank the Board of Directors who are anextraordinary and talented group of individuals who govern andhave strategically directed the organisation over the past twelvemonths. They are all highly skilled, dedicated and hard workingindividuals. NNC is very privileged to have their standard ofexpertise and commitment on the Board of Management.I personally would like to thank the incredible dedicated andcommitted staff for their hard work during the year. It is myprivilege to work with such fantastic staff who show tirelesscommitment to furthering the interests of individuals andthe community. We have all achieved an enormous amountthroughout 2009, as can be seen within this report.I would especially like to thank the managers, Paul, Leigh andKen for the support they show to their staff, service users, thecommunity, the Centre and to me.Lisa BurnsExecutive OfficerBEN*Ben, a 70 year old male of Asian heritage arrived atNNC from Gosford in September 09. This had beenhis second attempt in two days to find us.He was advised by another service provider to see us as thereare no homeless services to assist clients of this age. Ben fledhis son’s house after physical, financial and mental abuse. Wetook him straight to Housing Broadway, and organised forTemporary Accommodation. Whilst there, we also appliedfor Priority housing. We involved other organisations and weconnected him to another service provider. The Centre wasable to offer him accommodation, and with the assistance ofSt Vincent de Paul Society NSW (who furnished his home),he moved in to his own unit.* Indicates name changed

PG 10 PG 11StudentsNNC STAFFMehmood Ahmed Angela Baddour Kazuko NishioBeverly Brougham Alex Croak Sunita ParwatiParwati Dhungana Sunita Gimira Heidi Tang YanSam Horder Nicola Lavery Sophie-Anne ShumackSweta PatelGhilaine Hammond-BailliePosition TitleExecutive OfficerAdministrationSpecial ProjectsCentre AdministratorFinancial AdministratorWebsite AdministratorProgramsPrograms ManagerCommunity Development CoordinatorHousing Outreach & Development WorkerShopping ServiceShopping CoordinatorShopping Bus DriverAssisted ShopperBus AssistantCasual Shopping StaffMulticultural Neighbour AidGreek Neighbour Aid CoordinatorGreek Day Care AssistantFormer Yugoslav Neighbour Aid CoordinatorCasual Neighbour Aid StaffBoarding House ProjectBoarding House ManagerBoarding House CoordinatorBHP Project FacilitatorsBHP AssistantBHP Casual StaffFestivalFestival Co-coordinatorFestival Co-coordinatorStalls Coordinator*Indicates the staff member was still employed as at June 2010**Indicates the staff member joined after June 2009NameLisa Burns*Ken Saunders*Sam Jenkins*Julia Gilchrist**Shashanka Das*Kel Torrance*Paul Adabie*Cyril O’ConnorEllouise Davis**Marianne ToddKerry Muldoon*Robin Wicks*Mirjana Malesevic*Trent Thomas*Linden Braye*Jacqueline Briggs*Marie Kostov*George Zantis*Chrisanthi Kandilas*Dushanka Dobrich*Jacqueline Briggs*Mirjana Malesevic*Leigh Connell*Carlos Felix*Joel DeFreitas*Gwendallyn Thomas*Natalie McCarthy*Anne Kwasner*Frances McCarthy*Soniya D’Iorio*Kel Torrance*Linden Braye*Jodie Catherine*Sue Andersen*Tina Demetriou*Jacqueline Briggs*Festival VolunteersAarif Abdulgowi Zakaria Haroone Gianna MusumeciRanda Muslmani Teegan Herrera Philip MyersClare Anderson Alana Hicks Tom NewellPrashant Arora Sophie Hindes Russell MurphyColin Austin Thuy Ho Jane OldhamJorge Avila Margy Hoad Janice Poh Ying OoiAngela Baddour Phoebe Horrell Liz PalmerShannon Benton Linda Huskinson Kathleen PattonJane Bransgrove Michael Hyde Reginald PenalosaRodney Brown Amane Issa David PhamAmanda Brown Zoe Jackson Olga PolgouiYunus Zeed Alexia Zahra-Newman Stephanie ProvatarisDan Byrne Kara Jennison Joanna RedstowiczPeter Chang Hansen Ji Innes RooseChia Chang Gabrielle Jones Michelle RoseIsaac Cheng Kwak Ju Yeon Nathan RoyHolly Clark Karen Walsh Seda YilmazArthur Murgatroyd Shailesh Kantawala Zoe ScottK’trie Coster Ilew-Ann Koh Veng SiengMajella Coyle Marie Kostov Samedy Sophon SivFran Daly Mitchell Kurtz Zofia SkrzynskiCaitlin Walker Tiffany Walker Katrina Smit-EadiePaul Yap Eric Largeault Courtney SmithParwati Dhungana Judith Lavender Drina Sta.IglesiaHelen Dick Nicola Lavery Fiona SteeleRodanthi Moutopoulos Matt Laxton Justin SvoronosShaeron Yap Aram Lee Kristian TallNatalie Doudnik Corinne Lee Fiona TanSimone Dumbrell Fung Kwan Lo Shiloh TepaniaChristoph Dwertmann Simone Lonie Kortney ThomaKristen Egan-Leigh Camilla Lorraine Rachael MortonNick Geyman Daniel Varga James ThomasRea Giannakopoulos Diane Mantel Tim XirosJennifer Grace Michaela Marks-Smith Ingrid VanderietGeorgia Graham Rosie Marks-Smith Anna TranterCrystal Gray Amber Morrisey Craig TredinnickJessica Grellman Michael McDermott Julia WinklerPetra Gulicher Alexander McDougall Brent WinstoneShona Hanias Lydia McMillan Shu WongLaurie Miller Mei Fu Trinh Carmel WoodsLauren Montino Wayne Tynan Frances Woods

PG 12 PG 13NNCVolunteersMehmood AhmedMarty O’NeillJosephine AvijdorDarren PeakeRobyn BerrySuzette PeaseBeverley BroughamMarlene CarbanaroTony CaseyJacob CavallaroDzung PhamElaine PlantWendy RalstonKaren RandallADMINISTRATIONREPORTKimberley ChaumontNada RapajicAntonia DiakanastasisJemima RobertsSteven DixonSione FalemakaCarlos FelixNathan HaleMegan HigginsFrancois HorionGerald HuntMichael HutchingsDiaeldin IbrahimKaren JacksonDorothy KanaleyRosemary KingDimitra KoutaStephanie LeeJuliet LamontBridget MacarthurReem Maher AbdulrazakAlex MewtonRadmila MiladinicJade MurieWinnie NgaiLisa NicolRachel NolanJane NorrisJane OldhamKaren RudkinPrabin SapkotaJenny SchmarrDana SelesDavid James SkidmoreKatrina Smit-EadieKim StanbridgeSharon StevensonSiham TarabayLisa ThompsonLee TillamMarisa TongLena TrajcevskaJackie TwemlowCandice UngerBrad UpwardMiriam WilliamsOliver WinkelsLucija WiszinowskiGrace WoodsAlan WoulfeChristine Xyrollos-HannaDana ZecDavid ZhangAddressing and refining operational requirements is an essentialpart of Administration. In February 2010, the team headed upa slightly different path under new Centre Administrator, JuliaGilchrist, whilst retaining the strong plan of action set by herlong-time predecessor, Sam Jenkins. The team also came underthe guidance of Administration Manager, Ken Saunders.Last year, we reported on a systematic approach to administrativepractice. A year on, we have much to report. In addition, we haverevamped the bi-monthly Newsletter, and continued a strongEnvironmental Action theme in our work.Policy and ProcedureNNC has introduced or updated the following policies: ManualHandling, Working Away From NNC, Whistleblower’s Policy,First Aid, Fair Work, Stress Management and Critical IncidentResponse. All of our policies and procedures are available on theNNC website.Occupational Health and SafetyOccupational Health and Safety and Emergency Procedure policieshave dominated this year. We have focused on the Duress AlarmPolicy and Emergency Procedure Policies. The recommended anddirected actions are always fresh in the minds of staff, studentsand volunteers.Membership ProcessesThe Centre is always delighted when another individual joins ourvibrant community. In 2007-08, we had 114 members with 24members receiving the Newsletter by email. In 2009-10 (at timeof press), we have 184 members, with 58 members receiving theNewsletter by email.Environmental ActionRecycling, reuse and responsible ordering of stationery are justsome aspects of environmental action at NNC. We continueour Fair Trade and Eco-identified purchase of productswherever we can, and routinely research environmentalwebsites and information sources for more ways that we can beenvironmentally effective.ComputersMeanwhile, some of the not so visible, behind-the-sceneschanges within NNC include the installation of a new Windowsserver and a move from Mac machines to PC’s. This willdramatically increase our flexibility in the office.Room HireThe Hall Hire Service provides a venue for importantcommunity activities to take place locally. The two NNCmeeting rooms and the hall have been used throughout theyear by a wide range of community groups. The Hall Hirefacilities were used by 81 different groups and that does notinclude the many regular NCC activities!Julia Gilchrist & Shashanka DasCentre Administrator and Financial Administrator

PG 14 PG 15PROGRAMS MANAGER’SREPORTCommunity DevelopmentAt the Front Counter, Cyril O’Connor, who left in January 2010,brought a refreshing world view to Centre activities by linkingglobal issues to local activities and events.In March 2010 Ellouise Davis came on board as the new faceof the Front Counter and was immediately at home expandingthe resources available at the Front Counter. New initiativesincluded the one stop shop Essential Services Hub, the One inFive Mental Health report launch, and a large community survey.Housing OutreachThe Housing Outreach work carried out by Marianne Todd lefta lasting legacy, and I am continually asked when Marianneis coming back! Unfortunately, we still have to identify asustainable long term funding stream for the crucial housingadvocacy activities she carried out. But, NNC is now highlyregarded as an agency responding to homelessness issues, andthis remains at the forefront of many of our activities.Multicultural Neighbour AidOur Aged Care programs have all thrived and seen expansionover the last year. Dushanka Dobrich, the Neighbour Aid Workerwith Communities from the former Yugoslavia, expanded theservice, with an additional fortnightly gathering that will goweekly in the next year. She was supported by Jacqui Briggs andMirjana Malesevic during the Day Care sessions.Marie Kostov, the Neighbour Aid Worker with Greek NeighbourAid, has been running full steam ahead with a twice weekly groupin addition to the men’s group. Marie is part of a hard workingteam that includes George and Chrisanthi, and is also superblysupported by Freeda at the Marrickville Community Health Centre.WELL DONE!Annual reports often start with saying what a busy year it hasbeen – this report is with a slight variation – it has been anextraordinary year!Activities across all areas of NNC Programs have increasedtremendously over the last year.Thanks for all the hard work must first all of go to the staff andvolunteers across these programs, who approached the demandsof the year with a calm and considered approach.Shopping ServiceWith Kerry Muldoon coordinating, it has gone from strengthto strength. This Project now provides a service to over 100people, with not a single occasion where we have not delivereda service. Both our bus and assisted car service are almost at fullcapacity – in fact, the service is so popular that a waiting listmay have to be introduced.Newtown Agencies Group (NAG)We are proud the Newtown Agencies Group (NAG) hascontinued to meet throughout the year, thus maintainingand developing our relationships with other Newtown basedagencies. Many thanks to core members: Pastor Brian atNewtown Mission, Sue, Molly and Suzanne at Our Place,Cliff and Daniel of Mission Australia, and of course Pearl fromPHaMS! The group has had some great guest speakers and reallycontributed to developing the Newtown community.Thank You’sThere are so many people we need to thank: all our voluntarycounsellors, all the staff and agencies attending the EssentialServices Hub (Centrelink, Neami, Housing NSW, MarrickvilleLegal Centre and Inner West Tenancy Rights), and the many,many volunteers who give their time on a regular basis to assistus in multiple ways. Thank you!Paul AdabiePrograms ManagerERIC*One day a man in his mid-50’s came to the FrontCounter. He was seeking assistance with securingaccommodation.A brief conversation revealed he had been living on thestreets for over ten years and had not received any type offinancial support for over eight of them. A recent spell inhospital had given him quite a scare and he decided he neededto make changes in his life. Front Counter staff referred himto the Assertive Outreach Team run by NEAMI, who focuson assisting ‘rough sleepers’. With no income whatsoever, nostable accommodation or identification – it was difficult toknow where to start.The issue of identification is a common one amongst peopleexperiencing homelessness, as you often need ID to get ID,or to access to financial or accommodation services. Throughthe work of the Assertive Outreach Team, this man gained IDand is now living in a boarding house and is receiving financialsupport that can hopefully address his health issues.* Indicates name changed

PG 16 PG 17FRONT COUNTERSTATISTICSOn average, the Front Counter fields upto 60 enquiries a dayThese can range from requests for directions or phone numbers,to more intensive casework-like support around issues such asaccommodation, mental health and drug and alcohol issues.Statistics are unable to capture the diversity of people andrequests made at the Front Counter; however, below please seethe breakdown of NNC’s Front Counter statistics.The following figures are based on information collected for themonth of May, and from those figures we have made projectedestimates for the whole year.Client ContactsIn person at front counter 10, 344By telephone 1296We contacted them 270By email 27Total 11, 949Demographics: GenderMale 6048Female 4272Transgender 24Total 10, 344Demographics: Age0-15 years 016-24 years 41425-40 years 496641-55 years 300056-70 years 1448Of 10,344 clients, we identified:As experiencing homelessness or unstable housing 3310As being on a low income 2896As unemployed 2586As being of a culturally and/or linguistically 2069diverse backgroundAs experiencing mental health issues 1241As being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander 1138descentAs being in crisis 620Use Of Nnc Front Counter ServicesUse of the phone, computer, fax or photocopier 23%Seeking advice or information 19%Seeking directions or phone numbers 19%Attending NNC groups or programs 9%Specifically seeing a staff member for social support 7%For room hire 6%For advocacy 5%For an assisted referral to another service 4%To check if they have received any mail (Clients with 3%NFA are able to have their mail delivered to NNC)For support writing a letter 2%With ideas or suggestions for the Centre 2%Intensive Support / CaseworkPrimary Presenting Issue of NNC ClientsAn issue related to accommodation or housing 39%Needing to access welfare and emergency relief 14%servicesNeed for information on local services and 7%facilitiesIssue related to employment 5%Issue specific to senior citizens 4%Other Presenting Issues of NNC ClientsInclude health issues, services for the disabled, issues relatingspecifically to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, issuesrelating to education, issues relating to citizenship or immigration,financial issues, support for prisoners, ex-prisoners and theirfamilies, issues relating to transport, issues relating specificallyto women and issues relating specifically to young people.Time Spent with ClientsAt the Front Counter, most of the work we do with clientsinvolves short interventions in the form of providinginformation, phone numbers or referrals.------62% of client interactions at the Front Counterwere 5 minutes or less.38% of interactions were greater than 5 minutes.These longer interactions may typically involve somecounselling or assistance with filling out forms.Unable to AssistNewtown Neighbourhood Centre occasionally receives requestsfor services or resources we cannot provide. When NNC isunable to assist we make every effort to refer people to a servicethat will be able to meet their requests.NNC Unable to AssistJustice of the Peace (JP) 2%Travel 4%Financial 4%Counselling 5%Mobile/Long Distance call 8%Toilet 38%Other 39%Front Counter Resource Files and Information UsedThe Front Counter maintains an extensive range of over 80regularly updated Information Sheets, covering: AccommodationServices, General Community Services, Drug and AlcoholServices, and Essential Welfare and Support Services.The Information Sheets are available for clients to take themwith them and the folders are replenished daily. In the followingtable are figures of how many information sheets have beenprovided year-round.Front Counter Resource Files andInformation UtilisedAccommodation Services Folder 876General Community Services Folder 839Drug and Alcohol Services Folder 552Essential Welfare and Support Services Folder 1566NNC Newsletters 516Total 383370+ years 516Total 10, 344Client StatusKnown to NNC 6206New Client 4138Total 10, 344Issue relating to drug and/or alcohol use 3%With a legal issue 3%For information on multicultural services 3%Issue related to mental health 2%For information on leisure or recreational activities 2%With an issue specific to men 2%------NNC was able to assist 75% of clients at the Front CounterNNC was unable to assist 17% of clients, but was able torefer them to a service that would be able to assist them.NNC was unable to assist 8% of clients at the Front Counter.The following tables demonstrates the most common requestsNNC was unable to assist with.Free Front Counter Telephone (Local and 13# Calls Only)NNC provides a telephone at the Front Counter that clients can use freeof charge to make local calls.----Over 12 months, a total of 8943 local calls were made.An average of approximately 34 phone calls made from theFront Counter phone daily.

PG 20 PG 21Individual Counselling ServiceThis on-going and important service continued throughout theyear to provide low cost counselling to individuals in need ofemotional and psychological support. In the last year we wereable to expand the service to two counsellors providing up to six1 hour sessions of individual counselling a week. Our qualifiedcounsellors volunteer their own time, often leaving their ownpractices or studies to assist people in the community. Over 40people accessed the service over the year, for periods rangingfrom a one off session to over six months. Our warm thanks toDarren, Janet and Josephine who started with us in April 2010.One Stop Shop -Housing NSW, Centrelink & Tenancy Outreach ServiceThe Housing NSW outreach services continued for the year andbecame even more important as Broadway Housing NSW officewas closed. The Housing Outreach was supplemented by a oncea week Centrelink outreach and complemented with fortnightlyTenancy Outreach service provided by Marrickville Legal Centreand Inner West Tenant’s Service.This was the beginnings of providing a more holistic and onestopshop service to the community. This commenced in March2010. It is now referred to as the Essential Services Hub, whereevery Thursday afternoon, people can see Centrelink, HousingNSW, Tenancy Advice, Lawyers and Homelessness OutreachServices all under one roof.The Hub is also supported by the Neami Assertive OutreachService which is targeted at people experiencing chronichomelessness.Tax HelpThanks to Susanna, who runs the ATO tax help service everyyear from July to October for low income earners (under$40,000 per year) who need assistance with tax returns.Social, Health and Wellbeing GroupsWe also run a number of regular social groups aimed at healthand well being. These include: Wrap with Love, Gentle Exercise,Tai Chi and Fortnightly Community Bingo. All were as popularas ever and continue to provide much needed levity, socialinteraction and exercise for the local community.MeditationThese classes ran for a 10 week period at the beginning of theyear. They were both an explanatory introduction as well as aclass to practice meditation lead by Meng, a Buddhist monk andlocal community member. They provided an oasis of tranquilityduring the busy day for staff and clients. Meng left at the end of2009 but we were fortunate to meet Anna who has been runninglunchtime meditation sessions every Wednesday since March.Arabic ClassesBeginners Arabic classes began in May 2009 and continuedthrough to September. They proved popular with between8-10 people attending. The class finished due to conflictingcommitments of the teacher, Dia, but they provided a greatintroduction to the language for those months.English ClassesWe were able to offer Beginner’s English Classes fromMarch this year. Through the generous volunteering of ourteacher Janice people were able to work on their conversationalEnglish. These classes attracted people of all ages and differentbackgrounds and will continue into the year.Community BBQsOur BBQs remain as popular as ever and continue to bringimportant issues and information to our client community.During the year we had information on the Big Issue, No InterestLoans scheme, Close the Gap theme and one to recogniseNational Sorry Day with support from Marrickville Residents forReconciliation.Big Issue EventIn July we held a Big Issue awareness event. Three peoplesigned up for further training with the Big Issue, two of thembegan working with the Big Issue and one is still working withthem and has moved from the street to renting his own roomwhile the other secured a permanent job after 2 months workingwith the Big issue. He said it gave him self confidence and alittle extra cash.Community Development SurveyDuring August, September and October we conducted a street,front counter and online survey of the community to see whatthey wanted from the NNC and from their community. Wereceived a great response with over 250 replies and are using thisinformation to develop future groups, programs, activities andevents. Look out for Yoga classes in the near future!Homeless Connect ççSydneyNewtown Neighbourhood Centre was pleased to participate inthe inaugural Sydney Homeless Connect event at Sydney TownHall in the first week of June. We joined over 60 other servicesin providing services to an estimated 1200 guests. Other servicespresent included legal services, hairdressers, Centrelink, HousingNSW, health services and clothing providers just to name a few. It was a great day and hopefully it will become an annual event.Thank You’sFinally we must give a big thank you to all our volunteersand students who ensure that the Front Counter can stayopen, properly welcome and service our visitors and run ourcommunity groups and activities. Without your dedication andsupport we would not be able to run half of the activities andimportant services offered.Ellouise DavisCommunity Development CoordinatorBasiM & Oeysha*Front Counter staff, in collaboration with a RefugeeOrganisation, assisted a refugee couple to accesshousing over a period of 2-3 weeks.This ongoing assistance involved helping them understandthe private rental market; access RentStart service from NSWHousing; prepare and write letters; and at the last minute,secure temporary shelter in a hostel until more permanenthousing was acquired.This was a very empowering action. The couple, within ashort time of entering the hostel, had found their own sharedaccommodation. Front Counter also referred and enrolled themwith Sydney Community College Refugee Mentoring Program.* Indicates name changedHOUSING OUTREACHREPORTThe Housing Outreach and Development Project started inOctober 2008 and concluded in April 2010. We were ableto extend the project beyond the initial 12 month end dateof October 2009 (when the City of Sydney funding that hadsupported the project concluded), due to a small grant from theMarrickville CDSE fund.The Marrickville grant allowed us, along with the utilisation ofsome of our own resources, to extend the project for a further sixmonths - carrying the project through to April 2010.The Housing Outreach and Development Project was hugelysuccessful; producing positive outcomes for homeless andinsecurely housed individuals, the wider Newtown communitysector, and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Our heartfeltthanks and the appreciation of many go to the projects tirelessworker, Marianne Todd - a passionate and dedicated advocate formany individuals forced onto the fringes of the wider community.Intensive CaseworkIntensive casework was carried out with over 67 recordedindividual cases, with unrecorded one-off advice and informationprovided to many others via the Front Counter.Activities included all aspects of supporting people to move outof homelessness or to improve their housing conditions. Thisincluded assistance with application forms, advocacy, supportwith housing appeals and establishing grounds for priorityhousing. We assisted with finding alternative boarding houses,emergency and supportive housing accommodation and liaisedthrough real estate companies.Beyond HousingThe trust and relationship that develops for individualsaddressing their housing issues often leads to a willingness andconfidence to raise and address other issues. Case work canoften involve intensive engagement moving beyond the initialpresentation of homelessness to involve issues of criminaljustice, family break up, drug and alcohol issues and mentalhealth. The worker also carried out visits to secure mental healthwards at RPA, visited people in boarding houses and workedwith homeless people outside of the Centre.The client demographic has been overwhelmingly males agedbetween the ages of 21 and 55. In the second half of the projecthowever; we saw an increasing number of ex-prisoners andwomen. A high proportion of women had children in the care ofDoCS. Poor mental health, drug, and alcohol issues were also apredominant feature for many people.Housing Outreach Project - Value for MoneyCost of Chronic Homelessness per person per year $34,000The cost of homelessness per year for the 14 $476,000people that were housed under this projectThe Project’s total funding $46,000Total Savings $430,000Project ImpactNewtown Neighbourhood Centre became an important referralpoint for many organisations dealing with homelessness issues.Word of mouth and a reputation in responding to and dealingwith homelessness issues, played a large role in attracting referralsto the Project and increased enquiries directed to NewtownNeighbourhood Centre.Quality of LifeFor those that were able to gain housing within the period, wehave witnessed improved mental health and wellbeing, improvedfamily relationships, and commitments to avoid the criminaljustice system. Those individuals who have gained housinghave also been in a position to help and advocate for others stillstruggling to improve their situations.Value for MoneyThe Project provided great value for money. It has been estimatedthat it can cost as much as $34,000 a year to support a personhomeless (this is based on costs of emergency and crisisaccommodation health costs etc). Our 18-month Project receivedtotal funding of $46,000, and we have tracked at least 14 people asbeing housed and 6 approved (vast majority for priority housing).At the time of writing, we know that all of the people we helpedinto secure accommodation remain in their homes, and havesustained their tenancies.Marianne ToddHousing Outreach WorkerPETE*Volunteers from St Vincent de Paul Society NSWcame to us and asked to help with Pete, whom theyhad been supporting. Pete was living in a convertedlaundry room under a house in Marrickville.The room had no windows and also contained his shower,WC and cooking area. It was no larger than 12 foot by 12foot, literally “no room to swing a cat”.Not only was Pete’s mental health very poor, he was alsoestranged from his family and socially isolated. We managed toget Pete on the Priority Waiting list, and he eventually receivedan offer. Now he is in his own home, enjoys improved mentalhealth, has reconnected with his family, as well as having moredisposable income, as a result of reduced rent costs.* Indicates name changed

PG 22 PG 23MULTICULTURALNEIGHBOUR AID:Communities from GreeceThe Multicultural Neighbour Aid project has been establishedfor a number of years, the main aim and objective of the Projectcontinues to be in supporting clients to live independently intheir home and community. It is funded under the Home andCommunity Care (HACC) program.Expansion for ChangeThe Greek speaking population in this area is an ageingpopulation with a growing need to access aged care support.Our operations have expanded to include:Client Care Co-ordinationThis is an ongoing part of the Neighbour Aid service designedto assess individual clients needs, provide appropriate referralservices and maintain contact with all clients and accuraterecords according to funding agreements.------Day Care Centres on a Tuesday and ThursdayA Carers Support GroupA Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Support Group forGreek Men.Our range of services is an indication of the project’s ongoingcommitment to our target client group and people living in theMarrickville municipality and surrounding areas. We also providea door to door service twice a week to our frail members that livein the area and are no longer able to access public transport.HACC Day Care CentreEvery Tuesday and Thursday, clients have the opportunity to meetand participate in structured activities, including: listening to guestspeakers, receiving written information in their first language,attending recreational outings, accessing our library services,attending communal luncheons and accessing bilingual workers.The Centre also acts as a contact point in encouraging clientsto meet outside our structured meeting times; with the mainfocus in supporting elderly people living alone, frail members orpeople who are isolated or experiencing depression.Culturally and Linguistically DiverseSupport Group for Greek MenThis is a group for men only, aimed at those aged over 55. Itprovides opportunities to meet and participate in structuredactivities and recreational outings as well as offering peersupport. The Greek Speaking Men’s Group is facilitated by amale worker and meets on a weekly basisGreek Neighbourhood Aid StatisticsDay Care CentreNumber of clients 78Hours of support 8700Number of meetings 58Greek Speaking Men’s GroupNumber of clients 18Hours of support 1839Number of meetings 46MealsNumber of meals 630OutingsTotal Number of clients 220Hours of support 1448Number of outings 15TransportDoor to door Pick Up 20Passenger Trips 50Number of support hours 1480Client Co-ordinationNumber of hours 410Home Library ServiceItems borrowed 950Weeks provided 46Hours of service 148Areas of ConcernOnce again, isolation, lack of awareness and fragility were themain issues and areas of concern. Family members movingout of the area due to non affordable housing which resulted inleaving elderly parents increasingly reliant upon support serviceswas a significant issue.Additionally, there has been an increase in elderly couples livingalone due to the loss of their partner. This can result in furtherisolation and sometimes, depression.Educational ProgramsThe emphasis of educational programs is that prevention isbetter than cure. These programs are client focused and arebased on feedback we receive from clients and volunteers at theCentre. The education programs are ongoing and are developedin consultation with clients on a yearly basis.VolunteersVolunteers play an essential part of the Multicultural NeighbourAid program, and ongoing training is provided to them, withinformal meetings offered to support our volunteers throughoutthe year. We also allocate specific days for training and supportof volunteers. Thank you luncheons and special outings are alsooften arranged in order to acknowledge the valuable contributionof our volunteers to the programSpecial Programs and EventsA number of events are organised by the Neighbour Aid Projector in partnership with other organisations. This includes Councilfunctions, special religious celebrations and fundraising events.Thank You’s and AcknowledgementsThe Multicultural Neighbour Aid project continued to operatein partnership with Sydney South West Area Health ServiceMigrant Health Team, and special thanks must go to FreedaEconomidis. I would also like to thank all the speakers thathave attended and supported the Day Care Centre groups andMarrickville Council for providing the premises.I would also like to thank all our wonderful staff team and volunteersfor their great contribution during the year and for taking on thevalued additional tasks to support our projects. We also thank ourtwo drivers from Marrickville Council/Tom Foster Care CentreTony and John Robert from Leichhardt Community Transport.Finally, the Multicultural Neighbour Aid Project would notfunction as efficiently or be able to assist as many clients withoutthe ongoing support and commitment of George Zantis andChrisanthi Kandilas by supporting the HACC Day Care Centres.Marie KostovGreek Neighbourhood Aid Coordinator

PG 24 PG 25MULTICULTURALNEIGHBOUR AID:Communities fromFormer YugoslaviaThe Multicultural Aged Day Care for Communities fromFormer Yugoslavia provides support to the elderly in order toprovide independent living at home and in the community. Thisreduces social isolation, engages them in the community andprovides them with access to support services as needed. Italso minimises the complexity of the aged-care system for ourclients and their families.Aged Day CareMonday and every second Thursday - The Aged Day Caremembers meet at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. A largegroup meets on Mondays and the newly established group onevery second Thursday of the month. The activities includemorning tea and lunch, information sessions, bingo, games,music therapy, movies and social interaction with their peersfrom the same cultural and linguistic backgrounds.Monthly recreational outings take our Day Care Group to visitmany and varied locations like local parks, the seaside, a visit tothe Tulip festival at Bowral and a trip to Bilpin to pick chestnutsand nuts. They visited the Art Gallery of NSW and enjoyedmany BBQ’s. They also celebrated many birthdays and this year,80th birthday celebrations were popular!Specialised TransportContinued availability of specialised transport to our frailermembers living in Marrickville enabled those individuals toattend the Aged Day Care Centre, as well other participants whoattend outings. Another level of social interaction was achievedin the monthly communal luncheon they attended at the TomFoster Community Care Centre.Client Care Co-ordinationProvision of referral and information continued, with clientcontact maintained. The Marrickville Home Library service alsocontinued to provide the group with reading books and audiobooks in community languages. And the Video and DVD LibraryService was available to our participants year-round, enablingthem to access entertainment during the days and evenings awayfrom the Day Care Centre.Multicultural Fitness Class for SeniorsThis weekly class is improving our senior group members’balance, coordination, strength, bone density and joint flexibility.This program was included in the Prevent Diabetes Live LifeWell Program, and registered on the Central Sydney GP’sNetwork. NNC was assessed and met required criteria in orderto start receiving referrals. This year, the fitness program alsoparticipated in a rewards scheme encouraging participants tobecome regular users of identified high quality services.New Groups & ActivitiesThe participants engaged in various activities, functions andevents in the day care centre and in the community at large.This year, the Multicultural Neighbour Aid –CFF Yugoslavia hasstarted an additional day of Aged Day Care Centre Activities. Anew group started in April 2010 and meets every second Thursdayof the month with activities and outings. A major review of theMulticultural Neighbour Aid Project was conducted during theyear by an independent facilitator.NSW Department of Health Web DirectoryThe NNC Fitness Class was included in the Community PhysicalActivity Falls Prevention Programs Directory. The Directoryidentifies physical activity programs which include fallsprevention skills in physical activity programs that keep olderpeople healthy and active. The Directory is primarily used bylocal communities, health professionals, exercise leaders andArea Health Services staff.Aged Day CareNumber of Clients 64Hours of Support 5552Number of Meetings 56MealsNumber of meals 865OutingsTotal Number of Clients 205Hours of Support 1435TransportPassenger Trips 848Number of Pick Ups 28Client Care CoordinationNumber of Hours 88Home Library ServiceItems Borrowed 108Weeks Provided 20Multicultural Fitness ClassNumber of Participants 32Hours of Exercise 416Wrap with Love Knitting GroupWrap/blankets Knitted 38Voluntary Hrs to Produce Wraps 5700Wrap With Love Monday Knitting GroupMonday’s Wrap with Love Knitting Group, which also boasts athome members, creates wonderful colourful wraps and blanketsfor people in need in Australia and worldwide. Our volunteerknitters conducted workshops and displayed their creations atthe following events: International Women’s Day, Seniors WeekHealth and Wellbeing Expo, Refugee Week “Freedom fromFear” and Newtown Festival. The knitters contributed 5500volunteer hours in creating wraps and their hours of love willdefinitely be appreciated by someone who wraps themselves inone of their blankets.Seniors Week and Special EventsSpecial Events and activities were organised by the NeighbourAid Project or in partnership with other organisations throughoutthe year. These included: Marrickville Council Seniors Weekfunctions, Seniors Week Health and Wellbeing Expo, PremiersGala Concert, special religious celebrations, and fundraising eventssuch as the Australia Biggest Morning Tea; and participation inRefugee Week, International Women’s Day, and Mental HealthWeek Mini Festival.Staff and VolunteersI would like to give a big thank you and acknowledgement to allof our staff and volunteers for their commitment and invaluablecontribution to the Multicultural Neighbour Aid project duringthe year. Training and support was provided throughout toall our volunteers, with a special luncheon and LaughterWorkshop organised during Volunteers Week and at Christmasto acknowledge the valuable contribution that they and the Wrapwith Love Knitting group make to the Project. Special thanks goto Mirjana Malesevic, our Day Care Assistant with the MondayAged Day Care; Jacqui Briggs, with the Thursday Aged DayCare; Tony and John, our wonderful bus drivers from Tom FosterCommunity Care Centre, who provide the bus. We also thank theenergetic Sabah, our regular fitness class instructor; and Share,for providing a relieving fitness class instructor during the year.Dushanka DobrichMulticultural Neighbour Aid Coordinator –Communities from Former Yugoslavia

PG 26 PG 27SHOPPING SERVICEREPORTBOARDING HOUSEPROJECT REPORTThe ServiceA Vital ServiceThe aim of the NNC Shopping Service is to assist the frailaged, people living with a disability and their carers to live asindependently as possible. The Service prevents early placementinto a residential facility and enables shoppers to remain livingin their own homes.The Service assists by providing three different service models,these include:------A door-to-door bus service with assistance on and off the buswith shopping.A door-to-door car assisted shopping service, for thoseunable to use the bus.A list shopping service for people who are unable to get outto the shops.The service is jointly funded by the Australian Government andNSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, underthe Home and Community Care Program, to provide a service toresidents of the Marrickville Local Government Area.Shopping Bus ServiceNumber of Clients 115Number of journeys 301Number of hours spent shopping 4743Assisted Shopping ServiceNumber of Clients 19Number of trips 750Hours spent shopping 750List Shopping ServiceNumber of clients 3Number of hours spent shopping 156The Shopping TeamWe have an established team for the Shopping project who include:Robin Wicks, the Bus Driver who ensures the bus runsto schedule and has time to have a joke and laugh with theshoppers.Trent Thomas, the Bus Assistant who is appreciated byshoppers because he can carry the heavy loads for them and hasbeen learning a little bit of Greek.Mirjana Malesevic, the Assisted Shopping Service Workerwho builds a positive rapport with shoppers and continues toenjoy assisting them.Kerry Muldoon, the Shopping Coordinator who has built theservice to capacity with the help of a great team of workers.We also would like to thank our pool of casual workers whohelped out throughout the year, they include: Pauline Hessel,Paul Detto, Mitchell Hobbs, Angela Baddour, Linden Braye. Abig thank you also goes out to our volunteer, Claire Dodds-Eden.Thank You’sThe Shopping Service would like to thank the followingindividuals and groups: The Shoppers who are a joy to assist, thestaff of the shopping Service, as we make a great team.The Leichhardt Community Transport team, for the bus weuse. The Social workers who make referrals, and the NNC Staff,who along with doing their own work also take phone calls for theShopping Service project.Kerry MuldoonShopping CoordinatorThe Boarding House Project continues to provide a variety ofsocial support programs to over 156 people living in Marrickvilleboarding houses.Programs*-- Active Linking Initiative-- Boarders and Lodgers-- ROOMIES Art Group-- KITES*All funded by NSW Ageing Disability & Homecare (ADHC).ROOMIES Artspace continues to keep the door open throughself-funding donations and fundraising, and we received fundingfrom Greater Inner West Community Transport to assist LRCresidents with travel and transport needs.PeopleThe past year has seen a few changes within the Boarding HouseProject. A team member that has been known to some residentsfor 14 plus years, Soniya, left us to “smell the roses” and spendtime with her family. Her energy and passion for assistingresidents is missed by many of us. However, we have welcomeda couple of casual staff on board: Linden Braye has worked withthe NNC shopping service for many years and now assists uswith bus driving and community linkages, and Jodie Catherinehas added to her volunteer work coming on board for a specifichealth project educating residents about Diabetes.Infrastructure ChangesWith organisational growth over the past year, it was time to seekoff site premises and decide which team would move. So in lateDecember 2009, half of the BHP team moved to our St Peters office.This move took some planning, office fit out and some change ofthinking, as having us all at Newtown has a strong cultural link.Now, six months on, the team have settled into their new desks,equipment and location. Challenges will continue to occur, but ithas turned into a lovely and light, airy space to work from.One-off Projects“Steps to Wellbeing” was a Marrickville community grantsfunded project that looked at awareness and education in theareas of asthma and diabetes for the LRC residents. Utilising anOccupational Therapy student on placement, Alex worked onan Asthma workbook whilst working individually with severalresidents. Similarly, Jodie did this with a focus on diabetes.Both streams produced a workbook and provided trainingto other team members, so as to hopefully allow others tofacilitate the learning within.ActivitiesMany of the regular activities continue each year, howeverearlier this year we changed and developed the soccer programfrom what had been a Street soccer program to a broader sportsprogram we named “Sportsability”. Along with this change, wedeveloped partnerships with several local agencies (Aftercare,ALI and New Horizons) to share the roles and responsibilitiesand provide more that just soccer. The revamped programsupported by the Debbie and Abbey Borgia Recreation Centreat Steel Park is now term based, and will see a range of sportsoffered to suit skills, seasons and interests.Working with OthersEarly this year, the Boarding House Project worked with Peoplewith Disabilities Australia (PWD) as they rolled out a DomesticViolence education and research project for people living inLicensed Residential Centres. It isn’t that common for residents tohave opportunities to be consulted on any of the things that affectthe way they live so involvement in this project was welcomed.Several of the PWD project personnel spent time getting to knowsome of the residents ensuring that they had some understandingof what is meant by “Domestic Violence” and particularly inthe context of their home environment. Whilst there is littleevidence or reporting of domestic violence in this sector, thisdoes not mean it doesn’t exist. So the project’s educationalrole alone was important as it gives a framework and means ofacknowledgement for residents of things that may happen tothem along with providing pathways for support should theywant to assistance in such matters.

PG 28 PG 29Community Links & ActivitiesSome of the links and activities include:------NNC Programs – fortnightly bingo is very popular, as arethe monthly BBQs.Marrickville Council Events – Seniors Week Concert at theEntertainment CentreTae Kwon Do – Several residents have attended theseclasses at Addison Road Centre, several years running.Active Linking InitiativeOne of the major things ALI has been involved in this year hasbeen the statewide ALI forum. Newtown Neighbourhood Centrehas been involved with the ALI network since the early days ofthe program, and was a key organiser for this forum. The ADHCfundedforum came about as a recommendation of the previousyear’s ALI Review and provided an opportunity for all the ALIworkers across the state to meet, share presentations and learnabout the successes and challenges others experience.Boarders and Lodgers ProjectThis Project continues to support frail aged or younger peoplewith disabilities living in unlicensed boarding houses. Thedemand for affordable housing is putting pressure on the sector,and in some cases rooms are being divided up to make tworooms, rents are going up and some places are only takingworking people. This program has been vital in assisting peoplein the pathway to more secure accommodation or in advocatingfor residents to stay.Roomies Art Group and Studio SpaceRoomies artists have continued with a highly successful year ingetting their art seen, reaching new audiences, selling works andlearning new skills.ROOMIES Artists exhibited at the accessible arts facilitatedAART BBOX Exhibition and several artists were invited to talkabout their own creative process to public artist talk’s sessions.Home is Where the Heart Is was a production bySydney Street Choir that played to packed houses atBelvoir street theatre last year.Choir members including several Boarding House residents,shared their personal journeys through heart rending stories,songs, movement and acting. We and the audience learnt ofAnthony’s life on the street, in boarding houses and the joy hehas now singing with the Street Choir family and living moreindependently. We especially heard of his passion for soccer.The stage was also the perfect place for Denis to show hischeeky side, and for Cheryl to sing her own words bravely, towhich the audience applauded loudly.Sitting in the audience was the most humbling experience.The honesty and courage each person showed in sharing theirstories was an honour. Congratulations to each choir memberon an amazing performance.Experiences like this validate the work these residents put into theirart, and it has been wonderful to see the confidence and self esteembuilding that has occurred for artist Clarrice, Mark and David.Spirit of SoulIs a local mental health awareness festival covering a rangeof popular cultural mediums. What touched my heart was aphotographic exhibition asking photographers to capture animage that moved them. One of the ROOMIES artist mentorssubmitted a lovely photo of the resident that she links with, thephoto of Clarrice drinking from an old school aluminium milkshake tumbler really captured her spirit and cheeky smile andwon Denise an award - well done!Local art shop Art on King also kindly facilitated a charity wallat their end of year Student Exhibition. They offered students,teachers and interested parties small stretched canvas to work on,which were then all available anonymously at a set price. Thiswas a wonderful opportunity for lovely art works to be picked upfor a song and for a great cause: many thanks to Joni from Art onKing for thinking of ROOMIES and keeping her support local.The ROOMIES Tent was also standing strong and boldly atNewtown Festival 2009, as we hosted various art opportunities,including: knitting, junk jewellery and brooch making.Our linkage with Pine Street Creative Arts Studios continues,with several residents continuing with ceramics via theirOutreach Program and participating in their Annual Exhibition.Thank You’sTo the volunteers and artists who have helped us this year JodieCatherine, Seraphina Martin, Denise Litchfield, Julie Bidwell,Marlysse Medina, Marrickville sketch club and Terry Cutcliff. Abig thank you to George and his team at Steel Park Café for hissupport and assistance to the many residents that visit and attendevents held at Steel Park. I would also like to thank to eachof the BHP team members for their contribution, passion andenergy throughout the year.Leigh ConnellBHP ManagerThe Numbers 2009 - 2010 ALI UBH BH TotalNumber or residents 86 50 20 156Occasions of service 13,075 1,279 552 14,906Hours of service 9,412 1,915 2,055 13,382Travel Support*One way trips 1,946Group transport/bus outings 1,590Individual and Independent travel 356*As funded by Greater Inner West community Transport for LRC residentsSome of the artists from ROOMIES Artspace havecome a long way as developing artists.One such person is Mark, who had his first solo exhibitionin 2009 at the Addison Rd Art Centre with over 40 paintingsbeing displayed. Also in 2009, several other artists includingClarrice and David, along with Mark, were selected toparticipate in the AArt BBox Exhibition organised byAccessible Arts (the peak body for arts and disabilities) at theMori Gallery in Sydney.Each artist submitted works for sale and was invited (andpaid) to participate in artist talks held for the general publicduring the period of the exhibition.Well done to each of them!

PG 30 PG 31NEWTOWN FESTIVALREPORTOverall, the 2009 Newtown Festival was a success, with smoothoperations, great volunteer base, no major incidents and ahealthy turnout, despite the rain throughout the day!An estimated 60,000 people passed through the gates duringthe course of the day, less than in previous years. Even thoughit rained at points during the day, the crowds that attended tookadvantage of the diverse entertainment, shopping and feastingopportunities at the Festival.The ProgramThe Newtown Festival is a unique community festival thatattracts a huge amount of goodwill. The program remaineddiverse catering for kids and families, literary minds, musiclovers of many genres, and the general shopper too, with over 260market stalls. In 2009, we had over 120 band members performedfor free. We also had an unprecedented number of volunteers with146 volunteers registering to assist on the day and pre-festival.The Figure8 crew did another fabulous job of the Vocal LocalVillage with a very community-minded program and fabulousproduction set up; including the 100% solar generator. Roomiesran another lovely space in the VLV area. This year it wasreasonably quiet, however the participants were very interestedand had a good time. Wrap with Love were under the tent thisyear, which worked well as they were more inclusive..StallsStalls at the 2009 Newtown Festival were diverse, creative andinspiring. Some 240 art, craft and general merchandise stalls soldeverything from sculptures and paintings, to handmade jewellery,clothing, plants and homewares as well as eco products. A goodrange of community stalls provided information to the generalpublic on their organisation or cause and the food stalls reflectedmulticultural Sydney. Stalls sites were once again fully bookedwell in advance of the festival.EntertainmentOver 200 talented performers donated their time to play at thefestival for free on the Main, Essentials, Vocal Local Villagestages and Kids Stage. The entertainment program had a diversemix of genres and interests to suit a wider, varied market.--------The Vocal Local Village stage had another great mix ofentertainment including local community groups.The Writers’ Tent had a popular schedule organised by BetterRead than Dead with many well known authors includingTom Keneally and Hugh McKay.The Eco Area at the festival was a highly popular area. TheWatershed ran ‘by demand’ workshops from their stall,rather than fixed time workshops. The Bower were alsoaccompanied by a member doing a live sculpture made frompre-loved items.The Kids Zone was again one of the most popular zoneswith its mix of entertainment.Waste ManagementMarrickville Council’s Waste Management team again providedan excellent service. The waste services were provided as a partof Council’s in-kind sponsorship agreement. Council waste staffreported that overall it was a good day without problems or issueshowever there was a lower recycling rate from previous years.PublicityThe Festival’s main media partners were again Drum Media, FBIradio, 2SER radio and the Inner West Courier.SponsorshipPeer Group Media again coordinated new sponsorshiparrangements or existing from previously PGM attainedsponsors. NNC would like to thank our following sponsors,shown below.FundraisingThe Newtown Neighbourhood Centre very much relies on themoney raised from gold coin collection to make the NewtownFestival a viable fundraising exercise. Stall site fees, bar licenseand sponsorship money covers the production elements of theFestival and the gold coin collection and water sales money goesdirectly to the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre to help fund aCommunity Development Worker as well as into the many otherinitiatives that the Centre offers to the disadvantaged in ourcommunity.Sue Andersen & Tina DemetriouFestival Co-CoordinatorsNewtown Festival 2009 SponsorsLevel Company Amount / ProductMajor Marrickville Council $7,500 + in-kindSite usageWaste Mgt ServicesBanner Hanging feeGold Crumpler $5,000 + in kind volunteer bagsSilverBronzeMediaCommunityLocal BusinessesCity of SydneyLove PoliceZen StudiosSignwaveDendyDrum MediaFbi RadioInner West Courier2SERThe Watershed, Planet Ark and TheBowerSassy TreatsThe Courthouse HotelThe Marlborough HotelTown Hall HotelBank HotelFigureight$10,000In kind artwork for festivalBackline equipment & PA for the KidsZonein-kind signage$2,000 plus ticket giveaways and anadditional fundraising opportunity via thecinemaIn kind Media CoverageIn kind Media CoverageIn kind Media CoverageIn kind Media CoverageIn kind Eco: DIY green cleaning demos,Swap In kind Party and live sculptureIn kind Dog Show coordination$2,000$1,000$1,000$2,000In kind Production of VLV

PG 32 PG 33ADVOCACYThe vision of the NewtownNeighbourhood Centre (NNC) is“A just community thatincludes and acts”To reach such a vision, NNC advocates on issues that affectour community through consultation with those most affected,we strive to bring forward emerging issues. We provide forumswhere people’s views can be heard and develop constructiveinitiatives towards a fairer, more inclusive and more just societywhere all can participate.Over 2009-10, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre was involvedin advocating on issues that it believes are important to ourcommunity: the NSW State Plan; Residential Tenancies Act Review;Marrickville Council’s Housing Affordable Strategy, and a foodstand for Newtown Square.Newtown Neighbourhood Centre also led the following Campaigns:Newtown Railway StationThere has been movement at the Station, with the release of anew design plan for Newtown Railway Station. Work on theupgrade started recently.The new plan retained the original concourse building with a liftand stairs to the platform, offered a new family accessible toilet,provides platform canopies and new staff and ticket sales facilities.It will also have new ticket gates and passenger displays. Theupgrade will also offer an expanded entrance with a newwalkway and easier access to the platforms.Our thanks must go to the whole of the local community includingthe local media, Marrickville Council representatives, localcommunity members who have supported NNC in this campaign.We would especially like to thank the Deputy Premier andMember for Marrickville, Carmel Tebbutt MP, who hassupported this much-needed project - ensuring that communityneeds were always valued, including in the consultation process,so that local opinions were taken into account during the designof the station upgrade.Newtown Neighbourhood Centre becoming anEasy Access CentreNewtown Neighbourhood Centre will very soon become an easyaccess Centre. The lift will enable the Centre to operate at fullcapacity, to provide much needed services to the community.Its presence will also ensure equal participation for all of thosewishing to access the Centre.We greatly applaud Marrickville Council for their commitmentto securing easy access for the residents of Marrickville areato their Neighbourhood Centre. We offer a very big thank youon behalf of our service users, visitors and local residents. Inaddition to the lift being put in, other work will be carried out inimproving the condition of the Centre.Finally, we know that in Newtown, we all live in a diversecommunity and we strongly believe that this diversity should bereflected in the ability of all community members to have access intheir own community.As one of our aims is to help build an inclusive community; withthe success of these campaigns, we feel that we are assisting toachieve these results.Mental Health ExpoNNC received funding from the Mental Health CoordinatingCouncil’s infrastructure grants to conduct research into the needsof people with a mental illness and their carers in the local area.A working party from NNC worked with a consultant to developconsultation strategies that included: online, face to face and paperbased surveys, a range of focus groups and a workshop with localagencies. NNC service users and staff participated in a fiveminutefilm about highlighting the issues of mental health thatfeatured individuals’ stories.The aim of the clip was for education and was launchedduring Mental Health Week at an event NNC put on at its ownpremises. The event was a great success, and also served asthe platform to launch the consultation’s research: One in FiveMental Health Report.There were over ten mental health service providers presentat the Festival, including the Black Dog Institute, Grow andHeadspace, among many others who provided information andhighlighted some of the taboos that exist around mental health.Despite disruptive weather, which saw the event move frominside the Hall, to outside, to inside again, the atmosphere waskept alive by the band ‘Offcuts’ (pictured), a fiery BBQ, andchildren’s games, bubbles and face painting.INTERAGENCIES LISTAn interagency is a community forum involving two or moreservices. The aim of these forums is to exchange informationand share ideas in an effort to address these needs and issues ofconcern faced by the community.--------------------------------------------Active Linking Initiative (ALI) ForumAddison Road CentreAged Services InteragencyBoarding House Assistance Group (BHAG)Boarding House Expert Advisory Group (BHEAG)Coastal Sydney Regional Homelessness CommitteeCollation of Appropriate Supported Accommodation for PWD (CASA)Inner City / Eastern Suburbs and Inner West Social Support ForumInner West Five HACC ForumInner West Metro NA and Social Support ForumInner West Neighbour Aid Social Support Services ForumIWMNASSA and Eastern Suburbs / Inner CityLeichardt Community TransportMarrickville Access CommitteeMarrickville Aged Services CommitteeMarrickville Community Drug Action TeamMarrickville/Canterbury HACC ForumNewtown Agencies Group (NAG)Regional Community Mangers Forum (St George, Canterbury andMarrickville)Seniors Week Planning CommitteeSydney Homelessness Interagency ForumTom Foster Community Care Group Leaders Transport Meetings

PG 34 PG 35COMMUNICATIONSREPORTNewtown Neighbourhood Centre believes that communication is agreat tool to foster a stronger and more inclusive community. We aimto communicate with and inform members of our local communityabout services that we provide, as well as to raise the profile of issuesand concerns that have been identified by community members. Inorder to achieve this we utilise many mediums, such as websites,newsletters, brochures and other media outlets.One in Five ReportOne in five people will experience a mental illness at sometime in their lives. There are people who are more at risk ofexperiencing a mental illness than others, and recovery is oftenbased on a range of factors including prevention and earlyidentification, access to appropriate health care and treatment,and individual social and financial circumstances.The Centre is dedicated to creating opportunities and removingbarriers to include all members of the community. This projectsourced the opinions of over 300 people living with mentalhealth problems, families or carers and service providersregarding their community support needs. The Report identifiedten broad, but inter-related, community support needs. Thestrategies required to meet these needs can be as complex asthe needs themselves. The Report has built a knowledge baseand understanding of local needs and will be used to shape ourstrategies to better meet these needs into the future.We would like to thank the Mental Health Coordinating Councilfor funding this project, and Zakumi Consulting report for theirdedication and hard work on this project. We would especiallylike to thank the people who shared their personal stories with us.You TubeThis year, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre released its firsteducational DVD / You Tube video as part of the Mental HealthProject looking into community support needs of people with amental illness. The DVD was developed by local people and addressesspecific issues faced by many residents of our community. The DVDalso points the way forward on crucial issues facing people withmental illness. I would like to express my gratitude to the peoplewho shared their personal stories on the DVD. I would like tothank Philip Myers, an independent film maker, for his timeand expertise in producing the film. I would also like to thankthe project leader Marika Kontellis, and Gary Jacobson fromZakumi Consulting for coordinating the outcomes of the project.FacebookThis year, thanks to the initiative of Sam Horder (pictured),Newtown Neighbourhood Centre took its first fledgling stepsinto the world of Facebook. Facebook was used to promote twocontests that the Centre was running: The Sydneyvision SongContest and the Inner West Life Short Story Contest.This small step under his belt, Ken Saunders attended a one-dayworkshop on Facebook and Twitter, and can now claim he istrained to be a Twit! Over time, we hope to learn to use socialmedia to promote Newtown Neighbourhood Centre events,activities and courses to make it easier than ever for peopleto find out what is going on at the Centre and to participate incommunity campaigns.Newtown Neighbourhood Centre NewsletterA fresh focus on the newsletter has seen a real change in howit is put together. Significant behind-the-scenes work has goneinto considering themes, editing, layout, drafting and researchingarticles to pull together a coherent “rag” for Centre subscribersto read every two months. The themes of environmental concernand a renewed focus on low cost or free community events thatcan be done locally have been focused upon in the Newsletter. Byinforming readers on what is happening with major environmentalevents, such as the Gulf of Mexico Oil disaster, as well as doinga feature on local community garden sites in the Inner West, thereadership can literally be aware of the global stage, but act locally.NNC WebsiteThe NNC Website has continued to strive and expand over thepast year. We have made more supportive changes to meet ourclients’ needs. We have implemented cross browser compatibility,a new Google search engine and increased the quantity of materialavailable to the community including new information sheets andprograms, current calendars of events, new publications, NNC’spolicy and procedures, and latest media content.We seek to advance our electronic exchanges with our communityby regularly updating our information utilising feedback and makingaesthetic changes which will make our website pleasing to our clientsand service providers. NNC strives to maintain high standards andwill continue to expand and advance with public support.--A hit is defined as any request on your web server for anyitem, such as a web page or graphic. For example: when avisitor wants to see a page containing two images, they mustmake three hits, one for the page and two for the images.--A visit is defined as accessing more than one page in asingle visit.--A page view is defined as the total number of time a singleNNC web page is visited.--To download is defined as the process of copying a file froman online service to one’s own computer.Since 2008, NNC’s Website has increased dramatically, as can bedisplayed by the table belowPeriodAverageIncreaseper monthNNC WebsiteTotalHits# of Visits PageViewsPERIOD: 2010 Total Hits # of Visits Page Views DownloadsAverage per month 155,550 12,997 24,869 8,545Total (July 2009 – June 2010) 1,866,594 155,966 298,433 102,536At the time of print in 2010, www.newtowncentre.org features a total of 132 pagesPERIOD: 2009 Total Hits # of Visits Page Views DownloadsAverage per month 121,180 10,062 20,389 6,102Total (July 2008 – June 2009) 1,454,157 120,751 244,665 73,229In 2009, www.newtowncentre.org featured a total of 123 pagesPERIOD: 2009 Total Hits # of Visits Page Views DownloadsAverage per month 105,593 9,081 15,611 3,412Total (July 2007 – June 2008) 1,267,112 108,967 187,329 40,941In 2008, www.newtowncentre.org featured a total of 96 pagesDownloads49, 957 3, 916 9,258 5,133

PG 36 PG 37Media ArticlesNNC was featured in the following news outlets:MEDIA ARTICLES 2009-10July 2009Newtown Station UpgradeTenants AdviceCommunity Services NeglectedAugust 2009Newtown FestivalNewtown Station UpgradeCommunity services “On a shoe string”September 2009Newtown to Lose Housing WorkerNewtown Station UpgradeOctober 2009Mental health issues head priority list for NewtownNewtown FestivalNovember 2009Mental Health IssuesNewtown Festival - Hippest Fest in the Inner WestNewtown Festival - Neighbours in the party moodNewtown FestivalDecember 2009Newtown FestivalFebruary 2010Sydney Street ChoirMarch 2010One Stop Shop at Newtown Neighbourhood CentreThe MATCH of the DayMatching Services to Individuals at Newtown Neighbourhood CentreMay 2010Simpler Plan unveiled for Newtown StationNewtown Station Back on TrackNewtown StationJune 2010Sing For Your SuburbRefugee WeekSing it out loud, SydneyNewtown on track for upgradeSydney Vision Song ContestCommunity NewsInner West CourierThe TorchInner West CourierInner West CourierSouth Sydney HeraldSouth Sydney HeraldSouth Sydney HeraldInner West IndependentInner West CourierSouth Sydney HeraldThe NewtonianInner West CourierInner West CourierThe BragThe Drum MediaThe NewtonianThe ReviewThe NewtonianInner West CourierThe NewtonianSouth Sydney HeraldInner West CourierNewtown Precinct Business AssociationSouth Sydney HeraldCentralInner West CourierInner West CourierSouth Sydney HeraldCity HubHills Shire TimesInner West CourierInner West Independent MX NewspaperSouth Sydney Herald Northside Penrith PressNorthern District Times 2SER RadioCOMMUNITYEDUCATIONNNC believes it has an important role to play in informing thecommunity on relevant issues of importance. The Centre seeksconstantly to build on our own knowledge base through activelyengaging with other services to provide forums, seminars andworkshops to the community. We believe it is important to sharevaluable knowledge and information with the community andothers wanting to exchange ideas.NNC Forums, Workshops, Seminars & Special EventsMonth Organisation TopicJulyCentrelink ServicesAged PensionStroke AssociationStroke Symptoms and PreventionAugust Australian Hearing Never Too OldABC StudiosWrap with Love Knit-InContinence Foundation of NSW -Continence CareMulticultural Mental Health Education Resource Anxiety DisordersSeptember Blue September Men Facing Up to CancerRemembrance DayFor group members who are no longer with usTJ Andrews Funeral ServicesCost of Funerals and Pre-paid Funeral ServicesOctober Department of Fair Trading Information DayGreen CleaningWorkshopMental Health WeekMini FestivalNovember Centrelink Information DayNSW Police – Marrickville BranchInformation DayDecember Inner West Domestic Violence DV Pass Stall at Marrickville Town HallNewtown Neighbourhood CentreChristmas PartyFebruary Continence Products Product Information DayHealth Promotion for Older PeopleOral CareNewtown Neighbourhood CentreCentre based Day Care Planning DayMarch Australian Hearing Services Hearing Awareness WeekSeniors WeekCelebration and EventsInternational Women’s DayCelebration, Display and Knitting WorkshopApril Cancer Council of NSW - Health Seminar Series Smart LivingMental Health and Coronary Heart DiseaseChallenging BehavioursMay Home Visiting & Dementia Support Service Multicultural Home RespiteMarrickville Library Services & Transcultural Mental Stress and Stress ManagementHealth CentreJune NSW Fire Brigades – Marrickville Station House Safety in the Home and the Importance of SmokeDetectorsNSW Fair Trading Dept of Services, Technology & Role of the Fair Trading DepartmentAdministrationRefugee Week“Freedom from Fear” Wrap With Love KnittingGroup display and workshop

PG 38 PG 39FINANCIALREPORTNewtown Neighbourhood Centre Inc. (NNC) receives its mainfunding from Department of Human Services NSW - Ageing,Disability and Home Care, and from the Community Services GrantsProgram within the Department of Human Services - CommunityServices. We would like to thank our funding bodies for theircontributions and commitment they show in supporting the Centre.A big thank must go to Marrickville Council for the low costpremises for Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, and our newoffice space at St Peters, as well for funding the installation of alift and ramp to provide easy access to the Centre as a part of theupcoming refurbishment of the Newtown Town Hall building.This year, NNC also received additional one off fundingfrom Ageing, Disability and Home Care for program supportand much needed equipment. We thank Greater Inner WestCommunity Transport for transport support for MarrickvilleBoarding house residents, City of Sydney Council and PetershamRSL for funding the position of Housing Outreach DevelopmentWorker; the Mental Health Coordinating Council for theInfrastructure Grants Program (IGP); the StreetSmart Australiafor essential services for Boarding House Residents. We have alsoreceived one-off funding from Community Building Partnershipsfor painting the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre building.We also would like to thank all the people involved in makingthe Newtown Festival a success. All the funds raised at theNewtown Festival are given back to the community in the formof programs and activities. With proceeds from the NewtownFestival, we run groups such as MATCH, Homeless Persons’Legal Services (HPLS), Tai Chi, Gentle Exercise, Wrap WithLove, Bingo, Issues-based Barbecues, Counselling, CareerCounselling, Meditation, English Language Classes, ArabicLanguage Classes, Tax Help and also our Front Counter support.We would in particular like to thank Marrickville Council fortheir financial contribution and the in-kind support they offeredduring the Festival. Thanks to all of our sponsors for theirsupport of Newtown Festival, including the City of SydneyCouncil, Tooheys Pty Ltd, and Realestate.com.This year we have continued the process of streamlining ouraccounting procedures which has resulted in improved financialreporting. We have moved to Westpac Banking Corporation formanaging our funds and payroll; and thank Westpac Banking fortheir ongoing support to the Centre.I would also like to add that the finances of the NewtownNeighbourhood Centre Inc (NNC) are in a healthy and stablestate. We would like to say thank you to Shashanka and SamJenkins for their skill, hard work and continuing support theyshow to the Centre.Wayne TynanTreasurerFINANCIAL REPORTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 2010Newtown Neighbourhood Centre IncorporatedA.B.N. 96 884 462 83340.41.42.43.44.46.47.48.Committee’s ReportIncome StatementIncome Statement: ExpenditureBalance SheetNotes to the Financial StatementsStatement by Members of the CommitteeIndependent Auditor’s ReportCertificate by Members of the Committee

PG 40 PG 41COMMITTEE’SREPORTINCOME STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010Your committee members submit the financial report of theNewtown Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated for the financialyear ended 30 June 2010.Income2010 2009Note $ $Committee MembersThe names of committee members throughout the year and at thedate of this report are:Karen WalshJames ThomasWayne TynanAmalina WallaceGabrielle JonesDavid McGuirePrincipal ActivitiesThe principal activities of the association during the financialyear were:Community ServicesSignificant ChangesNo significant change in the nature of these activities occurredduring the year.Donations 25,476 150,305Festival Income 245,954 134,034Interest Received 26,154 31,293Grants 1,004,756 899,421Hall Hire 30,417 25,9081,332,757 1,240,961Other IncomeMembership 843 329Profit on sale of Fixed Assets - 8,000Gain on sale of assets 12,000 -Management Fees 198,377 59,259211,220 67,5881,543,977 1,308,549Operating ResultThe loss after providing for income tax amounted to$(47,842.00).Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Members of theCommittee.Committee Member:________________________________Karen WalshCommittee Member:________________________________Wayne TynanDated this 14th day of September 2010

PG 42 PG 43INCOME STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010BALANCE SHEETAS AT 30 JUNE 2010Expenditure2010 2009Note $ $Administration Charges 6,200 -Advertising & Promotion 762 2,777Auditors Remuneration - Fees 5,664 4,508Bad Debts 1,662 -Bank Charges 3,692 3,885Computer Expenses 9,932 10,316Consultants Fees 18,155 51,233Depreciation 15,354 8,925Donations 116 85Equipment Purchases 27,106 22,174Festival Equipment Hire/ Expenses 141,146 83,561Insurance 12,344 15,802Internet 4,961 -Interest - Bank - 2,394Licences,Registrations,Permits 23,508 -Management Fees 204,605 -Motor Vehicle Expenses 2,175 26,773Occupational Health & Safety - 2,375Office Expenses 4,690 4,314Program Costs 52,039 66,146Printing, Stationery & Postage 32,359 26,289Property Costs 60,030 74,351Salaries & on costs 901,936 814,759Subscriptions 2,000 5,043Sundry Expenses 1,164 972Telephone, Fax & Internet 14,050 14,008Travelling Expenses 46,169 34,4791,591,819 1,275,169(Loss) Profit before income tax (47,842) 33,380(Loss) Profit for the year (47,842) 33,380Retained earnings at the beginning of the financial year 13,455 18,075Retained earnings (Accumulated losses)at the end of the financial year(34,387) 51,4552010 2009Note $ $AssetsCurrent AssetsCash and cash equivalents 544,421 519,285Trade and other receivables 2 1,457 8,754Total Current Assets 545,878 528,039Non-Current AssetsProperty, plant and equipment 3 48,101 32,700Total Non-Current Assets 48,101 32,700Total Assets 593,979 560,739LiabilitiesCurrent LiabilitiesOther CreditorsAccrued Expenses 69,761 58,060Accrued Audit Fees 5,364 4,000Visa Cards 2,630 3,910PAYG Payable - 5,908Superannuation Payable 133 270Other 33,500 33,500Sundry 611 612111,999 106,260GST Payable 69 17,061Provision for Parental Leave 27,000 -Provision for Redundancy 45,000 -Employee benefits 4 140,343 144,234Grants in Advance 115,955 79,096Other Income in Advance - 12,633Total Current Liabilities 440,366 359,284Total Liabilities 440,366 359,284Net Assets 153,613 201,455Members’ FundsReserves 5 188,000 150,000(Accumulated losses) Retained earnings 6 (34,387) 51,455Total Members’ Funds 153,613 201,455

PG 44 PG 45NOTES TO THEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 201022010 2009$ $Trade and Other ReceivablesCurrentOther Debtors 1,006 -Trade Debtors 5,418 5,660Prepaid Expenses (4,967) 3,0941,457 8,7541 Statement of Significant Accounting PoliciesThis financial report is a special purpose financial reportprepared in order to satisfy the financial reporting requirementsof the Associations Incorporation Act NSW. The committee hasdetermined that the association is not a reporting entity.The financial report has been prepared in accordance with therequirements of the Associations Incorporation Act NSW and thefollowing Australian Accounting Standards:AASB 110:AASB 116:Events after the Balance Sheet DateProperty, Plant and EquipmentEmployee benefits payable later than one year have beenmeasured at the present value of the estimated future cashoutflows to be made for those benefits. Those cashflows arediscounted using market yields on national government bondswith terms to maturity that match the expected timing of cashflows.ProvisionsProvisions are recognised when the association has a legal orconstructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it isprobable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and thatoutflow can be reliably measured.3Plant and EquipmentMotor Vehicles - at Cost 38,025 34,335Less Prov’n for Depreciation (8,964) (17,800)29,061 16,535Furniture & Fittings - at Cost 37,327 37,327Less Prov’n for Depreciation (37,327) (37,327)- -Plant and equipment 89,790 78,205Less Prov’n for Depreciation (70,750) (62,040)19,040 16,165Total Plant and Equipment 48,101 32,700AASB 119:Employee BenefitsAASB 1031:Materiality4Employee BenefitsCurrentProvision for Leave Entitlements 66,534 104,510No other applicable Accounting Standards, AustralianAccounting Interpretations or other authoritative pronouncementsof the Australian Accounting Standards Board have been applied.The financial report has been prepared on an accruals basisand is based on historic costs and does not take into accountchanging money values or, except where specifically stated,current valuations of non-current assets.The following material accounting policies, which are consistentwith the previous period unless otherwise stated, have beenadopted in the preparation of this financial report:5Provision for Sick Pay 20,000 -Provision for Long Service Leave 53,809 39,724ReservesGeneral Reserve140,343 144,234Car Replacement 20,000 15,000Computer Replacement 20,000 15,000Equipment Replacement 20,000 20,000Fixed AssetsLeasehold improvements and office equipment are carried at costless, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation.Maintenance Upgrade 20,000 20,000Contingency 10,000 80,000Reserve for Buildings 28,000 -The depreciable amount of all fixed assets, excluding freeholdland, is depreciated over the asset’s useful life to the associationcommencing from the time the asset is held ready for use.Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter ofeither the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated usefullives of the improvements.Employee BenefitsProvision is made for the association’s liability for employeebenefits arising from services rendered by employees to balancedate. Employee benefits that are expected to be settled withinone year have been measured at the amounts expected to be paidwhen the liability is settled.6Reserve for New Car 10,000 -Reserve for Budget Deficit 50,000 -Reserve for Room Hire 10,000 -(Accumulated Losses) Retained Earnings188,000 150,000Retained earnings at the beginning of the financial year 51,455 18,075Transfer to reserve (38,000) -(Net loss) Net profit attributable to the association (47,842) 33,380(Accumulated losses) Retained earningsat the end of the financial year(34,387) 51,455

PG 46 PG 47STATEMENT BY MEMBERSOF THE COMMITTEEINDEPENDENTAUDITOR’S REPORTTO THE MEMBERS OF NEWTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE INCORPORATEDThe committee has determined that the association is not areporting entity and that this special purpose financial reportshould be prepared in accordance with the accounting policiesoutlined in Note 1 to the financial statements.In the opinion of the committee the financial report as set out onpages 1 to 8:1. Presents a true and fair view of the financial position ofNewtown Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated as at 30 June2010 and its performance for the year ended on that date.2. At the date of this statement, there are reasonablegrounds to believe that Newtown Neighbourhood CentreIncorporated will be able to pay its debts as and when theyfall due.This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of theCommittee and is signed for and on behalf of the Committee by:President:Treasurer:________________________________________Karen Walsh________________________________________Wayne TynanDated this 14th day of September 2010Report on the Financial ReportWe have audited the accompanying financial report, being aspecial purpose financial report, of Newtown NeighbourhoodCentre Incorporated (the association) which comprises thebalance sheet as at 30 June 2010, and the income statement, asummary of significant accounting policies and other explanatorynotes and the statement by members of the committee.Committee’s Responsibility for the Financial ReportThe committee of the association is responsible for thepreparation and fair presentation of the financial report andhave determined that the accounting policies described in Note1 to the financial statements, which form part of the financialreport, are consistent with the financial reporting requirementsof the Associations Incorporations Act NSW 1984 and areappropriate to meet the needs of the members. The committee’sresponsibility also includes establishing and maintaininginternal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentationof the financial report that is free from material misstatement,whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriateaccounting policies; and making accounting estimates that arereasonable in the circumstances.Auditors’ ResponsibilityOur responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial reportbased on our audit. No opinion is expressed as to whether theaccounting policies used, as described in Note 1, are appropriateto meet the needs of the members. We conducted our auditin accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. TheseAuditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethicalrequirements relating to audit engagements and plan and performthe audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financialreport is free from material misstatement.An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidenceabout the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. Theprocedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, includingthe assessment of the risks of material misstatement of thefinancial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making thoserisk assessments, the auditors consider internal control relevantto the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financialreport in order to design audit procedures that are appropriatein the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing anopinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Anaudit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accountingpolicies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimatesmade by the committee, as well as evaluating the overallpresentation of the financial report.The financial report has been prepared for distribution tomembers for the purpose of fulfilling the committee’s financialreporting under the Associations Incorporation Act NSW. Wedisclaim any assumption of responsibility for any reliance on thisreport or on the financial report to which it relates to any personother than the members, or for any purpose other than that forwhich it was prepared.We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficientand appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.IndependenceIn conducting our audit, we have complied with theindependence requirements of Australian professional ethicalpronouncements.Auditors’ OpinionIn our opinion, the financial report of Newtown NeighbourhoodCentre Incorporated presents fairly, in all material respectsthe financial position of Newtown Neighbourhood CentreIncorporated as of 30 June 2010 and of its financial performancefor the year then ended in accordance with the accountingpolicies described in Note 1 to the financial statements.Name of Firm:Name of Partner:Address:Rosenfeld Kant & CoChartered Accountants________________________________Gary WilliamsLevel 24, 101 Grafton Street,Bondi JunctionDated this 10th day of September 2010

PG 48 PG 49CERTIFICATE BY MEMBERSOF THE COMMITTEENOTESI, Karen Walsh of and I, Wayne Tynan of certify that:A.B.C.D.We are members of the committee of NewtownNeighbourhood Centre Incorporated.We attended the annual general meeting of the associationheld on .We are authorised by the attached resolution of thecommittee to sign this certificate.This annual statement was submitted to the members of theassociation at its annual general meeting.ACommittee Member:________________________________Karen WalshCommittee Member:________________________________Wayne TynanDated this 14th day of September 2010

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