Annual Report 2012 - Lifeline Darling Downs

Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd 2012 Annual Report
Men and Relationship Program (MARP)
by Alan Dean, Manager Federal & Other Funding
This program has a three prong approach: free counselling to men and their families, group
work eg. Outrage and Hey Dad done in our facilities and in other areas such as schools or
community centres, and developing community inclusion projects to provide sustainable
ongoing support for marginalised men to their community.
The Team
At the start of the year MARP had reduced its activities to eight hours of evening
counseling
hours were increased to do more counseling and to prepare for the funding body a
Disadvantaged Client Access Strategy (VADCAS). This is to be our blue print for the
next two years. In February, we finalised our contractors and we hired a fulltime
Coordinator for the program, Andrew Spring.
Achievements
Our Access strategy was accepted and we are well on the way to meeting its
demands.
Andrew Spring has increased our counselling by over 400% and has reduced Did Not
Attend (DNAs) from 40% to 10%.
In May alone he had 24 new clients.
He was away for a couple of days and there were 12 referrals waiting for him.
We have negotiated with our Yarnin Up program to provide free counseling and
workshops for the indigenous men who attend the Shed (see Yarnin up Report).
Challenges
The main focus will be on fulfilling our access strategy especially in relationship to the
Indigenous community.
The demand for our revitalized service is greater than our capacity.
Future directions
We will have a part-time counsellor/community worker Asha Honeysett for next year.
We will be conducting workshops this upcoming year and using volunteers and
contractors to expand our capacity.
We are negotiating with Indigenous groups to offer our services.
38
37