Wesley-Mission_Annual_Report_201... - Mike Watson freelance ...

Director’s Report
Community Services
Congratulations to all staff and volunteers across Community Services. We are
continuing to grow and provide a wide range of assistance to those in need.
Most recently, we have partnered with Headspace Fraser Coast to undertake the
lead agency role in providing early intervention services to young people with
mental health issues in the region. We have also recently acquired a property at
Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast which will provide supported accommodation
to six Youngcare Apartment residents with individual support needs.
I would like to highlight a number of
programs and their successes within
Community Services over the past year.
Wesley Mission Brisbane is the long-term service
provider to residents within the Youngcare
Apartments, funded via Disability Services
Queensland. There have been a number of significant
positive shifts in relation to the support provided
to residents, which have resulted in enhanced
choice, independence and empowerment for all.
We are now operating apartments accommodating
six residents at Coomera on the Gold Coast in
addition to 16 at the Sinnamon Village Apartments
Balmoral Uniting Community Centre (BUCC)
has continued its excellent support to the frail
aged and people with disabilities. A partnership
with Moreton Bay Girls College has resulted in
a mutually beneficial relationship. This supports
up to 20 people from surrounding boarding
houses coming together once a fortnight at BUCC
to enjoy a movie, meal and a good chat.
Child Care Services are expanding within Wesley
Mission Brisbane. Over the last 12 months we
have opened a new long day care centre at
Beenleigh and one at Wheller Gardens. We
are also developing plans for a new long day
care centre at The Gap Uniting Church.
The National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment
Service (NABS) also continues to grow. We’ve seen
an increasing number of deaf consumers accessing
interpreting services for private medical appointments,
along with other vital services. NABS is critical to the
deaf community in ensuring they receive access to clear
and appropriate advice from their health care providers.
Our Therapy Centres continue to provide an excellent
array of allied health services to the community and
to our residential aged care facilities, and Community
Care programs continue to receive high quality
status from their various audits. Community Care has
also been working on implementing a new software
and technology solution which will make significant
improvements to administrative processes, improving
response times and rostering.
Hadden Place Day Respite Service deserves
much praise for their very creative and groundbreaking
work with people and families who live
with dementia. Hadden Place has introduced the
Humour Intervention Project (HIP) which has been
very successful and are also undertaking research into
the use of iPad and tablet technology with clients.
Meanwhile, the team at MailpaQ are now back in full
operation following a challenging year rebuilding after
the 2011 floods. All Wesley Mission Brisbane printing
is now completed by MailpaQ and this section of the
service is continuing to grow in the wider community.
Finally, in Brisbane’s southern suburbs Logan City
Services continues to provide much needed services
to young people and adults in the both Logan and
Gold Coast areas who are at risk of homelessness
and disengaging from education. Gold Coast Service
Hub programs continue to flourish with the inclusion
of the Regional Youth Support Coordinator role and
service delivery to “Thrower House” in Currumbin.
Michelle Skinner
Director, Community Services
44 45