For all media enquiries please call Julie Stefanoff on 0417 411 400
Community News - April 2011
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Community News - November 2010
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Community News - February 2010
Homeless Childrens Support Services - New Funding for Bethany Media Release
Launch of Tute Groups - Bethany Shell Homework Club Media Release
Community Support Fund Grant for Building Appeal Media Release
Shell announces its support for Bethany’s Homework Clubs - Nov 08 News Release
140th Annual General Meeting - Nov 08 News Release
Bethany and Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative unveil plaque to acknowledge traditional owners of land - Nov 08 News Release
Bethany Opens Grovedale Office - Nov 08 News Release
2010 Gee long Father of the Year Award
Vince Radicevski and Grandson Adam
Photo courtesy of Ferne Millen
On Friday 3 September in front of a crowd of more than 340 business and community leaders, Bell Post Hill man, Vince Radicevski was announced as this years Gee long Father of the Year.
The Gee long Father of the Year , a partnership between Bethany, Gee long Advertiser , Rotary Club of Gee long and sponsored by the Bendigo Bank is unique in that its local children who nominate their dad, grandad, step dad , teacher, brother, uncle or special bloke to be the awards recipient.
Adam said he nominated Vince because "he has made me who I am today" after his parents separated.
Vince told the crowd, who had earlier been treated to an insight of the world of fathering by comedian Peter Rowsthorn, that whilst he had lost his son earlier this year he had been blessed because he had given him Adam.
This years award attracted over 1000 entries from schools across the region.
New Programs for Bethany
Valuable help for Volunteers
As part of a $21 million announcement to boost funding for Volunteers in community agencies the Federal government has announced that Bethany will receive a funding boost.
This new money will enable Bethany to implement an 'Ambassador program attached to our Housing services.
The ambassadors will act as meet n greet for new public housing tenants in the Northern Suburbs, pointing tenants in the direction of the doctors, shopping centres, schools etc and generally welcoming people to the are.
Bethany has also been provided with another 12 months funding from the federal government to continue its Parents and Kids in Schools Program.
Parents and Kids in Schools Program
Bethany’s highly successful Parents and Kids in Schools Program (PAKS) recently received a further 12 months funding from the federal government to continue its valuable work in schools.
Funded by the Department of Families and Community, Housing and Indigenous Affairs, the program commenced in 2005. It aims to develop family relationships skills through greater involvement and participation in the school community by parents, with a particular focus on fathers. The program runs a series of activities and family events to help create stronger families in the community.
In its five year life span the program has worked with North Shore, East Gee long, Corio and Whittington primary schools engaging 900 children and 757 families through 64 activity based events, such as parents trivia nights, talent shows, Christmas concerts, art workshops and fathers day celebrations.
Kinship Care
Bethany has been awarded new funding of $528,000 per year to provide new placement and support services for those children and young people who are unable to live with their own families in the Barwon Sub Region.
Kinship Care is the care provided by relatives or a member of a child’s social network when a child cannot live with their parents.
Grant Boyd CEO of Bethany said ‘We are delighted to have been selected to provide this new important service to the region.
Kinship Care services will work to effectively harness the capacity of extended family networks to provide the best possible kinship care arrangements for children unable to live with their own parents.
We will work to assist kinship carers to provide ongoing age appropriate life experiences for the child with the minimum level of professional intervention from the formal service system, building on their informal supports and other available community resources.
We will also work to ensure that the kinship care placements arranged for the most vulnerable children as a result of child protection involvement are more effectively established, supported and monitored to ensure that they meet each child’s ongoing safety, stability and developmental needs’ he said
Funding for this new service is until June 2012 and is through the Department of Human Services, Child and Family Services.
Homeless Children's Specialist Support Service
Bethany has also been awarded new funding of $350,000 per year to provide a new service to homeless children in the Barwon South West Region.
The program is one of only four new programs recently funded as part of the development of the state government’s new 2020 Homelessness Strategy. The Homeless Children's Specialist Support Service will provide a broader range of support for children in homeless families focussing on dependent children aged up to 12 but with capacity to support children up to the age of 18.
Grant Boyd CEO of Bethany said “The impact of homelessness can cause serious and long lasting issues for children including developmental delay, interrupted education and physical and mental health problems. This new service will enable us to provide a flexible and immediate response to improve the support for children accessing the homelessness service system, thereby decreasing the impact of trauma on the child’s immediate and long term emotional and physical wellbeing.”
The program will provide assessment, case planning, enhanced case management and therapeutic group work and work to improve access to specialist and mainstream support resources for children and families experiencing homelessness” Mr. Boyd said.
The service will also help reduce the stress on parents by assisting them to resolve the support issues of their children thereby enhancing their capacity to address their individual and family needs.
Funding for this new service is until June 2012 and is through the Office of Housing – Department of Human Services Victoria.
Bethany 's 140th Anniversary Celebrations
Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria
Photo courtesy Ferne Millen Photography
On 22 May Bethany held a dinner to celebrate 140 years of Supporting and Strengthening the Community which was attended by Bethany's Patron the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, AC (pictured) and the Hon Lisa Neville MP, Minister for Mental Health, Senior Victorians and Community Services.
The dinner was a celebration of an agency that has remained on its original site for 140 years.
During the evening the Governor also launched Bethany's latest book, which covers the last 30 years of the agency.
Last year Bethany commissioned local author Susan Kruss to write the new book titled. Bethany: Serving the Community. A Social History, 1977-2007.
This book in conjunction with an earlier book by Shurlee Swain written in 1975 titled A Refuge at Kildare ensures that the rich history of the organisation and the stories within it are documented for future generations.
Copies of both books are available and can be purchased for $16.50 (plus P&P ).
For more information or to place an order call Julie Stefanoff on 5245 2822
Bethany 140th Anniversary Building Appeal
Mr Robert Costa Appeal Patron
On 13 November, Bethany launched its 140th Anniversary Building Development Appeal.
The Appeal Patron Mr Robert Costa spoke to the assembled guests about the importance of the work that Bethany does within the broader community and also announced two major donations to the appeal.
The Costa Family Foundation have pledged $150,000.00 to the appeal whilst the Howard Glover Perpetual Charitable Trust through United Way Geelong have pledged $100,000.00.
If you would like to know more about the appeal click here.
Launch of the 2008 Geelong Father of the Year Award
On Thursday 17 July the 2008 Geelong Father of the Year Award was launched at Whittington Primary School.
The Award is a partnership between Bethany, the Geelong Advertiser and the Rotary Club of Geelong and sponsored by the Bendigo Bank.
Each year primary and secondary school children can enter the Award by writing in and telling us why his or her father or father figure should be Geelong's best Dad.
Last year entries where received from across the region. This year the winning dad will be announced, in front of a crowd of more than 390, at the breakfast awards ceremony to be held on 5 September at the Geelong Football Club.
This years special guest speakers at the Breakfast are father and daughter, broadcasters, Tim and Sam Lane and the MC is as always, Coodabeen Champion Ian Cover. The breakfast award ceremony is now sold out.
For more information about the 2008 Geelong Father of the Year Award and to view the fantastic prizes, click here.
if you would like to enter the Award you can download a copy of the entry form by clicking the link below or contact Melanie Pearce at Bethany on 5278 8122.
Pit Stop- a FREE Parenting Tune up for DAD's
Bethany Community Support is bringing Pit Stop!- a parenting tune up for dads, to the Children's HUB, Grossmans Road Torquay for an eight week course commencing April 22.
This free eight week program commences at 6.30pm until 8.30pm and each week will focus on a strategy to enhance the father child relationship such as Why Dads Matter To Kids, Developing Your Own Parenting Style, Improving Family Communication and Closeness, Steering Your Children Through Stressful Stages, Disciplining the Kids Without Losing it… or Them!, Balancing Life, Work and Family, Working as a Team (Partners are invited along to one of the sessions) and Identifying and Implementing Change in Your Family.
Places are limited so if you want to make sure that your family is ‘firing on all cylinders’ then contact Bethany Community Support on 5278 8122.
Saver Plus awarded Best Socially Responsible Product
Saver Plus,a matched savings and financial literacy program, was announced as a Gold winner in the Best Socially Responsible Product category in Money Magazine’s Best of the Best 2008 Awards this week.
The Money Magazine awards, which recognised excellence in financial products and services, were announced on Tuesday 4 December at a ceremony in Sydney.
The award recognises the effectiveness of Saver Plus in helping families improve their financial literacy skills and develop a savings habit.
Saver Plus has been highly effective at changing the saving habits of families on lower incomes, with 75 per cent of participants reporting they are still saving the same or more 12 or 24 months after completing the program.
Saver Plus has shown to have a positive impact on the educational experiences of children of participants and increases self-esteem, strengthens family unity and improves financial knowledge and confidence of participants.
By improving financial literacy among people on lower incomes, Saver Plus helps to break the cycle of disadvantage, giving people financial tools to help themselves.
Participants remain in the program for 10-18 months during which time they complete MoneyMinded financial training. Their savings are also matched $1 for $1 (up to $1,000), and are used to pay for educational items like computers, text books and uniforms.
Saver Plus has been previously recognised for its contribution to financial literacy and inclusion, through the 2006 and the 2007 Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.
Shell HSE Contractors Safety Forum fundraises for Bethany's Men and Family Relationships
Safety at work is an important aspect of everyone's day to day working life, and this year the Shell/HSE Contractor Forum, made up of 30 businesses who contract to the Shell Geelong Refinery, decided that whilst undergoing their yearly business plans they would use the opportunity to raise funds for Bethany's Men and Family Relationships Program.
Over the past 3 months whilst undergoing their yearly safety reviews and compliance training, every time one of business partners in the forum reached their goal they submitted funds to the appeal and today
(26th October) they presented Aileen Ashford, Chief Executive with a cheque for $10,000.
Bethany would like to thank all the businesses involved for their support and generosity which will enable us to
provide additional opportunities to the 400 men each year who access the program.
Surfcoast Men's Emotional Health Needs Analysis
Bethany has recently released a needs analysis of the Emotional Health Needs of men living on the Surfcoast.
The needs analysis was completed in consultation with a number of community organisations including the Surfcoast Shire, CFA, Time for Youth and others.
To view a copy of the document follow the link below
Men's Emotional Health Needs Analysis
Bethany Arthouse Film Festival 2008 Launch
Photo: Mr Denis Leahy, Target Australia, Dr Sarah Leach President Bethany Board of Management & Mrs Katrina Leahy
On Thursday 3 April, Bethany Community Support launched its 11th Annual Bethany Arthouse Film Festival. Opening night was well attended with over 320 people enjoying the Russian film, 'The Italian'.
The festival continues in June with the screening of 'The Lives of Others', the winner of the 2006 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, on Thursday 5 June at 8 pm.
The festival is Bethany's major fundraiser for the year and has, in the past, raised vital funds for a variety of programs offered to the community through Bethany Community Support.
139th Annual General Meeting
On Tuesday 13 November Bethany held its 139 Annual General Meeting.
Dr Sarah Leach, President of the Board of Bethany conducted the meeting and also announced and launched the organisations Strategic Plan for 2007-10. A copy of the Plan can be downloaded form this website.
Also announced during the meeting was a new Strategic Alliance with Time For Youth (formerly known as BYAS).
A copy of the Annual Report can be downloaded from this web site or a hard copy can be forwarded to you simply contact Bethany on 5278 8122
Geelong Father of the Year Award
Walter Mikac and Mark Gray
Congratulations to Mark Gray Winner of the 2007 Geelong Father of the Year Award
Mark who lives in Grovedale was nominated by his son Jordan.
Besides his own two children Mark has been 'foster dad' to over 30 children. Some stayed overnight whilst others stayed weeks, months and years. Jordan said in his entry that his Dad treats all the children equally and that even if he did not win this award he would always be 'Father of the Year to them".
The winning 'dad' received
- a Family Pass to 'Shipwrecked' Sound and Laser show plus dinner and overnight accommodation
- a family pass the Flagstaff Hill maritime museum
- a 12 month Family pass to the City of Greater Geelong Swim Sport and Leisure centres
- whilst the child who nominated wins a $200 Bendigo Bank Savings Account.
- A framed family portrait is also awarded by the Geelong Advertiser
- whilst the Rotary Club of Geelong presents the winning Dad a plaque to mark the occasion.
18 July 2007
Launch of the 2007 Geelong Father of the Year Award
On Wednesday 18 July the 2007 Geelong Father of the Year Award was launched at North Shore Primary school.
The Award, a partnership between Bethany Community Support, the Geelong Advertiser and the Rotary Club of Geelong and is sponsored by the Bendigo Bank recognises the important role of men in children's lives is unique in that children and teenagers themselves nominate the winner.
The nominations can be either their father, grandfather,uncle or someone who is like a father to them.
The winning dad receives:
- a Family Pass to 'Shipwrecked' Sound and Laser show plus dinner
- overnight accommodation plus a family pass the Flagstaff Hill maritime museum
- a 12 month Family pass to the City of Greater Geelong Swim Sport and Leisure centres
whilst the child who nominated wins a $200 Bendigo Bank Savings Account.
A framed family portrait is also awarded by the Geelong Advertiser whilst the Rotary Club of Geelong presents the winning Dad with a plaque to mark the occasion.
This year the children at the launch were entertained by Circus 3230 from Anglesea, whose performance enthralled,entertained and delighted the children on a cold winters morning.
The winning dad is then announced at the Awards Breakfast which this year is on Friday 31 August at the Fred Flanagan Room, Geelong Football Club. This year the Guest speaker at the event is Walter Mikac and the 2007 Patron of the Award is Frank Costa OAM the very first guest speaker.
The Breakfast is as popular as ever with the event selling out in early July.
Friday 22 June
Local Geelong Program Wins the 2007 National Drug & Alcohol Award for Excellence in Services to Young People.
The Supporting Kids and their Environment (SKATE) program in Geelong has won the 2007 National Drug and Alcohol Excellence in Services to Young People award.
This program, with Glastonbury Child and Family Services and Barwon Health, identifies the need for ‘whole of family’ approaches to substance abuse to promote positive outcomes both for the young people and their parents.
The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative effort of the Ted Noffs Foundation, The Australian Drug Foundation, The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian National Council on Drugs.
It is estimated around 10,000 Australians now work directly in drug and alcohol treatment across Australia with a further 8,500 in associated sectors.
The winners of the 2007 Awards where announced at a Gala event in Sydney on Friday 22 June
21 May 2007
Launch of Saver Plus
Saver Plus - a matched savings and Financial Literacy program was officially launched on Thursday 21 May at the Malop St Branch of ANZ bank in Geelong.
The program, originally developed by the ANZ bank and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, is being delivered in the Barwon South Western region by Bethany Community Support.
Guests at the launch where able to hear first hand from the Regional CEO
of the ANZ Bank, Andrew Tennant how the program is operating from a national perspective, as it is now being delivered in 18 communities throughout Australia, whilst Bethany's Saver Plus Financial Counsellor James Tippet, outlined the programs progress to date here in Geelong.
May 9 2007
Minister Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Community Services launches Barwon Child FIRST
On May 9 Gavin Jennings MP Minister for Community Services officially launched the ‘Barwon Child Family Information, Referral and Support Team (Child FIRST)’ centre at Bethany Community Support in Geelong.
The Barwon Child FIRST service will be operated by Bethany Community Support on behalf of the Barwon Alliance - which consists of service providers including: Barwon Family Resource Centre, Barwon Youth Accommodation Service, Bellarine Community Health, Glastonbury Child and Family Services, Diversitat, City of Greater Geelong, Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative and the Department of Human Services.
This is the first of nine services to be opened across Victoria in 2007 and will provide the community with a single entry point to all Family Services in the City of Greater Geelong, Surfcoast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe.
‘Child FIRST teams are being established as part of the new Children, Youth and Families Act, the result of the first overhaul of child protection laws in a generation.
Child FIRST will involve family and community services and child protection working closely together to meet the best interests of each child
They will then link them into the best available local services such as maternal and child health services, mothers’ groups, parent support groups or mental health, and drug or alcohol counselling services as required.
If a family has more urgent needs, the service may offer temporary support while a long-term plan is developed with local agencies’ Mr Jennings said.
Aileen Ashford, Chief Executive Officer, Bethany Community Support said ‘We are delighted to be the first centre to be launched under this new legislation and as nine agencies are part of the Barwon Alliance, this is a true partnership of agencies working together to ensure that the community receives the best possible outcome when seeking Family Services within the region’
During his visit Mr. Jennings also took the opportunity to speak with clients of Bethany’s New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN) program, an early years intervention program that offers structured family support including initial home visits, therapeutic group work, developmental and educational opportunities as well as focusing on strengthening the mother and child relationship whilst developing parenting skills.
5-06-2006
Advanced Notice of 2006 Father of
the Year
Put
it in your diaries now because this one's sure to be a sell out.
The 2006
Geelong Father of the Year Award breakfast will be held on Friday
1 September in the Fred Flanagan Room at Skilled Stadium.
Special
Guest speaker is one of Australia's most popular stage and screen
actors, William McInnes. His roles in Blue Heelers and Sea Change
made him a household name and his successful debut novel, 'A Man's
Got to Have A Hobby', about his relationship with his father, has
provided yet another insight into McInnes' talent.
William
McInnes is married to award winning director, Sarah Watt (Look Both
Ways) and lives in Melbourne with their two children.
The Geelong
Father of the Year Award celebrates fatherhood through children's
eyes, inviting children in this area of regional and rural Victoria
to submit in 100 words or less why they think their father, or father
figure, deserves to be Geelong's Father of The Year. Bethany
joins two other partners in hosting the Award - the Geelong Advertiser
and the Rotary Club of Geelong. More information on how to enter
and to book tickets to the breakfast event will be in the next edition.
|
Bethany
Community Support has received national recognition for its work
with at-risk children and families in the Geelong region.
Bethany Community Support and Glastonbury Child and Family Services held a
special luncheon on the eve of International Women's Day, to raise money for
the women and children of Sri Lanka, who have had their lives torn apart by
the Tsunami. More than 130 friends and employees attended the function and
over $2000 was raised for the Kantha Shakthi (which means 'strength of women
'), which is an independent, non-government women's organisation based in
Colombo, Sri Lanka.