EDGE CHURCH

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:32): I wish to speak today about a charity that has gone largely unnoticed but has made a real difference to our local and also our international community. Edge Church International of Reynella has, since 1994, been committed to reaching outside of its own four walls and aiding not only the local community but people on a global scale as well. Today I will be mainly focusing on their local community care arm, which is called Edge Assist.

I will highlight a few of the services they provide to the community. In 2004, the Morphett Vale High School, as it was then, was the recipient of a generous gift from the church: a major overhaul of the external and internal areas throughout the school. Conservatively, the investment from the church and its community partners was said to have added a commercial value to the school at that time of about $350,000. They went in to the school, they had all the volunteers go in (I think about 150 volunteers) and replace the carpets and paint the walls. They did murals and all sorts of things. They planted new plants. The place was unrecognisable after they had finished. They did it all on a volunteer basis. It was all donated to the school by the church.

This project has been a launch pad for many other projects, such as the renovations on the sixth floor of the Women's and Children's Hospital, where a 28-bed accommodation unit was renovated for rural and regional families to stay in whilst their children are undergoing long-term treatment. Along with that renovation they also carried out a colourful renovation of the paediatric outpatients ward area. There is, in fact, a DVD floating around, if members are interested. Again, it was a similar story. They went in to the ward—obviously with the permission of the appropriate people—and totally rejuvenated it. Before that, it was grey, tired and not very pleasant, frankly. However, when they left, it was very colourful and it had all the latest high-end finishes. It looked fantastic; again, at no cost whatsoever to the hospital. It was all paid for by the church.

The Childhood Cancer Association has been overwhelmed by the support of Edge Assist, which has carried out renovations to its respite units and also to its office accommodation, again at no charge.

The most recent transformation project was in 2012, when Edge Assist generously renovated three units in the Adelaide Women's Prison where prisoners live prior to their release. These units were extremely rundown and in need of refurbishment. Edge Assist refurbished the units with new flooring, new paint, brand new kitchens and bedrooms, and new furniture. Along with this they also worked on the area where children come to visit their mothers. They established a new play area with equipment and provided a suitable space for children to bond with their mothers and, again, the transformation was absolutely amazing. Edge Assist also operates a Living Skills program for women due to be released. It provides an excellent opportunity for success for them in re-entering the community.

Edge Assist also provides a school mentoring program in high schools for identified at-risk youth. This includes a breakfast program which provides a nutritional breakfast for those high school students who otherwise may not have a breakfast at all, with the objective to boost their achievement rates whilst at school. Again, this is done at cost to the church. Back to school packs are given to year 8 students at the beginning of the school year which include stationery, food items, drinks and vouchers for recreational activities. Along with these school programs they assist with school events such as sporting days, school camps, lunchtime mentoring programs and even one-on-one student training where that is appropriate.

Another dimension of Edge Assist youth programs is their assistance with homelessness and homeless people in particular. Approximately 20 volunteers give up their Friday nights between 12am and 3 in the morning and run a program to improve city safety and feed the homeless on Hindley Street and surrounding areas.

Edge Assist contributes enormously to its surrounding community and perhaps one of the biggest services it provides at its various facilities throughout South Australia is their Family Support program. Families, or even individuals in crisis, are eligible for these services, which include food hampers and a mobile feeding program. This operates on Tuesday evenings in Christie Downs and on Wednesday evenings in Huntfield Heights. These services are provided in partnership with Drake food markets and Foodbank SA; again, on a completely voluntary and no charge basis.

Edge Church also assists with World Vision, Transform Cambodia and other international organisations to assist children in Africa, Haiti, Cambodia and India. Aid to overseas countries includes sending furniture and provisions or providing or renovating accommodation. In some countries children are provided with food, clothing, education using local teachers, and mentoring.

I believe it is important to recognise the valuable work done by not for profit organisations, such as Edge Assist, which provide these services to numbers of people in South Australia and, as you have just heard, overseas. Obviously these amazing initiatives could not be possible if it were not for the investment and efforts of volunteers and members of this church who continually sacrifice time and money to serve and benefit the disadvantaged in the state and elsewhere.

I have not even scratched the surface of what this amazing place has done and if anyone has the opportunity to see the DVDs they will see it is truly amazing. Again, it is all funded by the church and they do not ask anything of the people they help.