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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-03 Daily Xml
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AnglicareSA

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:15): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises that AnglicareSA has been supporting South Australians in need for more than 150 years;

2. Acknowledges the contributions of more than 1,800 AnglicareSA staff and 400 volunteers who support more than 55,000 people each year; and

3. Notes the valuable role that AnglicareSA plays in South Australia through its social service programs including housing and homelessness, NDIS services, aged care, foster care, emergency assistance, financial counselling and literacy, Aboriginal services, new arrivals, children, youth and families.

It is a great honour to rise today to move this motion in my name to acknowledge the remarkable history and importance of Anglicare South Australia. For more than 150 years, AnglicareSA has been one of the leading organisations for supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people set on the guiding principles of 'justice, respect and life for all'.

Anglicare's history began in 1860 when Julia Farr led the establishment of South Australia's earliest Anglican charitable organisation, The Orphan Home. The home cared for young girls aged five to 12, and sparked the founding of several Anglican homes throughout South Australia, which provided support and care for hundreds of children and women seeking refuge.

In the 1940s, Bishop Robin proposed to the Anglican church to authorise the establishment of a Social Welfare Committee and Bureau. The Bureau offered support which included placing children into homes and adoption, supplying clothing and funds, and soon also began providing aged care services. From this humble beginning, the bureau quickly discovered an escalating need in the community for various social support services. In 1998, the name 'Anglicare' was introduced to South Australia, and in 2000 AnglicareSA was independently incorporated officially gaining not-for-profit status.

What started as a single building on Carrington Street in Adelaide's CBD over 150 years ago is now 1,800 hardworking staff, 400 dedicated volunteers and a diverse portfolio of social services programs by Anglicare that supports more than 55,000 South Australians each year. As shadow minister for communities, I am passionate about addressing the social issues which continue to be causing challenges amongst our most vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the state. Supporting the organisations that support people in need is vital to giving all South Australians a better future.

I wish to put on the public record the Liberal Party's strong support and deep appreciation of the valuable role that Anglicare plays in South Australia through its social services program. I want to take this opportunity to speak on some of the many programs that they provide, and to provide the chamber with a quick snapshot of the scale of Anglicare's wide-ranging services. These are some of the highlights from the 2021-22 annual report:

In 2021-22, Anglicare supported more than 51,500 people and clothed more than 5,000 people through the Thread Together program.

1,374 disability and mental health clients, including NDIS, were supported.

Anglicare owned or managed more than 2,100 homes and supported nearly 5,000 tenants across our state.

More than 750 permanent residents and 87 transition and respite care residents were supported across six residential care homes, and earlier this year AnglicareSA was recognised as the most highly commended residential aged care brand trusted in South Australia by the Reader's Digest Australian Trusted Brand Survey.

Anglicare Housing, better known as Believe Housing Australia, is one of Australia's leading social and affordable housing providers. Across the country, skyrocketing market prices have put home ownership out of reach for an increasing number of people, and escalating costs of private rentals leaves low-income earners without enough money for basic needs like food, heating and clothing. A dire shortage of social and affordable housing means only a fraction of those who need a place to call home can achieve it. More than ever, people are turning to providers like Believe Housing Australia for support.

Believe Housing Australia support covers community housing as well as housing for older people, young people and First Nations people. Believe Housing Australia is providing valuable guidance and assistance for all types of disadvantaged people, and helping to address the national affordable housing problem. Another key area of support provided by Anglicare is in disability and wellbeing, which I mentioned earlier. This program ranges from support camps and therapy sessions to personalised one-on-one services, to supporting transition to NDIS.

AnglicareSA also provides home care services for older people who want to live with more freedom and independence but still require assistance. The program is tailored to suit the individual care needs of each client and help them stay active and healthy, keep up with social activities, friends and family. Whether it is assistance with domestic care, transportation, safety modifications to their homes, or nursing or health support, Anglicare helps older people continue to live their lives according to their choices.

Anglicare also provides a range of support for children, young people and families, initiatives they are perhaps best known for, and have been supporting the community since its inception. For Anglicare all families—no matter what their situation—provides basic support through childcare centres, parenting and family support programs, as well as specialised support programs for postnatal support such as Staying Attached, and the Autism-Specific Early Learning and Care Centre.

Anglicare also provides foster care support. There are times, unfortunately, when some children and young people are unable to live with their birth families, even sometimes for a short period of time, or in a more permanent situation. Anglicare recognises that children and young people need a stable home environment, and they help these young people to transition into independent adults.

I want to turn my attention to the Community Connections Program that was implemented by the Marshall Liberal government in 2021, to support socially-isolated people to increase their independence and build strong and sustainable social and community connections. This includes helping people to get involved in local community activities, find new support groups, get some personal goals, and access information referrals for other services as needed.

What I have mentioned today are just a number of amazing programs by Anglicare. I am particularly looking forward to attending the Anglicare annual Cathedral Banquet this coming Friday, 4 November, joining the Hon. Michelle Lensink and Josh Teague, member for Heysen. The Cathedral Banquet is a major fundraising event to support the growing demand for AnglicareSA's emergency assistance programs which support more than 12,000 South Australians each year with emergency food relief, warm clothes, one-off rent assistance, financial counselling, and referrals to other wraparound services such as homelessness and suicide prevention.

Last year, the 2021 Cathedral Banquet raised $157,000 in support of Anglicare-funded programs. I want to express special thanks for all the generous donations and attendance by all the supporters. It is just another example of generosity that is demonstrated in our South Australian community.

I want to wholeheartedly express my gratitude to AnglicareSA. I want to make a special mention to congratulate the leadership: the CEO of AnglicareSA, Mr Grant Reubenicht; the new chair of both the AnglicareSA and Believe Housing Australia boards, Mr Tim Sarah; and all the volunteer board members who donate their time, skills, knowledge and expertise to manage and govern the affairs of AnglicareSA.

Congratulations to the entire team and volunteer staff for their amazing work every day to help disadvantaged and vulnerable South Australians. I look forward to working closely with AnglicareSA going forward. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. S.L. GAME (16:25): I rise in support of the motion moved by the honourable member, recognising AnglicareSA and the incredible work they have done for the South Australian community for over 150 years. In particular, I would like to acknowledge their work with young people transitioning out of state residential care and the foster care systems. Their Launch 180 program offers high-level support for 16 to 18 year olds exiting the state system. It guides them towards independence by assisting with housing, cooking, cleaning, budgeting and shopping, goal setting, education, assessing health and other services and employment training and volunteer pathways.

Those 18 to 25 year olds exiting care who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability or who are at risk of homelessness are incorporated under the Post Care Pathway program. This program incorporates accommodation, employment assistance, alternative education and training, mentoring, wellbeing and participation. It encourages practical skills, such as gaining a driver's licence, enrolling to vote and engaging in wellbeing programs and local community initiatives, and provides guidance in forming relationships and, where appropriate, reconnecting with kin.

Both programs act as an anchor so that young people can focus on their pathway to living independently. I support the motion put forward by the honourable member, as I support the government in expanding funding for this service. There would be a detrimental gap for young people exiting residential and foster care without AnglicareSA.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. R.B. Martin.

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