to exemplify the inclusive service wrap around
at CSF, with co-location of Good Shepherd
financial counsellors, extension of the Centrelink
community outreach worker now spending a
full day at CSF (due to service demand) and the
monthly optometry clinic and mental health legal
service (through our relationship with Bolton
Clarke). A particularly concerning statistic is that
57% of clients presenting for support at CSF self-
disclose problems with their mental health.
As brilliant as our volunteer community workers
are, CSF is not a specialist service, but we often
find that o ur volunteers are picking up the slack
in service gaps. Over the reporting period, we
have had an increase in acute team call-outs for
the likes of client mental health-related problems
(including suicide ideation). Rather than turning
people away, CSF has embraced its status as a
major ‘soft entry’ point in Frankston for people in
need of support beyond material aid assistance.
Our hosting of large community events - such
as the Frankston Homelessness Week and Anti-
Poverty Week events - is helping to unite more
services and people needing them.
CSF is thankful for the crucial in-kind and staffing
support that Frankston City Council provides as
our longest-standing partner and supporter. We
also wish to acknowledge the support of the R E
Ross Trust and the Frankston Magistrates’ Court
for their contributions to CSF’s Emergency Relief
program.
We acknowledge the Federal Government
Department of Social Services for the Emergency
Relief Grant funding. It was a great opportunity
for CSF to host federal treasurer, Mr Scott
Morrison MP, and the local federal member for
Dunkley, Mr Chris Crewther MP, earlier this year
and to discuss the front-line service impacts of
decreased ER funding and the widening service
gaps that our clients are falling through.
A big welcome to Amy Lee who recently assumed
the role of volunteer case manager, in which
she provides short-term intensive support to
clients with complex needs. Now in the final
stages of her neuropsychology studies, Amy is
one of a number of CSF volunteers who balance
study, work and other commitments with their
volunteering roles.
took place earlier this year which not only raised
much needed funds and awareness for CSF but
spread the important message of ‘homeless
not hopeless’ through the interactive ‘creating
change pods’ that told real-life stories of CSF
clients who had fallen on rough times and who
were helped by CSF’s volunteers and services.
The Frankston Community Appeal had its most
successful fundraising year to date and was
significantly assisted by some very generous
donations, events and more sustainable
fundraising ventures such as the Frankston
Festival of Lights. Congratulations to CSF’s
Joshua Hamilton for receiving the IMPACT
volunteering ‘Frankston Volunteer of the Year’
(youth category) award at the Mayor’s Picnic in
October 2016.
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise
who commenced building works on our shed
structure at the beginning of January and who
continue to support this project to completion.
We also thank Hocking Stuart Frankston who
have partnered with CSF to provide a monthly
donation to sponsor a bulk of our costs for
our ‘free hot meals vouchers’, providing meal
support for those without cooking facilities and
for the donation of our defibrillator unit.
Finally, we extend our thanks and admiration
to all of CSF’s volunteers, leadership team
members, paid staff and board of management
for all the hard work and dedication that goes
into making our internal culture so special. Your
professionalism and energy for helping those
less fortunate than the majority in Frankston
make CSF such a real and respected service.
Thank you.
Sue Smith
Steve Phillips
Thanks to Bayside Shopping Centre (Vicinity
Centres) for the ‘Creating Change Campaign’ that
Community Support Frankston
|
Annual Report 2017
5