‘ The FLN ’ s major role is in facilitating the resettlement of people who have been displaced from their homes for one reason or another and very often traumatically .‘
CHAIRPERSON ’ S REPORT
The Fitzroy Learning Network ’ s wonderful staff and volunteers have provided another great year of hard work and dedication , strengthening the organisation ’ s ability to work towards its vision of a strong and inclusive society .
Members of Fitzroy Learning Network community come from many places including Afghanistan , China , East Timor , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Iran , Somalia , Sri Lanka , Sudan , South Sudan , Tanzania , Turkey , and Vietnam . They bring with them a wide range of strengths , interests , abilities , knowledge and experiences . Together we work to build greater social , economic and cultural participation in our community .
This year has been an important one for building on and improving our education programs . We have increased the number of classes and as a consequence increased the number of students participating . , In April we had our five year Registered Training Organisation audit conducted by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority ( VRQA ) and received our accreditation for another five years . The VRQA is a statutory authority responsible for ensuring that providers of education and training meet quality standards . It is based in the Victorian Department of Education and Training .
We have strengthened our reporting requirements with the Victorian Government ’ s Adult Community and Further Education body ( ACFE ). ACFE is a statutory authority of the Education Department responsible for promoting adult learning and funds community based organisations to provide learning opportunities .
Previous errors in our systems resulted in a loss of some funding reflected in our small deficit in the 2014-15 year . However we are confident that we will be able to return to surplus in the current financial year .
This year too we began with a largely new board . As such we have spent considerable time in reviewing our strategic plan , strengthening governance and putting in place a process to secure the long-term future of the FLN . This is a dynamic process that continues as we learn to understand and respond to the needs of the community we serve .
The FLN ’ s major role is in facilitating the resettlement of people who have been displaced from their homes for one reason or another and very often traumatically . In the coming years we may see a growth in the number of people seeking our services . At the same time there are growing budgetry pressures on organisations working in this area . We go into the New Year with a strong will to think creatively and to collaborate effectively with like minded organisations and individuals in our community to ensure that the services we offer continue to be relevant and sustainable .
Many thanks to the Board , staff , volunteers and all individuals and organisations who have supported the Fitzroy Learning Network during the past year . We look forward to working with you in the coming years .
Claire Woods
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