Executive Manager’s Report
Our Volunteering program has been restructured
and we do look forward to appointing a new
manager for this very soon. The program will
be fully operational early in the New Year.
A major development this year has been the building
of our relationship with the Atherton Gardens estate
residents, managers and staff. This has led to the roll
out of additional programs on the estate, including the
development of a Computer Clubhouse Satellite. This
whole process has been an exciting one and promises
to enhance the community building project of the FLN.
FLN has welcomed and embraced many people over
the years. Some were local residents struggling to
connect with each other due to age and/or isolation
from their families. Some others were from new migrant
and refugee and new residents whose visa status
allows access to English lessons for 500 hours or
700 hours. Also, we have numerous young residents
who are engaged at the Computer Clubhouse. Our
capacity to host youth after school is stretching.
Originally set up to host 20 youth and facilitate their
access to technology while encouraging positive role
models, many young people have benefited from the
CCH and retained their schooling participation while
others have been highly motivated to further study.
I began work here this year in what is FLN’s 30th
Anniversary and I would like to congratulate all past
and current stakeholders. FLN over the years has been
able to create a holistic model attuned to the needs
of the local community, responsive and sustainable.
We deliver foundational skills, paths for employment
and generally aim to support people who are eager to
overcome challenges and disadvantages they face. Our
open and welcoming spirit draws from a strong sense
of fairness and a well founded approach that has at
its base a respect for others and our own humanity.
Ten per cent of our local residents are new migrants
or are from refugee backgrounds. Most share a vision
to obtain education, employment and learn how to
improve their lives in their new society. Numerous
new university graduates, entrepreneurs, practising
professionals, tradespeople and workers are committed
to working and living in Melbourne. There are many
challenges for those who have lived in detention
centres for long periods of time, displaced from
country to country, or escaped suddenly into other
nations. Also we know that many continue to struggle
in their daily life and the scars of these journeys are
damaging. At FLN we witness how students and
members have developed a relentless attitude towards
having responsibility for their own lives, for their own
work and a commitment to acting appropriately.
FLN is not just a place, it is an entity, an organisation
that has developed a work culture where people
are respected and supported, working side by side
with local residents, volunteers and new residents.
Our students and service users come mainly from
the Atherton Gardens Housing Estate, high rise
buildings that consist of four towers with twenty
storey blocks, ten flats on each floor with a total of
eight hundred apartments. This place houses two
thousands residents. Most come from Vietnam, China
and Laos, Central Asia and the Middle East, Sudan,
Somalia, Ethiopia, former Yugoslavia, among others.
Our staff are driven by the conviction that together we
can achieve positive outcomes. Our network values
diversity and difference. We know the importance
of working transparently and seek further support
for much needed investment in the organisation.
Our English for All classes are for people who are yet
to have a legal status in Australia. Current policies
prevent a more humane transition into Australian
social life. We aim to review and develop this area
over the coming year and to actively advocate
for change to inhumane government policies.
In a nutshell, FLN staff and volunteers have worked
together this year with over 560 people who have
accessed our services each week. We deliver over 120
hours of classes, 30 hours more than during 2013. We
have increased the number of staff including the addition
of a dedicated Education Coordinator. New roles have
also been added to administration and maintenance.
Working in this organisation we are teaming up with
people who know that change is possible and despite all
odds we strive to create a better place, better future and
more harmonious environment for our local residents.
We also know that in order to prepare people to obtain
meaningful work and employment, foundation education
and paths to further study are at the heart of local
residents ability to achieve their aspirations and dreams.
The Computer Clubhouse has gone through some
major change and development. We are in the process
of contracting a new Coordinator for this program
and in the mean time Ror Akot, Belinda Lauria and
Ben Charly Brown have been sharing this role.
This year we have seen the departure of much loved
staff members who devoted significant numbers
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