2019 ANNUAL REVIEW
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION02
RACV Community Foundation
The RACV Foundation exists to improve lives and community wellbeing.
Since it was founded in 1997, it has supported over 500 Victorian charity
and community groups through a variety of grants to support Victorians
in some of our most vulnerable communities.
2018-2019 at a glance
This year the Foundation Board re-set its purpose to
direct our support around efforts that aim to reduce
social isolation within the Victorian community.
We do this by funding organisations that support young,
new and older Victorians through programs that seek to
build new skills and confidence and create a sense of
belonging and purpose with others in their community.
This year, we have provided $751,000 to 14 grassroots
not-for-profit programs, with grants ranging from
$11,450 to $150,000. This report includes some of
the stories behind the organisations and programs
supported by these grants.
We’re excited about how these initiatives will provide
opportunities for people to engage at a human level
with each other, sharing in conversation, enjoying each
other’s cultures and learning from each other.
$751K
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14grassrootscommunityorganisations
There are three tiers of funding available.
1 Helping Hand Grant Grants between $5,000 and $20,000 are
available for organisations and projects that
require efficiency, capability or operational
improvements. This can include (but is not
restricted to) support for upgrading/replacing
equipment, resources, or process improvements.
2 Scaling Up Grant Grants between $20,000 and $50,000 are
available for organisations seeking to build
or demonstrate the effectiveness and impact
of their programs. Grants may be provided
(but are not restricted) to pilot test or evaluate
initiatives, scale up programs to increase
impact or build capacity to do so.
3 Scaling Out Grant Grants between $50,000 and $150,000
are available to support organisations and
programs with proven capability, capacity
and impact in RACV’s areas of focus and
the potential or desire to broaden reach
and/or impact. We are particularly interested
in innovative approaches and models that
have evidence of their proven effectiveness
and the impact that can be had by scaling
up or scaling out to assist more Victorians
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 03
As part of its ongoing ‘matched giving’ program, RACV
gives $2 for every $1 raised from staff donations, and
selected events.
For more information about RACV’s Community
Foundation, you can visit
www.racv.com.au/foundation
Graeme Chipp
Chairman RACV
Community Foundation
Neil Taylor
RACV Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer
We thank our members for their continued support to better the lives of all Victorians and in particular, the generous support of our donors, many of whom have been giving to the Foundation since its inception.
SCALING UP GRANT RECIPIENT
UMBRELLA DEMENTIA CAFES
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION04
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 05
STREAT
STREAT is a hospitality social enterprise
dedicated to helping disadvantaged
young people. Sip by sip and bite by
bite, STREAT is serving up a new start
and giving a future to those in need.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION06
STREAT provides supported vocational training and holistic
personal support to young people aged 16-24 who really
need a hand.
Ultimately, after undergoing on-the-job training
and mentoring, STREAT participants graduate
with a Certificate II in hospitality and can be
supported into open employment through the
STREAT’s Ahead job placement program.
That is where the RACV Community Foundation has
stepped in. It is providing $100,000 to expand the
STREAT’s Ahead program which provides graduates
with the opportunity of six months in open employment
with a hospitality partner organisation.
“We piloted this program in 2015 with a commercial
restaurant providing six months work for STREAT
graduates which proved to be a great success – the
average time a STREAT graduate has spent with the
partner employer was 16 months” says Elise Bennetts,
the organisation’s Chief Relationships Officer.
One success story is Sarah (not her real name)
who has turned her life around since coming to
STREAT as a vulnerable, scared young woman.
She had overcome domestic violence, homelessness,
social isolation and anxiety but finally found a sense
of belonging through STREAT’s hands-on training and
mentoring programs.
Sarah discovered her talent for perfect pastries and
went on to join the STREAT’s Ahead job placement
program with a hospitality partner’s bakery. She is
currently doing an internship.
“Successful work transition is critical to whole of life
outcomes,” says Elise.
Research shows if a young
person keeps their first job for
a year, they have a 85 per cent
chance of permanent lifetime
employment.
SCALING OUT GRANT RECIPIENT - STREAT
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 07
Background
STREAT co-founders Bec Scott and Kate Barrelle started
STREAT a decade ago with a food cart in Federation Square.
They began with six homeless young people and three staff
and have grown the organisation which now assists over
350 young people a year.
The organisation has seven cafes, a coffee roastery, bakery
and a catering and function business and is currently 75 per
cent self-funded by their own business operations, the other
25 per cent is funded through collaborations such as with
the RACV Community Foundation.
Over time, STREAT staff realised that creating a place for young
people to belong was important to the success of programs.
While the focus was initially on youth homelessness, STREAT
now supports young people from varied backgrounds including
social isolation, mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems,
victims of family violence and homelessness.
STREAT offers a full menu of support and guidance to
disadvantaged young people. Its youth program’s team
is made up of a clinical psychologist, youth workers, social
workers and a transition manager.
It offers hands-on programs like the “taster” which is an
introduction to STREAT and the youth programs team, to
shows them what STREAT is about. The “entrée” program
is a nine-week program in front and back of house
environments to gain real-life work experience.
The “main course” is a 20-week fully supported on-the-job
training and mentoring program with individualised support
and, if required, referrals to specialist services to ensure
they have the best chance of success. They graduate with
a Certificate II in hospitality that can lead to the STREAT’s
Ahead job placement and support program.
A strong sense
of belonging
begins the vital
building process
to connect into
community and
to thrive with
a healthy self,
home and work.
Bec Scott
STREAT co-founder
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION08
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 09
Switchboard
Switchboard Victoria provides a
peer-driven support services for
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+)
people, their families, allies and
communities.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION10
The RACV Community
Foundation supports
Switchboard’s “Out and
About Project” pairing
isolated and elderly
LGBTIQ+ people (often
with disabilities) with
young LGBTIQ+ volunteers.
The Foundation’s $150,000 funding will expand
the service under the “Scaling the Out and About
Project” (SOAP) banner to support people across
Victoria over the next three years, alongside
existing clients.
Multiple studies and research reveal that
elders of the LGBTIQ+ community are often
pushed back into the closet in old age when
they feel compelled to hide their identity in
places such as nursing homes.
The charity’s Chief Executive Officer Joe Ball says
We think of the
older people of our
community as elders,
people who went
before us, trailblazers
who won the rights we
enjoy today.
Joe says the Out and About project is
unique because its LGBTIQ+ volunteers are
compassionate and understanding when
visiting the community’s isolated elders and
engaging them in regular LGBTIQ+ events.
We have a history we share, Joe says.
And that history is often sad. There was the AIDS
and HIV epidemic and now IDS related dementia,
Joe says.
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 11
We (volunteers and
younger LGBTIQ+ people)
remember a time in
our history and have an
understanding and deep
compassion about what
it was like for our elders to
lose friends and partners
in an epidemic.
Ada Castle, who heads Switchboard’s Out
and About Project which has been running
since 2014, says the service is about making
friendships and connections crossing
generations in the LGBTIQ+ community.
“Service users of Scaling the Out and About
Project will be over 60, socially isolated and
most will likely have a disability, including some
with dementia”,” she says.
She says older LGBTIQ+ people who may have
been out and proud in their youth feel pressure
when they go into aged care and some end up
going back into the closet.
One elderly man in regional Victoria retreated
into his shell when he moved into a nursing
home, but then an Out and About volunteer
started regular visits, encouraging the man to
undergo LGBTIQ+ affirmative counselling and
make further connections to community. The
man regained his confidence and took pride
in his gay identity and attending LGBTIQ+
functions with the volunteer.
Ada says the program has seen volunteers
and the elders form true friendships like
Haydn a 30-year-old medical researcher
from Brunswick and Clynton a 77-year-old
former butler who lives independently in
a flat in Melbourne.
“I have a reason to live now,” says Clynton of
his friendship with the volunteer. “He is a truly
compassionate young man.”
Clynton was the son of a church minister
who married the daughter of another pastor
and the couple adopted children. They split
up amicably because Clynton says that in
those days he was afraid of shaming his
family should his identity be found out.
“In those days you could go to jail [for being
homosexual]; there were raids on clubs,
arrests, discrimination and more,” he says.
Haydn says he has true admiration for
Clynton and other elders. “They are important
trailblazers who sacrificed a lot for the rights
we enjoy today,” he says.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION12
2019 Grant Recipients
Anam Cara House Geelong
Helping Hand Grant
Norlane Volunteer Recruitment
and Training Program
$11,450
Anam Cara House Geelong is establishing a satellite
Day Hospice service in Norlane. This area has been
identified as a lower socio-economic area with a
high-level of social isolation. Clients of Anam Cara in
Norlane find it difficult to access day palliative care
which is located in the Geelong CBD due to transport
disadvantage. The Foundation funding will be used to
recruit and train volunteers to complete the Palliative
Care Victoria Volunteer training program.
On completion, 60 volunteers will be certified and
ready to support the expansion of the Norlane Day
Hospice. The direct benefit in building volunteer
capacity is that patients with a life limiting illness
will have the opportunity to stay at home longer
and also providing respite for their carers.
Australian Multicultural Community Services
Scaling Out Grant
Senior Wisdom and the Mobile
Information Hub (SWAMIH)
$147,000
The SWAMIH project will provide a unique opportunity
to engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
seniors with their community, share wisdom, and
enhance intergenerational understanding. RACV’s
funding will be used to develop and implement a
program of ‘Park Bench’ conversations between
seniors and community members including young
people and students to enhance meaningful
connections and minimise loneliness. Foundation
funds will also resource a ‘Mobile Information Hub’
to provide CALD seniors with access to information
on available services and other resources that are
vital to their health, wellbeing and decision making.
Through this SWAMIH project, AMCS will pair up
and connect seniors and young people with the
support of a volunteer network (resources, skills,
companionship) to share their life lessons and skills.
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 13
Senior Wisdom and the
Mobile Information Hub
The program will aim to build long-lasting intergenerational connections to benefit participants and challenge ageism. This will lead to increased empowerment for seniors, enable informed decision making and improved access to services and supports in a timelier manner.
AUSTRALIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION14
Cire Services
Helping Hand Grant
Engaging Dads in the Upper Yarra
$18,808
The Cire Services catchment area (Upper Yarra) is
one of socio-economic disadvantage and related
challenges including unemployment, isolation and
mental health issues. Local services provide well for
mothers as primary carers but not dads. Funding will
be used to expand a father engagement initiative which
has highlighted the need to provide greater support
for dads. Dads that are primary carers interact socially
much less than mums so through the establishment
of a dad’s playgroup the focus will be to help shift
stereotypes and promote gender equality. This program
will benefit up to 60 dads over a 12-month period. There
will be a series of activities delivered to dads such as
counselling services, dad’s groups, playgroups, and
social events.
Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre
Helping Hand Grant
Online Customer Transport Portal
$16,000
Foundation funding will be used by the Eastern
Volunteer Resource Centre to purchase an online
consumer portal called ‘Route Match’ as well as
delivery of training to staff to manage this system.
This portal will assist in improving the efficiency and
ease of booking trips that older people and those with
a disability who are housebound, socially isolated and
require transport to maintain social connections, do
their shopping, go to the cemetery, visit loved ones in
care, and attend health services and appointments.
Laverton Community Integrated Services
Helping Hand Grant
Cooking Up Success
$15,000
Laverton Community Integrated Services provides
social and educational services to their local community.
Foundation funding will enable the delivery of the
Cooking Up Success program. This program provides
support for young people by providing a safe space
where they can learn to research, shop and prepare
multicultural, budget friendly, healthy meals and obtain
their ‘Safe Food Handling, RSA (for 18+)’ and barista
training qualifications which will increase their chances
of securing ongoing employment. The project will run
for three terms during 2019 and will help up to 160
young people.
WELLSPRINGS FOR WOMEN
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 15
Little Dreamers Australia
Scaling Out Grant
Young Carer Mentoring and
Education Program
$130,000
Little Dreamers provides support to young carers who
are one of the most at-risk and socially isolated groups
of young people. Their caring roles have an impact
on educational outcomes and maintaining vital social
connections, wellbeing and quality of life. Foundation
funding will be used to develop information booklets,
support education opportunities and connect more
young carers to mentoring and peer support.
The Young Carer Mentoring and Education program
empowers young carers, and builds their capacity
to access people, places, information and services
that are crucial to improving social connectedness
and mental health. This includes providing one-to-
one support using a carer needs assessment tool
to determine the areas of support required and the
facilitation of warm referrals with necessary services.
Young carers are matched with mentors that they
can build relationships with. All families accessing
these services receive an individualised booklet with
helpful fact sheets and activities, providing access
to current health information and additional available
services. Little Dreamers also facilitate a peer support
group as well as The Dreamers Hub which is an
online community created by young carers for young
carers. Featuring forums; tips and tricks with articles
on self-care, bulk billing and tax; inspirational content;
upcoming community events and more, the platform is
facilitated by Little Dreamers to provide comprehensive
support for young carers.
STREAT
Scaling Out Grant
STREAT’s Ahead
$100,000
In 2015, STREAT piloted a program with Fonda Mexican
restaurants to support the transition of STREAT’s
graduates into open employment.
This program has had very strong results with a
number of participating young people maintaining their
employment. Following this successful pilot, STREAT
is seeking to scale out the program to provide open
employment opportunities to all STREAT graduates (up
to 30 graduates year). The STREAT’s Ahead program
will be developed using this funding to enable further
scale and provide all graduates with an additional six
months of transition support into their new job with up
to four STREAT’s Ahead employee partners.
Foundation funding will enable STREAT to employ a
transition manager, capture data/research, develop
professional development programs for both employee
and employer, develop program resources, develop
graduate alumni and jobs clubs.
LITTLE DREAMERS
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION16
Switchboard Victoria
Scaling Out Grant
Scaling Out and About Project (SOAP)
$150,000
Foundation funding will enable Switchboard to
scale out their services to further assist vulnerable
members of the community through the SOAP
program. This program aims to support LGBTIQ+
Victorians aged 60+ who are socially isolated and/
or living with disability by matching volunteers with
participants to develop community connections and
peer friendships through regular home visits and
attending community events. Switchboard will employ
a project coordinator who will oversee all elements
of the program, including advertising; encouraging
and processing referrals; supporting socially
isolated seniors receiving visits; and all aspects of
volunteer management including recruiting, training
and supporting volunteers. The project coordinator
will also design, implement, manage and evaluate
regular events scheduled at safe and accessible
locations (including regional areas) as part of the
service. Switchboard is the only Victorian service
that specifically targets the LGBTIQ+ community,
providing direct support to participants and helping
them to develop and sustain community connections.
Umbrella Dementia Cafés
Scaling Up Grant
Establish Umbrella Dementia Cafés
on the Mornington Peninsula
$24,200
Umbrella Dementia Cafés provide a safe and
encouraging social environment for couples living with
dementia, where people can meet others in a similar
situation, share ideas, support one another, and take
part in joyful café activities. Foundation funding will
assist in the establishment of Umbrella Dementia Cafés
on the Mornington Peninsula. The project will require
the development of a volunteer led social group for
couples living with dementia at home, with the goal
to improve their quality of life and support networks.
Local volunteers will be empowered to de-isolate,
bring awareness and connect couples living with
dementia with their local community.
UMBRELLA DEMENTIA CAFES
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 17
The Wellington Centre
Scaling Up Grant
Connections
$45,000
The Wellington Centre provides a safe and inclusive environment
for people who are excluded from fully participating in society to
meet, connect and address their health and wellbeing issues.
The Wellington Centre delivers free chiropractic treatment,
myotherapy, osteopathy, counselling, optometry, naturopathy,
and Chinese medicine including acupuncture and massage
treatments. Funding from the grant will be used to establish the
‘Connections’ project which will identify and reach out to lonely
and socially excluded people in the Collingwood/Fitzroy area.
The project will include the employment of a part time Inclusion
Worker who will work both at the Centre and on an outreach basis to
public housing tenants who feel isolated and excluded. The project will
work to build people’s capacity to participate more fully in community
life by addressing the underlying causes of poor physical and mental
health as well as deep, persistent disadvantage and social exclusion.
A strong focus will be given to increasing access and engagement with new arrivals, Indigenous Australians and public housing tenants who are socially and economically excluded.The Wellington Centre
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION18
Wellsprings for Women
Scaling Up Grant
Creative Enterprising Women
$20,000
Wellsprings for Women is a women-only organisation
that provides educational and social support to vulnerable
and disadvantaged women.
The aim is to build women’s
skills and capacity to improve
their social, economic and
emotional state.
Foundation funding will be used to set up the Creative
Enterprising Women program which is designed to help
vulnerable and isolated migrant and refugee women to build
confidence and know-how to utilise their existing skills either
as a source to earn a modest and occasional income or to
contribute to help others in the community.
With the Community Foundation grant, Wellsprings will
conduct a skills audit with migrant and refugee women
currently in other Wellsprings programs. The purpose of
the audit would be to list the skills the women are willing
to use to either contribute on voluntary basis or to use as
a source of earning an income.
At the conclusion of the audit, a group of 30 to 40 women will
be selected to participate in the Creative Enterprising Women
program. The workshops will cover communication skills,
community engagement skills, financial literacy and budgeting,
marketing, branding, how to establish a micro-business or get
involved in a social enterprise.
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 19
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION20
Whitelion Youth Agency
Scaling Up Grant
Chatterbox Bus refurbishment
$20,000
Whitelion is a non-profit organisation delivering
programs to improve the social and economic
capabilities of some of Australia’s most high-risk
young people.
The Chatterbox Bus is a mobile outreach service
that provides critical information, support and
resources to youth that are homeless. Foundation
funding will upgrade the interior of the Chatterbox
Bus by replacing cabinetry, upgrading electrical
works, restoring air conditioning, re-upholstering
and replacing computers (used by young people
to access the internet to make professional
appointments, secure places to stay and
contact family).
The bus needs significant works to be undertaken
to increase the number of young people it assists
and improve access to food, warmth and vital
information and advice to help them reconnect
with family or professionals who can address
their health and shelter needs.
YMCA of Ballarat Youth Services
Scaling Up Grant
Recranked in Schools
$37,200
Recranked in Schools is an 8-week program
that targets young people aged 10 years+ who
are at risk of disengagement and absenteeism.
Foundation funding will enable the YMCA to deliver
and evaluate its Recranked in Schools program to
ten disadvantaged schools in the Western Region
which will benefit up to 100 young people.
In each school, up to ten students will participate
in the program. Students are provided with a
bike in need of repair and they work intensively
with YMCA facilitators to rebuild this bike. They
develop mechanical skills, literacy and numeracy
skills, cycling skills, leadership, teamwork and
communication skills, as well as meaningful social
connections with each other and with the facilitators.
Each participant leaves the program with a bike and
safety equipment, so they can cycle. This enables
and empowers young people with their own form of
transport, so they can access employment, activities
and places they want and need to go.
RECRANKED IN SCHOOLS
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 21
Youth Off The Streets
Helping Hand Grant
Wyndham Youth Resource Booster
$16,550
Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) provides support to
young people (aged 12-25) facing homelessness,
substance dependency, abuse and other issues.
Every year, they help over 3,000 vulnerable youth
(with a particular focus on Sudanese and African
youth) in turning around their lives. YOTS has been
operating in Wyndham for just 1 year.
Foundation funding will be used to buy equipment
for the youth drop in centre, this includes couches,
table tennis and music equipment. By providing
these resources YOTS will create a warm and
welcoming environment for young people to
connect one another and the YOTS staff.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION22
Foundation Results in Brief 2019
Investments
85.45%Donations
14.55%
2019 2018
Operating Surplus 748,407 679,689
Net Assets 19,825,352 19,057,725
Revenue % in Total Revenue % in Total Revenue
Investments 1,229,369 85.45% 1,038,106 74.04%
Donations 209,259 14.55% 254,141 18.12%
Functions & Events - 0.00% 110,000.00 7.84%
Total 1,438,628 100.00% 1,402,248 100%
2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 23
AUSTRALIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
The RACV Community Foundation exists to provide a source
of philanthropic funding for not-for-profit organisations who help
marginalised and at-risk Victorians.
As part of its ongoing ‘matched giving’ program, RACV gives
$2 for every $1 raised from staff donations, and selected events.
For more information about RACV’s Community Foundation, you can visit:
www.racv.com.au/foundation