BROTHERHOOD OF ST. LAURENCE67 BRUNSWICK STREET, FITZROY, N.6 — TELEPHONE JA 3335. JA 2255

R E P O R T

ON

F A M I L Y

S E R V I C E P R 0 J E C T

'^RCH!VES

JULY 1ST. 1956 : JUNE 5CTH. 1957

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The material in this report is confidential and must not be published in any form.

Issued by the Director of Social Services. Brotherhood of St. Lawrence. 47 Brunswick Street. Fitzroy September. 1957

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SUPERIOR'S OFFICE: 51 ROYAL ARCADE. C.l Telephone Centre! 1721 B.S.L. SETTLEMENT, CARRUM DOW NS Telephone Ctrrum Down: 236 B.S.L. HOLIDAY HOME TAhtTI AVENUE, MORNINGTON

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CLASSIFICATION OF F.S.P. FAMILIES. JUNE 50TH. 1957:

! Hvler St: :Other Families: i Total iActive Caseload: } ..47..... j."....4-......... j' 51...[

Follow Up: ! 2 ) 8 ! 10 IPeriodical Visits made depending on how family is managing.

Not Active: Nil I 28 I 28Regarded as self-supporting. Only visited if help is sought or rent list indicates difficulties.

t

Evicted or Vacated: 5

Transferred to Red Cross 1

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JULY 1ST. 1956 — JUNE 50TH. 1957:

Home visits ..................Office Interviews ............

Financial Aid & Grocery Orders

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-.2,913 .. 338,gl,296

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INTRODUCTION:Descriptions of the aims, methods and progress of the FAMILY

SERVICE PROJECT were included in "The Interim Report on the Family Service Project" issued in July, 1956, and the "Further Report" issued in August, 1956.

The objective of the Project - to help families to become self- supporting, to take advantage of the housing, employment, educational and health services available and to become integrated into the community - remains unchanged.

The method of working is still basically that of a family casework with each social worker working intensively with the whole family in its whole environment and having a caseload of approximately ten families. Since January, 1957? this casework has been supplemented by group work which is beginning to make a considerable impact on the work of the project. This is described in a section of this report

The project has been subsidised by the State Government through the Housing Commission to the extent of two thirds of the total cost, the balance being met by the Brotherhood.CASEWORK:

In January, 1957? it was decided to make an- assessment of each family being worked with in the Tyler Street area, and of families who were listed by the Housing Commission to be included in the Project when vacancies occurred or'additional staff became available.

Object of the assessment was:1) To assess the progress made by each family since its inclusion in the Project.2) To diagnose present problems within each family and in' * the family's relationship with the community.3) To revise treatment programmes where necessary.4-) To decide whether the family should remain in the Project or be dropped if little or no progress had been made and no alternative methods of working appeared possible.This assessments involved the preparation of a detailed analysis

of each case and a full description of methods and results. Group discussions were held with the social workers together with Dr. V. Ashbumer of the Mental Hygiene Authority and Mr. L. Tierney, Director of Social Work of the Citizen's Welfare Service.

Since January, 1957? seventeen new families have been included in the Project. They were all on the Housing Commission's list to be included in the Project.

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Following interviews with fourteen other families also on this list, it was decided that they should not he included in the Project. This group included five families who were to he evicted or intended to vacate; four who seemed to have made a good adjustment; two with no young children; two families where it was considered that social, workers would not he able to help; one case where the services of the Project were rejected and one case in which contact is being maintained to see how the family situation develops.

During the year, five Project families have been evicted for non-payment of rent or vacated prior to eviction. Four children of one family of six children, are now wards of State. One family with six children ia now living in a condemned hut in an outer suburb and another of these families with five children is living in one room in St. Kilda.

The Project obviously failed in achieving its objectives inthese cases.

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It is difficult to state at any particular time, the progress that has been made in relation to individual families or the group as a whole. Unemployment has been a constantly recurring factor in the lives of many of the residents and has an adverse effect on the casework. Very little can be done to assist a family living on Unemployment Benefit to improve housekeeping or budgetting, and unemployment often creates serious tensions within the family.

In some cases, unemployment is due to maladjustment of the husband but in many cases it has been due to factors outside the man's, control and to the fact that there is not a great deal of employment in the area. At Camp Pell, if one job closed down, there was the whole of the city and inner industrial areas in which to seek nearby jobs.

Periodic unemployment has also had an adverse effect on rent payments and this is accentuated by the fact that some weeks must elapse before a rent rebate can be granted.

Attached to this report is a summary of reports concerning families. It conveys some picture of the problems, progress and set-backs.FUNCTION OF TYLER STREET:

The Tyler Street area was intended to be a transit area for families from Camp Pell and slum reclamation areas that were not acceptable to the Housing Commission as permanent tenants in other estates.

It was realised that long term work might be necessary with many families but that eventually they should move on to a home in another estate or be dropped from the Project if no progress could be made.

Early in 1957, this question of movement was discussed by Social Workers and the general opinion was that it would be unwise to move many of the families from an area where facilities such as Infant Welfare Centre, School, Clubs and group activities were provided and used, to a new area where these facilities might not be readily accessible. It was felt

that these families had a greater need for such services than most other familie s.

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The other argument against transfer was that rents would he much higher in a new estate and, as most of the families have low incomes and large families, they would probably break down under the greater economic pressure.

In April, 1957? these problems v/ere discussed with the Minister for Housing who stated that movement was necessary so that other families who needed the help of social workers could occupy the houses in the area. The Minister appreciated the difficulties and agreed that social workers should work towards the eventual transfer of as many families as possible and that the Housing Commission would provide alternative accommodation at rents compar­able to, or lower than, those being paid in Tyler Street. The Commission would try to ensure that families would move to areas where schools, infant welfare centres, etc., v/ere reasonably accessible.

Since then, only three families have moved, or are awaiting transfer. There are two main reasons for this lack of movement.

a) In some cases, families that have shown marked improvements in standards and would probably manage satisfactorily on their own, have rent arrears - often due to unemployment. For this reason, they cannot be rec­ommended for transfer.

b) In other cases, any improvement that has been made has been insufficient to justify recommending a move as it seems unlikely that these families would cope in another area without casework aid and the group activities provided at Tyler Street.HEALTH:

Close co-operation has been maintained with the Infant Welfare Sister of the Maternal & Child Hygiene Branch of the Department of Health and the Sister from the School Medical Service. The Infant Welfare Sister operates from the Project House in Tyler Street.

In March, there was a concerted drive carried out by the School Medical Service, Health Department, the Brotherhood's Health Sister and Sooial Workers, to treat children infected with pediculosis.

The Brotherhood's Health Sister has spent one afternoon a week visiting Project families and providing minor treatments or arranging referrals for children not covered by the Infant Welfare Sister or the School Medical Sister.

Prolonged unemployment has affected the general health of the children in some families where the income has been reduced to LA. 15.0. a week.

The College of Optometry recently tested the eye-sight of 180 children and arrangements will be made i rr the prevision of spectacles or

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attendance at the Eye and Ear Hospital for treatment where necessary. FINANCIAL AID:

Financial, aid and grocery orders are used sparingly and only when a family has no other subsistence income.

Most of the financial aid has been provided to families awaiting the receipt of Unemployment or Sickness Benefits or Special Benefit.

Close cooperation has been maintained with the Preston Ladies' Benevolent Society to prevent overlapping, especially in the provision of relief.MEETINGS WITH HOUSING COMMISSION:

Until March 1957, rent lists were supplied by the Commission to provide information to Social Workers regarding rent payments by families. Meetings were arranged between Commission officers and Social Workers from time to time.

At the end of April, 1957; it was decided to hold regular fort­nightly meetings with Officers of the Commission. The main purpose of these meetings has been to discuss rent arrears and repayments in an endeavour to avoid notices to quit and eviction orders. These meetings have been most helpful with regard to these problems.GROUP AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

It was apparent at the commencement of the Project that most of the families had never felt themselves part of the community or joined in normal community life and relationships.

The publicity which was associated with Camp Pell contributed to this feeling of "not belonging". Information which has come out of the Project has shownthat, even before their arrival at Camp Pell, most of the families had moved continually and were never long enough in one place. t.o identify themselves with the community.

Encouraging them to feel they belong, and to participate and take responsibility for community activities has been an important part of the Project.

The appointment of a full-time, trained Group Worker and the opening of the Community Centre on February 18th, gave an impetus to this side of the work.

The number of clubs has gradually increased and at June 30th, the following programme was operating:

"TYLER STREET COMMUNITY CENTRE IROCRAMMEFor Boys under 10 years:

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Club on Mondays at 3-30 p.m. v/hen weather permits, Monday's programme will be football.

For Boys 10-14 years:Club on Tuesdays 6.00-8.00 p.m.Football on Thursdays 3*30 p.m.

For Boys over 14 years:Club on Tuesdays 8,00 p.m.A football team is being organised at present.

For Girls under 10 years:

Club on Wednesdays at 3*30 p.m.For Girls 10-14 years:

Club on Fridays 7*00-9.30 p.m.Club programme includes sewing & cooking groups.

For Girls over 14 years:Club on Tifednesday 7*00 p.m.

For Everybody:Pictures on Thursday nights 7*30 p.m.Admission 6d. for children, 1/- for adults.

For Those Who Enjoy Dancing:

Saturday nights at the hall - Rock and Roll Admission 3/**

For Parents: . - -

Mother's Club on Thursday afternoons at 71 Tyler St. Fortnightly socials - games, cards, etc. Monday nights at the Hall.

Library:

A lending library for adults operates from 71 Tyler St. on Monday and Wednesday nights. We hope to expand this in the future.

Workshop:

The very small workshop is available to men of the district during weekends or as otherwise arranged. Small groups of boys are also able to learn carpentry

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and to make their own things, particularly when further bench space is available.

NUMBERS PARTICIPATING IN CLUB & GROUP ACTIVITIES:Afternoon under 1C club ....................... 12 - 18Evening Club ....... ...........................25 - 30Thursday Film Nights ...........................60 - 100Saturday Night Dance ....... ...................50 - 60Mothers' C l u b ................. ................12 - 15Social Committee Meetings..... ................15 ** 25Mothers Club Social Nights .....................22 - 28Members of all except two of the families in the Project

attend some activities at,the Community Centre.Others participating in the Centre Activities include members

of some 60 families outside the Project. This is of great value in helping Project families to mix and identify themselves with other residents in the estate.

Lack of space presents a constant problem and the hut has to be adapted to a wide variety of uses. In the winter, the area surrounding the hut has been a quagmire due to lack of surfacing and the drain const­ruction on the east side. This has been partly overcome by surfacing of the area on the west side of the hut with brick dust. It will now be possible to provide a volley ball court on this area thus extending the facilities of the day-time clubs.

A workshop has been equipped -with tools and a bench, and repair work and woodwork is being carried out by some members of the Men's Club. Library shelves for the Project house have been completed.

A Cricket Club has been formed and entered in the "Jika" District competition. This will be valuable in bringing men in the area in contact with others from the surrounding estate.

A "Newsheet" is published fortnightly and is edited by aresident.

Outings to City Baths, Essendon Aerodrome, T.V. Studios,etc., have taken place as part of Youth Club activities and a camp was held in the May holidays for a group of teen-age children at the Brotherhood's Holiday Home at Mornington.

A Family Camp for fifteen to twenty families is being planned for December-January, at the Kinglake Forestry Camp.

The Mothers Club has shewn increased activity and some of the members are from outside the Project. Emphasis has been on activities related to home improvement. Handcra.fts are an important part of the prog­ramme and some mothers are for the first time learning to machine and sew.

Ten University students have actively participated in the group work as part of their training as Social Studies students.

The residents Social Committee has developed from the stage of just running dances to general organisation of Community Centre activities.

The Group Worker, Mr. Hamilton-Smith, has devoted time to making contacts with local bodies to try and reduce the prejudice which still exists among some people in the surrounding district. Contacts have been made with local Churches with a view to integrating residents into the Church life of the district.

The presence of a male social worker has meant the establish­ment of a closer relationship with husbands who, in some cases, have the greatest influence on the standards and the personal relationships of members of the family.STAFF:

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At July 1st, 1956, staff consisted of a Senior Social Worker engaged part-time on Project work and six full-time Social Workers, including one seconded by Red Cross.

In the latter months of 1956, the Senior Social Worker and three others resigned to take up home duties. Owing to shortage of staff, the Red Cross Society were not able to replace the Worker they had seconded to the Project. Other replacements were made, and in April 1957# a Senior Social Worker was appointed. Total staff at June 30th, 1957# consisted of:

Senior Social Worker (two-thirds time on Project),Six Social Workers engaged in family casework,One Group Worker,One Stenographer, together with part-time assistance from a

typiste.GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:

1. At least 25 of the 40 families accepted as tenants and living in estates other than Tyler Street, appear to be managing satisfactorily.

2. Living standards of most of the families in the Tyler Street area have improved. Although this improvement does not apply to rent payments, in many cases this is due to factors outside the control of the families and fact that these families are among those in the community least able to meet situations of economic stress.

3. Five families have been evicted or vacated under threat of eviction for rent arrears. It is true that evicted families generally find some alternative accommodation, however sub-standard it may be. So far only four children of the five families have become the responsibility of the Children's V/elfare Department but these four children will probablycost the State close to 5̂3 #000 a year.

If it were not for the support of the Project social, workers, it is certain that other families would break down and thus cost other Government Departments considerable sums of money. Most important of all, families are being held together in that most important unit to the State — the family unit.

k. The Project continues to provide a working example of co-ordination between State and voluntary agencies such as Housing Commission, Mental Hygiene Authority, Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Red Cross Society, Ladies B'enevolent Society, Education Department, Department of Health and Citizen's Welfare Service.

5. In a State which is seeking to promote itself in many spheres of activity, Victoria, in the field of social welfare has promoted itself in the eyes of social thinkers and social workers throughout Australia because of its progressive approach to work with families at a preventive level.

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CASE SUMMARIES:These following "brief notes give an indication of the kind of

problems involved.B.

This case was opened on 1/l2/55. Mr. B* deserted his wife in May; 1954) at which time she had 7 children to support - nothing has been heard of him since. There was a history of rent arrears whilst the family lived at Camp Pell and low material standards i?ere reported to exist in the home. Child care standards were found to be poor and school attendance presented a major problem.

Some improvement can be reported in household management and Mrs. B. is more aware of her responsibility towards the children. Rent arrears became very acute in November, 1956, and a Notice to Quit was served. Mrs. B. was so anxious to retain her house that she immediately took a job to pay' off the arrears. This meant that her oldest daughter remained at home to care for the younger children. Once the arrears were settled Mrs. B. gave up working and there has been no lapse in rental payment since that time.

Problem of budgetting, home management and child care are not yet solved and the worker feels that these are associated with Mrs. B's. own personal unhappiness and insecurity in the past. There is a possibility of Mrs. B. remarrying, however, it is felt that there will remain a need for further help in the field of child care.

T.

This case was referred by the Housing Commission because of rental arrears, home management and husband's convictions.

This case was opened 5/12/55. Mr. T. was suffering from a back injury which occurred while at work in May 1955 and his claim has taken until 10/9/57 to be heard by the V/orkers Compensation Board. During *this 2 -year period of illness and finally blindness Mr. T. and his family have co-operated with worker in keeping the family together and keeping up a good standard of home management and rent payment - this has meant teaching them to make full use of all social services. Since 9/10/56 Mr. T. has been on Sickness Benefit and C.W.D. allowance. He 'was considered for a Rehabilitat­ion Course 12/2/57 because of approaching blindness. However before this came to function he was granted the Blind Pension and given the opportunity to work at the Blind Institute. VJ". has helped this family through all these difficulties, discussing with Mrs. T. the economic problems posed by awaiting benefits and trying to understand Mr. T's continual depression and extreme anxiety. Despite early resistance Mr. T. has reached the point of discussing his drinking throughout this period with worker and has reached the stage where he can appreciate the help that A.A. can give him.

This family has never lost its need for independence and has appreciated its first opportunity to have a home together.

It is only fair to say that worker feels that without the help of this project Mr. T. would most probably be serving time for drunken driving charge, and the seven children would be disposed in homes because of the accommodation problems. It is also realistic to assume that Mrs. T. would quite easily have undergone a nervous breakdown but for worker's continual and willing support - emotionally and financially during all these crisis.

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The fact that this family has maintained a high standard of house management, and have kept their rent up to date during the last 18 months shows that they have learned to settle in one place for a longer period than ever before and to overcome a great deal of hostility in a new Housing Commission area because of the mere fact they once lived in Camp Pell.

Mr. T. and his family have shown a great deal of courage in accepting his blindness but blindness presents a number of problems with which W. feels they will need a great deal of help. W. has already cont­acted the Secretary of the Blind Institute who feels this family still needs the continued contact of the worker.

A.This case was opened on 23/6/55* The history was one of

rent arrears over a period of many years. The family had at one stagebeen evicted from Camp Pell for non-payment of rent. The husband wasreported as having an anti-social record (criminal convictions - chiefly drunk and disorderly). House standards and those of child care have always been satisfactory. Mr. A. was working irregularly at the commencement of the case and was only in receipt of a 2C% war disability pension. Financial hardship was very marked at this stage. There are 7 children.

During the last two years Mr. A. has been in Repatriation Hospital on two occasions, and the whole question of his pension has been reviewed. He is now said to be unfit for work because of a war neurosis and is in receipt of a 100% war pension. Household standards.have remained high in spite of financial difficulties and there are no problems concerning school attendance.

Mr. A. presents a psychopathic pattern of behaviour and because of this progress with him has been slow. Recent events indicate that he is showing some response, although it is unlikely that any radical change will be affected for some time.

The family is anxious to move in order to be near Mrs. A's relatives, and a recommendation has been sent to the Housing Commission to this effect. The family standards are sufficiently high to justify their removal from the Project area.

C.

This case was opened on 28/4/56 after the family moved to East

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Preston from Camp Pell. Mr. C. deserted the family in 1954, and failed to pay maintenance for his wife and 5 school age children, although a Court order was in force. The only apparent problem at this time was one of long standing rent arrears.

Housekeeping and child care standards have been consistently good and compare very favourably with other residents on the estate. Mrs. C is now in receipt of a widow's pension and receives an allowance from C.W.D.

Rent arrears have continued to be a problem and an ejectment order was obtained by the Commission last month. Mrs. C. is determined to pay off the arears plus the Court costs before the Order is executed and Worker feels that she will do this. This family has experienced great hardship in the past as a result of meeting rental payments and Mrs. C. is genuinely anx­ious to make a permanent home for her children.

Although some progress has been made with Mrs. C. Worker feels that a further period of oontact will prove beneficial. Budgetting remains a problem and Mrs. C. still requires a great deal of advice and support from a Social Worker.

W.

This case was opened on December 12th 1955. There was a history of long standing rental arrears, poor home management and low standards of child care. Mr. W. was in receipt of a war pension and was at that time in very poor health.

Shortly after the commencement of the case Mr. W. was granted an Invalid Pension and this meant that the family now had a regular income.A rental rebate was obtainedjfTom the granting of this Mr. & Mrs. W. were conscientious about regular payments. Alcoholism was a feature of the case at the onset, both clients being involved in fairly heavy drinking. This state of affairs continued until early this year when an improvement was noted. At the beginning of August, 1957, Mr. W. died quite suddenly although he- had been in very poor health for several years.

Since the commencement of the case Mrs. W. has been under con­siderable strain, and this may account for the slow progress which has been made in matters affecting child care and household management. School attendance has been a very great problem and much of the Worker's time has been taken up in trying to cope with this aspect. It has also been necessary to direct Mrs. W's attention to the need for medical advice concerning the children.

When Mrs. W. haw fully recovered from the shock of her husband's death, it is hoped that further progress will be made in all directions.The family income will now be even more limited than in the past and there is no doubt that Mrs. W. will need help to adjust to this changeJEhe Worker hopes that it will be possible to modify the mother's attitude towards her 5 children and thereby increase her awareness of their needs.

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M.This case was opened on November 15th, 1956. There was a

long history of rent arrears (Fawkner Park and Camp Pell) and a Notice to Quit had been served at the beginning of November. Mr. M. had been unemployed since August, 1956, and as a result the family were overwhelmed with debts of various kinds, e.g. electricity and gas accounts, tradesmen's bills, etc.

Considerable progress has been made with this family. Mr. W. did not obtain work until the end of March 1957? which meant that the family were existing on Social Service Benefit only during the first four months of contact. During this time there was a marked improvement in their attit­ude towards the question of rental payment. This has been maintained in spite of great financial stress. Mr. M. has worked well and remained in the one job until the employers completed their contract a few weeks ago. He is now unemployed again but is making a genuine effort to obtain v/ork.

Material conditions in the home still remain sub-standard but both Mr. & Mrs. M. are more aware of this problem and have expressed a desire for improved standards.

The Worker is of the opinion that this family can be assisted although it is unlikely that there will be any radical change within the next six months.

Mrs. M. now has a fifth child (bom June, 1957) and this has added to the financial burden, but already there are signs of adjustment in the family budgetting. Considerable progress has been made and the Worker is hopeful for the future of this family.

L.

This case was opened on 8/12/55. At this time there was a long standing history of rent arrears and indication of Mr. L's excessive drinking habits. Household and child care standards were considered reasonable. The employment history of Mr. L's was far from satisfactory and periods of unemployment were frequent.

Since the family moved to Elm Street in May, 1956, there have been signs of some improvement. Household care is excellent, the children attend school regularly and the family is certainly showing signs of feeling secure and settled in their present environment. There are five children and a sixth is expected in October 1957« Efforts have been made to cultivatea garden, and it is planned to sow a lawn in the front garden within the next few weeks.

The problems of employment and rent arrears have not yet been entirely solved. Both Mr. & Mrs. L. are very anxious to maintain regular payments and v<rhilst they have had a stable income, definite progress has been made. Unfortunately Mr. L. is still experiencing employment difficult­ies, but there have been indications that the problem is less acute than at the commencement of the case.

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The future plans will involve continued work on the problem of employment, and a supervision of the rental position. The Worker feels reason­ably optimistic regarding this family's ability to maintain acceptable standards.

R.Yfork began with this family, consisting of Mr. & Mrs. R. and

their 8 children aged 1-g- years to 10 years, in March, 1957. At this time standard of home care was extremely low, the children were neglected, marital discord was prevalent, and payment of rent was irregular.

Progress has been made with the payment of rent which is now regular. There has also been some slight improvement in standard, of clean­liness of the house and in recognising the need for this. At present the marital situation is less critical largely due to the reduced overtime of Mr. L. causing less nervous strain. School attendance has improved.

Care of the children has not improved and there.is still much work to be done in raising the standard of home management. The stability of the family is still by no means assured.

Progress with this family is of necessity slow as there exists a long history of deprived living conditions and the present problems are numerous and severe. Further work with this family should allow for further progress.

Visiting of Mrs. Q. began in March, 1957. Six children, aged 18 months to 11 years, were living at home. Three elder children were not living at home but were in close contact with Mrs. Q. Mr. Q. deserted the family and his wife was in receipt *of a deserted wife' s pension and .Child Welfare Department allowance.

Home management and child care were of a high standard, rent as well as other financial commitments were paid regularly and school attend­ance was satisfactory.

Progress has been primarily in the direction of more satis­factory integration of Mrs. Q. and the children in the larger group, of helping with material goods (for which payment is always made) and of estab­lishing a satisfactory working relationship with Mrs. Q. in order to further assist her.

Mrs. Q. should continue to manage well and long term work should not be necessary.

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0 .

Work with this family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. 0. and four children, was commenced in T-ecember 1355. At this time Mr. & Mrs. 0. had separated, the children were placedunder State care and Mr. 0. was hospitalized. Alcohol was an important factor in this situation. Rent arrears, neglect of the children, and poor school attendance were among the problems with which the social worker dealt.

Marked improvements have occurred in every aspect of this family's functioning. The family has achieved some stability as a unit, school is no longer a central feature, child care is good as is school attendance. Standards of home care have been and continue to be satisfactory.

Mr. 0. who has in the past been a good worker, is now receiving an invalid pension for nervous disability and he has applied for a repat­riation pension. The economic situation is therefore now stable and if Mr.0. is accepted as eligible for treatment further improvement should occur.Visiting has become less frequent, but support by a social worker remains necessary.

J.The family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. J. and five children

aged eight months to seven years, was included in the Family Service Project in May 1357. At this time material possessions were few, Mr. J. was in employment but his history is one of frequent change of employment and working habits were not regular. Standards of home and child care were good and the marital situation stable.

Clothing and furnishings have been provided for the family by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, and payment has been made. An attempt is being made to provide Mr. J. with instruction in reading and writing, which should improve his employment prospect as well as his day to day functioning. Financial stress has continued because of periods of unemployment but their attitude regarding payment of debts is very good.

It is felt that within the short time in which work has been carried out with this family a good working relationship has been established. Mr. and Mrs. J. express their eagerness to improve their position and if Mr. J. can be helped to gain regular employment, prospects for this family appear good.

X.

Mrs. X., a deserted wife with nine children, was first visited in June 1356. Her standards appeared to be low and the house was inadequately equipped.

B.S.L. has been able to assist Mrs. X. by selling her household

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goods and *by giving some help on budgetting. Because of her low income and large family Mrs. X. still has considerable difficulty in managing financially and she is frequently in debt. She is at present repaying rent arrears.

Mrs. X. is doing her best to provide adequate standards for her children and the family's difficulties should be eoned as the older children reaching working age.Y.

This case was opened 6/9/55. The history was one of rent arrears and bad home management. The family was rejected 4 times and deferred once in their application for a Commission house from 1952-1955.

The main problem centres around Mrs. Y. immobility due to an ulcer on her leg. She would only accept private treatment which was expensive as a public hospital had wanted to amputate her leg 8 years ago. This ill­ness affected her ability to look after the house, discipline the children and to manage financially.

The family's standards improved quickly and 24/3/56 worker recommended their move to Reservoir. The house they moved into was left in a very dirty condition and although it was later painted outside, the inside was left untouched and worker felt a great deal of incentive to improve home management was at first lost.

Since the 24/3/56 worker has been able to persuade Mrs. Y. to attend a public hospital where her ulcer was completely cleared up and further expense made unnecessary. The oldest son has now a job on the Trams and another son is apprenticed to be a jockey. School attendance has been a problem, but has improved. Rent payment became regular and Mrs. Y. became very willing to discuss her inability to control the children.

W. feels this family will now function much more efficiently as Mrs Y. learns to adjust to a more normal home environment, and over which she now has more control.

H.The H. household, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. H., three children

aged 4 years to 6 years, and the maternal grandmother, were includ.ed in the Family Service Project in March, 1957. At this time the family was a very close-knit unit, self-sufficient and functioning adequately. The children were well cared for, home management was satisfactory, and Mr. H's gopden outstanding. Mr. H. was in steady employment and has a good employment record.

With the short time that this family has been visited emphasis has been placedon establishing a working relationship through which the social worker hopes to be able to offer assistance with personal problems of the members of this family in order that they should become a more contented family unit.

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N.This family, consisting of Mr. & Mrs. N. and six children aged

5 to 13 years, was included in the Family Service Project in March 1957* Standards in the care of home and children were very high, rent is paid regularly and since work began with the family Mr. N. has had steady employment.

Work has been aimed primarily at improvement in personal relationships and parental, understanding of the children, in particular the eldest boy who stands in great need of this. The entire family has taken a very active part in all the Club activities at Tyler Street and the improvement in their relationships within the group has been marked. It is too soon to estimate the effect on personality and interpersonal relationships which the work with this family will have, but it is hoped progress will continue.

K.This family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. K. and five children

aged two months to 4^ years, was included in the Family Service Project in February, 1956. At this time home standards were poor, rent arrears had accumulated, care of the children was inadequate and considerable tension existed between father and mother, 'who were not married.

Since that time home management has improved to such an extent that there is little left to be desired. Similarly, care of the children is very good. Mr. and Mrs. K. are extremely conscientious concerning their rent and pay regularly. Budgetting is now very good and debts are not incurred.In January 1957, Mr. and Mrs. K. were married and the tension between them has been somewhat relieved. Mr. and Mrs. K. have expressed their interest in family planning and steps towards this are being undertaken.

Mr. K. has had numerous changes in employment. His present job has the possibility of being a permanent one. Should this prove so and should the Housing Commission agree, there seems no reason why the K family should not be moved to another Housing Commission area.

E.

This family, consisting of Mrs. E. and three children aged 18 months to 8 years, was first visited in April 1957.' At this time Mr. E. was under prison sentence, there v/ere large rent arrears (unknown to Mrs. E.) home standards and child care were good.

Since this time Mr. E. has been in and out of gaol and in practice has deserted Mia E. who has not heard from him since March, 1957*Mrs. E. has had a fourth child. She is now in receipt of Social Services and a Child Welfare Department Allowance and manages well on this, assisted by her relatives who visit frequently. Rent is paid regularly. B.S.L. worker was able to help over this critical phase of desertion and over the ensuing period of readjustment.

Page 19.The future prospects of this family depend on Mr. E's actions

and Mrs. E's reaction to these. Should his desertion be permanent B.S.L. worker feels that Mrs. E. will continue to manage satisfactorily.

Cr*This family, which was first visited in May, 1956, is one with

low standards of living, and a history of inadequate housing and periodic rent arrears.

Mr. G. deserted his wife in March 1957, and during that period Mrs. G. became less lethargic and there was an improvement in her standards of home and child care. However, he returned on 23/4/57, and as on previous occasions it proved difficult to work with this family. Little progress has been made and it appears to be a family which we cannot assist with our present social work methods. Mr. G. is in need of psychiatric assistance, but because of his unwillingness to cooperate we have been unable to obtain this for him. Mrs. G's apathy and disinterest in her home is probably a reaction to her husband's behaviour.

The family has large rent arrears and although Mr. G. is at present unemployed, they are shortly to be evicted.

I?*Work began with this family, consisting of mother, father and

3 children, in April 1956. Their main difficulty appeared to be the result of Hr. P's irregular employment, and Mrs. F's ill-health and mental deficiency.

Mrs. F. is unable to attain very high standards of home and child care, but there has been some improvement in this field.

Mr. F. has had a great deal of unemployment since social worker has been visiting, and this led to financial difficulties. Debts which have accumulated are slowly being cleared.

The Social. Worker has been able to give Mr. and Mrs. F. con­siderable help with their emotional problems, and the family is a much happier one.

The future of the family appears to be dependent on Mrs. F's health and the possibility of Mr. F. finding permanent employment. Mr. F. is handicapped in finding work by his age and the fact that he has no skills.

D .

This is a family - consisting of mother, father and 3 children - of invalid pensioners who have for many years been dependent on various welfare

Page 20

agencies for assistance ana support. When the Social Worker started visiting in April 1956, the main problems were poor home management and lack of fin­ancial planning.

We have been able to help Mr. D. gain confidence in his own abilities and he is now taking more responsibility for the welfare of the family. Both husband and wife have been able to accept help with their budgetting and housekeeping methods and this has resulted in improved standards of home and child care and the better organisation of the family's limited income.

The D. family is at present awaiting transfer from the Tyler Street Estate to a country area. When moved they should be able to settle as an independent and stable unit.

Z.Family consisting of mother, father, married daughter, son-

in-law and 2 grand children.When work started with this family in April 1956, they out­

wardly appeared to be coping quite adequately. There was no record of rent arrears and standards of home care were good. The family was included in F.S.P. because of Housing Officer's report of immorality.

It must be noted that although Mr. and Mrs. Z are the actual tenants, the house is run and organised, by their married daughter. This is because Mrs. Z works. Assistance for the family has therefore been through the daughter.

The social worker found many problems associated with difficult family relationships and Mr. and Mrs. Z's marital problems. The Z's are only now becoming interested in overcoming their difficulties and progress has been slow up to date. The social worker feels that the family will be greatly benefited by further cs.se work assistance and will eyentually be able to solve their personal problems.

oOo