GRATITUDE REPORT 2020 - Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
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GRATITUDE REPORT 2020
Photo: Morri Young
Photo: Diana Shypula @ Koshka Media
The 2019-2020 financial year will forever be remembered give us some time to get fundraising
as one of the toughest years the world has faced. And back underway.
we know there are still challenges ahead as we deal with During 2019-2020 we were pleased
to receive visits from Minister Gareth
the ongoing health, social and economic impacts of the Ward and Minister Luke Howarth,
COVID-19 pandemic. who wanted to see for themselves
I am so proud of the way our meetings and access online the programs and services at NNC.
team of staff and volunteers resources while working remotely. Minister Howarth even joined the
at Newtown Neighbourhood Admin also played a key role in Newtopian volunteers on their
Centre (NNC) responded to the ensuring we were able to re-open outreach for the night to get some
pandemic. While we unfortunately the building with a COVID Safe firsthand opportunities to engage
had to close the Centre in the plan and with access to all the with people sleeping rough. We also
early part of 2020, as soon as equipment needed to protect staff, appreciate the ongoing support and
it was safe to do so, and in line volunteers, clients and community interest of our local Councillors and
with health requirements, it was members from COVID-19. State and Federal MPs in the work of
the staff who got a roster going NNC.
One of our other challenges in
to ensure we could open at least 2019-20 was ensuring NNC’s We secured ongoing contracts this
three days a week for our drop-in financial stability. Following year with the NSW Department of
Information and Referral service. some future projections on our Communities and Justice for our
Staff also proactively took on roles expected income we had to Boarding House Outreach Service
they would not normally do like make some tough decisions to and our Community Strengthening
dropping off food and toilet paper restructure, as NNC was not in a Programs. Our Commonwealth Aged
to residents of Boarding Houses position to carry additional costs Care Social Support Program was
who were at high risk of infection of government funded programs also renewed for a further two years.
from the virus. and remain sustainable. As a While COVID-19 delayed the
I was also incredibly impressed result we unfortunately lost a implementation of some of our
with our 40 new CBD Newtopian couple of positions, and reduced future planning, I am pleased that
volunteer outreachers who were hours for some roles. I want to we are now back on track with our
recruited in February and then acknowledge the significant strategy for 2020-22. We are focused
had to wait until July before contribution of those staff who on getting ready for a significant
we were able to provide them left NNC under these difficult relocation in 2021 and the launch of a
with their training so they could circumstances. This situation new Volunteer Strategy for NNC.
commence outreach to people caused understandable distress 2019-2020 was certainly a year to
sleeping rough in the city. Their for staff and also impacted our remember. I hope that the way we
patience, understanding and ability to provide the same degree have risen to meet the challenges we
willingness to stay involved of frontline services. NNC has have faced this year will stand us in
through the uncertainty was a sign been fortunate to receive the good stead for 2020-2021.
of the genuine commitment of COVID-19 government stimulus
Thanks as always for your steadfast
these volunteers. payments which reduced the
support,
Our Administration team played significant financial loss that had
a key role this year in ensuring been predicted for the financial
Liz Yeo
we were set up by December year. These stimulus payments
CEO
2019 to work online using cloud have been essential for NNC
Newtown Neighbourhood
based Office 365. This enabled given our loss of fundraising
Centre
us to easily connect for online revenue in 2019-2020 and will
The significance of social
connection through a pandemic
For more than 30 years, members of Sydney’s multicultural
community have made the weekly journey from all over
town to meet at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Dozens
of friendships have been nurtured, hundreds of games
played, countless meals shared, births celebrated and
deaths mourned.
For the members, our For many, seeing the emptied Members were encouraged to each
Multicultural Aged Care Groups shelves and frantic stockpiling call at least one person every day.
provide an opportunity to triggered memories of This was aside from the regular
discuss the week’s news in their living through war. This was welfare calls staff and volunteers
language, celebrate cultural compounded by the fear of would make to engage the seniors,
events and regularly hear from catching the disease, plus the monitor their wellbeing and keep
external guests providing useful fear of isolation. There was also them updated on anything related
information, while sharing a a deep shared anxiety about to COVID-19.
delicious morning tea. their lack of digital literacy skills
“My favourite part of attending in order to shop for groceries or
the Communities of the Former stay connected. Milanka reflected “being
Yugoslavia group is the people”, “Ordering online worked for stuck at home I found my
shared Milanka. the younger people but for anxiety levels increased
“We come from the same older people like me with no rapidly. I was extremely
culture and place which allows computer skills it was awfully lonely and depressed and
us to talk about our past, our difficult…And then if we did go wondered when it would
family – everyone can relate”. to the shops the shelves would end. These calls helped to
However in March this year,
be empty”, Milanka explained. build hope and were one of
this routine for the mostly 75 to Newtown Neighbourhood the best ways to harness
80-year-old members came to Centre’s Aged Care staff social connection during
a sudden stop when everyone’s devised plans to make the pandemic”.
priority shifted to surviving a regular contact with the group
deadly pandemic. members. There were constant
reminders about the importance Our staff reported similar feelings
“This year has been extremely from other group members
of hygiene, social distancing
challenging. At the start of the and said that members were
and daily exercise, plus regular
pandemic I was fearful and appreciative that we hadn’t
entertainment packages were
afraid to leave my house and forgotten about them. The
posted out which included brain
the worst part was having pandemic highlighted the
teasers, word finders and songs
no control of the situation”, significance of our face to face
to sing.
expressed Milanka. groups and how important social
connection is to everyone, but in
particular seniors.
While we are extremely cautious
about social distancing measures,
we are thrilled that our groups are
slowly starting to meet back up in
person.
To all the staff and volunteers who
continued to support these seniors
from Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse backgrounds, thank you.
Your tenaciousness, empathy and
exceptional skills have ensured
that members like Milanka have
remained connected and safe
during a global pandemic.
BUILDING STRONGER Communities
NEWTOPIAN SLEEPOUT
Our third annual Newtopian Sleepout was held in
SNAPSHOT OF THE YEAR
August 2019 and raised a record $164,000. The
night gives participants an opportunity to sleep
out in Newtown Square and experience some of
the challenges faced by individuals experiencing
homelessness on a daily basis.
A big thank you to the 124 individuals who got involved
96
and braved the cold.
Photo: Diana Shypula @ Koshka
Media 735
Number of people Newtopian Outreach
accessing engagements
NEWTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD * Outreach was suspended
CENTRE’S Services in March due to COVID-19
A LOCAL HERO
In October, our wonderful and passionate volunteer Jane
was named the winner of Westfield’s Local Hero Awards.
Jane was nominated for her key role in establishing and
expanding our Newtopian Outreachers initiative.
SENIORS WEEK As the successful recipient, Newtown Neighbourhood
There were lots of activities this February as we Centre received $10,000 to ensure the continuation of the
celebrated Seniors Week. Newtopian Outreach project.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre partnered with other A big thank you to Jane for all her hard work and to
local organisations including Community and Cultural everyone who voted in the community!
Connections, Leichhardt Women’s Community Health
Centre, Ethnic Community Services Cooperative
and Addison Road Community Centre, for Love to A TV HIGHLIGHT
Celebrate, a multicultural event to share culture, In December, our One Stop Shop service received a visit
conversation and cuisine. The event, held at Addison from Dr Chris Brown and the team from The Living Room.
Road Community Centre, encouraged seniors to The episode emphasised the connection and relationship
engage in activities and was attended by over 300 humans can have with their pets and how services like
people. Pets in the Park and Maggie’s Rescue (who work with
At the Centre, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s pet owners experiencing or at risk of homelessness) help
Aged Care team hosted a free line dancing event for keep their animals happy and healthy.
the over 60s and it was tremendous to see everyone
learning the cowboy shuffle and enjoying a great day Photo: Inner West Police Area Command
out.
We loved being able to show our appreciation and
celebrate the important role seniors play in our
community.
A sincere thank you to all of our One Stop Shop partners
who provide wrap around and easily accessible support
for our clients.
Tackling Homelessness
BOARDING HOUSE ACT
IMPACT OF OUTREACHES IN
SUBMISSION NEWTOWN (2018-2020)
In October, the NSW Government collected feedback
about the boarding house sector to assess the impact
of the 2012 Boarding Houses Act.
Following a boarding house roundtable discussion,
30
NNC submitted a detailed report based on our
experience working directly with clients in boarding
houses and results from a five year study in partnership 23
with the University of Western Sydney and the
Australian Catholic University. 15
We are extremely proud that the statutory review of
the 2012 Boarding House Act not only mentioned 8
NNC extensively throughout the report but has also
recommended implementing some of our suggestions, 0
including rent increases to be limited to one per year.
% 2017 2018 2019 2020
Number of rough sleepers counted in the Inner West
COMMUNITY WELLBEING CLINICS (collected at annual Street Count)
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, our Boarding
Number of rough sleepers who have been permanently
House Outreach Service Team partnered with Sydney housed with the support of NNC
Local Health District to host targeted community
wellbeing pop-up clinics for boarding house residents
in the local areas of Petersham, Marrickville, Glebe and
Ashfield. A NEW ROLE FOR OUR OUTREACHERS
On average 90 people attended each of the four clinics
We are extremely appreciative of our Newtown Newtopian
where they received detailed health information and were
Outreach Volunteers who kindly offered to provide social
able to be tested if they showed signs of the virus.
calls to those most vulnerable in our community during
It is challenging within a boarding house to adopt proper the pandemic when their weekly street patrols were
hygiene practices due to shared facilities and common suspended.
spaces. It was gratifying to see a large number of people
Our volunteers checked in weekly on our boarding house
engage with the clinics and learn proactive measures to
clients who were feeling isolated due to the COVID-19
prevent the spread of the virus. The clinics reported no
pandemic.
positive cases which was an amazing feat.
The calls helped to keep the clients connected and
updated on current restrictions, and also helped
PERCENTAGE OF SURVEYED CLIENTS WHO to support our case managers with their increased
REPORTED NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS workloads.
WHEN EXITING THE BOARDING HOUSE Newtown Neighbourhood Centre relies on volunteers
OUTREACH SERVICE: to support our work and we could not do as much as
we do without them. To all our volunteers, thank you.
82%
Housing or living
90%
Emotional wellbeing
situation improved improved
87%
Financial situation
94%
Increased confidence to
improved tackle future challenges
and opportunities
You have the power to make a difference
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre We also work with our partners and CONTACT DETAILS
aims to build an inclusive, resilient, with the broader community to find
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
self-reliant and creative community. practical local solutions to address
1 Bedford St / PO Box 19
We offer support services to the homelessness and social isolation
Newtown NSW 2042
local community and provide in the Inner West.
P: 02 9564 7333
assistance to those most We are grateful for the generous
admin@newtowncentre.org
vulnerable. support of our donors, who give
both financial contributions and www.newtowncentre.org
We remain committed to ending
homelessness and social isolation gifts in kind, allowing us to lead ABN 96 884 462 833
in Sydney’s Inner West. the way and be innovative in
creating stronger connections with
This is not a goal we can
community.
achieve on our own. We value
our relationships with other Together we are building a
local providers who we work in stronger more connected
partnership with to address the key community while also
causes of homelessness (such as celebrating the diversity of the
domestic and family violence). Inner West.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Photo: Diana Shypula @ Koshka Media
We would like to thank the following people and organisations for their generous support:
Supporters Funders Newtown Festival Hospitality
Addison Road Community Centre City of Sydney Partners
Adora Clubs NSW Courthouse Hotel
Anglicare Commonwealth Department of The Bank
Bread and Butter Project Health The Marlborough Hotel
Common Ground (Mission Australia) Department of Industry, Innovation
Connie Henson – Learning Quest and Science Newtown Festival Community
Diana Shypula Inner West Council Partners
Doytao Newtown NSW Department of Communities All My Friends
Exodus Foundation and Justice Better Read Than Dead
Fitness First – Newtown Street Smart BIKESydney
Fox and Scout Uniting Foundation BOYTHiNG
IGA Newtown Westfield Buzzing Minds
Jenny Leong MP Westpac Foundation Clean Vibes
Multicultural Health Education Officer Dendy
Newtopian Champions Partners GIRLTHiNG
Newtopian Outreachers Cattleyard Collective Green Energy Australia
Newtopian Sleepout participants Community Restorative Centre Heaps Gay
NNC volunteer counselling team Tom Foster Community Centre Marrickville Metro
NNC volunteer facilitators for family Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Mike Watt (Design & Artwork)
and social inclusion programs Centre Nathan Farrell Entertainment (NFE)
NNC volunteers for our Multicultural Newtown Breakaways
Aged Care Support services Newtown Festival Major Partners Newtown Hotel
NNC’s Donors & Regular Givers City of Sydney Perform-ability
One Stop Shop Service Partners Inner West Council Spewtown
Orange Sky Laundry Urbane Newtown Street Roller Hockey League Sydney
Oz Harvest Stuart Ridley (Kids DJ Workshops)
Share the Dignity Newtown Festival Promo Partners Sydney Drag Royalty
Support the Girls Sydney Sustainability Centre
AESOP
Sydney Local Health District The Coopers Arms
Proud & Punch
Tanya Plibersek MP The Red Rattler
Rainbow Fertility
Thread Together The Vanguard
Veggie Delights
Two Good Co. Tommie Talks
Newtown Festival Media Partners Westpac
2SER
Happy
The Music
Yeah Sure
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