WACOSS Emergency Relief Forum Jessica Murrowood Sector Development Manager ER Victoria Wednesday 2nd April 2014 Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth, Western Australia

Who is ER Victoria? Peak body for ER providers in Victoria Aims -to bring emergency relief agencies together, -to support their work, -to advocate on issues effecting vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Ultimate Goal For ER to be seen as a whole of community responsibility, including government, business, philanthropic, and community organisations and individuals with a focus on eliminating the systemic determinants of vulnerability and social disadvantage.

ER Victoria Strategic Plan 2011-2014 Sector Development Network Engagement Research and Advocacy Relationship Building Community Engagement Organisational Health

Victorian Emergency Relief Sector Approximately 700 independent not-for-profit organisations. Foodbank Victoria is the largest provider of hunger relief supporting 563 Victorian ER agencies that provide food parcels to vulnerable individuals and families.  Almost 80% of people who work in Victorian emergency relief organisations are non-paid volunteers.  Emergency relief support provided to the Victorian community sector is estimated to be valued at $25-30 million. ER providers mainly source their funding via grants from philanthropic organisations, from Commonwealth Government, and/or from their own fundraising activities including money raised from sales at op-shops.

Commonwealth Government Department of Social Services (DSS) Federal Funding for ER Commonwealth Government Department of Social Services (DSS) DSS Funding for ER in Victoria for 2012-2013 was approx. $13.8M (funded entities= 301) DSS Funding for ER in Australia for 2012-2013 was approx. $58.2M (funded entities= 13,099) DSS Funding for ER in WA for 2012-2013 was approx. $5M (funded entities= 197)

Victorian Local ER Networks 19 Regional 31 Metro Great mechanism for sharing information, resources, and key intelligence about what’s happening on the ground when clients present to ER agencies. The advantage of networking is the ability of ER services to make referrals within their local network. Local ER networks play a key role in identifying trends in client needs and in helping to address identified common issues.

What’s the connection between ER Victoria and local ER networks? ER Victoria acts as a conduit between networks and government/community sector bodies. ER Victoria identifies gaps in networking and assists in setting up new networks. ER Victoria captures key client/agency issues to inform policies/projects/campaigns.

Comparison; Victorian and WA ER Sectors Many similarities: Types of organisations providing ER (+ their challenges and strengths) Types of assistance provided to clients (related to community needs) Responding to gaps in service provision Responding to clients with increasingly complex needs Resourcing requirements (organisational and client needs) Referral capacity Networking opportunities Limited access to professional development/training opportunities

Comparison; Victorian and WA ER Sectors Some differences: Geographical locations of ER providers Networking; role of local government, number of formal local networks Interaction between utilities companies, government concessions and ER clients experiencing energy hardship Interaction between Foodbank, foodshares and ER providers State housing legislation and its interaction with key driver to ER (housing issues)

Victorian ER Sector Resources

Questions? Jessica Murrowood Sector Development Manager ER Victoria Web: www.ervictoria.org.au Email: jessica@cisvic.org.au Phone: (03) 9672 2005 Based at the offices of: Community Information and Support Victoria Suite 209, Level 2, 343 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000