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

2. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. 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 was approx. $13.8M
(funded entities= 301)
DSS Funding for ER in Australia for was approx. $58.2M
(funded entities= 13,099)
DSS Funding for ER in WA for was approx. $5M
(funded entities= 197)

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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)

12. Victorian ER Sector Resources

13. Questions? Jessica Murrowood Sector Development Manager ER Victoria
Web:
Phone: (03)
Based at the offices of:
Community Information and Support Victoria
Suite 209, Level 2, 343 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000