FRANKSTON PENINSULA CARERS INC PRESIDENTS REPORT APRIL, 2016 As I was preparing this Report I reflected on our Vision Statement included in our brochure which states our main objective as follows – “To provide high quality, affordable and sustainable housing for adults with intellectual disability in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area”. I can say with pride that since our Incorporation in 2007 we have certainly been achieving this very worthy goal. Our very first project The Hastings Model seems to be ticking along well. We are kept abreast of the news of the 6 residents in “Dolphin House:’ managed by our friends at Karingal. The number of residents in the 20 units seems to have stabilized. We make a point of having an occasional Committee Meeting in the Gazebo (which FPC funded) and it is great to hear that the residents of Dolphin House are utalising the garden more for their cooking programme. As you know FPC sourced the block of land at Candlebark Crescent, Frankston North from the Frankston City Council. This home is also for 6 residents with complex needs. Community Housing (Vic) Ltd will own the site and Karingal will manage it. Representatives from FPC have been attending project meetings and the design of the building has been finalized with input from both FPC and Karingal. It is disappointing that this project has progressed slowly but I am informed that at last the groundwork is now underway. It seems we are in the hands of Community Housing and their time-­‐line. As mentioned previously this project is fully funded both for capital of $1.391 Million and with the important recurrent funding. It needs to be said that without FPC sourcing this land and securing the funding from the Victorian Government, this project would not be happening. This is not just a matter of asking for land but being able to demonstrate to Frankston Council (or any other organization) that we are a reputable, competent and professional group that has “the runs on the board” Of course this takes many years to develop. St Mark’s House – The Balnarring project Graeme Kelly CEO of E.W. Tipping Foundation will be giving a more detailed presentation today. However I am very excited to report that this home for another 6 people with an intellectual disability is progressing extremely well. We have a great working relationship with our partners The E.W. Tipping Foundation. FPC and Tipping have been working with their Architect on a very attractive design and a quantity Surveyor has also been involved. Of course it is always a challenge for a custom designed home to meet the budget requirements. We are thrilled to report that The Bendigo and District Bank Balnarring have indicated that they will assist with some funding for FPC to go towards this project. Further fundraising may have to take place to cover items like landscaping and some soft furnishings. Another necessary expense will be the pine tree removal. I mustn’t forget to repeat again, our sincere thanks to the congregation and Parish Council of St Mark’s Anglican Church Balnarring and St.John”s Anglican Church Flinders for their unfailing support of this project. I must state the obvious but again without the land there would be no St Marks House! Bayview Road, McCrae Representatives from Karingal and FPC have been meeting regularly to finalise the plans for this group home for another 6 people with an intellectual disability. This land has a wonderful position overlooking Port Philip Bay and the design of this home will make the most of this outlook. For many years our dedicated Committee Member, Norman Carlyon, has been lobbying Ministers, Department Heads etc and he has achieved the impossible with the confirmation that . support packages for the 12 residents for both of these houses have been approved. This is an amazing achievement and people who have worked in the disability field for many years are amazed too! We sincerely thank Norman for his continued hard work in this and other areas for the benefit of our families. Our friend Sen. Mitch Fifield, while he was still the Federal Disability Minister, made available a Government Grant to enable projects like ours that were short of funds, to apply for this special grant. These grants have been applied for to support both Balnarring and McCrae. It is anticipated that the result of these applications will be made available at approximately the end of April. With the necessary approval of the individual packages from the Department this exempts us from having to obtain a planning permit from the Mornington Peninsula Shire, which should shorten the build time considerably. Norman has also been busy talking to one of Victoria’s leading home builders with the idea that they may be able to provide some building materials for the Balnarring and McCrae projects and we await to see if this eventuates. We continue to be referred to and seek out developers that may be interested in providing us with discounted land. Many avenues are pursued and one never knows what may eventuate. We have also met with other groups that are interested in building accommodation for their adult children. Hopefully some of our ideas may be of assistance. Norman Carlyon will report today on the exciting work he has been doing in the Barwon Trial Site with the Commonwealth Bank of Aus. and Housing Choices. Coffee Mornings Thanks you to Marj Ross and Libby Reid for their continued support for any carers who wish to meet monthly at Bentons Square Mornington for the Coffee mornings. I encourage any Carer to attend these coffee mornings and share companionship with other Carers. Fundraising It is anticipated that an up-­‐market dinner will be held in October and Monica Holland will report on this today. When attending a recent workshop a worker in the disability field claimed they were the only ones building houses on the Peninsula. We obviously need to “wave our flag” more. It would be nice to have a few new members of FPC both supporters and Carers. I encourage you to take a brochure and hand it to anyone you think may be interested. We have deliberately kept the joining fee the same as it has been since 2007 ie. $10 a family. Again a special thank you to our wonderful Committee who give their time so generously. What a great team we have! JOY JARMAN President Frankston Peninsula Carers Inc. April, 2016 jarman01@bigpond.com