Sacred Heart Mission in
A researcher on
Fr Ernie was succeeded as parish priest in 1998 by Fr Terry Kean, and he in turn by Fr John Petrulis in 2007.
In 2015-2016 the Mission had a budget of $18.7mop shops. The Mission employs 300 staff members and draws on the efforts of 1,200 individual volunteers. The work of the Mission encompasses a range of services and programs.
Regular donors to the meals program include Junee Abattoirs, Davies Bakery, Dobsons potatoes, Monte Coffee/Bean Alliance, Susan Day cakes, Carmen's Muesli, Nuttelex and Lion (Milk). During his years at the Mission, Fr Ernie struck up a relationship with stallholders at the Footscray Wholesale Market (now in Epping) which continues today, with many donating fresh fruit and vegetables weekly.[9] In addition, former commercial flower grower Les Baguley has since 1999 been donating to the meals program vegetables and herbs that he grows on his Heatherton farm.[10]
Waste management company KS Environmental collects the leftover food scraps which are then turned into garden compost.[citation needed]
In January 2013 funding was announced for a $1.2 million renovation of the dining hall from where the meals are served. The money was raised by philanthropist Paula Fox, her family and friends, the State Government of Victoria and the Catholic Archdiocese.[11]
Sacred Heart Mission's clinic was the first in the Hands on Health network.counselling, podiatry, acupuncture, naturopathy and Reiki, all conducted by volunteer practitioners.[14]
The Women's House in Robe St is an open access centre offering a safe place for women in need. Staff offer general case management, of usually 13 weeks, and intensive case management with the Women's Housing Complex Needs Program (WHCN), which is usually between six and 12 months. Staff members provide support and referrals for issues such as
The Outlandish program became part of Sacred Heart Mission in 2013, and offers eco-volunteering to women, to increase community participation. Examples of eco-volunteering could be working with (farm) animals, growing plants or doing marine research.[18]
Bethlehem Community merged with Sacred Heart Mission in July 2015 and provides medium to long term accommodation to support homeless women in Victoria. This accommodation centre has facilities in Reservoir and Thomastown.[19]
Homefront is a crisis accommodation centre where women over 25 can stay overnight. Homefront does not accommodate accompanying children. The average stay is six weeks, where women receive support and case management to work towards a more permanent housing plan.[20] They also get help with issues such as family and sexual violence, physical and mental illness and alcohol and drug addictions.[21]
As a response to the closure of rooming houses due to the
The tenancies are for people with histories of homelessness and many have complex needs including
The two facilities provide accommodation for 83 residents, most of whom have experienced homelessness and social isolation. Sacred Heart Community provides an 'ageing in place' approach. People who choose to live at Sacred Heart Community have the option to live here for the rest of their lives. There is a 24-hour registered nurse and staff coverage in the facilities.
The comprehensive Lifestyle Program creates opportunities for residents to connect within the facilities and with the broader community. Many people have had long relationships with other services at Sacred Heart Mission and are supported to maintain these.[26]
A team of staff and volunteers provide support to 75 elderly people living within the cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington and Glen Eira. They assist with activities such as shopping, transport, meal provision, cleaning and personal care to enable the residents to remain in their own homes.[2]
The Kick Start program is part of the sports program, meant for people to build the confidence to pursue sport activities in the wider community. It aims to help build the skills and knowledge to start practicing a sport, while addressing their physical and mental health, drug or alcohol use. Health or age related issues can create a barrier for sporting activities. Kick Start offers individualised, case management support, from learning about healthy diets to learning how to swim or join the gym.[28]
People with complex needs and mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues are offered case management and referred for secondary consultation.
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A pastoral team of three, including the parish priest, extends companionship and spiritual support and comfort to people who, at the end of their life, may have no family at hand. From time to time "Mission people" are given a funeral service in the Grey Street church: some are buried at Emerald Cemetery or, more recently, at Bunurong Memorial Park near Dandenong.[4]: 101
Fundraising staff work with volunteer committees on a busy program of functions, some of which have become landmark events on the Melbourne calendar. Sacred Heart Mission generates enormous goodwill and this is evident in the events which receive both financial and gift-in-kind support from
Every May, Sacred Heart Mission holds its fundraising campaign DINE WITH HEART MONTH. First organised in 2014 as a gala dinner on the stage of St Kilda's iconic Palais Theatre, the event has expanded to a month-long collaboration with restaurants, bars and cafes all over Melbourne who help to raise money for the Mission's Meals Program, which provides up to 400 free meals daily. Every four dollars raised covers the cost of a meal for someone experiencing homelessness, social isolation or disadvantage. In 2016 the Dine with Heart event brought in $115,000, enough for 28,750 meals.[35]
An intimate sporting-themed dinner “Dine with the Champions” takes place each year to raise money for Sacred Heart Mission's sports and recreation program.
Specific fundraising for the Mission's Women's House started in 1995 with a $100 dinner with 100 women at a private house to raise $10,000.[16]: 80 This has evolved into the annual “Light Up a Life” cocktail party that in 2012 was held at The Prince Deck and attended by more than 350 people.
The Mission has also been involved with "Batting for the Battlers" over the years – a charity cricket match at the Peanut Farm Oval in St Kilda with celebrities competing in the teams Veg Out vs The Vineyard.[37]
Sacred Heart Mission receives an enormous amount of support from all areas of the community. Star of the Sea, a Melbourne girls' school, has a long tradition of sending groups of students to volunteer in the Mission's dining hall as part of its community service program as well as undertaking fundraising activities for the Mission. Actress Rachel Griffiths began her association with the Mission when she was a student at Star of the Sea. In 2001 she asked friends to donate to the Mission in lieu of birthday gifts and later that year, at Christmas time, helped to distribute 400 hampers. She raised more than $30,000 for the Mission through selling photos of her wedding to the media.[38] Her children were baptised at Sacred Heart Church.[39][40]
A number of major corporations support the Mission financially and through volunteering, such as the National Australia Bank and Ernst & Young. Both organisations regularly send teams of staff members to volunteer as well as having workplace giving programs that support the Mission. They are also strong supporters of past events.
Local real estate agents Chisholm & Gamon have supported the Mission since 2005 as major sponsors of "Dine with the Champions", conducting the "rowdy auction" at this and other fundraising events and have also provided pro bono real estate boards advertising for events. In 2011 they began to promote the Mission's op shops to people who are moving in or out of properties which they have sold or manage.[41]
Initially, the
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