45th Annual Report

Transcript

1 PRONIA Annual Report Union Street Brunswick, Victoria Australia 3056 T: +61 (03) F: +61 (03) E: info@pronia.com.au 45th Annual Report

2 Vision Statement To be a leading Australian-Greek community services agency in Australia. Statement of purpose To empower members of the Australian-Greek community to reach their full potential. This will be achieved by undertaking service provision, advocacy, policy development and research in an innovative, culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. Australian Greek Welfare Society (trading as PRONIA) 2017 An electronic version of this report is available at

3 PRONIA Annual Report CONTENTS PRESIDENT S REPORT 2 CEO S REPORT 6 BOARD, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS 10 CARING FOR OF OUR ELDERLY 14 Aged & Co-ordinated Care Unit 14 Carer Support Programs 15 Socialisation Program 15 Community Visitors Scheme 18 Home Support Services 18 Brokered Serivces Program 19 Quality and Compliance 19 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 20 Generalist Casework Services 20 Newly Arrived Greek Migrant Project 22 Greek Legal Information and Referral Service 24 Family and Relationships Service 25 City of Monash Grant: Building Connections 27 Mental Health Project 29 LGBTI Project 31 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 32 Volunteer Workforce 32 Workforce Development 33 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program 34 Cancer Support Groups 35 ALPHA CHILDREN S CENTRE 36 MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING 40 Annual 3XY Radiothon for PRONIA 40 PRONIA s Pop - Up Periptero 41 PRONIA S 3XY Weekly Radio Program 41 I Love All Things GR Community Directory 41 45th Anniversary Gala Dinner 42 PRONIA 2016 Charity Drive 45 PRONIA 3XY Radiothon Donors 46 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 53 ANNUAL REPORT

4 PRESIDENT S REPORT On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Australian Greek Welfare Society (PRONIA), it is with a great pride that I present the 45th Annual Report. In 1972 PRONIA was established with the distinct aim of providing support to newly arrived migrants and their families, in overcoming the many challenges associated with settlement, communication and accessing services in a foreign land. Over the past 45 years, PRONIA has grown and evolved as a leading Australian-Greek community services organization that continues to address the ever-changing and complex needs faced by our community. It has also played a vital role in the establishment and development of services for the Greek speaking community as well instigating the formation of a number of key organizations that are today providing vital services to our community. In its role as an advocate, PRONIA is a recognized leader in the sector and continues to be a strong voice for the Greek speaking community. This role is enhanced by PRONIA s intimate knowledge of the issues faced by an ageing population and the community at large. The staff and volunteers of PRONIA proudly continue the legacy that was established by PRONIA s founders. PRONIA continues to grow, evolve and adapt to meet the ever changing needs of our community by providing a niche service that remains culturally and linguistically relevant. Over the past year, I am proud to report that PRONIA has fully met and often exceeded, all the contractual outcomes with the state and federal departments while also delivering significant levels of service under brokered arrangements to other specialist providers and also other unfunded services. I thank all funding providers for their ongoing support. PRONIA has this year also undertaken a review of its Strategic Plan. Of particular note is that during this period, there has been significant growth in our Brokered Services Programs as well as receipt of new funding for projects such as the Newly Arrived Settlement Support and the Project LGBTI Start the Conversation Project through effective research and lobbying. As we look forward, the Board and Senior Management have finalized the Strategic Plan for the period. Growth and innovation in services to meet the diverse needs of our community members, is the priority of the new Strategic Plan. PRONIA s Board has also undertaken a review of its Governance Policies which have now been further enhanced in order to reflect a robust leadership team that will ensure PRONIA achieves its vision for the betterment of our community into the next decade and beyond. I take this opportunity to thank the business community and in particular, Delphi Bank for their 2 PRONIA

5 ongoing support and collaboration during the 45th Anniversary Gala Event, the Annual 3XY PRONIA Radiothon and the I Love All things Greek Community Directory. PRONIA also acknowledges and thanks our generous donors and various community organizations for their ongoing commitment, support, and generosity. Equally, I take the opportunity to register special thanks to the Greek media; Neos Kosmos, the Greek Media Group 3XY and Ta Nea and also SBS and 3ZZZ for their generosity in enabling PRONIA to reach and communicate with our community regarding programs and initiatives. It is also important that we acknowledge and thank our dedicated army of over 130 volunteers for their commitment and support to the community through various programs including socialization, welfare and the legal service. Forty-five years ago a group of dedicated volunteers established PRONIA. Today, our volunteers continue the legacy by selflessly supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. On behalf of PRONIA I also pay tribute to the efforts of our eminent Patron, His Honour Justice Emilios Kyrou, for his continued support and patronage of PRONIA. I also take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the Board of PRONIA (each of whom must be noted are themselves volunteers) for their continued commitment and dedication to the governance of PRONIA. We are extremely proud of our achievements and are most grateful for the vision of our founders in Dr. Spiro Moraitis, Mr Nick Polites and Mr George Papadopoulos who recognized the need for the establishment of such an organization. PRONIA has made a significant contribution to our community over the best part of 5 decades and PRONIA looks forward to continuing to meet the challenges and serve the needs of our community to ensure that our community remains strong. George Spiliotis PRESIDENT On behalf of the Board, I take this opportunity to commend and thank our CEO, Ms. Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos for her tireless leadership of PRONIA s management and staff. We of course value and acknowledge all the outstanding work of Tina, her management team and the staff in achieving meeting the outcomes outlined in our Annual Report. ANNUAL REPORT

6 ΑΝΑΦΟΡΑ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΥ Εκ μέρους του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της Αυστραλό- Ελληνικής Κοινωνικής Πρόνοιας, και με μεγάλη υπερηφάνεια που μου δίνεται η ευκαιρία και φέτος να παρουσιάσω την ετήσια αναφορά για την 45η Ετήσια Γενική Συνέλευση. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ ιδρύθηκε το 1972 με σαφή στόχο την παροχή υποστηρικτικών υπηρεσιών στους τότε νέο-φερμένους μετανάστες και στις οικογένειές τους, για την αντιμετώπιση των πολλών προκλήσεων που σχετίζονται με την εγκατάσταση, την επικοινωνία και την πρόσβαση τους σε υπηρεσίες σε μια ξένη χώρα. Τα τελευταία 45 χρόνια, η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ αναπτύχθηκε και εξελίχθηκε ως ένας κορυφαίος οργανισμός παροχής υπηρεσιών για την Αυστραλό- Ελληνική κοινότητα και συνεχίζει να αντιμετωπίζει τις συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενες και κάποιες φορές πολύπλοκες ανάγκες που αντιμετωπίζει η κοινότητά μας. Επίσης, έχει παίξει πολύ σημαντικό ρόλο στη δημιουργία και στην ανάπτυξη υπηρεσιών για την Ελληνόφωνη κοινότητα, καθώς επίσης και για την δημιουργία ενός αριθμού σημαντικών οργανώσεων που σήμερα παρέχουν ζωτικές υπηρεσίες στην κοινότητά μας. Στον ρόλο του συνηγόρου, η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ έχει αναγνωριστεί σαν ηγέτης του χώρου και εξακολουθεί να είναι μια ισχυρή φωνή για την Ελληνόφωνη κοινότητα. Ο ρόλος αυτός ενισχύεται από την ευρεία γνώση της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ όσων αφορά τα κοινωνικά και άλλα προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει «ο γηράσκων πληθυσμός» και η κοινότητα γενικότερα. Οι εργαζόμενοι και οι εθελοντές της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ συνεχίζουν με υπερηφάνεια τo κληροδότημα που δημιούργησαν οι ιδρυτές της. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ συνεχίζει να αναπτύσσεται και να προσαρμόζεται για να ανταποκριθεί με τον καλύτερο δυνατό τρόπο, στις μεταβαλλόμενες ανάγκες της κοινότητάς, παρέχοντας πολιτιστικά και γλωσσικά κατάλληλες, εξειδικευμένες υπηρεσίες. Είμαι περήφανος να μοιραστώ μαζί σας, ότι κατά τη διάρκεια της προηγούμενης χρονιάς, για την υλοποίηση προγραμμάτων, η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ κατάφερε να ανταποκριθεί πλήρως και συχνά να ξεπεράσει το βαθμό του έργου που είχε δεσμευτεί να παραδώσει με τα κρατικά και ομοσπονδιακά τμήματα, παρέχοντας ταυτόχρονα σημαντικές υπηρεσίες «διαμεσολαβητικών διευθετήσεων» (brokered services) σε άλλους παρόχους εξειδικευμένων υπηρεσιών και άλλες μη χρηματοδοτούμενες υπηρεσίες. Ευχαριστώ όλους όσους χρηματοδοτούν το έργο μας για την συνεχή υποστήριξή τους Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ επίσης πραγματοποίησε την αναδρομική εξέταση του Στρατηγικού Σχεδίου για την περίοδο Ιδιαίτερα επισημαίνεται ότι κατά τη διάρκεια αυτής της περιόδου σημειώθηκε σημαντική αύξηση στα Προγράμματα Brokerated Services καθώς και η λήψη νέων χρηματοδοτήσεων για τα προγράμματα : Παροχή Υπηρεσιών Εγκατάστασης για τους Νεοφερμένους Έλληνες και το πρόγραμμα LGBTI χάρη αποτελεσματικής έρευνας και άσκηση πίεσης (lobbying). Για το μέλλον, το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο και η Ανώτατη Διοίκηση έχουν οριστικοποιήσει το Στρατηγικό Σχέδιο για την περίοδο Η ανάπτυξη και η καινοτομία στις υπηρεσίες για την κάλυψη των ποικίλων αναγκών των μελών της κοινότητας μας αποτελεί προτεραιότητα του νέου Στρατηγικού Σχεδίου. Το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ ολοκλήρωσε την ανασκόπηση των 4 PRONIA

7 Πολιτικών Διακυβέρνησης και έχουν περαιτέρω βελτιωθεί ώστε να αντικατοπτρίζουν (αντανακλούν) την ισχυρή ηγετική ομάδα που θα διασφαλίσει ότι η PRONIA θα επιτύχει το όραμά της για την βελτίωση της κοινότητας μας στην επόμενη δεκαετία και πέρα. Επωφελούμαι της ευκαιρίας για να ευχαριστήσω την επιχειρηματική κοινότητα και ιδιαίτερα την Τράπεζα Delphi για τη συνεχή υποστήριξη και συνεργασία τους για τον εορτασμό της 45ης Επετείου, του Ετήσιου Ραδιομαραθώνιου της PRONIAS και του Κοινοτικού Καταλόγου I Love All Things Greek. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ αναγνωρίζει επίσης και ευχαριστεί τους γενναιόδωρους δωρητές μας και τις διάφορες κοινοτικές οργανώσεις για τη συνεχή δέσμευσή τους, την υποστήριξη και τη γενναιοδωρία τους. Επίσης, μου δίνεται η ευκαιρία, να ευχαριστήσω ιδιαίτερα τα ελληνικά μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης: Τον Νέο Κόσμο, την Ελληνική Ομάδα Μέσων Μαζικής Ενημέρωσης 3XY και τα Ta Nea, αλλά και την SBS και τον 3ZZZ για τη γενναιοδωρία τους, η οποία επιτρέπει στην PRONIA να επικοινωνεί με την κοινότητά μας σχετικά με προγράμματα και πρωτοβουλίες Είναι επίσης σημαντικό να αναγνωρίσουμε και να ευχαριστήσουμε τον αφοσιωμένο στρατό μας, των 130 και βάλε εθελοντών, για τη δέσμευσή τους και την υποστήριξή τους στην κοινότητα μέσω διαφόρων προγραμμάτων, όπως η κοινωνικοποίηση, η ευημερία και η νομική υπηρεσία. Πριν από σαράντα πέντε χρόνια μια ομάδα αφοσιωμένων εθελοντών δημιούργησε την ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ. Σήμερα, οι εθελοντές μας συνεχίζουν την κληρονομιά υποστηρίζοντας ανιδιοτελώς τα πιο ευάλωτα μέλη της κοινότητάς μας. Εκ μέρους του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου, επωφελούμαι της ευκαιρίας για να συγχαρώ και να ευχαριστήσω την Διευθύνοντα Σύμβουλό μας κ. Τίνα Δούβου-Σταθοπούλου για την ακούραστη ηγεσία και διαχείριση του ανώτερου διοικητικού προσωπικού και όλων των εργαζόμενων της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ. Φυσικά, εκτιμούμε και αναγνωρίζουμε το εξαιρετικό έργο της Tinas, του ανωτέρου διοικητικού προσωπικού και όλων των εργαζομένων για την επίτευξη των αποτελεσμάτων που περιγράφονται στην ετήσια έκθεσή μας. Εκ μέρους της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ, αποτίνω φόρο τιμής στις προσπάθειες του εξέχοντος μας Πατρόνα μας, τον Αξιότιμο Δικηγόρου μας, κ. Emilios Kyrou, για τη συνεχή υποστήριξή του και την υποστήριξη της PRONIA. Επίσης μου δίνεται η ευκαιρία να ευχαριστήσω όλα Τα μέλη του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ για τη συνεχή δέσμευσή τους και την αφοσίωση στη διακυβέρνηση της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ (σημειωτέων, ότι όλα τα μέλη του συμβουλίου είναι εθελοντές). Είμαστε εξαιρετικά υπερήφανοι για τα επιτεύγματά μας και είμαστε πολύ ευγνώμονες για το όραμα των ιδρυτών μας: του Δρ. Σπύρο Μωραΐτη, Νικ Πολίτη και Γεώργιο Παπαδόπουλο που αναγνώρισαν την ανάγκη δημιουργίας ενός τέτοιου οργανισμού. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ έχει σημαντική συμβολή στην κοινότητά μας για σχεδόν 5 δεκαετίες και προσβλέπει να συνεχίσει να ανταποκρίνεται στις προκλήσεις και να εξυπηρετεί τις ανάγκες της κοινότητάς μας για να διασφαλίσει ότι η κοινότητά μας παραμένει ισχυρή. Γεώργιος Σπηλιώτης ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΣ ANNUAL REPORT

8 CEO S REPORT I am pleased to be presenting my first AGM report for the financial year. This year marked a significant milestone for the organization, the 45th Anniversary of PRO- NIA and 40 years of service of Alpha Children s Centre. PRONIA hosted a successful gala dinner at the Australian Events Centre, commemorating the rich history of the organization as advocate and service provider to the Greek community. We were proud to share this moment with two founders, Nick Polites and George Papadopoulos, who shared a vision for an organization that would, and did, change the face of the Greek community. The Prime Minister Hon Malcolm Turnbull in his congratulatory message emphasized PRONIA s role in helping meet the changing needs of the Greek community, and nurtured capacity, connection and opportunity. Equally the Premier of Victoria the Hon Daniel Andrews in his message highlighted how in every respect, PRONIA has lived up to its name: providing care and compassion to those in need. PRONIA is a leading community service organization excelling in the provision of culturally and linguistically responsive programs across a broad spectrum, responding to current and emerging needs of the first and subsequent generations and newly arrived Greek migrants through innovation and new service models. With the rebranding, the organization communicated its core values and brand messages to all its stakeholders with new marketing strategies such as social media and the pop up Periptero increasing reach in the community. Our Strategic Plan strongly focuses on growth and development, quality service and diversification and innovation further improving our capability to meet the changing needs of our community and position the organization as provider and employer of choice. The financial year was a successful one achieving strong service outcomes and growth within the business units. PRONIA has demonstrated time again its capacity to deliver on funded programs, expand its service reach and be competitive by obtaining funding for new programs. I take this opportunity to highlight some of the achievements with a full account of services performance in the body of the report. The HACC programs were successfully transitioned to the Commonwealth providing services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and we continued to service younger people with disabilities through the state funded Home and Community Care (HACC) program. We strengthened our responses to the ageing community with the community based and in-home programs delivering 140,000 hours of service across the eleven programs supporting individuals to remain independently in their homes. Furthermore, we had a great response from the 6 PRONIA

9 community choosing RPONIA as their provider of choice for home care packages contributing to the 40% growth in packages in four months. Generalist casework and counselling services continue to be critical contact points for clients with demand for the services reflected in the total figures of 3132 client contacts this year. The resilience, flexibility and intensity with which frontline staff respond to the multiple and complex client issues is noteworthy and commendable. PRONIA secured funding to deliver projects targeting mental health, settlement services, health and wellbeing projects building on local initiatives and improving community participation through place based programs. This year PRONIA received its first LGBTI funding to deliver the Diversity in Greek Families: Let s Start the Conversation project challenging community perceptions and opening dialogue to support the needs of the LGBTI communities and their families. Of course, all this work is not possible without the dedication and hard work of the PRONIA staff who always go above and beyond, and I thank each and every one of them. A special thanks to all our volunteers for their contribution and ongoing commitment to our programs and their service to the community. Over the 40 years of service the Alpha Children s Centre has cared for 3300 children providing long day care and integrated kindergarten program. The Centre has maintained the bilingual Greek program preserving the Greek language and culture and delivering a quality multicultural program. I congratulate the staff for their dedication and ongoing commitment to a language program in early learning setting and teaching children the importance of culture and diversity. I thank the commonwealth and state governments for their continued funding and support and acknowledge all our partners and sponsors for their ongoing involvement with PRONIA and I look forward to continuing our work together. As always, the Greek media supports our efforts in community engagement and education and I thank Neos Kosmos, Ta Nea and 3XY radio station, SBS Radio, 3ZZZ and Rythmos for their assistance through the year. In concluding my report, I sincerely thank the senior management, Nikki Efremidis Deputy Director Manager Aged & Coordinated Care, John Lioupas Manager Business Finance, and Kelly Ioannou Manager Children s Services for their leadership and ongoing commitment to the organization. I also welcome the new Manger Family & Community Services, Mary Sophou, to the team. A special thanks to the President George Spiliotis for his leadership, guidance and support of me in my role as CEO and thank the Board members for their time, expertise and strategic guidance of PRONIA. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to continue my journey with the organization as the CEO. I envisage a strong and prosperous future, one where we consolidate our position as a niche service provider, expand and diversify services and continue to innovate through projects to meet the emerging challenges within our community. Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos CEO ANNUAL REPORT

10 ΑΝΑΦΟΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΝΙΚΗΣ ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΤΡΙΑΣ Με μεγάλη μου χαρά παρουσιάζω την πρώτη μου αναφορά της Ετήσιας Γενικής Συνέλευσης για τη χρήση Αυτό το έτος σηματοδότησε ένα σημαντικό ορόσημο για τον οργανισμό, την 45η επέτειο της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ και τα 40 χρόνια λειτουργίας του Παιδικού Σταθμού Άλφα. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ διοργάνωσε ένα επιτυχημένο εορταστικό δείπνο στο Αυστραλιανό Κέντρο Εκδηλώσεων, για να τιμήσει την πλούσια ιστορία του οργανισμού στην αντιπροσώπευση και προώθηση των δικαιωμάτων των μελών της παροικίας μας και την παροχή υπηρεσιών σε αυτή. Είμαστε υπερήφανοι που μοιραστήκαμε αυτή τη στιγμή με δύο από τους ιδρυτές της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ, τον Νίκο Πολίτη και τον Γιώργο Παπαδόπουλο, που είχαν ένα κοινό όραμα για ένα οργανισμό που θα άλλαζε, και πραγματικά άλλαξε, το πρόσωπο της ελληνικής παροικίας. Ο Πρωθυπουργός Hon Malcolm Turnbull με το συγχαρητήριο μήνυμα του τόνισε το ρόλο της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ να ανταποκρίνεται στις μεταβαλλόμενες ανάγκες της ελληνικής παροικίας ενισχύοντας τις ικανότητες της, τις διασυνδέσεις της και τις ευκαιρίες της. Αντίστοιχα, ο πρωθυπουργός της Βικτώριας Hon Daniel Andrews στο μήνυμά του υπογράμμισε πως «από κάθε άποψη, η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ επιβεβαίωσε το όνομά της παρέχοντας φροντίδα και συμπαράσταση σε όσους την έχουν ανάγκη». Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ είναι ένας κορυφαίος οργανισμός κοινωφελών υπηρεσιών, ο οποίος διακρίνεται για την παροχή πολιτισμικά και γλωσσικά κατάλληλων προγραμμάτων σε ένα ευρύ φάσμα, ανταποκρινόμενη στις τρέχουσες και αναδυόμενες ανάγκες των πρώτων και των επόμενων γενεών και των νεοαφιχθέντων μεταναστών από την Ελλάδα μέσω καινοτόμων και νέων υπηρεσιών. Με τη νέα του επωνυμία, ο οργανισμός γνωστοποίησε τις θεμελιώδεις του αξίες και τα μηνύματά του σε όλους τους ενδιαφερόμενους μέσα από νέες στρατηγικές μάρκετινγκ, όπως τα κοινωνικά μέσα δικτύωσης και τη δημιουργία ενός κινητού Περίπτερου, βελτιώνοντας την επικοινωνία και την προσέγγιση της παροικίας. Το Στρατηγικό μας Σχέδιο για το επικεντρώνεται ιδιαιτέρως στην επέκταση και την ανάπτυξη, την ποιότητα των υπηρεσιών και τη διαφοροποίηση και καινοτομία, βελτιώνοντας περαιτέρω την ικανότητά μας να ανταποκρινόμαστε στις μεταβαλλόμενες ανάγκες της παροικίας μας και αναγάγοντας τον οργανισμό σε φορέα παροχής υπηρεσιών και εργοδότη επιλογής. Το οικονομικό έτος ήταν επιτυχές με σημαντικά επιτεύγματα στην παροχή υπηρεσιών και την ανάπτυξη της επιχειρηματικότητας σε διάφορους τομείς. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ απέδειξε ξανά την ικανότητά της να υλοποιεί χρηματοδοτούμενα προγράμματα, να επεκτείνει τις υπηρεσίες της και να είναι ανταγωνιστική, εξασφαλίζοντας χρηματοδότηση για νέα προγράμματα. Επωφελούμαι της ευκαιρίας να επισημάνω μερικά από τα επιτεύγματα με πληρέστερη παρουσίαση των επιδόσεων των υπηρεσιών στα περιεχόμενα της αναφοράς. Η μετάβαση των προγραμμάτων HACC (Υπηρεσίες Κοινοτικής και Κατ Οίκον Φροντίδας) στην Κοινοπολιτεία με την παροχή υπηρεσιών μέσω του Προγράμματος CHSP (Στήριξη Κατ Οίκον) της Κοινοπολιτείας, έγινε με επιτυχία, ενώ συνεχίσαμε να εξυπηρετούμε νεότερα άτομα με αναπηρίες μέσω του προγράμματος Home and Community Care (HACC) 8 PRONIA

11 που χρηματοδοτείται από την Πολιτειακή Κυβέρνηση. Ενισχύσαμε τις υπηρεσίες μας προς τους ηλικιωμένους της παροικίας μας με προγράμματα που προσφέρονται στην κοινότητα και στο σπίτι, παρέχοντας ώρες υπηρεσίας μέσω των έντεκα προγραμμάτων που στηρίζουν τα άτομα να παραμένουν ανεξάρτητα στα σπίτια τους. Επιπρόσθετα, υπήρξε μεγάλη ανταπόκριση από την παροικία στην επιλογή της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ ως τον φορέα παροχής υπηρεσιών της επιλογής της για τα πακέτα φροντίδας κατ οίκον, συμβάλλοντας στην αύξηση κατά 40% των πακέτων σε διάστημα τεσσάρων μηνών. Οι γενικευμένες υπηρεσίες κοινωνικού λειτουργού και συμβουλευτικής εξακολουθούν να αποτελούν σημαντικά σημεία επικοινωνίας των πελατών με τον οργανισμό και η ζήτηση για τις υπηρεσίες αντικατοπτρίζεται στο συνολικό ποσό των 3132 επαφών με πελάτες κατά το τρέχον έτος. Η ανθεκτικότητα, η ευελιξία και η δυναμικότητα με την οποία το προσωπικό της πρώτης γραμμής ανταποκρίνεται στα πολλαπλά και πολύπλοκα ζητήματα είναι αξιοσημείωτες και αξιέπαινες. Η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ εξασφάλισε χρηματοδότηση για την υλοποίηση προγραμμάτων που στοχεύουν στην ψυχική υγεία, τις υπηρεσίες εγκατάστασης και προσαρμογής νεοφερμένων, την υγεία και την ευημερία, ενισχύοντας τις τοπικές πρωτοβουλίες και τη βελτίωση της συμμετοχής της παροικίας μέσω προγραμμάτων που απευθύνονται σε κατά τόπους κοινότητες. Φέτος η ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ έλαβε την πρώτη της χρηματοδότηση LGB- TI (ΛΟΑΤ) για Λεσβιακά, Ομοφυλόφιλα, Αμφισεξουαλικά και Διαφυλικά άτομα, ώστε να παρέχει το πρόγραμμα με τίτλο «Η Διαφορετικότητα στην Ελληνική Οικογένεια: Ας ξεκινήσουμε τη συζήτηση», προκαλώντας τις αντιλήψεις της παροικίας και ανοίγοντας το διάλογο για την υποστήριξη των αναγκών των κοινοτήτων ΛΟΑΤ και των οικογενειών τους. Φυσικά, όλη αυτή η δουλειά δεν είναι εφικτή χωρίς την αφοσίωση και τη σκληρή εργασία των υπαλλήλων της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ που πάντοτε εργάζονται πάνω και πέρα από τα καθήκοντα τους και ευχαριστώ κάθε έναν ξεχωριστά. Ευχαριστώ ιδιαίτερα όλους τους εθελοντές μας για τη συμβολή τους και τη συνεχιζόμενη αφοσίωσή τους στα προγράμματα μας και την προσφορά τους στην παροικία. Κατά τη διάρκεια των 40 χρόνων λειτουργίας του, ο Παιδικός Σταθμός Άλφα έχει φροντίσει 3300 παιδιά παρέχοντας ολοήμερη φροντίδα και ολοκληρωμένο πρόγραμμα νηπιαγωγείου. Το Κέντρο συνεχίζει το δίγλωσσο ελληνικό πρόγραμμα διατηρώντας την ελληνική γλώσσα και τον πολιτισμό και προσφέροντας ένα ποιοτικό πολυπολιτισμικό πρόγραμμα. Συγχαίρω το προσωπικό για την αφοσίωσή του και τη συνεχιζόμενη δέσμευσή του στο γλωσσικό πρόγραμμα προσχολικής ηλικίας και τη διδασκαλία των παιδιών ως προς τη σημασία του πολιτισμού και της διαφορετικότητας. Ευχαριστώ την Κοινοπολιτειακή και την Πολιτειακή κυβέρνηση για τη συνέχιση της χρηματοδότησης και της υποστήριξής τους. Επίσης θα ήθελα να αναγνωρίσω όλους τους συνεργάτες και τους χορηγούς μας για τη διαρκή συνεργασία τους με την ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ και προσβλέπω στη συνέχιση της συνεργασίας μας. Όπως πάντα, τα ελληνικά μέσα ενημέρωσης στηρίζουν τις προσπάθειές μας για τη συμμετοχή και εκπαίδευση της παροικίας μας και ευχαριστώ τον Νέο Κόσμο, Τα Νέα και το ραδιοφωνικό σταθμό 3XY, τη ραδιοφωνία SBS, το 3ΖΖΖ και τον Ρυθμό για τη βοήθειά τους κατά τη διάρκεια του έτους. Κλείνοντας την αναφορά μου, ευχαριστώ ειλικρινά την ομάδα των ανώτερων διοικητικών στελεχών, την Νίκη Εφραιμίδου Αναπληρώτρια Διευθύντρια και Διευθύντρια Φροντίδας Ηλικιωμένων και Συντονισμένης Φροντίδας, τον Γιάννη Λιούπα Διευθυντή Επιχειρήσεων και Οικονομικών και την Κέλλυ Ιωάννου Διευθύντρια του Παιδικού Σταθμού Άλφα για την ηγεσία τους και τη συνεχή αφοσίωσή τους στον οργανισμό. Καλωσορίζω επίσης στην ομάδα τη Μαίρη Σοφού Διευθύντρια των Οικογενειακών και Κοινωνικών Υπηρεσιών. Ευχαριστώ ιδιαιτέρως τον Πρόεδρο Γιώργο Σπηλιώτη για την ηγεσία, την καθοδήγηση και την υποστήριξή του στο ρόλο μου ως Γενική Διευθύντρια και ευχαριστώ τα μέλη του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου για το χρόνο, την τεχνογνωσία και τη στρατηγική καθοδήγηση της ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ. Αποτελεί προνόμιο η ευκαιρία που μου δίνεται να συνεχίσω την κοινή πορεία μου με τον οργανισμό ως Γενική Διευθύντρια. Οραματίζομαι ένα δυναμικό και ευήμερο μέλλον, όπου θα εδραιώσουμε τη θέση μας ως εξειδικευμένου φορέα παροχής υπηρεσιών, θα επεκτείνουμε και θα διαφοροποιήσουμε τις υπηρεσίες μας και θα συνεχίσουμε να καινοτομούμε με προγράμματα για την αντιμετώπιση των αναδυόμενων προκλήσεων στην παροικία μας. Τίνα Δουβου-Σταθοπουλου ΓΕΝΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΤΡΙΑ ANNUAL REPORT

12 BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS President George Spiliotis Vice President Eugenia Grammatikakis Hon. Secretary Ivy Fatouros-Mimilidis Treasurer James Koutsoukos Treasurer Jim Wood (until 14/09/16) Director Anatloli Amanatides (from 15/11/16) Director Nicholas Katris Director George Koletsis (from 15/11/16) Director Kris Pavlidis Director Spiros Papadopoulos (from 15/11/16) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Voula Messimeri AM (until 31/12/16) Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos (from 01/01/17) DEPUTY DIRECTOR Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos (until 31/12/16) BUSINESS FINANCE Manager John Lioupas Admin Finance Officer Marietta Kokkas (until 2/07/17) Finance Officer - Payroll Lillian Yanli Zhang Finance Officer - Payroll Karen Genfang Ren Finance Officer - Payroll Konstantina Kourtis Fundraising Officer Stella Katsarou (from 16/03/17) Marketing & Social Media Demi Papaioannou (from 13/06/17) Receptionist Lambrini Pneumaticatos (until 26/03/17) Receptionist Roulla Contopoulos (from 27/03/17) AGED & CO-ORDINATED CARE SERVICES Manager Nikki Efremidis Senior Co-ordinator Workforce Development Niki Matziaris Senior Co-ordinator Volunteer Workforce Development Paraskevi Tsingas Co-ordinator Community Support Programs Peter Andrinopoulos Co-ordinator Respite & Brokered Services Ioannis Michanetzis (until 12/02/17) Team Leader Respite & Brokered Services Social Support Program Officer Fotini Zahariou Chrysi Polymeni Anthelia Tzanis (until 18/06/17) Anastasia Koussis Fotini Dimidou Konstantinos Tsakoumis Tanya Beavis Community Visitors Scheme Officer Operations & Service Roster Officer Arion Evans (until 12/02/17) Respite Service Rosterer Panagiotis Giarimoglou Respite Service Rosterer Kostas Gerolymatos 10 PRONIA

13 BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS AGED & CO-ORDINATED CARE SERVICES (cont.) PAG Assessment Officer Christine Paraskeva (until 31/08/16) PAG Supervisor Chris Dimokranitis PAG Supervisor John Rakkas PAG Supervisor Harry Liapis PAG Supervisor Mary Gourdine PAG Supervisor Harry Peidis (until 31/08/16) FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES Manager Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos (until 31/12/16) Coordinator Direct Services Dimitra Lagoudaki Case Worker & Health Education Officer Dimitris Bouras Community Education Officer Antonios Maglis Community Settlement Services Officer Konstantina Kouroutsidou Home Care Packages Officer & Community Educator Tania Samartza Home Care Packages Case Manager & Access and Support Caseworker Konstantinos Kiomourtzis Access & Support Officer Nina Xarhakos Gambling Project Officer Miltos Miltiadis (until 31/08/16) LGBTI Project Officer Maria Bololia CHILDREN S SERVICES Coordinator Second in Charge Administration Kindergarten Teachers Educators Greek Program Educator Cook Cook Casual Casual Child Care Worker Kalliope Ioannou Anna Giannopoulos Roulla Contopoulos Nina Belskaya Angela Vidinopoulos Iris Gavrilovics Iqbal Kaur Hayer Eva Kalatheris Christina Nteris Roula Palavras Joanna Zotos Hina Farooq Eleni Pirdis Vicky Mesarvitis Maria Kategaris Ellie Bougiotis Debbie Dagli Teena De Rose Jenny Hernandez Maria Kakouli Maria Kategaris Reetuparna Barik ANNUAL REPORT

14 BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS COMMUNITY CARE WORKERS Christos Agneskis Greg Alexiou Magdalini Aliferis Angelos Alogaras Andreas Aloneftis Hariklia Amanatidou Sandra Apostolides Georgios Aravanis Anna Avramopoulos Maria-Paraskevi Bakopoulos Basiliki-Vicky Bantelas Valma Bayiartakis Irene Blanas Areti Bourlessas Angela Bozovitis Evangelia Carydias Marianthe Carydias Fay Christidis Zoe Constantinidis Marianna Demetriou Anna Devincenti Stavroula Dimitriadis Christodoulos Dimokranitis Spiros Doufexi Elizabeth Efremidis Vicky Emsley Maria Fenner Joyce Frittolini Julie Gakopoulos Christalla Gavriel Paraskevi Georgopoulou Paschalina Giouroukis Maria Goulimis Mary Gourdine Eugenia Gunaridis Despina Iliadou Helen Ioannou Chrysoula Karadani Loula Karefilakis Konstantina Tina Karlos Danny Katopodis Charalampia Katritsi Chrissoula Katsaros Despina Kiriakidis Rita Kontopoulou Helen Kourkoutzelos Alexandra Kromidas Dimitra Kurubilis Despina Kyriakidis Konstantinos Kyriakidis Eleftheria Laouta Maria Lazari Harry Liapis Kaliope Livaditis Cathy Loschiavo Kanella Mantziava Antigoni Marangos Lita Markou Dimitrios Mavroudis Effie Mihalopoulos Marsha Minas Foula Moraitis Fay Moros Marilena Nikolaidis Polyxeni Ntolopoulou Loukia Panoudi Anastasia Pantelidou Metaxia Papadopoulos Paraskevi Papadopoulou Helen Papageorgiou Kalliopi Papagianni Ioannis Papathymios Charalampos Harry Peidis Eleni Polioudaki Georgia Polydorou Olga Psyllos Georgia Rafaletos John Rakkas Spiridon Raptis Anna Rozanitis Despina Sergakis Con Skordilis Vasilicki Skoupas Valbona Terolli Angela Tologlou Konstantinos Tsakoumis Nikolaos Tsentikopoulos Sophie Tsetsos Peter Tsimiklis Anastasia Tsipas Aikaterini Tzanerikou Paraskevi Tzimopoulos Eva Valuskova Christina Varveris Christina Vatou Barbara Verginis George Vidakis Olga Vlahos Anastasia Xibrraku Helen Zamouzaris 12 PRONIA

15 BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS OUR ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM & COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME Malama Afentoulis Maroulla Agathangelou Andrea Aitken Despina Alexiadis Nafsika Andrianakis Maria Antonopoulos Vasilis Apostolopoulos Panagiotis Apostolou Vicky Arabatzis Mary Arapoglou Stavros Arapoglou Maria Axiotis Katerina Balasi Elias Baltatzidis Stella Basias Martha Bitsolas Roni Bololias Sophia Boroboka Themis Borobokas Panagiota Chatzis Ioakim Christodoulou Ekaterini Chrysostomou Con Constandineas Anastasia Constantatos Stamatia Costantelos Vassiliki Crilis Irene Dagianda Angela Dalianis Poppy Dandris Dora Diakoumakos Anna Divitaris Anna Economidis Efrosini Ekladious Theodore Erevnidis Camilla Eustance Panagiotis Fakiris Vaso Farais Irene Gatsis Panagiota Gentis Maria Giamoukoglou Georgia Giannikopoulos Eleni Giannopoulos Georgios Goltsios Vaia Gounis Haralambos Gounis Victoria Hagiefremidis Giannoula Hatzivasiliou Dana Illiadis Sueellen Irving Marlies-Dorthe Johnson Elizabeth Kalaitzis Dora Kalathas Anna Kalioglou Anna Kaloudis Sokratis Kaloudis Kyriaki Kalpouzos Maria Kantianis Dimitra Kapodistrias Glykeria Karaiskos Tina Karlos Tania Kastoriadis Dimitris Katsanidis Vasiliki Katselas Marilena Kavoura Poppy Kefaloukou Dionisios Kiriazis Magdalini Klepkou Helen Kofteros Aspasia Kolokytha Athanasia Kondou George Kondou Soumela Konstantinidis Paraskevi Koparanidou Melpo Korras /Osianlis Georgia Koulouris Helen Krokos Christalla Kyriakou Helen Lazaropoulos Rita Lekkas Magdalini Limnyo Stella Loukas Litharo Manidis Mary Maragos Antonia Matarakis Konstantinos Matarakis Despina Melapsos Maria Michalopoulos Chrisanthe Milonas Anthony Misserlis Fay Moros Maria Moschoyiannis Stylianos Mylonakis Eftychios Nalpantidis Maria Nelis Parthenopi Pagountzikis Eleni Paliogianis Dimitra Panagiotou Chrisoula Panagopoulos Anastasia Pantelidou Paraskevi Papadopoulou Soultana Papafotiou Pinelopi Papoutsis Con Paradisis Anna Parellis Anna Pasakalos Astero Patsouris Athanasios Patsouris Panagiota Pavlidis Eleni Pehlivanis Maria Perakis Hazel Petidis Evangelia Pilakis Dionisia Politis Georgia Polydorou Panagiota Prantalos Athanasios Provataris Rebecca Provataris Maria Psarakis Georgia Rafaletos Athina Raftopoulos Voula Rentzis Stavroula Sakellaridis Agathi Savva Lemonia Schoina Vicki Simoglou Vickie Simos Stamatia Sofronidou John Stathis Costantinos Stavraki Zafiro Stavraki Vasiliki Stigka Lemonia Tousas Louiza Tragakis Irene Triantafyllopoulos Tina Tsakonas Penelope Tsekouras Vasilios Tsiakataras Con Tsilingiridis Koula Tsilingiridis Christina Tsioris John Tzimas Dimitra Vergou Sofia Sonia Voulgaris Konstantinos Xenos Kanella Xerakia Christalla Yiannakou Panagiota Zacharias Dianna Zantali ANNUAL REPORT

16 CARING FOR OUR ELDERLY AGED & CO-ORDINATED CARE UNIT The Aged & Co-ordinated Care Unit provides care in the home and local community. The Unit delivered over 140,000 hours of service through its 11 programs. The Unit has spent the last couple of years consolidating and preparing for the changes in the aged care and disability sector. PRONIA has successfully transitioned all of its HACC funded programs to the Commonwealth and now delivers over 5 programs through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). These include: Social Support - Groups, Social Support Individuals, Carer Flexible Respite Programs Centre based and in the home and Access & Support. PRONIA will continue providing programs to younger people with disabilities between the ages of through the State funded Home and Community Care (HACC) younger program. All Unit programs are designed to meet the individual needs of clients through a person centred approach that focus on people s ability to be inclusive. Clients and carer s participate in the creation of their care plan to ensure goals are meaningful and outcome based. 14 PRONIA

17 CARER SUPPORT PROGRAMS PRONIA has been a long standing advocate and direct service provider to Greek speaking carers for over 30 years. The Unit s Respite programs provide both long day care (centre based) as well as flexible in-home respite care. Carer s ages range from 25 years old to over 80 years old. Some are still students or younger adults who are balancing work commitments, raising their own families and looking after ageing parents. We also have a handful of carers who have looked after adult children with disabilities (some of these carers have looked after their children for over 50 years). The programs support carers with information provisions, counselling and on-going support so they are able to maintain their caring responsibilities whilst maintaining their own health and wellbeing. We support many carers who are employed and require respite so they can maintain their employment whilst caring for their family member. The Program supported carers with over 15,000 hours of respite care. SOCIALISATION PROGRAMS Socialisation is an important part of a person s emotional and physical wellbeing. This year the centres provided 80,100 hours care to people ranging in ages from 19 to 90 years old. Sustained connection in the local community is vital to ensure that people maintain good mental health. ANNUAL REPORT

18 Isolation is a large problem in our community and the centres provide a space where people can meet and form new friendships. The participants meet on a weekly basis and partake in varied activities whilst their carers receive much needed respite. Participants also engage in exercise and other activities that stimulate the mind and senses. The exercise programs focus on strength building this can be a structured exercise program or a quick whip around the room dancing to Greek music. The sharing of food is an important part of the Greek culture and all our centre provide home cooked meals. Meals that are not only nutritious but meet the cultural and religious needs of participants. PRONIA is lucky to have some wonderful cooks who bring alive the Greek cuisine on a daily basis. Participants also have the opportunity to cook for the centres we have some amazing women who share their recipes and skills. They show us how to make traditional filo for pita hand rolling delicate filo sheets and filling them with fresh herbs and ricotta. Centre based activities are great but we also encourage participation in and around Melbourne. Activities undertaken this year Outings Degani Café in Brunswick for morning tea & cake Anglers Tavern outing Coburg Church hall for Christmas party Vanilla Café Oakleigh Sky High restaurant for Christmas party Beachcombers Restaurant Lunch to Mulgrave Country Club, Wheelers Hill Bistro Sofia s restaurant outing and Greek Church in Frankston Coburg Church Hall Christmas in July 16 PRONIA

19 Other Activities Father s day party (Pass the parcel & musical activity) Greek National Day 28 October and discussions around the events of that time Clients cooking (Making Pita) Decorate Christmas tree, sing carols New Year s Celebration and Australia Day Socializing, reading, ping pong game, bowling Valentine s Day - make Hanging heart cards and tissue paper flowers Apokries Carnivale - make hats and masks Decorating paper placemat activity Greek Independence Day and Evangelismos - Made Greek flags talk about significance of the day Greek movies, singing, dancing, and walking activities Easter activities Easter candle decorations, dying eggs, making and bake koulourakia preparing for After Easter Celebrations - BBQ, dancing, singing and breaking of red Easter eggs Protomagia Celebrating the 1st of May first day of spring making wreaths out of flowers Celebrating Mother s day Made cards, give mothers flowers and have a party. Made flower wreaths Performance by Alpha Children s Centre Queen s Birthday - morning tea with scones _ Make feathered hats / Masks August 15 - Made cards for Panagia (Virgin Mary) and discussions about how the clients celebrate August 15 Preparing Greek flags for 28th October OXI (No) Day When Greece said NO to the Italian forces- Clients sharing poems. Melbourne Cup Oaks Day clients dressing up, decorating paper hats. Christmas Celebrations - making Christmas cards and talking about Christmas traditions Health Literacy & Information Briefings My Aged Care how to refer through the MAC system and Changes in aged care Hearing loss & prevention Podiatry - foot care ANNUAL REPORT

20 COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME The Community Visitors Scheme provides socialisation to permanent residents in aged care facilities (ACF). Our volunteers visit residents who live in mainstream ACF and do not have the opportunity to engage in cultural and language specific programs. The volunteers is able to bring the Greek community in the nursing home. The CVS programs also runs 5 groups a fortnight for 5 Facilities that have more than 3 Greek residents the volunteer will gather the residents and engage in group discussion and partaking in drinking Greek coffee. The volunteers of the community visitor s scheme provided 2650 hours of service to people living in permanent residential care. HOME SUPPORT SERVICES Aged Care Reforms introduced in February 2017changed the way Home Care Packages operated The most significant change was the portability of packages. Participants could now take their package and funding to another provider. The other crucial element was the elimination of the competitive allocation process, impacting the HCP program at PRONIA more positively. We now deliver more services to more people seeking care and support. This year we delivered services to 57 HCP participants. The Home Care Packages Program continues to provide services to elderly who require support to maintain their independence in their home. by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Supports include case managements, home care and 18 PRONIA

21 support with tasks of daily living. The role of the case manager is important to support and foster independence by providing information that is transparent and easy to understand and to help the client to make informed choices about their care and lifestyle needs. The packages provide a suite of services from an allocated budget that allows people to remain in their home for as long as possible. The focus of the HCP program is to ensure the care recipient is supported to establish and maintain links with services that will meet their social, physical, medical and emotional needs. The Program is growing and meeting the increased demands from clients requesting culturally specific care options provided by Greek speaking community care workers. BROKERED SERVICES PROGRAM The Brokered Services program is now in its 13th year. In that time PRONIA has contributed significantly to the cultural care of hundreds of Greek speaking client s case managed by other organisations. PRONIA has over 50 service agreements with aged care providers in local councils, community health centres, hospitals, government agencies and private citizens. We also provide support to the aged service providers to maintain their approved provider status by taking part in their quality audits as a third party provider. PRONIA took part in 20 mini audits/ compliance checks this year. This year the Brokered Services program delivered over 33,000 hours of direct care in the home. QUALITY & COMPLIANCE In December 2016 the Unit had a Quality Audit undertaken by the Commonwealth Department of Health. The unit met all 18 standards and retained its status as an Approved Provider of Aged Care. Some of the areas that were audited included: Care planning, client s rights & responsibilities, governance, risk management and privacy. ANNUAL REPORT

22 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES GENERALIST CASEWORK SERVICES The Family and Community Services Unit continues to provide a wide range of services to the Greek and broader community. This includes direct services, community education and the delivery of innovative projects addressing the emerging needs of the community playing an integral part in improving the wellbeing and quality of life of individuals and families. PRONIA s unfunded casework service continues to meet the increasing needs of the Greek community across metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria. The service is accessed via telephone, office appointments, drop in and outreach client service for clients impacted by mobility or health issues. The generalist casework service a service provides the following client services: Information and referral Short term counselling and support Crisis intervention Emergency relief Practical assistance Advocacy Secondary Consultation In the financial year, casework recorded 1650 client contacts of which 306 were face- to- face consultations. Of these contacts 54% of the clients resided in the northern metropolitan and 19% from the Southern Region. Selfreferrals continue to be the main source of referral to casework services at 79% and 21% of referrals from family members and mainstream service providers such as DHS and Senior Rights Victoria. 20 PRONIA

23 Eighteen percent of clients presented with financial hardship with the emergency relief (ER) program assisting 187 clients. Emergency relief was administered 233 times and a further 127 clients received support through food vouchers. PRONIA s ER program formed strong and effective partnerships with Housing of the Aged Action (HAAG) and intouch establishing referral pathways supporting clients at risk of or experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. This partnership resulted in 25 out of the 27 PRONIA clients allocated to permanent, secure and affordable housing and reciprocating this support to HAAG clients by providing financial assistance to secure affordable housing. A further 11 women, single parents of ethnic backgrounds were assisted to leave long-term domestic violence situation with financial assistance provided for essential items such as bedding and whitegoods. Advocacy was an integral component of work undertaken with clients, present in 66% of client contacts. Advocacy is important as many clients continue to face considerable barriers to access to services due to language, disability, mental health issues, disempowerment, amongst other issues. Apart from aged care issues some other presenting issues identified through the casework services included the following: 73 clients presented for mental health issues and were referred to counselling, local mental health services or Greek speaking psychologists; 63 clients presented with domestic violence of which 57 were women; 64 clients presented with elder abuse as their main issue with 52 of the cases the son the main perpetrator abusing their elderly mother. Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence increases a child s risk of developing mental health, behavioural and learning difficulties. (White Ribbon) 81% victims stated that their son has displayed very similar behaviours to their fathers and that the abuse had been a learned behaviour. Exposure to domestic violence is a recognized form of child abuse (White Ribbon) 90% of victims reported to caseworkers that they themselves had witnessed ongoing domestic violence as children and that they normalized such behaviours. Female victims especially considered any form of spousal violence towards them as part of a normal Greek marriage. ANNUAL REPORT

24 Domestic and family violence is the principal cause of homelessness for women (White Ribbon) PRONIA referred 20 clients to HAAG who were linked to transitional or permanent housing as they could no longer live at home due to the severe domestic violence situation. NEWLY ARRIVED GREEK MIGRANT PROJECT The project Provide Settlement Services for People Newly Arrived from Greece, funded by the State Government, has successfully completed its second year of service with many outcomes achieved for clients of the service and the broader community. In the second year, the project had established partnerships and greater networking capabilities contributing to the knowledge base and greater insight into the needs of the newly arrived. The project was able to explore and gain an understanding of the fears, expectations and main issues concerning new migrants and families. In response, the project provided direct services through casework, facilitated workshops and seminars that were participant-directed, allowing for flexibility in accommodating individual client needs and learning styles. These initiatives empowered participants to access services and community resources, improve their understanding of local systems and services, develop skills and confidence to participate in community life and be active members of Australian society, improving their experience of the settlement process. The services responded to clients issues at different 22 PRONIA

25 stages of the settlement process. It was evident that returning citizens and/or newly arrived migrants on temporary visas faced many barriers impacting their work choices and opportunities and financial position and overall well-being. Some of the barriers faced by the newly arrived included English language, overseas skills and qualifications recognition, lack of local work experience and cultural barriers. Some of the outcomes of the project over the two years include the following: Casework Services: Casework received 2,088 phone calls and conducted 799 casework appointments reaching approximately 1900 individuals; A further 330 people received information over the phone; 18 families were supported with the transition into school; 93 sessions of counselling delivered to newly-arrived individuals, families and children; 629 referrals to external services and 880 internal referrals to PRONIA services. Migration Agent Information and Referral Service: Provided 472 consultations through the biweekly service; Responded to 105 enquiries from Greek nationals overseas seeking migration information 58 people attended the community information session delivered at the Greek Community of Melbourne 5 community information sessions delivered through the Greek media by PRONIA s volunteers Migration Lawyers /Agents addressing migration law changes and provision of general migration information. Community awareness and education sessions 20 activities conducted with 1037 participants attending the sessions Topics addressed included: Centrelink and Financial Information Services, medical and health system, English language sessions, Introduction to ipads for seniors migration law and visas, migration effect on children and family relationships, multiculturalism and Australian Taxation System. Furthermore, a number of other activities were undertaken in the community to support families, parents and children, as outlined below: 4 Parents School exploring parenting and multiculturalism, finding a new identity in a new school in a new country; 4 Work Ready Employment workshops were delivered South and ANNUAL REPORT

26 central Melbourne; 2 Work Ready Job seekers pop up hubs were delivered Northern Region; Train the Leaders, information session at the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria. 37 informal mentoring group meetings took place at PRONIA s head office with the support of volunteers. Established career transition programs and provided resources to improve new migrants employability within the Australian employment market. PRONIA will continue its work with the newly arrived Greek migrants over the next two years through innovative programs that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the needs of migrants settling in Australia. The project worked closely with a number of partner organisations, the Greek Community of Melbourne, Centrelink and in particular the multicultural services offices, City of Monash and the countless Greekspeaking volunteers who have facilitated the various workshops and mentoring activities GREEK LEGAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE PRONIA s Greek Legal Information and Referral Service operates on a monthly basis from head office in Brunswick and is offered to low income and disadvantaged clients who require information rregarding legal matters. Greek speaking legal professionals volunteer their time to deliver services to clients conducting 37 sessions for the year. The service assisted thirty-three (33) clients of which fifteen were male and eighteen female with the median age of clients 65 years. The commonly presenting issues were as follows: Family Law 48.4% enquiries regarding grandparents access to grandchildren, child support, settlements, divorce and intervention orders; Wills and power of Attorney, 36.3% enquiries relating to POA and validity of wills; Criminal Law, 9% of the enquiries. Other issues raised by clients included compensation/ damages, workcover and insurance. The service responded flexibly by offering telephone consultations in cases where access was difficult for older clients. Furthermore, 16 clients received direct assistance from casework services where clients were supported with 24 PRONIA

27 referrals to Greek speaking Solicitors via the Law Institute of Victoria and another 11 clients were referred directly to Legal Aid telephone service for information and advice regarding their matter. PRONIA thanks the volunteer solicitors for their ongoing commitment to the service and their support of the Greek community and look forward to continuing the partnership to deliver responsive services to clients. FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS SERVICE (FARS) PRONIA S Family and Relationships Service (FaRS) continued to respond to the increasing needs of families and the broader community addressing issues affecting families and relationships. The FaRS program provided service responses through the provision of family counselling, skill development workshops / group work and delivered numerous community education activities across metropolitan Melbourne, with service outlets in Brunswick and Oakleigh. The majority of client contacts were face to face, with 16 telephone consultations delivering mental health first aid and occasional outreach provided where client access was difficult due to mobility or health issues. In the financial year, the counselling service recorded 137 clients contacts of which 82 were first-time clients to the service and 236 sessions delivered. Counselling services were provided to individuals, couples and families with most clients presenting with multiple and complex issues. The main presenting client issues were as follows: 34% of clients sought assistance regarding elder abuse; 23% of clients presented with domestic violence issues; 21% of clients presented parenting issues; 16% of clients presented with mental health concerns impacting quality of life; 15% of clients presented with substance abuse issues; 12% of clients presented Intergenerational conflict as a main reason for seeking service; 5% of clients sought support for carer s issues; 5% of clients sought assistance due to grand parenting access issues. There was considerable growth in services to the newly arrived Greek migrants, with many families experiencing stress of migration and adjustment issues while settling in Australia. Approximately 24 newly arrived clients, including children, accessed counselling with 93 sessions delivered, an average of three to four sessions per client indicating the willingness of clients participation in the counselling process to ANNUAL REPORT

28 improve relationships within family. Main issues presented by newly-arrived clients included: Couple therapy addressing communication issues, separation /divorce and relationship issues; Parenting addressing parent / child relationships, conflict resolution and communication techniques; Migration and adjustment issues; Children s behaviour / developmental issues; and Anxiety / depressive symptoms. The program engaged with second and third generation Australian Greeks to address issues relating to carer stress and guilt in relation to family responsibilities and change, sibling rivalry and conflict due to care decisions and practice, cultural identity and cross -cultural relationships amongst other issues. Furthermore, the program expanded its services to parents and children through its work with the Alpha Children s Centre providing support and counselling to parents concerned about their child s behaviour or development, parenting issues. The need for a facilitated playgroup, targeting newly arrived Greek parents, was identified and efforts are being made to implement a program in the coming year. The community educator delivered educational seminars to parents covering the following topics: Parents burnout tips and strategies to help yourself in your caring role Diabetes and healthy snacks/establishing healthy eating habits for children Centrelink and parenting allowances/benefits/ payments and supports What every parent needs to know Domestic Violence and effects on children of different ages Family functioning and relationship enhancement Resolving conflict and effective communication strategies Building resilience and positive parenting Stress management Relationship breakdown and mediation and other supports Newly arrived parents helping children adjust to a new environment and school Grandparents and carers Wellbeing, health, mental health and relationships Social isolation, depression, mental health and supports Understanding Crosscultural relationships The community education, skill development group work programs were facilitated by bilingual community educators who also work collaboratively with other service providers to improve service delivery to ethnic communities, participate in education activities and improve referral pathways 26 PRONIA

29 to local services. Ongoing partnerships with Relatewell and Chadstone Mediation Centre have supported our work with couples in crosscultural relationships and increased grandparents access to mediation services to improve relationships with grandchildren following family breakdown. In the financial years, 26 workshops were delivered to 397 participants with the topics covered including the following: 1) Carers, Dementia and other chronic diseases and family functioning 2) Elder Abuse and intergenerational conflict 3) Family functioning in the midst of stressful situations and crises 4) Sandwich Carers 5) Understanding Crosscultural relationships 6) Mediation during conflict and crisis 7) Marriage enhancement 8) Domestic Violence 9) Seniors Right and supports 10) Gambling 11) Mental health and mental illness 12) LINK Monash services for low income and pensioners 13) NDIS 14) Communication in family setting 15) Resilience and Emotional intelligence 16) Spirituality 17) Navigating Relationships 18) Cancer and chronic illness/life limiting illnesses and the impact on families 19) Computers and ipads for seniors and CALD 20) Social Isolation 21) Grandparents and their role in children s life 22) Partnering and repartnering 23) Centrelink services 24) Powers of Attorney and Wills 25) Advance Care planning and palliative care 26) COTA & seniors services and supports PRONIA was actively involved in the Family Relationship Services Australia National Conference in Canberra and the 4th Elder Abuse Conference in Melbourne presenting on its work on elder abuse within the Greek community and best practice in addressing concerns. CITY OF MONASH GRANT: BUILDING CONNECTIONS: Improving Greek Community Health, Wellbeing and Community Participation The project completed its final year of a three-year funding round delivering on all the objectives of the project improving the health and wellbeing of the Greek community and increasing their community participation in local community. Under the City of Monash Community Grant PRONIA was successful in obtaining a further 3 years funding to continue its work with the Greek community. ANNUAL REPORT

30 The City of Monash has 12,860 residents with Greek ancestry making up 5.7% of total population, with 4,447 Greece-born and Greek is the second most spoken language at home, after Mandarin, that is, 10,325 people - 5.7%. There is a demonstrated need to continue work with local services for the provision of activities that promote social connectedness and community participation in a culturally and linguistically relevant way. During financial year the project delivered the following activities: 25 media activities including radio interviews and articles in the Greek papers on the topics of elder abuse, domestic violence, Powers of attorney/advance Care planning and aged care packages; Conducted 5 information sessions to 587 elderly in with with LINK (Monash Council services), CANVAS (gambling and pokies), COTA (Services for seniors), Seniors Rights (Elder abuse prevention and support) and Victoria police (domestic violence); Hosted 8 library visits to the Clayton library improving access to computers and reading materials to 88 Greek-speaking seniors; Delivered 2 ipad sessions to 26 Greek seniors; Conducted 4 tours of Clayton Community Centre linking 48 isolated Greek residents from local aged care residential facilities, elderly citizen s clubs and community to the library, health and community services; Facilitated 10 grandparenting support group meetings with 17 participants who attended monthly meetings and resourcing of the chronic illness support group. Provision of practical assistance such as information and support, referrals to 18 Monash residents including, 5 leaders of Greek senior citizens clubs requiring governance training in areas such as effective communication and conflict resolution. The project initiatives were culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of the Greek community. Community engagement strategies improved communication between local services and Greek community members as well as increase access to community support services. The Greek community were actively involved in local decision making through consultation on important local issues and were active participants at community events. Advocacy was an important role of the project improving knowledge and cultural competency of service providers to improve service responses to Greek elderly and the newly arrived Greek migrants. The project officer 28 PRONIA

31 actively participated in bimonthly network meetings: Monash Multicultural and Settlement Services Network South East CALD Network, and the Inner South Multicultural issues Network The Clayton Community Centre has become a cultural hub for the Greek community due to the project s many cultural activities organized such as collaborations with the local library to deliver computer and ipad learning, improved access to allied health services provided by Link Health and health literacy and the facilitation of exercise and recreation groups. The project evaluation surveys indicate that participants feel more confident to use local health services and felt they gained more information on consumer issues as an outcome of their participation in activities and support programs. Furthermore, the groups provided a safe environment for community engagement and socialization where the participants shared a common purpose and cultural experiences. Leaders from Greek Senior Groups expressed their ongoing need for training and support with their respective groups and the need for regular education on health and aged care issues to improve the wellbeing of older people. MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT PRONIA received funding from the Mental Illness Fellowship to continue community education to the Greek community. The Mental Health Project focused specifically on educating the Greek community on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and increase client access to the Wellways program and mental health services. The project was a part time position, 2 days, provided by a bilingual community educator. The aim of the project was to: Increase awareness of mental illness and support services in East Melbourne Increase knowledge of NDIS and mental illness within the Greek community in East Melbourne and of Partners In Recovery (PIR) programs and its role to participants transition to NDIS Build trust in the community and develop referral pathway to PIR program The project through information sessions and intensive media work succeeded in: Raising awareness of mental illness within community Promoting recovery and positive change for people living with mental illness and their carers Increasing knowledge on ANNUAL REPORT

32 NDIS and improving access to PIR for consumers and carers Some of the achievements of the project included the following: Community education where Pronia reached more than 400 members of the community residing in the southeastern region of Melbourne. Some of the groups that participated in the project were in the seniors clubs of Springvale, Clayton, Oakleigh, Ashwood, Mount Waverly and Kew. Information included explanation of NDIS scheme and the rollout timelines in Melbourne, eligibility criteria, the process for becoming an NDIS participant and how to obtain an NDIS plan. PIR referrals: Direct referral to the PIR program where 8 consumers and 6 carers received support and assistance with NDIS transition. This was the final year of funding for this project. The partnership with Mental Illness fellowship provided the opportunity to address an important health issues within the Greek community and work with key representatives of the organization to improve cultural care and responses to Greek families. 30 PRONIA

33 LGBTI PROJECT Diversity in Greek Families: Let s Start the Conversation PRONIA was funded by the State Government to deliver the the Diversity in Greek Families: Let s Start the Conversation project. The project received one year funding to deliver the project and worked in partnership with the Greek and Gay Support Network to respond to an identified gap in service provision to the LGBTI Greek community. The project developed culturally and linguistically appropriate service responses to address a number of issues identified, including barriers to participation, isolation due to stigma and general lack of acceptance by the broader Australian Greek community. The development of sensitive marketing material for distribution and information provision was important in reaching the community and LGBTI individuals and their families. The project also provided direct services to clients increasing access to information and support with the establishment of referral pathways improving their access to local services and networks with LGBTI community and sector more broadly. Consultations with Greek LGBTI individuals was pertinent to gaining better understanding of the issues for the LGBTI Greek individuals as was the need to establish connections with organizations and businesses to support project initiatives. Some of the specific activities undertaken by the project included the following: Establishment of Steering Committee that met bi-monthly with representatives from the Greek and Gay Support Network, Australian GLBTI Multicultural Council, Victorian AIDS Council and Beyond Blue; LGBTI Professional development to PRONIA staff facilitated by Drummond Street Service; Radio presentations including 3XY, SBS and JOYFM; Press Releases to Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos; Focus Group Consultations; Online LGBTI survey through Survey Monkey; LGBTI professional development to PRONIA volunteers in partnership with Vic Pol GLLO Furthermore, PRONIA participated in a number of community and training events to establish connections to promote the project and support network development. More specifically these included: Participation in historical International Day Against Homophobia Intersex and Transphobia event at Government House; Attendance at International Day Against Homophobia Intersex and Transphobia fair at Federation Square; Participation in Professional Development sessions on Relationship & Sexual Health for LGBTI Youth, Transgender & Gender Diversity facilitated by Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health & Society; Participation in LGBTI Youth & Mental Health professional development sessions facilitated by Y Gender. An LGBTI person s level of wellbeing depends on family support and social connectedness. Social connectedness moderates the relationship between perceived family support and depressions levels. LGBTI young people who have at least one supportive family member or significant other can lead to healthier outcomes as these individuals can assist the young person to work through issues that impact that mental health and wellbeing as seen in the graph below. ANNUAL REPORT

34 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE PRONIA thanks all its volunteers for their time and support throughout the year. PRONIA was established 45 years ago from a pool of 15 volunteers. The spirit of our volunteers has not dissipated, they are fierce supporters of the organisation and its vulnerable community members. In particular the volunteers in the aged & disability programs and the volunteers in the Community Service Unit professionals in the legal and welfare sector give their time and expertise to support our most vulnerable community members. Our volunteers are trained in all aspect of the quality standards and practice their learning on a daily basis. In the Aged Unit the volunteers visit isolated elderly and their carers on a weekly or fortnightly basis. They provide a valuable conduit between the participant and PRONIA. Without our volunteers, PRONIA would not have the resources to reach out to so many community members to ensure their health and safety needs are addressed. Recognitions: This year, the 2016 Volunteer of the Year 32 PRONIA

35 Award went to one of our long term volunteer solicitors, Penny Dimopoulos. PRONIA also undertakes two functions a year to say thank you to our volunteers: The Annual Volunteer Christmas event and the National Volunteer Week commemoration to mark the good work our volunteers provide to the community. We currently have 130 active volunteers supporting vulnerable community members across Melbourne. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Maintaining a trained and experienced workforce to meet the growing demand in the aged care sector has become very challenging. As a niche provider PRONIA is steadily increasing its pool of Greek speaking workers to meet the growing demands generated from Home Care Packages. PRONIA is also focused on expanding its multicultural workforce to meet the demand from external providers who require workers with diverse language skills. We now have growing pool of Italian, Albanian, Polish and Russian speaking community care workers. This year we recruited 23 more community care workers to meet sector demands. Overall we have 80 community care workers providing in home care across metropolitan Melbourne. ANNUAL REPORT

36 CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs offer clients and their families important information about the improvement of their health and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle following a cardiac episode. Family members or significant others also attend the program with clients to support their understanding of heart health and the caring role. The Greek cardiac program operates weekly at head office in Brunswick and is open to Greek-speaking clients who have experienced a heart episode such as heart attack, angina or diagnosed with or at risk of developing illnesses, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, have family history of heart disease or have an interest in leading a healthier lifestyle. The aim of the program is to facilitate recovery from a cardiac event, help reduce the risk of a further cardiac event and facilitate return to work and leisure activities. There are 50 clients registered for the program with an average attendance of 22 participants weekly. The Greek Cardiac program operates in partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital whereby client referrals are made by the hospital to the program and health talks presented by the cardiac nurse. The program consists of health education in the Greek language by health professional and physical exercise through supervised light to moderate exercise program designed to increase the fitness levels of participants and improve their confidence in their abilities. Research has shown that participants of cardiac rehabilitation programs have improved quality of life, increased social independence, experience less depression and anxiety and have greater capacity for physical activity with reduction of mortality rate by 35% over five years compared to non-attenders. The program has many long term participants who played a vital peer support role within 34 PRONIA

37 the programs framework, and who lead by example and actively encourage new participants to engage in a more active lifestyle while pursuing goals of permanent lifestyle modifications such as commitment to sugar intake reduction, mindful eating habits and smaller meal portions. This year 22 clients participated in the Premier s Active April Program that yielded increased memberships at mainstream health and well-being centres such as the Brunswick baths and the Coburg Leisure Centre. CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS Pronia continued to facilitate the Anastasia Greek Cancer Support Group on a monthly basis with meetings taking place in Brunswick. Peer leaders are an essential part of the program supporting existing and new group members and contributing extensively to the program and activities. The aim of the support group is to meet the education and support needs of people living with cancer and their families /carers, to build the capacity of group members to manage their health needs through culturally and linguistic appropriate supports, to increase access to peer support networks and strengthen links to the health system. There is a regular attendance of 20 members who value the support of their peers and have worked together to develop capacity to make informed decisions about their treatment options, their physical and emotional wellbeing. Some of the benefits reported by support group members include the following: Gain up to date, accurate and scientific information Greater understanding of the disease and what to expect Safe and confidential environment to discuss issues openly and honestly and share common experiences Improve skills and build resilience to deal more effectively with crisis situations Gain a sense of empowerment and control and improve coping skills Reduce stress, depression and anxiety and link to other local support services The group members also participated in cultural review of several projects undertaken by Cancer Council and Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), as outlined below: The launch of the Greek Resources for the metastatic breast cancer in partnership with BCNA The national campaign for the Bowel Cancer Screening Program in 2017 in partnership with Cancer Council Victoria ANNUAL REPORT

38 ALPHA CHILDREN S CENTRE Alpha Children s Centre is celebrating 40 years of service to the Greek and broader communities. In this time, Alpha has cared for more than 3600 children between the ages of six months and five years with twenty-eight to thirty percent per cent of children from Greek heritage. Alpha also has a strong history of servicing multicultural communities with children this year from Japanese, Australian, Italian, the Chinese, Vietnamese, South African, Irish, Indian, Croatian,Estonian, New Zealand and English backgrounds. During the financial year, the service cared for 94 children with 27% of children from Greek heritage. The Centre s philosophy is to provide a positive and nurturing environment enriched with experiences that promotes each individual child s self - esteem development, competence and resilience in order to encourage a feeling of being unique, valued and safe. Alpha delivers an integrated kindergarten program over five days within the long day care program providing the fifteen hours of funded kindergarten and universal access to children leading up to primary school education. Alpha prides itself on the dedication and commitment of it highly trained and experienced staff also representing different ethnicities such as Greek, Russian, Chilean, Indian and Pakistan origin sharing their cultures through song and cultural activities. Ninety-five per cent of the educators are Diploma qualified in Early Childhood and the availability of two kindergarten teachers ensured 36 PRONIA

39 the effective delivery of an uninterrupted kindergarten program over 49 weeks to the children in the funded program as they prepared for a successful transition to their primary school years. The Centre s educators worked collaboratively to deliver a high quality program to the children reflecting the requirements of the Early Years Learning Frameworks. This year we also celebrated one of our educators, Nina Belskaya, for receiving the National Award for Teaching Excellence. Community connections ensured that a broader range of experiences were provided to all the children extending their knowledge and development, and in particular linking the generations. These opportunities were provided as part of the annual multicultural event calendar and below are some of the examples of activities undertaken throughout the year. Excursions to PRONIA s Planned Activity Groups in Brunswick and elderly citizen s community in Balwyn. The 3-5 years old children performed to over 120 people delivering two concerts inclusive of Greek songs and Greek traditional dancing. These events both brought happiness and joy to the elderly as the span of ages came together. The two groups of 3-5 year old children often participated via the 3xy Radio Program singing Greek songs and connecting to the broader national community. The Life cycle program with the butterfly and chicken hatchings are always an enjoyable intentional teaching opportunity for young ANNUAL REPORT

40 38 PRONIA

41 children as they learn about the biological cycles. The environmental and sustainability projects were supported by the parents of the children through the donation of plants and soil greatly supporting the children s learning. Parents also participated in the Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraiser with money raised going towards the purchase of equipment. Incursions included the farm animals, responsible pet ownership and rabbit care programs providing an opportunity for children to feed and nurture animals as they watched them grow. The sea creatures and Australian reptiles brought into the service allowed children to engage with nature and Australia s fauna. Experiences such as the African Jungle Jammin and the Australian Indigenous Aboriginal cultural activities provided children with an opportunity to understand multiculturalism, musical diversity and appreciation of the arts. Participation to the National Independence Day Parade (25th March) at the Shrine of Remembrance was a clear indicator of the Centre s families both Greek and non- Greek coming together to commemorate this important occasion. Alpha valued and acknowledged the role of family and community in the lives of children and celebrated Father s day, Mother s day and grandparents by sharing breakfast on these special occasions. Alpha completed its final year of the Long Day Care Professional Development Program, a funding allocation by the Department of Education that supported the ongoing education and training of centre staff in Early Years Education and Care. Training included topics such as supporting children with additional needs, child protection and exploring children s behaviour. Alpha values the participation of volunteers through the community services programs in partnership with St. Kevin s College as well as accepting student placements continuing the education of new educators particularly emphasising the importance of diversity and culture in the care of children and early childhood development. The Centre also actively supported Holmesglen TAFE, and The Malka Group in providing placements and further development opportunities for their students as they entered the childcare sector. ANNUAL REPORT

42 MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING PRONIA s ability to provide an effective response to the complex needs of an ageing Greek-speaking population is directly linked to the availability of appropriate levels of funding that will allow for the development and delivery of specialized programs and services. However, accessing funds to deliver such programs is becoming increasingly more difficult. As a result, PRONIA s reliance on fundraising and philanthropy as a source of income has increased steadily over the past decade. Philanthropy is a Greek word and our community has once again strongly demonstrated this by the generosity of our business partners, community organisations, groups and individuals who have assisted PRONIA with sponsorship and donations to our various fundraising events and activities throughout the year. ANNUAL 3XY RADIOTHON FOR PRONIA The Annual 3XY Radiothon for PRONIA was once a huge success. It continues to be PRONIA s primary point of engagement with the broader community. There were well over 1000 donors that participated in this year s event, which managed to raise a total of $108,798. These much-needed funds, will assist PRONIA in the delivery of nonfunded programs and services. PRONIA would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of our donors who continue to support our work. In particular, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ithacan Philanthropic Society, Victorian Association of Argos Orestiko & Districts, Delta Sales, Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs, Egialian Association, Greek Community of Melbourne, Nafsika Stamoulis Foundation, and Windsor Management Insurance Brokers. 40 PRONIA

43 PRONIA S POP-UP PERIPTERO The Periptero first made its first trip in May 2017 and reached out to over 250 people. The Pop up Periptero of PRONIA is the mobile office of PRONIA that goes out to the suburbs. The Periptero provides information about the service of PRONIA, including info on Home Care Packages, Planned Activity Groups, respite programs, Health Literacy and Community Education programs and other PRONIA programs. It is an opportunity for people to ask questions and leave their details with the Periptero for a staff member to contact them after the session for any follow up questions. The Periptero provides the opportunity for community members to come into direct contact with PRONIA who would otherwise be unable to visit us at any of our satellite offices. All participants that meet us at the received an information pack on the services of PRONIA This year last year the Periptero made its way across Melbourne and visited the following clubs and associations: North Fitzroy International Club, Pallakonian Club in Brunswick Yarraville Senior Citizens Clubs. St Albans Community Senior Club Greek Senior and Pensioner Association of Clayton and District PRONIA S 3XY WEEKLY RADIO PROGRAM The weekly radio program on 3XY Radio Hellas, continues to grow as its appeal is reaching a larger audience. The program is now in its seventh and provides PRONIA with direct access to the Greek-speaking community. It continues to provide expert information and advice on a wide ranging number of issues and programs. PRONIA would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our dedicated staff who put the show together on a weekly basis and to our wonderful presenter Ms Rena Frangioudaki who has been instrumental to the programs success. I LOVE ALL THINGS GR The I Love All Things Greek Community Director is now into its 3rd Edition and is due for release in early We would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our advertisers who have shown their support and in particular those that will be advertising for a third time. Their support is greatly appreciated. ANNUAL REPORT

44 42 PRONIA 45TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER

45 ANNUAL REPORT

46 A WARM THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS AND ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER MAJOR EVENT PARTNER MAJOR CORPORATE PARTNERS CORPORATE PARTNERS EVENT PARTNERS 44 PRONIA

47 PRONIA 2017 CHARITY DRIVE A WARM THANK YOU TO ANTHOULA PARASKEVA AND ALL THOSE WHO DONATED TO THE 2017 CHARITY DRIVE. THIS YEAR S EFFORT HELPED RAISE $7,200 FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. Mr. Lachlan Allan Barrister $100 Mrs. Chrissy Angelodimou Angelo Group Pty Ltd $100 Mr. Chris Cambel Cambel & Co. Accountants $250 Mr. Geoff Chancellor Barrister $50 His Honour Phillip J. Coish County Court Judge $200 Mr. Paul & Mrs Helen Demitris $100 His Honour Rob Dyer County Court Judge $100 Mr. Marcus Fogarty Barrister $100 Ms. Julia Frederico Barrister $100 Mr. Arthur Georgopoulos Arthur G Designs Pty Ltd $100 Mr. Nick Giasoumi GPZ Legal Lawyers $200 Mr. Dennis Gibson Barrister $200 Mr. Ross Gillies QC $250 Mr. Neil Griffin Barrister $200 Ms. Georgina Grigoriou $100 Mr. Andrew Ingram Barrister $150 Mrs. Varvara Ioannou Food For Thought Network $100 His Honour John Jordan County Court Judge $250 Mr. Kon & Mrs. Sylvia Kourkouvelis $100 Dr. Louis & Mrs Andrea Loizou $150 Mr. Richard McGarvie QC $250 Mr. Angus McNab $100 Mr. James Mighell QC $200 Mr. Paul O Dwyer QC $200 Mr. Conor O Sullivan Barrister $100 Mr. Max Ouzas Max Ouzas Prestige Cars $200 Mr. Lindsay Paine Barrister $100 Mr. Nick Papas QC $200 Mr. Jim Palmos & Mr. Andrew Ellis Ellis Palmos Lawyers $100 Ms. Eirenie Paraskeva $200 Dr. Miranda Paraskeva $200 Mr. Paul Paraskeva Paul Paraskeva & Co Lawyers $250 Mr. Gino Pierorazio Barrister $100 Ms. Maria Pilipasidis Barrister $200 Mr. David Purcell Barrister $200 Mr. Jack Rush QC $250 Mr. Craig Sidebottom $100 Mr. Tim Tobin SC $200 Mrs. Maria Tsikaris Barrister $200 Mr. Bill Velos Velos Lawyers $200 Mr. Nick Venizelakos Venizelakos Lawyers $100 Mr. James Yianoulatos James Harris Lawyers $200 Mr. Peter & Mrs. Lia Zaparas Zaparas Lawyers $500 ANNUAL REPORT

48 3XY RADIOTHON DONORS Accountancy Group Ace Body Corporate Management Agia Paraskevi AHEPA Youth Group AKS Engineering Angelo Property Group & Premier Developments Arcadia Prints Association of Patras & District Inc. Astrapy Electrics Athena Deli Athina s Deli Austarlian Greek Community of Moreland Australian Orthodox Funerals Bank of Sydney Benevolent Brotherhood of Evia Evripos Bentleigh Greens SC Bonegilla Former Greek Migrants Residents Association Inc Britannica Painters Broadmeadows Greek Womens Club Brotherhood of Florina St. George Cars of Melbourne CCW Chios Brotherhood Korais of Melbourne & Victoria Climatech Heating and Cooling Coburg Super Finish Smash Repair Cosmopolitan Builders & Plumbers Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand Delta Sales Democritus Greek Workers League Dromana Charcoal Chicken Easiform Drawer Systems EEAMA League of Greeks from Egypt & the Middle East Inc. Egialian Association Elderly Greek Club of Kensington & Flemington EPDM Epirotic Philanthropic Society Dodoni Epirotic Philanthropic Society of Konitsa & Districts Exciting Gardens Eye Advice Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne & Victoria Filoptohos Agia Eleni South Yarra Fox Lane Motors From the Butcher to the Chef Giovanni Verga Memorials Grecian Tours Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria Greek Community of Moorabbin Greek Community Springvale and District Greek Cypriot Society Glen Eira Bentleigh Greek Elderly & Pensioner s Association of Brunswick Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Moonee Valley Greek Elderly Club of Cranbourne & District Greek Elderly Club Thornbury Greek Kitchen &Bar Greek Orthodox Community of Whittlesea Greek Senior Citizens Club North Balwyn & Districts Greek Senior Citizens Club of Airport West & District Greek Senior Citizens Club of Narre Warren Greek Senior Citizens Club of Nunawading Greek Womens Club from Oakleigh Greek Womens Elderly & Friendly Club East Reservoir Heidelberg United Footbal Club Hotel Agencies International Womens Club Portalington Ithacan Philanthropic Society ITHEA Juggernaut K & A Katsaros and Assosiates Karate School Kariatides Women s Group Okaleigh Keon Park Greek Senior Citizens Inc. Kinisi Live Kosmos Carpets Kronos Fencing 46 PRONIA

49 A WARM THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS DURING THE XY RADIOTHON FOR PRONIA WHERE A TOTAL OF $108,798 WAS RAISED. L.V. Furniture Lefkas Fisheries Lemnos Community Melbourne - Seniors Group Lemnos Tavern Limnos Butchers Love Real Estate LV Furniture Lygon Hardware McClures Office Supplies Mediterannean Greek Tavern Merimna of Pontian Ladies Merino and Jumbuck Mitcham Tile Centre Moka Foods Nafsika Stamoulis Foundation Nestoras College New Volunteer NGB Investments Pty Ltd Novelty Iron Construction P/L Oakleigh Music Centre Olympic Reblocking Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melb & Victoria - Elderly Citizens Group Pan Macedonian Association of Melbourne & Victoria Pan Thessalian Association Inc Panarcadian Association of Melbourne O Kolokotronis Panathinaikos Fan Club Melbourne Panepirotic Federation of Australia Pankalavritino Adelfotita Agia Lavra Pankalavrytini Brotherhood of Mel & Vic Parthenon Marble Pegasus Dance Academy Pensioners Association of Bulleen & Templestowe Philhellene Politistikos Syllogos Nomou Kozanis - O Lazanis Pontiaki Estia Port Melbourne Soccer Club Prahran Travel Prime Plastic Bags Proteus Media RCA Investments Ross s Quality Nuts RSL of Australia Victorian Branch Inc. Hellenic Sub Branch RTA Roadside Assistance & Batteries Scent of a Flower Security Plus Roller Shutters Australia Shoe Image Society of Kastorians SOS Keramidia St George Greek Orthodox Church St Leftherios Invalid Greek Club Stambo s Pty Ltd Syllogos Gargalianon Messinias Syllogos Larisas Pinios Syllogos Petranon Kozanis The Gourmet Meat Rack Thessaloniki Association The White Tower Tobin Brothers Funerals Ultra Sheet Metal Industries P/L Vanilla Cakes and Lounge Velos & Velos Victorian Association of Argos Orestiko & District Inc. Western Suburbs Greek Elderly Citizens Club Windsor Management Insurance Brokers Yannis Tavern Yiannis Pantheon Cakes ANNUAL REPORT

50 3XY RADIOTHON DONORS Adamidis, S Adamopoulos, H Aidonopoulos, M Akathiotis, A Alambakis, D Alamidis, M Alexakos, A Alexandratos, A & A Alexandrou, K Alexiou, G & S Alexopoulos, I Alexopoulos, M Alhatzidis, J Amanatides, K & D Amanatidis, A Amiridis, D Anagnostakos, G Anagnostou, S Anastasopoulos, A Anastasopoulos, I Andonopoulos, A Andreopoulos, C & V Andriakopoulos, K Andrianopoulos, C & P Andrianopoulos, P Andrikopoulos, K Andriopoulos, P Andriotis, A Angelakis, G Angeletos, N Angelopoulos, P Antonakopoulos, P & V Antonellos, E Antoniou, F Antoniou, S & E Antonopoulos, I & D Antonopoulos, T Antonopoulos, V Antronopoulos, I Apokis, F & E Apostolopoulos, K Apostolopoulos, N & T Apostolou, J Apostolou, M Argyropoulos, A Argyropoulos, S Argyropoulou, N Arkoudis, C & A Arthagelidis, E Arthagelidis, E Arvanitis, E Arvanitis, G Asimenias, G Assiminos, A & V Asvestas, N Athanasiadou, L Athanasiou, A Athanosopoulos, T Athinis, G & S Atzemakis, E Avramopoulos, A Axais, M Axiotis, M Bacola, A Bacolas, J Bagiardakas, P Bakalis, M Bakas, M Bakis, D Bakopanos, K Balasi, K Ballas, M Ballis, T Bandas, L & G Bandelas, P Barbopoulos, L Barbounis, V Barkas, P Barlis, K Basbanas, S Bastas, C Bastas, I Bastas, M Batani, P Batsakis, D Batsakis, G Baxavanis, P Baxevanidis, A Baxevanidis, A Bebonis, A Beis, P & V Belagia, E Belekakos, G Belelakis, E Belissaris, K Bellesis, J Bellou, C Bertsas, L Bezas, V Bichara, H Bitras, S Bizos, F Black, P Blanas, V Blandenis, T Blatsis, G & K Blaxakis, V Boicos, G Bololias, R Borbokas, T & S Bosnakis, V Boukouvalas, I & E Bourbos, O Boursinos, C Bourtzis, T Boutsalis, S Byrlis, S Capouleas, E & H Cartsidimas, L Carydis, S Catsourakis, G Chatzimihalis, L & K Chaviara, A Chionis, P Chiridis, N Chrisostomou, K Chrisostomou, T Christakopoulos, A Christodouleas, D Christodoulou, K Christoforou, E Christoforou, N Christopher, H Christopoulos, K Christopoulos, T Christou, C Chrysostomou Colgithias, N Cominos, G Constandi, C Constantara, A Constantinou, G & C Constantinou, M Contos, D Costa, D Costoula, P Dafnomilis, D Daglas, A Dais, V Dakouris, P Daliani, A Daliani, K Dalianis, A Dallianis, K Damalas, P & K Damaskopoulos, A Danos, V & E Davlopoulos, J Delolis, D Delonas, K Demas, L Diakos, I Diamantidis, S Diamantis, S & A Diamantopoulos, K Diamantopoulos, V Diamantou, D Digolis, C & M Dikeos, K Dilles, E Dimidis, A Dimidou, F Dimitropoulos, K Dimitsis, E Dimtsis, J Dimokranitis, C Dimopoulos, A Dimotakis, N. Dimoudis, K Dines, E Dines, I Dionysiou, N Divitaris, A Dopis, V & A Doudoulis, V Doufas, S Doufexi, S Doupis, V Douvos, P Drapaniotis, B Dritsas, T Drossas, C & E Efthimiou, H Ektoras, I Emmanouel, S Emmanouilidis, T Erevnidis, P & T Evripidou, N Fara, E Farakos, D & E Farrugia, K Fatouras, G Fifis, C & A Filios, S Filokostas, A Florence, A Fotopoulos, C Franes, S Frangos, S Frangoudes, N Frederikos, S & G Frintzilas, C Ftohogiannis, H Gadelas, G Gakopoulos, N Galanis, G & A Galatas, A & V Gantzos, A & A Gardiakos, A Garifalakis, E Gatsidis, C Gatsis, I Gatzios, V Gavnoudias, D Georgantis, J Georgas, C Georgas, V Georgiadis, E Georgiou, A Georgiou, E Georgiou, I Gerohristodoulou, S Gerolimou, Family Giagas, V Giaka, A Giakalis, Y Giamoukoglou, P Giangoulidis, E Giannacacos, A Giannekas, K Giannes, V Giannopoulos, Z Giannopoulos, D Giannoulopoulos, S & A Gilinis, A Ginis, H Gionis, A Giortzis, T Gioulekas, A Gioulekas, P Glinakis, I Gogas, G & L Gogidis, P Gonis, I & K Gonopoulos, S Gotsis, O Goumas, J & A Grapsas, Z Grigoriadou, K Grigoriou, E 48 PRONIA

51 A WARM THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS DURING THE XY RADIOTHON FOR PRONIA WHERE A TOTAL OF $108,798 WAS RAISED. Groumoutis, G Hadjiantoniou, C Hadzisavvas, Z Hajiyianni, A Hasakis, G Hasiotis, A Hatziefstathiou, V Hatzikosmidis, T Hatzis, T Hatzistavros, C & F Hatzistefanou, P Hatzopoulos, A Hatzopoulos, M Hatzopoulos, S Heretakis, H Honos, P Hronis, N Hronopoulos, P Iangoulidis, E & M Iatrou, D Iliopoulos, A & A Illiadis, S & D Ioannidis, N & K Ioannou, A Ioannou, A Ioannou, H Ioannou, J Ionidis, N Janevic, V Josephidis, R Jovanovic, A Kafadis, N & D Kafali, A Kafcakis, V Kagarakis, D Kahaidis, S Kakkos, A & C Kalaitzis, M Kalantzis, N Kalaomiris, E & A Kalathas, V Kallinteris, S Kalodimos, D & T Kalodimos, N Kalodoukas, A Kalogiannis, G Kalogiannis, K Kalominidis, G Kalomiris, S Kalos, G Kaloudis, S & A Kalpakidis, A Kalyvas, K & A Kamamis, A Kambidis, A Kambouris, N & M Kanelopoulos, A Kantanis, D Kaoulas, M Kaparis, D Kapetis, S & A Kapogiannis, G & E Kaponikolos, I & E Kapotis, G Kapoulitsas, H & T Kapsalis, C Karabelas, V Karadias, M Karadis, A & A Karaeleftheriadis, C Karaeleftheriadis, K Karagiannis, C Karakolis, H & O Karamarkos, C Karamitros, A Karanikeos - Karas, I Karapalidis, I Karasaridis, C & S Karatsivis, D & K Karayannis, H Kardamis, S & E Karefilakis, L Kargas, P Kariofilis, E Kariotis, V & F Karkaletsis, N Karmis, D Karoulis, M Kartanos, K Kaskakis, V & G Kassios, C Kastrappis, L Kastritseas, F Katahiotis, N & S Katanos, E Kategiannis, A Katelanis, S & A Katopodis, P & G Katotas, S Katris, E Katris, N & V Katsambes, G Katsanidis, D Katselas, V Katseris, A & E Katsiamis, E Katsigiannis, F Katsikogianis, V Katsikogiannis, T Katsilas, G Katsos, K Katsoulis, K & E Katsounis, C & S Kazakis, H Keramaris, N Keramidas, E. Keramidas, P Kereasiotis, G Ketsakostas, S Kikas, P Kikas, T & L Kiparisoudis, K Kiriazis, D & C Kiriazis, S Kiropoulos, A Kiropoulos, D Kitsou, P Klapsinos, A Klonaris, T Kokkinis, I & K Kokkinos, G & H Koletsos, A Kolokithas, N Koltikis, N Kondarios, A Konstandinidis, S Konstantinidis, D Konstantinidou, K Konstantopoulos, E Kontos, A Korakas, J Kordos, K Korlos, A Kormanos, K Koromilas, G Koskyris, E Kosta, D Kostarakis, O Kostarakis, P Kostopoulos, D & A Kostopoulos, G Kotsiras, S Kotzagiannidis, D Kougioumtzis, A Kouitoros, G Koukoutzitis Koulis, C Koulmandas, I Kouloumbos, G Koulouris, G & G Kouris, H Kouris, H Kourkounakis, K Kourkouvellis, K & S Kourouktsidis, S Kouroutsidou, K Kourvelas, F Kousis, A Koutouleas, E & S Koutsomitis, N Koutsougeras, M Koutsougiorgis, K Koutsougiorgos, P & D Koutsoulidis, J Kouzoumis, A & F Krikas, E & G Krikelis, C & E Krokidis, P Krokos, H Krokou, E Kyopoulos, D Kyparisoudis, K Kyriacou, A & S Kyriakidis, C Kyriakopoulos, L Kyriakou, C Kyriakou, M Kyriakou, P Kyriakou, S & N Kyriazis, G Kyritsis, I Kyritsis, S Kyropoulos, S Laios, M Laliotis, I Lambropoulos, S Lambrou, L & A Lampropoulos, S Lantzakis, A Laskou, S Laspas, G & E Latzis, T Lazarakis, G Lazari, G Lazari, P Leonardou, F Leos, G & F Leos, H Liakos, N Lianos, G Liapis, E Lidis, E Likouris, K Lioupas, J & N Lioupas, S & M Litinakis, N Litinakis, G Litinakis, S Livanos, P Lord, J Loulakis, M Loupetis, A & S Loupis, A Louras, L Loutas, E Lycopanagos, D & T Lygopoulos, D Lykopoulos, N Makaronas, A & A Makri, J Makrigianni, I Malamas, A Malapanis, K Maligogos, E Malopoulos, D Manatakis, I Mancini, S Mancini, V Mandas, V Mangos, S Manidis, A Manolakakis, D & P Manos, P & S Manton, N Mantzioros, F & M Mantzouneas, E Marganis, D Margaris, A Margaritis, N Marinakis, A Marinis, C Markelis, H Markou, G Markou, P Masouridis, S Mastorakos, E Matzaris, C Mavridis, A & M Mavromihalis, K Mavropoulos, S ANNUAL REPORT

52 3XY RADIOTHON DONORS Mavroudis, S McMennemin, A Mega, N Meimeteas, P Melios, V Memeit, K & S Mennemin, R & A Messimeri-Kianidis, D Messinis, A Michailidou, N Michalea, E Michelakos, S Michelis, G Miftarai, E Mihailidis, A Mihalopoulos, E & E Mihalopoulos, V & S Mihelakou, A Milonas, D Milousis, G Minas, L Mingos, C Missios, Z Mitropoulos, D Mitsiou, N Mitsiou, V Mitsopoulos, V Moisi, E Moralis, V Morgillo, M Moschos, D Mossios, E Moulas, S Mouratidou, D Mourtzios, E Mouskeftara, G Mousoura, D Moutafi, E Mpoursinou, C Mylonas, J Myridakis, M Nakos, A Nalpantidis, L Natsis, C & D Nawroski, M Nezeris, V Nicolaou, K Nidzebelis, E Nielakis, C Nikas, A Nikolaidis, S & S Nikolakopoulos, F Nikolaou, P Nikolas, A Nikolis, M Nikou, D Niolakis, C Nisiforou, G Nomikos, N & S Nomikos, O Notis, T & M Noukaris, N Noulas, G Nteris, N Onisiforou, K Osainalis, E Ouzloumis, A Ozbajci, M Padinis, K Paganis, K Pagonas, D Paikopoulos, V Pakakis, M Palios, K Panagiotidis, N & K Panagiotidis, S Panagiotopoulos, D Panagiotopoulos, F Panagiotou, K Panagopoulos, A & M Panas, F Panayi, E Pangratis, A Panoutsos, D Pantelias, A Pantopolis, K Pantsis, Z Pantzikis, S & M Papachristodoulou, A Papadakis, E & I Papadimitriou, J Papadogianni, E Papadogiannis, I Papadomanolakis, G Papadopoulos, G Papadopoulos, M Papadopoulos, M & A Papadopoulos, N Papadopoulos, S Papadopoulos, S Papadopoulos, S Papadopoulos, S Papafotiou, G & E Papageorgiou, A & G Papaioannou, D & F Papaioannou, E Papaioannou, G Papaioannou, I Papaioannou, M Papamanos, K & G Papandriopoulos, P Papantoniou, D Papasavvas, E Papastamopoulou, K Papastergiadis, B Papathanasiou, G Papathymios, I Papoulis, G Parnos, A Parpoutzis, E Parthimos, P Parthimou, F Pasalis, M Pasarhidis, V Paschalidis, S Pasimou, E Paspis, K Passiouras, F Patanakidis, M Paterakis, M Paterakis, M Patisteas, D Patreakis, I Patsoukas, I Pavlou, C Pavlou, K Paxinos, E Pepes, K Perakis, I Perakis, M Perdios, D Perisanidis, K Petaroudas, D & L Peters, M Peters, M Petidis, A Petropoulos, D Petrou, A Petroulis, E Petsetas, E Pierra, T Pikis, K Pimpilidis, C Pimpilidis, C & R Piperias, J Pirperis, S Pirpiris, K Piskopos, K Pissimissis, P Plakidis, E Pliatsos, S & T Poftis, C Poliakis, A & K Politakis, F Polites, G Politis, A Polyzos, L Pougioukas, E Prassinos, V Prithmea, E Prodromos, A Proestakis, C Prokopiou, A Promidou, E Psarras, N & S Psomas, G & C Psychoyiou, K Radiotis, V & S Radmisis, M Raftopoulos, F Rahovitsas, D Rahovitsas, N Rakogiannis, T Raptis, M Raptis, P Razos, F Razos, P Rentzis, E Rererakis, A Rigopoulos, A Rigopoulos, M Rigopoulos, P Rimagmos, A Robotis, S Roltogiannis, S & S Roukas, E Rozanitis, M Sachinidis, K & M Sagiadellis, E Sagiakos, N Sakelaris, G Sakellaropoulos, K & S Salamanis, L Salamounsa, E Saloustros, N Samantis, D Samara, A Sangos, K Santis, K Santolis, D Saribalas, S Sarimichaelidis, E Savidis, E Savvas, A Savvas, P Schoina, L Serafim, C Seremetidis, K Seretis, P & S Shionos, N Sidiropoulos, P Sikos, G & A Simopoulos, D Simopoulos, E Skamangas, M Skiadopoulos, E Skiadopoulos, M Smaragdiou, K Smardencas, C Smyrneos, P Sofokleous, N Sofronidis, N Solomos, O & N Solon, S Soteriou, K Sotirios, M Sotiropoulos, N Soulakis, M Sovolos, Y Spanos, A Spanos, A Spiliotis, A Spiliotis, B Spiliotis, G Spiliotis, J Spiliotis, K Spiliotis, M Spiliotis, P Spiliotis, V Spiropoulos, M & S Stamatakos, S Stamboulakis, A Stasinopoulos, E Stathakopoulos, A Stathakopoulos, N & A Stathopoulos, A Stathopoulos, G Stathopoulos, L & T Stathopoulos, T & S Stavrakis, E 50 PRONIA

53 A WARM THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS DURING THE XY RADIOTHON FOR PRONIA WHERE A TOTAL OF $108,798 WAS RAISED. Stavropoulos, R Stavrou, E & S Stefanidis, G Stefanidis, L & P Stefanidis, M Stefanidis, S Stefanopoulos, L Stogiannidis, D Stogias, E & G Stoias, V Strofalis, A Stylianou, E Stylos, A & F Sygeniotis, A Syngeniotis, K Tahtatzis, K Tamboureas, C Tangas, G Tasakos, V Tavlas, D Tektonopoulos, P & V Tellis, K Teo, J & D Terniotis, I Thalassinou, K Tharapos, E Theocharis, C Theodorakopoulos, N & K Theodoropoulos, A Theodosiadis, M Theodosiou, A Thomaidi, K Thomaidou-Argyropoulou, K Tiganis, M Tiliaveridis, P Tiras, P Tiropani, K Tokatridis, A Tomic, A Topouzis, A Toras, S Toronis, I Totikidis, V Tountzis, M Tozios, S Tremoulas, N Triantafillos, E Triantafilopoulos, J Triantafilou, A Trikaliotis, M Tryphonos, A Tsahrelias, A Tsalamandris, M Tsalikidis, S Tsara, A Tsara, E Tsarhatsidis, G Tsatas, A Tsatas, G Tsatoumas, C Tsavdaridis, E Tsavdaridis, M Tsiakopoulou, V Tsigara, M Tsigaris, D & G Tsigaris, K Tsikrikos, N & P Tsiligridis, K Tsingas, P Tsintsangas, S Tsioupi, K Tsipoura, T Tsiros, C Tsivoulidis, M Tsolakis, G & R Tsoli, E Tsolondres, P Tsonis, C & E Tsopana, S Tsoubakos, K Tsoukalas, E Tsourdalakis, A & C Tsourdalakis, K Tstsis, O Tzeremes, A Tzilinis, A Tzimas, E Tzortzis, S Vakalis, E Valligas, E Varelas, N Vasileiou, K Vasiliadis, L Vasos, P Vassiliadis, S & A Vassos, P & A Vavaroutsos, M Vazirianis, A Vecris, A & T Velianis, M Veloff, O Velonas, G Vennes, D Verigos, K Verikios, S Vingas, V Violaris, A Visciglio, M E Vitoratos, C Vlahogiannis, C & A Vlahopoulos, N Vlahopoulos, P Vlahos, G Vlahos, S Vlahos, S Vlassopoulos, S & K Volou, L Vorgia, B Vossos, V Voukelatos, K & G Voulgaris, S Vouvelatos, K & G Vouvopoulos, S Vrantzis, M Xenos, V Yannou, S Zachariou, E Zafirakis, K Zafiris, E Zahariou, A & F Zaharis, A & V Zairis, G Zamanis, N & A Zamouzaris, E Zangalis, V Zarderis, P Zarris, K Zervas, A Zervas, D Ziakas, J Zigoronikos, K Zigouris, E Zikas, A Zilelis, K Zinonos, G Zioras, E Zobola, M Zogos, O Zografos, N & A Zombos, N Zougoulos, T ANNUAL REPORT

54 52 PRONIA

55 AUSTRALIAN GREEK WELFARE SOCIETY LIMITED (TRADING AS PRONIA ) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1ST JULY, TH JUNE, 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

56 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) CONTENTS Directors Report 47 Auditor s Independent Declaration 48 Independent Audit report 49 Statement by Directors 50 Profit and loss Account 51 Balance Sheet 52 Notes to and Forming Part of the Accounts 53 Statement of Cash Flows PRONIA

57 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) DIRECTORS REPORT The Directors of Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd, submit herewith the balance sheets as at 30th June 2017 and the profit and loss account for the financial year then ended. In order to comply with the provisions of the Corporations Law, the Directors report as follows: The name and particulars of the Directors of the company in office at the date of this report are: Meetings Eligible to attend Meetings Attended President George Spiliotis Vice President Eugenia Grammatikakis Hon. Secretary Ivy Fatouros-Mimilidis 12 7 Treasurer Jim Wood (until 14 Sep 16) 3 2 Treasurer James Koutsoukos (from 14 Sep 16) 12 9 Director Anatoli Amanatidis (from 15 Nov 16) 7 6 Director Nicholas Katris Director George Koletsis (from 15 Nov 16) 7 3 Director Cr Kris Pavlidis 12 6 Director Spiros Papadopoulos (from 15 Nov 16) 7 7 The principal activities of the company in the course of the financial year were Welfare Agency and Community Services. During the year there was no significant change in the nature of those activities. The net amount of profit of the company for the year was $101,499 During the financial year there was no significant change in the state of affairs of the company other than that referred to in the accounts or notes there to. There has not been any matter or circumstance, other than that referred to in the accounts or notes thereto, that has arisen since the end of the financial year, that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the operation of the company, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the company in financial years subsequent to this financial year. Since the end of the previous financial year, no Director has received or become entitled to receive a benefit (other than a benefit in the aggregate amount of emoluments received or due and receivable by Directors shown in the accounts, or the fixed salary of a full-time employee of the company or related corporation), by reason of a contract made by the company or related corporation with the director or with a firm which he/she has a substantial financial interest. Signed in accordance with the resolution of the Directors. On behalf of the Directors George Spiliotis James Koutsoukos PRESIDENT TREASURER Dated on the 2nd day of November 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

58 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) AUDITOR S INDEPENDENT DECLARATION D.C. Douglas C.P.A. Accountant & Registered Company Auditor To the Members of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd. Auditor s Independence Declaration under Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 This declaration is made in connection with my audit of the financial report of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd for the financial year ended 30 June 2017 and in accordance with provisions of the Corporations Act I declare that, to the best of my belief, there have been: No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; No contraventions of the Code of Professional Conduct of the Australian Society of CPA s in Australia in relation to the audit. Yours sincerely D.C. Douglas Registered Company Auditor No Dated on the 2nd day of November PRONIA

59 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT To the Members of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd. SCOPE: I have audited the accounts of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd. for the year ended 30th June I have conducted an independent audit of these accounts in order to express an opinion on them to the members of the Society. My audit has been conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards to provide reasonable assurance as to whether the accounts are free of material misstatement. The procedures include examination on a test basis, of evidence supporting the amounts and other disclosures in the accounts, and the evaluation of accounting policies and significant accounting estimates. These procedures have been undertaken to form an opinion as to whether in all material respects, the accounts are presented fairly in accordance with Australian Accounting Concepts and Standards and so as to present a view of the Society which is consistent with my understanding of its fi nancial position and the results of its operations. AUDIT OPINION: In my opinion, the accounts of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd. are properly drawn up: a) so as to give a true and fair view of: (i) the Society s state of affairs as at 30th June 2017 and of its result for the year ended on that date; and (ii) the other matters required by Division 4 Part 3.6 of the Corporations Law to be dealt within the accounts; b) in accordance with the provisions of the Corporations Law; and c) in accordance with the Statements of Accounting Concepts and applicable Accounting Standards. D.C. Douglas C.P.A. (Number 15038) Registered Company Auditor Dated on the 2nd day of November 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

60 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) STATEMENT BY DIRECTORS In the opinion of the Directors of the Company: 1. (a) The accompanying profit and loss account is drawn up so as to give a true and fair view of the results of the Company for the financial year ended 30th June (b) The accompanying balance sheet is drawn up so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial year. (c) At the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. 2. The accompanying accounts have been made out in accordance with Australian accounting standards and applicable Approved Accounting Standards. This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors and is signed for and on the behalf of the Directors by: George Spiliotis James Koutsoukos PRESIDENT TREASURER Dated on the 2nd day of November PRONIA

61 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 NOTES Operating Profit (Loss) Before Extraordinary Items Operating Profit (Loss) After Extraordinary Item Accumulated Profits/Losses at the Beginning of the Financial Year Accumulated Profits at the End of the Financial Year ANNUAL REPORT

62 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2017 CURRENT ASSETS NOTES Cash At Bank Debtors TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Property - 8 Corsair St Property - 7 Union St Renovations - 7 Union St Furniture & Equipment Furniture & Equipment - Union St Motor Vehicle TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors & Accruals Provisions TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Other Creditors Loans - Bank Provisions Employee Benefits TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILTIES TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS MEMBERS FUNDS Retained profits carried forward Retained profit/(losses) Opening Balance Asset Revaluation Reserve TOTAL MEMBERS FUNDS PRONIA

63 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 NOTE 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES GENERAL SYSTEM ON ACCOUNTING UNDERLYING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Accounts have been prepared using the historical cost convention. The Accounts have been prepared in accordance with Schedule 5, Corporations Law, Accounting Standards of the Australian Accountancy Bodies and comply with other requirements of the Law. Accounting Policies which have been significant in the preparation and presentation of the Accounts. a) FIXED ASSETS Fixed assets are capitalised at cost or Director valuation. Certain fixed assets donated from time to time are not recorded in the accompanying financial statements. Depreciation on fixed assets is calculated on a reducing balance basis so as to write off the net cost of each fixed asset during its expected economic life. b) INCOME TAX The Australian Greek Welfare Society is a not for profit organisation, exempt from income tax under the Income Tax Assesment Act. c) DONATED SERVICES A substantial number of volunteers have donated a significant amount of their time in the Australian Greek Welfare Society s services and its fundraising campaigns. However, since no objective basis exists for recording and assigning values to their services, they are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. d) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Annual, long service and sick leave is provided for all employees. ANNUAL REPORT

64 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 NOTES (CONTINUED) NOTE OPERATING SURPLUS/(LOSS) The Operating Result includes The Following Items of Income And Expenditure OPERATING INCOME Government Grants OTHER OPERATING INCOME Parent Fees for Child Care Interest Fundraising/Donations Employee Benefits Emergency Fund Respite Fees HACC & Comm PAG Fees Computer Classes CAPS Fees Case Management Fees Membership Fees Rental Corsair St Traineeship - Respite &CC Workcover Reimbursement Respite Fee For Service Other Income TOTAL OPERATING INCOME OPERATING EXPENSES Depreciation Transfers to (From) Provisions Employee Benefits Auditors Renumeration Aggregate Income Received of Due and Receivable by the Directors of the Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd NIL NIL 62 PRONIA

65 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 NOTES (CONTINUED) NOTE Cash at Bank Term Deposit Total Bank DEBTORS Trade Debtors Other Debtors Total Debtors NOTE 4 Property at 8 Corsair St Richmond Directors Valuation Property - 7 Union St Brunswick - At Cost Property - Renovation - At Cost Less Accumulated Depreciation Furniture & Equipment At Cost Less Accumulated Depreciation Furniture & Equipment - 7 Union St Less Accumulated Depreciation Motor Vehicle Less Accumulated Depreciation NOTE 5 CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors & Accruals Grants In Advance ANNUAL REPORT

66 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 NOTES (CONTINUED) NOTE CURRENT PROVISIONS Employee Benefits Severance Pay NOTE OTHER CREDITORS GST Liability Superannuation Payable PAYG Withheld Payable Loan - Westpac TOTAL OTHER CREDITORS NON CURRENT LIABILITIES - PROVISIONS Employee Benefits Building Maintenance Provision 0 0 Total NOTE 8 FINANCIAL REPORTING BY SEGMENTS AND LOCATION The Australian Greek Welfare Society Ltd operates in Community Services and Child Care Areas and only in Australia. NOTE 9 CASH FLOW INFORMATION a) Reconciliation of cash for the purposes of this Statement of Cash Flows Includes: i) Cash on Hand and in at Call Deposits with Banks or Financial Institutions; ii) Investments in money market instruments maturing within less than two months. CASH AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS SHOWN IN THE BALANCE SHEET AS: Cash At Bank Cash At Bank - Term Deposits Total b) Reconciliation of Cash Flows from operations: Operating Profit Depreciation/Amortisation Provisions CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS PRONIA

67 Australian Greek Welfare Society Limited (A.C.N ) (trading as PRONIA ) STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2017 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 2017 Receipts Payments to Suppliers & Employees Interest Received 9364 Net Cash Provided by (used in) Operating Activities 9b CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment Payment for property, plant & equipment 0 Net Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 0 Net Cash Flow from Financing Activities 0 Net Increase/Decrease in cash held Cash at beginning of year CASH AT END OF YEAR 9a ANNUAL REPORT

68 PRONIA THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS 66 PRONIA

69 PRONIA THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS ANNUAL REPORT

70 68 PRONIA

71 ANNUAL REPORT