Matthew Talbot Homeless Services Vincentian House

Thursday 16th May 2013.

Vincentian House


Vincentian House is a crisis accommodation and case management service for families and women, part of Matthew Talbot Homeless Services, funded by the St Vincent de Paul Society and NSW Department of Community Services through the SHS Specialist Homeless Services.

Vincentian House consist of family and women, child and Community Outreach case managers and support workers, as well as visiting clinicians and specialist services.

Crisis accommodation is provided on-site and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Outreach Program

Vincentian House has access to a number of houses in the community, Residents of Vincentian House who are identified as needing additional support and stability may be eligible for the Community Outreach Program. A residents case manager can refer eligible clients to the Outreach case manager, and if successful, the Outreach worker will continue to work with them on long term goals, for up to two years.


On-Site Case Managers

Vincentian House is a resident directed case management program and all residents are assigned a case manager.

Residents work with their case managers towards identified goals during their stay. Support plans are unique to each person as they are about their own identified needs and goals.

Case managers work in conjunction with child case managers who support younger residents with education, emotional and other support as required.


KEEP

The Kids Engaged in Education Program (KEEP) offers a range of targeted support for children and young people who are staying at Vincentian House. This includes homework groups, a children and youth resource room, and age appropriate play groups and activities. The program supports young residents to live a healthy lifestyle and develop skills for learning.

KEEP also provides parents with opportunities to continue their own education, participate in parenting workshops and to be an active part of their children's learning.


Vincentian House accepts the following groups of people who are experiencing homelessness or are at immediate risk of homelessness.

1. Single fathers and accompanying children.
2. Single mothers with a teenage son and any accompanying children.
3. Couples with accompanying children.
4. Single woman who are unaccompanied.

 

 

                                More information to follow in Report upon return in UK.  

                                                                          Matty







 

Sydbey Opera House / Sydney Harbour Bridge / Baltanic Garden's Photo's.

 

Above are photo's of the Bridge & Opera House.

 

 

Above are photos of Baltanic Gardens in Centre of Sydney.

 

Matty.

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage Program / Outreach Matthew Talbot Hostel

Tuesday 14th May 2013

Homelessness Brokerage Program

The Homeless Brokerage Program focuses on preventing people from becoming homeless or helping them to quickly exit homelessness by providing some of the following services.

1. Short term accommodation with support.
2. Assistance with rental or other arrears.
3. Referrals to housing and other forms of secure housing.
4. Transport and storage assistance.

Other forms of support to prevent people from falling into homelessness or becoming entrenched in crisis.

The Brokerage Program is provided by YWCA NSW under contact of the City and with funding from Housing NSW.

While the program's focus is on central Sydney, it assists clients from across the metropolitan area to prevent the migration of people into the city.

Referrals are the Homeless Brokerage Program can be made by contacting the Homeless Persons Information Centre.



Matthew Talbot Hostel

Whilst on Outreach I visited Matthew Talbot Hostel, this hostel is the largest within Sydney.

Male Hostel sleeping 100 males.

Within the hostel is Crisis Day Centre, Housing, G.P & Nurses, Benefits, Education, Legal its a ONE STOP SHOP for services.

Upstairs is  Education,Living Skills, Art, Music Class, Gym, I.T, Adult Learning Centre.

Upon walking towards Matthew Talbot there was a mixture of males sleeping all over the street. Presenting issues Substance misuse, Mental Health, Physical Health.
 
 Walking inside I was seeing males chaotic ( crystal meth ) is a problem in Sydney.

Another problem is the amount of people and not enough housing.

On average Matthew Talbot serves food to around 600-650 meals per day to males.

 

Above: Crisis Bed Matthew Talbot.

 

 

Above: Brokerage Accommodation.

 

 

 

This Picture touched me: "In life people have the right to Dream "

 

 

Brokerage Program / Matthew Talbot

 

 

Matty.

 

 

 

 

 

Homeless Persons Information Centre (HPIC) in 1985.

Monday 13th May

Homeless Persons Information Centre.


HPIC is state wide, telephone-based information and referral service. It answers between 60-75,000 calls each year from approximately 16,000 individuals and families who may become or are already experiencing homelessness.

HPIC provides direct referrals to crisis accommodation and other support services such as Centre link, legal services and providers of material assistance.

Individuals and families who contact the centre needing short-term assistance to stop them becoming homeless are referred to our brokerage program.

HPIC maintains an up-to-date register of more than 4,000 services across NSW.


Service Providers: Contact HPIC to update information about there service if the details change. New services are also encouraged to contact HPIC so all details are at hand.



Today was Day 1 of the work within Homelessness with Sydney. The first visit was to HPIC City Of Sydney location Town Hall House.

Upon entering the Town Hall I was met in reception by Mauricio Parraguez the coordinator of HPIC. Shortly after this I was given a in-depth tour of the HPIC to see how it all works within Sydney.

Within HPIC it was really busy, staff taking calls from all around NSW. I was given the opportunity to listen to these calls, looking at the referral process in detail. At about lunge time I went for a break to do Blog and to take information in.

Whilst within HPIC, tomorrow am attending Brokerage Program which was confirmed within the UK. Mauricio was co-coordinating my visit with them. I've arranged another service visit to Family Crisis Centre this week. More information to follow in report.

 

 

First Day At Work Within Sydney HPIC.

Matty

 

 

ANZAC MEMORORIAL Hyde Park Sydney

Sunday 12th May 1 pm: Walking back through the city I came across Hyde Park, in the distance I could see what looked like a Museum.

The park felt really peaceful and relaxed at the time, what I was about to see. Blew me away. 


ANZAC MEMORIAL is located in Hyde Park Sydney NSW Australia,

The ANZAC Memorial is NSW''s principal memorial to Australians who have served their country in the armed forces in wartime or in peacekeeping. ( This experience was on a personal level due to me serving some time ago )

Planned in the years following World War 1, the Memorial is a powerful union of architecture, sculpture and site. Every element of the design is infused with symbolism in order to express the profound sense of grief, loss and gratitude left by people of NSW for men and women who served in World War 1.

SACRIFICE

There is no pomp, no vain glory, no glamour in this group: rather there is stark tragedy, grim reality and bitter truth. But this truth which tells not only of the brutality of war and of the suffering it engenders - self-sacrifice for duty.

Viewed from above, in the Hall of Memory, only the body of the young soldier can be seen. At this point the last post sounds.

I stood for a moment to reflect as I prayed...and remembered.

 

 

Matty

 

Darling Harbour

Sunday 12th May 2013: 11.45 am Sydney.

Woke up this morning nice and early about 7 am. Things seem a lot slower in Sydney what's the saying " Early bird catches the worm ".

Went for a coffee a local coffee shop, as I was sat chilling got talking to a gentleman called James from the Backpackers which am  staying in, is family live in Sydney. As we were talking he asked if I would like to have a look down Darling Harbour. ( I was buzzing...a local to show me about )

Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's largest dining, shopping and entertainment hot spots. Around the water's edge, there are numerous alfresco restaurants, wine bars and bistros. Some of the attractions in the Harbour Australian National Maritime Museum, plus Wild Life Sydney, Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds.

I can remember doing some research about visiting  the Sea Life Aquarium.

Here I was looking at the yachts and the view was great. 

 

 

Matty

 

 

 

Coffee in Sydney Surrey Hills.

09.25 am: Saturday 11th May 2013.


This is my first Bog whilst in Sydney Australia, the flight was really long just short of 2 days.

As I got in Airport I was undecided whether to catch train or shuttle bus. I decided to catch the train to Central Station. All I can say the train was 2 high with a upstairs.

Upon leaving Central Station I could see why I choose Sydney, there was people Homeless sat tapping money and it seemed to be fairly busy with lots of activity......On a bigger scale to Newcastle ( back home )

The location of Home Backpackers is in Surrey Hills, I've not been here that long, however managed to find a good coffee shop around the corner with free WI-FI.

Around Mid-Day checking into accommodation. Later tonight off to a Mutual Aid Support Group....Cant Wait.  Its important to me.

 

 

 

From Newcastle upon Tyne to Sydney Australia.