In this issue:• Meet a dedicated staff member and one of our amazing foster carers• Learn about our contribution to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s

Mental Health System• Find out how our L2P Program mentors young learner drivers

Magazine2019ISSUE 10

Your impact as a supporter

Our work is made possible with your generous support. With your help, we’ll continue to be a strong and independent voice for children, young people and families.

Welcome to the Spring issue

of the Berry Street Magazine

Berry Street believes that children, young people and families should be safe, thriving and hopeful. This belief underpins our work: it is what drives us to courageously change lives, day in, day out.

In this edition of the Berry Street Magazine, we provide a snapshot of our programs and services that are supporting the people with whom we work. We talk to one of our dedicated staff members behind the Gippsland Wilderness Program – a program funded by Berry Street and which continues to run thanks to supporters like you.

We share the story of one of our incredible foster carers, who has looked after more than 400 children in 35 years. We also look at the impact of the L2P Program on a young person who has learnt how to drive thanks to a volunteer driving mentor. She is now better equipped to support her young family.

I’m also eager to share some news with you: we’ve recently made submissions to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, highlighting the need for more investment in early intervention and prevention services. With a clear link between

childhood trauma and poor mental health, the Royal Commission is a once in a generation opportunity to

have a say in how our mental health system could be improved. This work is in line with our Strategic Plan for 2019-2022 in which we reimagine the future – one where, by intervening earlier, families can stay together safely.

We’ll continue to be a strong and independent voice for children, young people and families

and we look forward to you being a part of our journey. Our work is made possible with your

generous support.

Michael PeruscoChief Executive Officer

Content

3 Message from our CEO

4 Supporting children, young people and families to be safe, hopeful and thriving

5 5 questions with Nathan, our Wilderness Program Worker

6 Creating a better mental health system in Victoria

8 400 children, 35 years, 1 supermum

9 Helping young people journey to independence

10 Community and Corporate Involvement

11 Countdown to Christmas

Contact Us

CENTRAL OFFICE

1 Salisbury Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

P: 1800 237 797 E: supportus@berrystreet.org.au W: www.berrystreet.org.au

ABN 24 719 196 762

In order to protect the identity of our clients, we only use images of models and volunteers. The people pictured in our stories are not connected to the case studies presented.

Names in the stories have been changed in the interest of protection and privacy.

Berry Street is committed to the principles of social justice. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands and waters of Australia.

Message from our CEO

ˆ Number of students enrolled in August 2019

Over the last financial year, with your support you’ve helped us to…

Empower nearly 40,000 people who have used our services

Teach 151 Berry Street School students across 4 campusesˆ

Provide foster and kinship care for 1,677 children and young people

Support over 29,000 women and children through our family violence programs

Supporting children, young people and

families to be safe, hopeful and thriving

BERRY STREET MAGAZINE4

Meet Nathan "Furph" Furphy! Nathan has been working with our Gippsland Wilderness Program for 8 years. The program is an outdoor adventure camp that helps young people who have experienced

trauma to build resilience, confidence and teamwork.

Q: What is a typical day at work for you?A: I truly do have one of the best jobs in the world! Some of my days are spent doing paperwork, but I’m mostly:

• Rafting down rivers

• Exploring remote alpine regions

• Squeezing through underground passages in cave systems

• Surfing at pristine beaches

…. and that’s usually before lunch.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job? What are the greatest rewards?A: Sharing these experiences with young people always puts a smile on my face. The greatest reward is seeing the look on a young person’s face when they touch snow or catch a wave for the first time; the profound looks and comments of pure joy ground me every time. These are the “magic moments’’.

Q: How does the Wilderness Program benefit young people?A: The experience and immersion in nature has positive effects on the body and mind.

Each activity is carefully designed and follows a trauma-informed model. This means that each participant is involved in the planning and becomes part of the journey.

The young people can transfer the skills they’ve learned into their everyday lives, helping prepare them for future challenges. Importantly, they can “just be themselves” - no judgement, no distractions and a safe place to talk, laugh and experience.

Q: Do you have a message for our supporters?A: On my first journey, we walked through the bush and emerged at dusk on a sand dune above the beach. One young person was standing at the top with tears running down her face. We looked out at the ocean together; after about 10 minutes she said this was her first time to the beach. A teenager who lived 40 minutes from the coast had never experienced the water.

Sometimes we forget the importance of little things, like a trip to the beach or a nature walk.

For young people who have already been impacted by trauma, this is not just an adventure - it is an experience that they deserve. Your support helps make these experiences a reality and is greatly appreciated.

5 questions with Nathan,

our Wilderness Program Worker

Supporting children, young people and

families to be safe, hopeful and thriving

ISSUE 10 | 2019 5

Highlighting the need for an increase in early intervention services is in line with our Strategic Plan for 2019-2022. We need more services that keep families together safely and we look forward to working with government and partners to achieve this.

Y-Change’s Submission - Curing the Sickness of the System Young people who have experienced disadvantage are the only people who can tell us what a policy looks and feels like when it comes to life. Employed as Lived Experience Consultants, Berry Street’s Y-Change team use their expertise to drive social and systemic change.

At the heart of this submission are the voices of eight Lived Experience Consultants. These are young people with a lived experience of mental ill-health and other issues such as

You may have seen that the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System began earlier this year.

The economic and social costs of poor mental health in Australia are significant. For children and young people who have experienced childhood trauma, their risk of mental illness and suicide increases significantly. Did you know that children in out-of-home care have rates of mental health problems up to 5 times higher than the general population1?

Right now, the child protection and mental health systems are ill-equipped to support these children and their families effectively, which can lead to a cycle of intergenerational trauma and disadvantage.

Part of the Royal Commission involves listening to and respecting the views of Victorian communities, individuals and organisations.

So Berry Street has added our voice, as well as the direct voices of young people with lived experience, to the Royal Commission to help try to improve our mental health system.

Berry Street’s SubmissionsThese submissions highlight the need to:

1. Invest in early interventions to help strengthen families and keep them together safely.

2. Reform the mental health and child protection systems so they’re more connected, responsive and evidence-informed

3. Strengthen system and workforce capability across the mental health and child protection systems to intervene early and effectively to prevent a cycle of disadvantage.

1 Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) (2019) Child and Youth Mental Health, tabled June 2019, https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/child-and-youth-mental-health, accessed 12 July 2019

Creating a better mental health

system in Victoria

BERRY STREET MAGAZINE6

homelessness, family violence and experiences of the out-of-home care system.

The Y-Change submission places young people’s voices front and centre to influence policy change. The first of their seven recommendations is that the outcomes of the Royal Commission must be developed in partnership with people who have a lived experience, particularly young people.

“There’s no such thing as a one size-fits-all approach because there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits all solution for people’s mental health.” – Kaitlyne, 22, Berry Street Lived Experience Consultant

We are pleased to have been able to contribute to the Royal Commission and we look forward to helping shape a better mental health system for Victorian children, young people and families.

Did you know that children in out-of-home care have rates of mental health problems up to 5 times higher than the general population ?

Creating a better mental health

system in Victoria

ISSUE 10 | 2019 7

You might have seen Kerryn Longmuir, one of Berry Street’s foster carers, in the media earlier this year. Kerryn was featured on the Today Show, in the Herald Sun, ABC News, and interviewed on various radio stations.

Every day, foster carers like Kerryn are changing vulnerable children’s lives.

Kerryn and her husband became foster carers 35 years ago after having two children of their own. Their second child was born with a disability, and they decided not to have more biological children. But Kerryn still had lots of love to give.

Since then, the Longmuirs have opened their Melbourne home to over 400 children who cannot live safely at home. Many of the children they’ve cared for have experienced trauma from exposure to family violence, neglect, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Children arrive at all times of the day and stay for different lengths of time. Some only sleep overnight, while others stay for years. In fact, three siblings are in their permanent care.

Kerryn always tries to make her home a warm and welcoming place for children, taking an approach of love.

While she doesn’t stay in touch with children she’s cared for and who have been reunited with their biological families, she once ran into a young man who had lived with the Longmuirs 16 years ago.

Having fostered for more than three decades, Kerryn says she still has the passion to help more children.

Your support helps us recruit and train amazing foster carers like Kerryn to provide safe and nurturing homes for vulnerable Victorian children.

Find out more at www.berrystreet.org.au/could-you

He recognised Kerryn, then explained that the way she taught him how to always believe in himself changed his life: when times were tough, he reminded himself of this message and it gave him strength.

400 children, 35 years,

1 supermum

Photo credit: ABC Melbourne

BERRY STREET MAGAZINE8

Clare drove regularly with her mentor, Jodie, and took every opportunity to gain experience.

Thanks to her hard work, Clare got her P Plates last year! Now that she can easily get to health appointments and run errands, she feels better able to support her family. Her younger sister is also learning to drive through L2P!

L2P relies on volunteer mentors like Jodie. Thanks to these community members, young people can learn about road safety, how to drive and gain independence.

Having a driver’s licence is something many of us take for granted. For young people like Clare* who are living in regional areas, the freedom of driving often means they can continue studying and working.

After her mother passed away, Clare – still a teenager - quickly learnt how to live independently. With four younger siblings, she also had more caring responsibilities.

A few years later, Clare had her first child. Unfortunately, she experienced health complications during her second pregnancy and her eldest also unexpectedly had to be hospitalised. This put great financial and emotional pressure on Clare.

Clare’s family members couldn’t teach her how to drive and paying for professional driving lessons was out of reach.

Clare joined the L2P program, which Berry Street coordinates in Morwell and Shepparton. L2P matches volunteer mentors with learner drivers to help them get the 120 driving hours needed for a probationary licence.

Helping young people journey

to independence

*Name has been changed in the interest of privacy. The models and volunteers pictured are not connected to the case study.

“Clare displays such resilience. She is a funny, caring and generous young woman. It was such a rewarding experience and I enjoyed her company,” Jodie recalls.

ISSUE 10 | 2019 9

Officeworks Round UpThe fundraising efforts of staff and customers of Officeworks Preston are incredible! From organising raffles and bake sales, to rounding up transactions, the support during the ‘Round Up To Make A Difference’ campaign in June will help vulnerable children in our community.

Corporate Volunteering with a DifferenceEmployees from NAB recently volunteered their time to repaint young people’s units in our GOALS program. GOALS provides support and accommodation for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or about to leave out-of-home care. The young people were thrilled with the end product! One NAB employee said “this was definitely the best volunteering day I have participated in. The work was meaningful and I could see the value we were creating.”

Community and Corporate Involvement

NAIDOC MarchBerry Street staff proudly marched

alongside hundreds of community members in the NAIDOC Week march in July. Walking from Fitzroy to Federation Square, the rally celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and achievements.

Run MelbourneThank you and congratulations to our amazing supporters who

took part in Run Melbourne in July. Whether you ran, walked or donated, thank you for helping to raise almost $24,000 for the Berry Street School. Special thanks to Smart Group who sponsored us for the event!

Did you come across our CEO, Michael Perusco, and his sons on the day?

County Court Charity BBQThank you to the County Court of Victoria judges who again swapped their robes for tongs for this charity BBQ! Judge Mark Gamble says that the Courts Open Day BBQ is "not only an invaluable opportunity to meet members of the community, but also to raise funds for important organisations such as Berry Street."

BERRY STREET MAGAZINE10

Helping spread a

little sunshine

Thank you for your kind (and colourful!) messages of support to our wonderful Teaching Family Carers.

All Cans on DeckThis June, Vanguard supported Berry Street through its annual food drive to provide meals for children and young people in our care and School, so they can learn and focus on a full stomach. With the staff’s commitment, they raised the equivalent of 1,969 meals and collected over 750 food items. Thank you, Vanguard!

High Tea with the Berry Street Masonic Support GroupThe Berry Street Masonic Support Group kindly invited us to their High Tea event to present us with a cheque for over $11,500, which will go towards our GOALS program. The group has been an incredibly loyal supporter of ours for over 40 years, with its committee dedicating their time and effort to giving the children in our care a brighter future.

Feeling inspired?There are so many ways to raise funds for Berry Street, from morning teas and fun runs, to BBQs, trivia nights and more! Email the team at supportus@berrystreet.org.au or call 1800 237 797 for your own fundraising pack today.

Countdown to Christmas

Thank you for giving children a

big, bright future

Spring is here... time to plant your seeds!Helping spread a

little sunshine

For most children, Christmas is a time of anticipation and excitement. A time to be spoiled by family, to ask Santa to bring something special and create great childhood memories.

But Christmas can also be an incredibly emotional time for children, especially those living in out-of-home care, such as foster care.

We’ll reach out to you soon to ask for your support so that we can bring

Christmas cheer to the children and young people in our care. Thanks to the kindness of people like you,

vulnerable children can feel the joy of unwrapping a gift just for

them – sometimes for the first time in their lives.

My personal details:

Title: First Name: Surname:

Address: Suburb:

State: Postcode:

Tel/Mob:

Email:

� This donation is from a Community Group or Organisation:

Organisation Name:

My payment details:

� Please find my cheque or money order attached made payable to Berry Street.

Or please debit my: � Mastercard � Visa � AMEX

Credit Card No:

Expiry Date:

Cardholder’s Name:

Signature:

Thank you!

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. Berry Street is committed to protecting your privacy. We will not disclose your information with any other charity. We may collect, use and disclose your personal information for purposes to process and record donations, provide receipts, contact you about our activities and to provide you with our newsletters, reports, invitations and requests for support. For more information or a full copy of our Privacy Policy, please visit berrystreet.org.au/privacystatement or phone us. If you prefer not to receive future communication from us, please call 1800 237 797. ABN 24 719 196 762.

BS MAG SPR 2019

Your donation is welcome at anytime

� My Choice $

� I would like to make a monthly gift to support children in urgent need. My monthly giving amount is $

� Please tick if you would like information about leaving a gift in your Will.

� I have already included Berry Street in my Will.

Online:

berrystreet.org.au

Call:

1800 237 797

Mail:

1 Salisbury StreetRichmond VIC 3121

3 easy ways for

you to donate