www.ccinsurance.org.au
no. 72 2014
Less risk.
More support.
We launch www.risksupport.org.au
our new online space dedicated
to helping clients better identify
and manage risk.
Viewpoint
I am pleased to report
Catholic Church Insurance
achieved another strong result
for the 2013/14 financial year.
Despite obvious economic and
geopolitical challenges, global
sharemarkets performed well,
delivering double-digit
investment returns for the
second consecutive year.
The local market also
experienced solid gains.
Peter Rush
Chief Executive Officer
Our strong investment result enabled
us to recommend the payment of
dividends of 40 cents per share and
grants to both the Australian
Catholic Bishops Conference and
Catholic Religious Australia. It has
also allowed for the distribution of
surplus to Catholic entities.
In addition, the Board and
management accepted independent
actuarial advice to strengthen
reserves to meet potential future
claims. Despite the increase in these
reserves, we have been able to
maintain a capital ratio which is
almost double that required by the
Australian Prudential Regulation
Authority (APRA).
As an APRA regulated company,
we are subject to regular reviews
as part of the normal supervisory
process. Our most recent review
was completed late in the financial
year and the results were very
pleasing overall. While the company
remains strong and secure we have
implemented a number of initiatives
to enhance our risk management
and governance practices as a result
of APRA’s findings.
Improving the way we engage with
our clients is of particular interest to
us at CCI and we’re taking advantage
of available technology to reach our
goals. We’ve recently developed of
a series of online tools, including
one for workers’ compensation
which will enable our clients to
access key information on their
workers’ compensation matters.
This technology is currently being
trialled with a small group of clients
before being made available
more broadly.
Targeted risk services have been
integral to our client offering for at
least 30 years, and more generally
since the very beginning of the
company. To foster this work,
we have launched a new website
www.risksupport.org.au which
Improving the way we engage with
our clients is of particular interest to us
at CCI and we’re taking advantage of
available technology to reach our goals.
This information is provided to Securitas readers for information purposes only. It should not be used or considered as a comprehensive coverage of the topics
discussed, or relied on as a substitute for detailed professional advice or as a basis for formulating insurance and/or investment decisions. As this information
is of a general nature only, readers should consider obtaining independent professional (including financial) advice to ensure that individual circumstances
are properly considered. For information about the products and services available from Catholic Church Insurance Limited please call us on 1300 655 001,
or for further information about investment options from CCI Asset Management Limited please call 1300 655 220.
CONTENTS
takes this service a step further,
offering clients access to the support
and assistance needed to minimise
and then manage the risks they face
in their day-to-day operations.
To read more turn to page 8 of this
edition of Securitas.
A number of new senior
appointments have been made over
the last few months. Following the
retirement of long-serving State
Managers Tony Cassar, Gary Esler
and Bob Fragomeni we have, for the
first time I believe in our history,
appointed a new state manager in
every state and territory, with the
exception of South Australia, over
a period of less than 18 months.
Developing the potential of our own
people is fundamental to our
philosophy at CCI. The promotion of
Sylvia Wong, who has worked for us
for 25 years, to State Manager for
Victoria and Tasmania, and new
Western Australian State Manager,
Nicole Dennis, whose understanding
of insurance in the country’s west
has been an enormous asset over the
last two years, is testament to our
commitment to foster and celebrate
the skills and strengths of our team.
The injection of new skills is
extremely valuable to the company
and our clients, encouraging new
ways of thinking and broadening
our leadership abilities. Both Hugh
Easton and Susan Yates, who take
over the management of our
business in Queensland and New
South Wales/ACT respectively, come
to us with a wealth of experience
and expertise to our mutual benefit.
I would like to take this opportunity
to welcome each of our new
managers to the company and their
new roles and I look forward to
introducing them to you more fully
in the next issue of Securitas.
Finally, I would like to thank you, our
clients and partners for your ongoing
commitment and loyalty to CCI and
for the contribution which you have
made to another successful year for
this business. I and my colleagues
look forward to continuing to serve
you and the Catholic community.
4News
6 Ongoing Office
for Youth
The Australian bishops show
how highly they prioritise the
hopes and needs of young
people.
7 Into the highways
and byways
The Missionary Sisters of Service commemorate their 70th year
of service.
8 Less risk.
More support.
Introducing risksupport.org.au an online space dedicated to helping clients better identify and manage risk.
12 Sowing seeds
Mercy Education’s popular Seeds of Justice program empowers young people to
act on issues of social justice.
14Acceptance is
crucial for better mental health
Peter Rush
Chief Executive Officer
Youth Off the Streets on the power of self and community acceptance.
15 Ask an expert
What is a managed fund?
16 Building a pathway for Indigenous teachers
A new national program will
help fund mentoring programs for Indigenous teachers and students.
Securitas is a quarterly magazine produced by Catholic Church Insurance Limited ABN 76 000 005 210
AFSL No. 235415 for its Church clients.
All correspondence should be directed to: The Editor Securitas, Catholic Church Insurance Limited,
Reply Paid 180 Melbourne VIC 8060 [email protected]
3
News
Bob Fragomeni retires
In July, Bob Fragomeni announced
his retirement after 30 years as State
Manager for Western Australia and
35 with the company.
Bob joined CCI in 1979 as a chief
clerk in Western Australia, spending
just two years in the 1980s in the
New South Wales Office as Assistant
Manager before returning to his
home state to take up the State
Manager’s role.
“My time at CCI has been a terrific
journey,” says Bob. “I am essentially a
person who likes to serve. I love doing
what I do; using my skills and training
to assist the Church. It’s what has
motivated me and given me purpose.”
“My goal has always been to try and
improve what we were doing from
one year to the next,” he adds. “I’ve
embraced the changes within the
organisation over the years and I can
see they have brought enormous
benefits for clients, especially in the
area of technology.”
Did you
know?
We want to
make your
experience
with CCI
personal
insurance
better.
So, we’ve relaunched our personal insurance
website to include:
cleaner, clearer design and layout
additional product information; plus
stories about our community program
initiatives.
Visit our new and improved website now.
www.catholicinsurance.org.au
4
The relationships he’s built with staff
and clients hold some of the most
powerful memories Bob says he will
take with him into his retirement.
“Building and maintaining
relationships is in my view the most
important element of a state
manager or any management role.
I’ve always felt welcomed by my
clients and respected for what I
do and who I am.”
Bob will leave the company in
late November and retire in 2015.
Management and staff would like
to take the opportunity to thank
Bob for his contribution to the
company and to wish him well
in his retirement.
Nominations open
for new Australian
Catholic awards
A new initiative of The Catholic Leader will recognise
Catholics who’ve displayed exemplary leadership and
dedication in the community.
The Community Leader Awards will acknowledge
those who, inspired by their Catholic faith, have made
a significant difference to Australian culture, awarding
individuals in the categories of Professional Leader of the
Year, Young Leader of the Year, School Leader of the Year,
Volunteer of the Year and Community Leader of the Year.
Catholics living in Australia are invited to nominate
themselves or others. Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge
will present one of the five awards at the official ceremony
in November. Nominations close on 31 October.
Visit www.catholicleader.com.au/awards2014 for details.
Outreach program wins CHA award
Catholic Health Australia’s 2014
service awards were announced at
the CHA National Conference in
August honouring the contribution
of individuals, groups and services
the industry.
Five categories of service were
awarded. Amongst the winners
was, Ermha Origins, a program
jointly managed, funded and
supported by St John of God
Health Care’s Pinelodge Clinic
and psychiatric rehabilitation
and support service Ermha and
supporting vulnerable recent
arrivals to Australia who are living
with a mental illness.
“By becoming a trusted part of the
very diverse Dandenong community,
Origins has been able to work with
ethnic communities to identify people
who are in need of care – many of
whom have experienced trauma
either in their home country, on their
way to Australia or in detention,” said
Catholic Health Australia Stewardship
Board chair Rowena McNally.
The program has supported more
than 400 people from 20 countries
to date. Helping clients gain strength
and independence, re-establish ties
with family and community and find
new opportunities for work or study.
CCI would like to congratulate all
the winners and nominees.
Alys Boase from Ermha and James McDonald,
Director of Mission St John of God Pinelodge
Clinic, accepting the award.
Footy tipping
winners
It has been another
big year of football
and we hope this
has been a great
AFL and NRL
season for you.
AFL winners
NRL winners
Round 9:
Round 9:
Joe Williams
Russ Johnson
Round 10: Domenic Muscari
Round 10: Pauline Higgins
Round 11:
Round 11:
Jackie Hanson
Gaye Mulligan
Round 12: Sr Gabrielle Morgan
Round 12: Amanda Milczarek
Round 13: Brendan Hogan
Round 13: Angelo Savino
Round 14: Peter Richardson
Round 14: Julian Cartledge
Round 15: Jan Rees
Round 15: Dona Volcveska
Congratulations
to all of our winners.
Round 16: Lee Pope
Round 16: William Vassiliou
Round 17: Elton West
Round 17: Brendan Hogan
Round 18: Brent Russell
Round 18: Carolyn Ryan
Join the CCI Footy
Tipping competition
again in 2015 to see
if your tips can
make you a winner.
Round 19: Genevieve Devenish
Round 19: Fiona Bruzzi
Round 20: Michael Chambers
Round 20: Michael Cossey
Round 21: Judy Nettleton
Round 21: Phillip Vassiliou
Round 22: Antonietta Faccioni
Round 22: Julian Cartledge
Round 23: Luke Truman
Round 23: Fiona Bruzzi
For more information, visit
www.ccinsurance.org.au/footy
Winner of lowest combined
margin for rounds 18, 19 and 20
was Margaret Davies.
Round 24: Elizabeth Powell
Round 25: Peter Richardson
Round 26: Kevin Arrow
Congratulations to the overall
winners for this AFL season:
Congratulations to the overall
winners for this NRL season:
1st Prize:
1st Prize:
Louise O’Connor
Debbie Preuss
2nd Prize: Mark O’Brien
2nd Prize: Gaye Mulligan
3rd Prize: Victor Calleja
3rd Prize:
Mick Tobin
5
Ongoing
Office for Youth
In May, the Australian
Catholic Bishops Conference
(ACBC) announced it would
establish an ongoing national
Office for Youth.
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the
Bishops Delegate for Youth, shared
his joy at the announcement.
“This is another sign of how highly
the Australian bishops prioritise
young people and want to respond
to their hopes and needs,” he said.
The Office for Youth will be staffed
by new Director Malcolm Hart,
who has worked as Senior Youth
Ministry Projects Officer for the
Bishops Commission for Pastoral
Life (BCPL) for the past five years,
and Projects Manager Gabrielle
Sinclair, who has also worked for
the BCPL for several years.
During his time with the BCPL,
Malcolm led the implementation of
a number of initiatives and resources
including Australia’s participation in
World Youth Day 2011 and 2013 and
the hugely successful Australian
Catholic Youth Festival.
“I am deeply passionate about
sharing the message of Christ with
young people and empowering
them to go forward in their faith,”
says Malcolm. “The national office
recognises the past work we have
achieved under the auspices of
the BCPL and shows a strong
commitment to the future.”
“It is both intimidating and exciting
to be the first director of an office,”
he says. “But I do love working at
this level and I love the role. It’s been
a lot of hard work getting everything
established but it’s been a very
rewarding experience.”
Gabrielle Sinclair, ACBC Office for Youth Projects Manager; Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate
for Youth, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP; Malcolm Hart, Director ACBC Office for Youth.
The first event on the new office’s
calendar was the Australian Catholic
Youth Ministry Convention held in
Adelaide in early October. The most
comprehensive gathering of
people engaged in youth ministry
in the country, the convention is one
of the major events the office will run
on a three-yearly cycle going
forward. The next events on the
schedule are the Australian Catholic
Youth Festival to be held in Adelaide
in 2015 and Australia’s participation
in World Youth Day 2016 in Poland.
“Since WYD 2008 youth ministry
has grown substantially in this
country. Our new status as an office
gives us more credibility amongst
Church organisations and in the
secular world. This will enable us
to carry our initiatives forward and
really push the needs of young
people in Australia both here and
internationally.“
Like to know more? Visit
www.youthministry.catholic.org.au
This is another sign of how highly
the Australian bishops prioritise young
people and want to respond to their
hopes and needs.
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
6
“In reality it is basically business
as normal for us, just with a new
identity,” says Malcolm.
Into the highways
and byways
Founded in 1944 to minister
to those on the margins,
the Missionary Sisters of
Service celebrate their
70th anniversary this year.
The story of the Missionary Sisters
of Service began in 1933 on remote
Bruny Island off the coast of
Tasmania. Visiting priest, Father
John Corcoran Wallis, was asked by
a mother, “Why can’t we have sisters
come to us? Doesn’t anyone care
about us people in the bush?”
A vision formed in the young priest’s
mind, of women going into rural and
outback areas, seeking out people
beyond the reach of care so readily
available to others. Women who
would visit people in their homes,
support, encourage, counsel, teach
and empower them to nourish their
families and communities.
On 8 July 1944, the first four of these
women came together in Tasmania
and became the Missionary Sisters
of Service. In the 70 years since,
their reach has spread throughout
Tasmania, South Australia, New
South Wales, Queensland, Victoria
and Singapore.
“John Wallis was ahead of his time,”
says Congregational Leader, Sister
Stancea Vichie. “People said to him,
you can’t have women doing this
work, it’s too dangerous. But he
really dug his heels in.”
There were no convents for the
Missionary Sisters, who lived
amongst the people in little rural
and isolated communities, staying in
their homes, the back of a Church,
a hotel, wherever they could find
accommodation. In Tasmania during
the late 1940s and 1950s the sisters
made use of a caravan as they
travelled from place to place – a little
Church and home on wheels – and
became affectionately know by
some as the ‘caravan sisters’.
“From the beginning, our spirituality
was nourished by the scriptures
The rosary caravan was used by the Missionary
Sisters during the late 1940s and 1950s.
and liturgy,” says Sister Stancea.
“Communion of mind and heart
with one another was valued over
the need to all live together to
create community”.
Over the years, with better
technology and transport available
for rural families, the sisters’ moved
into urban areas as well. Working
with those facing cultural or social
isolation and involving themselves in
spiritual and personal development
and seeking justice around issues
such as refugees, human trafficking
and ecology.
In 2010, the sisters set up the John
Wallis Foundation to carry on their
vision and mission now and into
the future. In the spirit of the
Missionary Sisters of Service, the
Foundation reaches out to people
on the margins in various parts of
the country.
Bruny Island remains a special place
for the sisters and will be the site of
a pilgrimage on 23 November 2014.
The sisters encourage anyone with
a connection to the congregation
to visit the site that challenged
John Wallis to think beyond and
challenge what was possible.
Like to know more?
Visit www.missionarysisters.org.au
or www.johnwallisfoundation.org.au
The Missionary Sisters of Service Leadership Team, left to right, Bernadette Wallis, Stancea Vichie
and Corrie van den Bosch.
7
Less risk.
More support.
We’ve launched our new
risksupport website. An online
space dedicated to helping
our clients better identify and
manage the risks in their
organisation, whenever they
need it and wherever they are.
For over 100 years, CCI has acted
in the best interests of our clients
by putting people before profits.
Today, we continue to bring peace
of mind to the Church community
by being there when we’re needed
most and risksupport is part of that
commitment.
Our risksupport team is dedicated to
helping clients minimise risk, prevent
disruptions to services, understand
their legal obligations, deal with
incidents should they occur and
protect the health and safety of
their people.
They’ve developed a range of
resources and services designed
specifically for Catholic organisations
and now, with the launch of
www.risksupport.org.au, our clients
can find them all online.
Access
Fact Sheets, Checklists,
Templates, Guides and
Hazards.
Learn
More about our services
including Learning Manager,
Risk Management Health
Check, Keeping Your Parish
Safe Forums, Risk Control
Reviews and workshops.
Find
Information specific to your
sector or your topic of interest
with our specialised search
function and simple navigation.
Discover
The latest in risk news from
client interviews to legislation
changes and from education
to alerts.
www.risksupport.org.au
8
Topics
News
Our specialised Search function makes information
easy to find and can be filtered by the risk topic,
resource type and sector to help you find the
information you’re looking for.
Our News section will keep you up-to-date with helpful
risk management advice for Catholic organisations.
Resources
Services
You will find all risksupport Fact Sheets, Checklists,
Templates, Guides and Hazard information sheets in
our Resources section.
Our Services section contains all our risksupport
Services including Learning Manager, Workshops,
Forums, Risk Management Health Checks and
Survey Manager.
www.risksupport.org.au
9
Less risk. More support. continued
risksupport team
Meet our risksupport team, a group of industry professionals with an
enviable set of skills and a passion for helping clients manage their risks.
Mark joined CCI in November 2008. Mark
manages the risksupport team and works
on the development and provision of
effective and practical risk management
programs, resources and services.
“We are a team dedicated to educating
clients and helping them minimise the
many risks Catholic organisations face
every day,” says Mark.
Mark Wilson
National Risk
Services Manager
“The role is as interesting and varied as the
diverse range of customers and risks we
insure, and I work with a team of innovative
and proactive specialists.”
Susan joined CCI in May 2014. She says
she’d been on the look-out for a role with
CCI for some time. “CCI has a reputation
as a good employer with a strong focus
on client service,” says Susan. “It’s an
organisation with sound values and
that’s important to me.”
As State Manager, Sue has a dual role to
look after both the insurance needs and
risk management needs of CCI clients in
NSW & ACT. Her focus is ensuring clients
are aware of and take advantage of all
the services CCI has to offer.
Married with two teenage sons, life
outside of work is all about family. Susan
enjoys spending time with family and
friends, working on her home and garden
as well as reading and travelling.
“I enjoy interacting with our varied and
friendly client base and having the freedom
to be able to develop risk support services
that benefit our clients,” says Graham.
Risk Consultant
10
Mark and his wife Cate and two sons, live in
Geelong. He likes to spend time with family
and friends or indulging in his hobbies of
running, travelling, reading and the
occasional frustrating round of golf.
“Our services are never static,” she says.
“We develop our offering in response to
clients’ needs and work in partnership
with them to support the Church’s risk
management capability.”
Graham worked as a risk consultant in
the government sector before coming to
CCI four years ago. As one of our Risk
Consultants, Graham takes care of a variety
of Church clients, from dioceses and
archdioceses, to education offices and
religious orders.
Graham Porter
“Our range of risksupport services are
designed specifically for our client base,
however we are regularly updating and
expanding our resources and services to
ensure they evolve with technology,
emerging risks and the law,” he adds.
Susan Yates
State Manager
New South Wales and
Australian Capital Territory
“CCI is owned by the Church, so everything
we provide through our risksupport
function is not only for the benefit of our
clients but for the Catholic Church in
Australia as a whole.”
Graham is married and just celebrated ten
years since moving to Australia from the
UK. He loves listening to music and seeing
live music. Graham’s wife is a food blogger,
so their social life regularly combines their
two loves – music and food.
Laura Hammett
Risk Consultant
Laura worked in the area of public liability
risk for an international broking firm before
joining CCI in mid 2014. Now, as one of our
Risk Consultants she’s delivering risk services
to clients in Western Australia and Victoria.
She’s also involved in the development of
new publications and services.
from training, risk assessments or the
development of business continuity plans.”
Laura says she’s enjoying the diversity of
the role and assisting clients across a broad
range of sectors.
Laura is married and she and her husband
have a much loved Moodle called Henry.
The pair are currently learning to speak
French in the hope of being able to
converse with the locals on their next
visit to France.
“The services we deliver depend on their
individual needs and requirements,” says
Laura. “This might incorporate anything
Narelle joined CCI and the risksupport team
last year. With her strong background in
both external and internal risk management
she’s well placed to oversee the day-to-day
operation of the team.
Unlike the Risk Consultants who spend
much of their time on the road visiting
clients, Narelle spends her working
days at CCI’s head office in Melbourne,
maintaining and developing relationships
with the team’s key internal and external
stakeholders.
“Helping clients understand and identify
their particular risks and then assisting them
with the development and implementation
of cost-effective solutions is very satisfying.”
“I enjoy the variety of my role,” says Narelle.
“And CCI is a great company to work for.
They don’t just say they encourage work
life balance – they actually do!”
Narelle is married and she and husband
Adrian have two furry kids - Sake their
four-year-old Samoyed and Matisse
their 12-year-old Burmese.
Narelle Salvo
Risk Services Coordinator
Chris has been with CCI for ten years.
Since joining the company Chris has held
a variety of roles in a number of different
departments including the personal lines,
claims and underwriting areas. He became
a member of the risksupport team in 2012.
Chris Hall
Chris’s broad experience and company
knowledge enables him to deliver
exceptional service to his clients. Much
of his time is spent meeting with clients,
providing risk advice and delivering risk
services and products.
“My role has taken me to some surprising
places,” says Chris. “Whether our clients
are in Far North Queensland, the remote
wilderness of Western Australia or around
the corner in downtown Melbourne, they all
have a story to tell and need our assistance
in some way.”
Married with two daughters, Chris is, by his
own admission, obsessed with sport. He
plays cricket, coaches at his local football
club and is a mad Collingwood supporter.
Risk Consultant
Peter is based in our Sydney office. Prior
to joining CCI four years ago, Peter worked
in various WHS and Return to Work roles
for archdiocesan and state government
agencies.
Peter loves the active nature of his role at
CCI. Much of his time is spent visiting the
11 dioceses and archdioceses he services
across New South Wales and the Australian
Capital Territory delivering WHS audits
and training.
“CCI has a really practical, hands-on
approach to helping clients manage their
risks,” says Peter. “I enjoy meeting with my
clients and working with them to determine
the best way to solve their problems.”
Peter is married with primary-school aged
twins. He likes to keep fit and is a Formula 1
and NRL fan. He was an NRL referee,
but has more fun watching the games as
a fan than as an official. He and the family
enjoy adventures having recently camped
at Western Plains Zoo and walked the
Mount Kosciusko Summit.
Peter Kirby
Work Health and
Safety Consultant
11
Sowing seeds
The Seeds of Justice program
offers students and teachers
the opportunity to deepen
their awareness of social
justice and meet like-minded
people from other schools.
Over the last decade, Seeds of
Justice, an initiative of Mercy
Education, has coordinated two
student camps and one staff
conference each year for
metropolitan schools in Victoria.
In 2013 the scope of the project
began to grow, stretching to
encompass schools from regional
Victoria, Western Australia and
South Australia.
“We like to think we plant a seed of
justice in the young adults who come
along,” says Eugene Lynch, Executive
Officer at Mercy Education and
member of the Seeds of Justice
Committee. “It may not change them
immediately, but as they move into
adulthood we hope that they’ll act
upon that inspiration.”
Seeds of Justice Committee Chair
and teacher at Sacred Heart College
Kyneton, Sam Weir agrees.
“Talking about justice is at the very
core of what we do in Catholic
education and in Mercy schools,”
he says. “Many of the students who
come along are passionate about
social justice. When they come
together with other like-minded
young people they gain the
confidence and courage to act.”
“That’s the joy of being involved in
this project,” says Sam. “It’s quite
enlivening and very humbling to mix
with dynamic young people who are
looking to be agents of hope and
change in their world.”
According to Eugene there’s a strong
correlation between the students
they work with in Seeds of Justice
and those who end up as leaders in
the schools.
Mercy College Coburg teacher,
Mairead Kennedy, sits on the Seeds
of Justice Committee but her
history with the program goes
back much further.
Above and opposite page: Students from the Seeds of Justice program.
12
Mairead’s mother, Maryann, was
justice coordinator at Sacred Heart
College in the central Victorian town
of Kyneton where Mairead was a
student. Maryann first encouraged
Mairead to attend a Seeds of Justice
camp in Year 9. Mairead admits she
was initially more excited about the
prospect of a few days off school
than what she might gain from
the program.
“That first camp was absolutely
brilliant,” she says. “We had a great
time and got to network with
students from other schools who
were all just bursting with enthusiasm
and passion for social justice. I went
to the camps twice a year for the next
three years and became my school’s
social justice captain.”
It was the beginning of Mairead’s
lifelong passion for social justice.
Growing up in Kyenton, a town of
less than 7,000 people nestled in the
Macedon Ranges about 85 kms from
Melbourne, Mairead recalls feeling a
bit sheltered from the sorts of
experiences young people living in
metropolitan areas were having.
“The camps provide a valuable
opportunity for young people to talk
with students from all walks of life
about the issues that are prominent
in their area. It really opens up your
mind to what’s happening in
Australia and around the world.”
Guest speakers are a feature of the
camps, sharing their expert, firsthand experiences working within the
field of social justice and then
opening up the floor to the students
to respond.
“What’s so wonderful about
teenagers is that they already have a
very acute sense of justice,” says
Mairead. “What they often lack is a
way to move forward and take
action. Their ideas might be
wonderful and impassioned, but
they’re often not that practical.”
Mairead says it’s fabulous to see the
students open up when a speaker
shares an approach that’s worked
for them.
“They realise the way forward may
not be as simple as saying ‘This is
wrong, so it must change’. That it’s
necessary to approach things in a
way that’s going to enact realistic
change,” she says.
Sitting on the Seeds of Justice
Committee and being involved in
delivering the program she gained so
much from personally has been
wonderful experience for Mairead.
“Everyone on the committee is so
invested in the success of the camps
because they know they can change
kids’ outlook on life. I know it’s where
things really started to kick off for me.”
Many of the students who come along
are passionate about social justice. When
they come together with other like-minded
young people they gain the confidence
and courage to act.
“They say the most powerful learning
comes from within and Eugene is
always really conscious of making
sure the focus is on the student
perspective.”
“I hope that the young people who
come along to the camps enjoy it and
leave with a sense of hope,” she says.
“Although we spend a lot of time
focusing on injustice, we don’t want
the students to see things as a
hopeless case, or to feel that there
are so many issues in the world and
there’s nothing they can do.”
“There is always going to be inequality
in the world, but that doesn’t mean
we should stop fighting it.”
Like to know more?
Visit www.mercy.edu.au
CCI is a proud sponsor of the
Seeds of Justice program.
Sam Weir, Chair, Seeds of Justice Committee
13
Acceptance is crucial
for better mental health
As Mental Health Month in
New South Wales draws to
a close we speak to Jeanne
Wang, School Psychologist
at Chapel School in Sydney’s
Merrylands, about the impact
acceptance can have on
young people.
Chapel School is run by nondenominational community
organisation Youth Off the Streets.
Young people who attend are
disengaged from mainstream
education.
“I would say that in almost all cases,
the mental health of the young
people in our care has been
impacted in some way,” says Jeanne.
“Over the years I’ve heard many of
our young people say that when
they’re out in the community they
feel judged, perhaps because of the
way they dress or the things that
they do,” she says. “And many of our
families find it hard to reach out to
their communities because they
experience a lot of shame around
other people’s perceptions of their
ability to parent and to cope.”
Artwork from Chapel School group therapy program exploring values and goals and learning
to cope better with unpleasant thoughts.
“Father’s (Youth Off The Streets’
CEO and Founder Father Chris
Riley) motto is that there is no such
thing as a bad child. It’s just the
experiences they go through that
make them behave in a particular
way. There’s no way of knowing
what young people may have
gone through, or how they might
be struggling to cope. Through my
work I’ve learned to judge less and
to teach others to do the same.”
The approach at Youth Off The
Streets can be quite different to
other mental health services. The
psychologists are able to work more
intensely on a daily basis with a
smaller group of young people.
This makes it possible to build
more in-depth relationships and
a truly individual treatment plan.
Jeanne Wang.
14
“By the time young people reach
us they’re often ‘serviced-out’,”
says Jeanne. “So we have to try a
different approach. We have the
flexibility to take them out to get
food or coffee, go to the park or just
chat to them in the playground. The
kids get to know us from a different
angle and gain a new perspective of
what counselling means or can do.”
“You can be the most amazing
therapist, but if you don’t have a
relationship with your clients your
therapy doesn’t mean much,” she
says. “The building of relationships is
really important to us here at Youth
Off The Streets. If you don’t have it
you don’t get anywhere.”
Like to know more?
Visit www.mentalhealth.asn.au,
www.1010.org.au or
www.youthoffthestreets.com.au
Ask an expert
What is a
managed fund?
David Smith, Client Relationship Manager, CCI Asset Management
A managed fund is a
professionally managed
investment scheme.
Investors buy into a managed fund
by purchasing ‘units’ of equal value
and then qualified investment
professionals manage the money
within the portfolio on behalf of all
the investors in the fund.
Managed funds are generally
designed to meet specific investment
goals and objectives. Some may
focus on particular asset classes
while others may screen for ethical,
environmental or other reasons.
Why invest in managed funds?
Diversification is one of the major
benefits of investing in a managed
fund. Pooling your money with other
investors gives you greater buying
power and access assets that might
otherwise be out of your reach.
Managed funds are great if you
don’t have the expertise or the time
to invest for yourself. Qualified
investment professionals invest your
money and they have access to
information and research you may
not able to access yourself.
Managed funds are also fairly flexible,
allowing investors to make regular
contributions and reinvest earnings.
What’s the difference between
active and passive management?
In an actively managed fund the fund
manager is directly responsible for
investing your money, using their
expertise to read the market and
make decisions with an aim to deliver
returns in excess of the index.
A passively managed fund (often
known as an index fund) mimics
an index, such as the All Ordinaries
index or the S&P/ASX 200, so
investment decisions follow the index
and the fund aims to generate a
similar return to that of the index.
Why do unit prices fluctuate?
Investors in a managed fund are
allocated a number of units, each
representing an equal part of the
market value of the fund’s portfolio.
Units have a dollar value, or ‘unit
price’, which is calculated by taking
the fund’s total market value,
adjusting for any liabilities and
dividing this figure by the total
number of units held by all
investors on that day.
Managed funds are great if you don’t
have the expertise or the time to invest
for yourself. Qualified investment
professionals invest your money and they
have access to information and research
you may not able to access yourself.
Unit prices will fluctuate with the
rise and fall of the fund’s investments.
If the value of the assets owned by
the fund goes up, so too will the
value of your units, the reverse is
true should the value of assets
go down.
What is a distribution?
Realised capital gains and income
earned by a fund are passed on to
investors in the form of distributions.
This generally happens twice a year
and investors may choose to reinvest
by purchasing additional units or
take the money as income.
Does CCI Asset Management
offer managed funds?
Yes. Both CCI Asset Management’s
Trusts are recognised by ASIC as a
Charitable Investment Scheme,
which is a type of managed fund.
Investment in the Trusts is only open
to tax-exempt entities associated
with the Catholic Church such as
diocese, religious institutes and
charitable institutions.
Like to know more?
Contact David Smith,
Client Relationship Manager
at CCI Asset Management on
03 9934 3077, email david.smith@
cciassetmanagement.org.au or visit
www.cciassetmanagement.org.au
This information is of a general nature only and readers should consider obtaining their own
professional investment advice to ensure that individual circumstances are properly considered.
15
Building a pathway for
Indigenous teachers
In July, the National Catholic
Education Commission (NCEC)
and the University of South
Australia’s More Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
Teachers Initiative (MATSITI)
jointly launched a $500,000
Indigenous education program.
The program will help fund innovative
systemic programs across Australia,
helping to take on and mentor more
Indigenous teachers and support
Indigenous students on a pathway
to the teaching profession.
According to MATSITI, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander teachers
are significantly under-represented
in our schools, comprising
approximately 1% of the teaching
community, compared to Indigenous
students (who comprise 5% of the
total school student population).
Led by Catholic Education South
Australia, the national program will
focus on improving the professional
and leadership capabilities of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
teachers and use them as positive
role models for the more than 18,000
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students in the Catholic system.
MATSITI Project Director, Professor
Peter Buckskin, described Catholic
Education as a “perfect partner, with
its focus on the principals of
integrity, ethics and reconciliation.”
“This partnership has great potential
to pay large dividends well into
the future, by providing deeper
cultural experiences for all students,
staff and communities across
Catholic Education and Australia,”
said Professor Buckskin.
16
(L-R) Catholic Education SA director Dr Paul Sharkey, Dr Roma Aloisi, Professor Peter Buckskin
and NCEC Chairman Greg Crafter at the launch of the program.
Director of Catholic Education
South Australia, Dr Paul Sharkey,
said the program reflects the
inclusive nature of Catholic
education, which strives to support,
educate and serve communities.
“Catholic education shares the
Government’s aspirations for
Indigenous education and has made it
a clear priority to provide Indigenous
students with excellent teachers –
fostering positive role models and
inspiring them to new heights.”
Dr Sharkey describes the response
to the program since its launch as
extremely positive.
“There is already evidence of
stronger relationships being formed
between university providers and the
Catholic education commissions, and
this is leading to greater awareness
of the initiative amongst Indigenous
pre-service teachers and placements
in Catholic school settings in 2014.”
“Our long-term vision focuses on
creating sustainable, effective
national networks and collaborative
systems along with a national system
for data collection and further
research,” says Dr Sharkey.
“We will continue to build the
professional capacity of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander educators,
and in turn increase their numbers in
the Catholic sector in remote and
urbanised settings.”
Like to know more?
Visit www.matsiti.edu.au
This partnership has great potential to
pay large dividends well into the future, by
providing deeper cultural experiences for
all students, staff and communities across
Catholic Education and Australia.
MATSITI Project Director, Professor Peter Buckskin