Our History
LOCATION
Lifeline commenced in 1971, in a manse provided by Congregational Church, Mair Street, Ballarat
1981 Outreach commenced in a small room under Wesley Church, with Congregational volunteers who provided emergency relief, food and clothing and bedding
1982 Commenced rental, followed by purchase in 1984, of 205 Dana Street for use by UnitingCare staff
1983 Outreach offices relocated to 105 Dana Street
2014 A second office location is leased in the Ballarat Technology Park complex, Lydiard Street South, due to agency growth
DIRECTORS/ CEOS
1982 Lyn Light appointed
1998 Cliff Barclay appointed
2001 Change in Uniting Church constitution resulted in two separate Boards of Management, Outreach and Lifeline, coming together to form one agency - UnitingCare Ballarat
2015 Carolyn Barrie appointed as interim CEO
2016 October 3 saw UnitingCare Ballarat join with 21 other Uniting Church community service agencies to form a new single organisation across Victoria and Tasmania
OPPORTUNITY SHOPS
1974 Shop made available at Stone’s Corner Main Road, for Outreach funding
2000 Shops at Shepperd Street and Albert Street opened, with 80 volunteers
2004 Shop opening at Light Lounge, Dana Street; former Wesley Hall upper level
2015 Relocation of Shop from Shepperd Street to 1323 Howitt Street; reopened and re-branded as 'Restore'
HOUSING
1976 The Ballarat Central Uniting Church Congregation Outreach Service purchased a house (in Peake Street) as emergency accommodation for women and children seeking refuge
1979 A second house was made available by Housing Commission as a refuge. These were used by 40 families, including up to 160 children in the first year. All workers were volunteers
1986 3 emergency houses (maximum 6 weeks stay) and Peake House (3-6 month stay) assisted 200 family units. A caravan was purchased for emergency youth accommodation
2003 UnitingCare Ballarat holds management of 131 properties, including 2 rooming houses. Reid’s Guest House purchased, providing rooms for 50-60 people per night
2011 UnitingCare Ballarat became the entry point for Ballarat homelessness services, working with other agencies
2011 UnitingCare Ballarat holds management of 160 properties, and has assisted 6231 clients across multiple agencies
2016 Agency has 203 units of housing under its management, and provided 500 tenancies
LIFELINE
1971 Lifeline Ballarat established
1980 Lifeline extended its sphere of responsibility and influence into most of Western Victoria
1997 7903 crisis support telephone calls taken
2001 Service has over 100 volunteers. Lifeline 24 hour a day / 7 days a week service is in place
2003 10,000 crisis support telephone calls received within the year
2009 Lifeline Ballarat becomes part of Lifeline National, auspiced to UnitingCare Ballarat
DO CARE
1985 Do Care is commenced, - a one on one visiting program for lonely, housebound 'shut ins'
1989 A TeleLINK contact program began. Telephone contact and conversations are established between some Do Care clients
1996 Do Care services 230 clients. The program provides outreach visits for housebound clients assisting them to live longer in their own homes, providing social contact and reducing isolation
1998 Friendly Visiting Program commences. A fortnightly lunch held at the Queen Elizabeth Centre, with 60 clients enjoying good food and company
2005 Service expanded to provide the Friendly Visiting Program to Ararat’s residents
2016 Regular bus trips to country areas are a highlight for many older or supported clients in Ballarat. One on one visiting by volunteers continues to grow in Ararat
COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME (CVS)
1995 Commenced visiting lonely isolated clients in Residential Care. UnitingCare Outreach one of the first agencies to be involved, starting at Queen Elizabeth Centre and Kelaston, with 17 visitors
2005 Now visiting 15 Aged Care facilities, 1872 visits from 79 volunteer visitors
2015 Community Visiting Scheme celebrates 20 years with a large birthday celebration at Sunways
COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
1989 First community car purchased, servicing 96 clients in the first year with 466 trips primarily to medical appointments. Our clients are taken door to door by volunteers
1999 2000 Community Transport trips taking place per month, supported by 22 volunteers. A bus is added to the fleet. UnitingCare Ballarat is recognised as a leader in the state for its transport program
2003 Service expands to Ararat, with the purchase of one car and support of 10 volunteers
2016 4 cars on the road in Ballarat, 5 days a week, 51 weeks of the year. 30 volunteers drive frail, aged and people with disabilities to medical and social appointments. Ararat has 2 cars, and 15 volunteers, transporting clients to Melbourne, Ballarat and other areas for medical treatment and appointments
EMERGENCY RELIEF
1978 Financial assistance given to families from Shops surplus funds. Most client families dependent on benefits and seen by UnitingCare Ballarat if these payments disrupted
1988 4,400 appointments provided, primarily to single parent families / unemployed with an increase in teenage clients
1996 12,600 appointments provided, totalling $222,700 given in assistance
2006 Program supports 2,477 clients
2016 1,573 clients supported and 86 White Goods Loans approved
REACH OUT / FAMILY TIES PROGRAM
1992 Commenced for families experiencing hardship or crisis, providing support and material aid
1996 18 families supported in the program
2006 26 families supported
BREEZEWAY MEALS
1998 Service commenced, providing up to 25 meals per day
2000 45 meals served per day by 3 staff and 30 volunteers. 40,000 meals provided since Breezeway's inception
2006 More than 22,000 meals provided during the year
2011 80 meals per day being served, 365 days each year
2015 Upgrade/ refurbishment of Breezeway kitchen. 21,840 meals provided during the year
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG SERVICES
1999 Alcohol and Other Drugs Dual Diagnosis Tender successful
2001 Tabor House established as a youth withdrawal unit. 100 client admissions within first year of operation
2003 Prisoner Support Program begins, a service to clients in police cells, watch house, appearing in court. 109 clients supported.
2004 Relocated to purpose built Tabor House. Client average stay of 10.5 days, with primary drugs of concern being alcohol and cannabis
2016 182 clients supported, with primary drugs of concern being alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamines.
OUTREACH AUXILLIARY
Established to provide funds for Emergency Relief and make improvements to houses in the Housing Program. In later years when these were funded, they provided meat for Breezeway. This small group of hard working ladies organised specific functions, with the highlight being the ferry on Lake Wendouree, and several coffee parties. The Auxiliary disbanded in 2004.
CHRISTMAS AT UNITINGCARE BALLARAT
Christmas is a busy and important time of year at UnitingCare Ballarat. Our aim is to make it a happy and joyous time for people. For those who are struggling, Christmas can be a time of great stress, loneliness and financial hardship, with increased risk of personal debt.
Over the years, clients have told UnitingCare Ballarat staff that we have helped them to have a real Christmas celebration. We proudly distribute more than 700 Christmas hampers and vouchers, and more than 2000 toys.
This is made possible thanks to the hard work of the many people behind the 3BA Christmas Appeal and donations from our generous community members and long term corporate supporters, like St John of God Hospital staff and Target Ballarat.
UNITINGCARE BALLARAT AWARDS
2000 Victorian winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnership
2003 Ballarat Health Award – Best New Initiative – Tabor House Youth Withdrawal Unit
2009 CGU Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Award – Best Community Development, Not for Profit Award
2009 The Premier's Community Volunteering Awards, Victorian Regional Finalist
2009 ABC Radio’s Most Valued Volunteering Organisation in Rural Regional Victoria
2010 United Way Volunteer Recognition Awards, Community Group Award winner, and Corporate Group Award, and Breezeway Partnership with St John of God, Volunteer of the Year winner Kath Sanders
2011 Federal Government Recognising Volunteering program – Aged Prize for Volunteer Commitment
2012 IPAA Award Victoria’s Leadership in the Public Sector Award – Karrung Foyer – Innovation in Service Delivery Award