23-24 Impact Report

It is necessary that Baptist Care SA is both adaptable and strategic for the times we are living in today. The Board is cognisant of Baptist Care SA’s need for on-going financial sustainability to ensure the services it provides achieve the outcomes necessary for those we serve. We partnered with the Executive team and worked on various processes, which included our endorsement of Strategic Ambitions 2024 to 2027. 

Where our Mission defines our reason for being, and our Values shape our culture and behaviour, our Strategic Ambitions take the next step by defining what we will be known for, where we will grow, and how we will measure our success for the next three years. Strategic Ambitions ensures our focus is on areas that require attention and investment and reflects where we must excel to fulfil our strategic objectives and deliver our mission. Information in this impact statement is categorised into the defined measures for success.

On behalf of the Board, I extend deep gratitude to the Executive and our 900 plus team who, each day, bring their skills, knowledge and expertise along with their care and compassion. I would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our beautiful team of volunteers, without whose regular service we would not be able to do what we do. We acknowledge the significant contribution of the Baptist Care (SA) Foundation whose annual distribution assists us in many areas of our work and are grateful for their support and generosity.

As we reflect on the year past, we also look ahead to what opportunities may be before us in the knowledge that God remains faithful, and his loving kindness is everlasting. 

I encourage you to consider all the work of Baptist Care SA and trust you find encouragement, a sense of the certainty of hope and realise the difference we make in the lives of the people we serve.

Christine Partington

Chair, Baptist Care SA Board 

We know that there are a significant number of members of our community who are struggling at present; we have a cost-of-living crisis, a housing crisis and increasing levels of homelessness, domestic violence and substance abuse, just to name a few. The need for our services is greater than ever and the challenges of delivering those services are also greater than ever. Funding levels are not increasing in line with inflation or wage increases and donations are harder to attract, given the challenges our donors and community members face. However, we remain committed to our mission and the work that we do to serve others daily.

In Luke 10: 27, Jesus states “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as yourself.” Baptist Care SA’s neighbours are our clients and team members and those we interact with daily. In expressing God’s love and compassion in all that we do, we are committed to fulfilling our mission of journeying with people, especially those at risk or marginalised, toward their full potential. 

To ensure we continue to fulfil our mission, during the year we introduced our Strategic Ambitions for 2024 to 2027— a set of directions to guide our decision-making and focus our operations for the next three years. In developing the ambitions, we identified the need to grow partnerships with organisations who share our purpose and find strength in shared solutions. Partnerships are key to how we continue to deliver our mission and serve others into the future in a complex and challenging landscape. 

During the year we were privileged to commence a partnership utilising our site in Wright Street in the city to create safe housing for women experiencing homelessness. Wright Place was established, in partnership with The Towards Home Alliance to serve as a stepping- stone toward positive housing outcomes and a brighter future. In in a Baptist Care SA building, this women-only crisis accommodation program provides tenancy management, case management and on-site support. Here we have welcomed women who for a variety of reasons have found themselves without a safe place to call home. Each woman has a different trauma story, yet they all share a common need for a safe place and a supportive environment to process challenges and regain independence. In supporting these women to gain ongoing housing we have achieved remarkable housing outcomes. In bringing them together as neighbours, we saw strong bonds of friendship form through their unique ability to support and heal each other.

To support greater opportunities for people with disability to live independently, we entered into a partnership with Supported Disability Accommodation provider, Adenium Living. The partnership will see Adenium Living build fully accessible, robust housing and Baptist Care SA provide Supported Independent Living services. It will provide increased opportunities for people living with a disability to enjoy safe and comfortable housing that has been designed to specifically suit their unique needs.

Another key strategic ambition is to continue creating restorative relationships and connecting people with their communities, families and themselves. Our Tumbelin Farm program is one example of how we demonstrate this ambition. Tumbelin Farm is where we deliver our residential adventure therapy program, supporting young people to overcome alcohol and drug issues while performing farm work, engaging in counselling and participating in adventure activities such as rock climbing, kayaking and camping. We have many positive stories of young people who have completed the program expressing their changed views on healthy relationships, appropriate boundaries and the importance of being authentic, honest and vulnerable in relationships.

In another example, a young primary school student who was experiencing significant frustration and sadness was referred to us for counselling by her school who said the student was struggling to get along with their friends and had difficulty regulating their emotions. For six months, we partnered with the student, the school and the student’s community of care to increase their social skills and cultivate coping thoughts while building a growth mindset towards learning. With support and encouragement, the student managed to develop a positive attitude and build self-esteem that led to them engaging with their learning and developing positive relationships.  

We are committed to Closing the Gap, and we desire to develop purposeful working partnerships with Aboriginal people which will enable us to become a more culturally responsive organisation and deliver better outcomes for our Aboriginal clients. We are thankful for our Aboriginal staff and leaders who continue to guide and support us in the development of our Cultural Action Plan. This year, three Aboriginal women led Wardli-ana, our service for Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness, with each stepping into their roles to engage and support each client and family with energy and passion. As members of families and communities experiencing low housing outcomes, it is important to acknowledge the responsibility these women bear to deliver services and acknowledge that their love and humour are a source of inspiration for us all. 

The work we do is challenging— the days are long, and the commitment is significant. Yet at the same time, it is immensely rewarding. I feel so privileged to lead an amazing team of around 900 dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers who give daily to positively impact the lives of others. And I am especially thankful for the support of the Executive and leadership who work tirelessly to advance our mission and to be there to serve those who are our neighbours.

Sue Raw

CEO Baptist Care SA