News

After 128 years, Berry Street Victoria has decided to move from its historical home in 1 Berry Street, East Melbourne.

President, Mary Clark, said "This was not an easy decision. However, given our expanded role in the Victorian community, we had simply 'outgrown' East Melbourne".

As the largest independent child and family welfare organisation in Victoria, Berry Street Victoria now helps more than 5,000 children, young people and families each year across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. The move is essential to ensure that Berry Street Victoria appropriately supports these services.

Berry Street Victoria is being advised by Charter Keck Cramer, specialists in property management. Any queries about the sale should be directed to real estate agents, Kliger Wood (telephone 03 9670 7777).



Read Aloud Summit

ELF Program encourages reading aloud to children The Australian Government's Read Aloud Summit was held in Sydney on 31 August and 1 September 2005.

The Summit focused on the importance of reading aloud to children aged 0-5 years. It highlighted the positive impact that reading aloud to very young children has on the development of literacy skills, positive school engagement and broader educational outcomes.

The Summit included presentations from read aloud programmes designed for the years prior to school, both internationally and nationally. These programs demonstrated good practice and innovation in early childhood learning.

Staff from Berry Street Victoria’s Hume Region presented the ELF - Early Learning is Fun™ program which is an early intervention model promoting the development of early literacy skills through reading, playing, singing and talking to children from birth.

ELF incorporates a whole of community approach to assist families to foster children’s early literacy by building the family’s capacity to create a positive learning environment for their young children.

The Summit was a wonderful opportunity for Berry Street Victoria to present our ELF program at a national level. It was very well received, generating interest from participants and other presenters and creating positive discussion and networking opportunities.

There was a strong commitment from participants at the summit to form a national reference group to consider the development of a national early literacy strategy in consultation with the Australian Government. Berry Street Victoria hopes to be represented on that group as it evolves.

For further information on Berry Street Victoria's ELF Program, please click here or contact Berry Street Victoria's Shepparton office on (03) 5821 0399.



Congratulations to our Manager of Southern Accommodation Services

The presentation of the Robin Clark Memorial Awards were made on 6 September 2005 by Minister Garbutt, as part of the formal launch of Child Protection Week. We were delighted that Pat Clinton, Manager of Southern Accommodation Services received a "Highly Commended" Award in the category of Making a Difference.

Congratulations to Pat on this fantastic public recognition of the work she has continues to undertake to improve the lives of many young people.

The nomination by her peers for this award evidences the high regard in which she is held.

Pat joined Berry Street over 13 years ago and has been an innovator of change and a mentor for many across the Residential Care area as well as the broader sector. She has remained a significant person in the lives of a number of young people well after they have left care.

Pat is a respected practitioner and a valued leader.



'Muse' Exhibition in the Eastbank Foyer Gallery, Shepparton.

Invitation

Works were completed by Berry Street Victoria's young people who are currently attending our Leaps & Bounds program in Shepparton.

Visual Arts is new to the Leaps and Bounds program. Since September 2004 students have had the opportunity to express themselves in areas such as Painting, Drawing, Photography, Sculpture and Printmaking.

This exhibition 'Muse' showed us the development of new ideas and experiences of young people. The work showed a drive to experiment and the development of concepts reflected by colour and application.

Muse 1 Muse 2 Muse 3



Muse 4 Muse 5




Finalist in Training Awards!

Berry Street Victoria was proud to be a finalist in the "Employer of the Year" Award at the Victorian Training Awards on Thursday 12th August 2004.

The Employer of the Year Award is given to an enterprise or organization which demonstrates outstanding commitment and achievements in the provision of employee training programs.

Berry Street Victoria was recognized for their broad approach to training and education and their incorporation of professional development and training opportunities, whereby staff are encouraged to increase their knowledge, skills, experience and competencies to achieve the best outcome for their clients.

In 2003, Berry Street Victoria won the Community Services and Health Industry Training Award Open Category: Employer Achievement in Creating a Learning Environment.



Apply for your free Ritchies Community Card, and benefit Berry Street Victoria!

When a Ritchies Community Benefit Card is scanned at the check-out register, a donation of 1% of money spent is allocated to charity chosen by its customers.

All you have to do is nominate Berry Street Victoria and present your free Ritchies Benefit Community Card to the cashier. The more supporters of Berry Street Victoria, the greater the size of the donation we will receive each month.

The card can be used at any Ritchies store and also gives you access to cheaper prices, as well as special discounts with selected businesses. If you haven't got a card yet, please ask at your nearest store and nominate Berry Street Victoria.



B.E.S.T Launch!


BEST Launch Photo
From Left: Judge Michael Strong, Rebecca, Viv White, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE FAA FRS, Sandie de Wolf at the B.E.S.T Centre Launch.

The B.E.S.T Centre was officially launched by Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal, Chairman of the Felton Bequests on Wednesday 17 March.

Over 100 guests attended the Launch, which also featured Rebecca Hart, who was formerly a client in Berry Street Victoria's Southern Services.

The Launch received terrific media coverage, including a story on Channel 10 news, ABC radio, a feature article in The Age and local media.



Take Two Launch

Take Two was officially launched by The Hon Sherryl Garbutt MP, Minister for Community Services on Wednesday 25 February at the Preston Office. Click here here for more information about Take Two.



Strategic Plan

Berry Street Victoria's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that from January to May 2004 we are embarking on a journey to develop a three year Strategic Plan for our organisation, along with an Operating Plan for the next financial year 2004/2005.

For more information click here or contact Prue Atkins on telephone 9429 9266.



Berry Street Victoria wins Training Board Award!

On Thursday 17 July 2003, Berry Street Victoria received the award for Open Category - Employer Achievement in Creating a Learning Environment at the Community Services & Health Industry Training Board Awards.

This is a tribute to everyone who is committed to our learning culture, particularly Chrisie Warren and Prue Atkins who presented our work to the judging panel.



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