Presbyterian Support New Zealand

<typohead type="2">Report</typohead>

<typohead type="3">1. Summary</typohead>

Our relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New

What we are doing together

Current issues and challenges

What can we do?

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<typohead type="3">2.Our relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa </typohead>

2.1 Presbyterian Support is part of the broad Presbyterian movement within . We share the Presbyterian history and ethos, and this forms the basis of our work.

2.2 Presbyterian Support has seven autonomous regional organisations and a history of over a century of work. We are very aware of the strong link we have with the Presbyterian Church. Socially aware Presbyterians started our organisations, and have maintained them through many changes in both church and society.

2.3 We wish to affirm today our commitment to being a part of the Presbyterian tradition within this country. Both the Church and Presbyterian Support will continue to change and adapt, as we both work together for positive change in society and within individual lives.

2.4 Our formal links are through the Presbytery representatives on the Boards of Presbyterian support. This gives the Church a voice in the governance of our work. This is a critical and important role as the boards set the policies which provide the framework for our service delivery.

2.5 We would like to take the opportunity to thank presbyteries, parishes and individual families for your continued support of our work. In particular we would like to thank the many volunteers from parishes who participate in our work throughout . Many of our programmes would not be able to operate without these dedicated people who give time from busy lives to offer skill and compassion.

<typohead type="3">3.What we are doing together</typohead>

3.1 Collectively the seven Presbyterian Support organisations are one of the largest providers of a range of social services in . We work with older people, people with disabilities, families at risk and young people. Services we provide include: residential care, home care, community care, day programmes, social work support, counselling, employment programmes, education, foster care, support for parents, mentoring, food banks, welfare, advocacy and advice.

3.2 Presbyterian Support funds these services through government contracts, bequests, donations, grants, sponsorship, investments, and client fee for service. Obtaining regular and ongoing funding remains a key challenge to enable the delivery of consistent and effective services.

3.3 In total, approximately $120 million per year is spent on services delivered from over 100 sites, with around 3,800 staff. Presbyterian Support also has over 1000 volunteers helping in the day to day delivery of services.

3.4 As one of the largest non government social service providers in , Presbyterian Support is fairly well informed about what is happening to groups of people in our society. Presbyterian Support has a role in trying to shape the socio-economic environment in which people live and within which we deliver services. We do this through advocacy, research and policy development at a regional and at a national level.

<typohead type="3">4.Current issues and challenges</typohead>

4.1Here are some of the issues we are dealing with as we work together to provide social services in our communities:

There is a rapidly changing policy and service delivery environment in work with children and families. Government agencies such as the Department of Child Youth and Family and Ministry of Social Development are redefining their roles. This is creating different opportunities and challenges for Presbyterian Support both in preventive areas and in work with families in crisis. Choices will need to be made in the near future about the level of high risk ?statutory´ work we should do. Partnerships and collaborative work with Government agencies and other non government organisations and iwi groups are more common. Our main strengths are our ability to ensure our clients´ voices are reflected in development of policy and services; and our reputation as a provider of effective services throughout the country.

Presbyterian Support is probably most well known for its rest homes and hospitals, and we remain one of the largest providers of this service in . Two of our regional organisations have made the shift from residential to community care. In addition to this, we also have a range of community programmes and services for older people in the community. Remaining in this area of service, and adapting what we provide to meet older people´s needs is one of the biggest challenges we face. Presbyterian Support pioneered residential care in . Rest homes and hospitals will continue to be required by some, and the challenge now is to build in ways to ensure people don´t have to enter this type of care if they are capable of, and want to stay in their own home. The government strategy of Health of Older People considers this. We are involved with a pilot programme underway in two regions and there are many other initiatives in our services to provide for Positive Ageing. There is a need to make representation to government for increased funding in this area which matches the expectations as outlined in their strategy. Work is underway to negotiate this at a number of levels.

Overall issue of decentralisation of funding and co-ordination is both an opportunity and challenge as we look at new models of service delivery for older people in the community that has some national consistency and local innovation.

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4.2 Increasingly, our services are strength based in that we work with people of all ages to assist them to develop the strength they need to improve their lives. In this way, we make lasting differences. It is very much a ?hand up´ not a ?hand out´ approach.

5.1 As we move forward and face some old and some new challenges as an organisation, we value and need your assistance.

5.2 Firstly of course, we need financial support. Presbyterians have been generous supporters of our social services in the past and we look forward to, and greatly appreciate, continued support.

5.3 Secondly, we need your continued prayers. The delivery of social services today is hard work. Our Boards and managers face large and often difficult decisions. Our front line staff are at the cutting edge of hardship, pain and human frailty every day. It helps to know that people are praying for and supporting us.

5.4 Thirdly, we need your time. We need good people to assist us, as volunteers, and especially to serve on our Boards. We need people who have compassion, a heart for what we do, but who also have the business acumen, wisdom and experience to make big decisions.

5.5 There are many challenges ahead for Presbyterian Support, but with your support, we look forward to facing them and to making a difference.

Maria McDonald
Executive Officer

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Presbyterian Support New Zealand