In a year defined by immense challenges, positive client outcomes stand out in Centacare’s Annual Report 2019-2020.

Published today, the report explores the many ways staff responded to COVID-19, and the creativity and innovation it spawned across service delivery.

“With everyone playing their part, and the professionalism and resilience of each staff member in combination, we met the challenge of the disruption and found innovative ways to continue the support of our clients,” writes Director Dale West in the report.

Centacare supported 34,259 clients during the reporting period – up from 25,284 the previous year – with 565 staff delivering $52.6 million in programs across 34 sites in regional and metropolitan South Australia.

The biggest client growth was recorded by Corporate Services, with NDIS Plan Management increasing by 635 per cent, from 37 clients in 2018-2019 to 272 clients in the last financial year.

We welcomed nearly 100 new faces when Northern Carers Network joined forces with Centacare in the New Year.

This brought new areas of service delivery to our organisation including carer support and home care for aged care, and enabled Centacare to widen the reach of existing services such as NDIS Support Coordination.

Other achievements highlighted in the report include:

• The launch of important research into vicarious trauma, which was commissioned by Centacare and undertaken by UniSA’s The Australian Alliance for Social Enterprise. The research recognises the strength workers take from client stories, and how small wins inspire hope, resilience, self-worth and a sense of purpose.
• The 10^th anniversary of the Targeted Intervention Service, which has supported more than 1862 children and 832 families over the past decade.
• How Sanctus House is helping Disability Services clients including Chris Young to push their own boundaries and build confidence.
• Centacare’s success in reunifying adolescents in long-term out-of-home care with their birth families.
• The trauma response provided by ACCESS Programs on Kangaroo Island in the wake of the devastating bushfires.
• The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme’s role in boosting the capacity of regional communities to keep at-risk families safe.
• The role of traditional stories in shaping our understanding of Aboriginal culture, as highlighted in our Spirit of the Land campaign held during National Reconciliation Week.
• National infant and child mental health body Emerging Minds sharing the wisdom of Centacare practitioners Australia-wide through key practice and digital projects.
• The extraordinary efforts of Centacare foster carers in providing safety and stability to children and young people.

Download or read the report HERE.