CEO’ s Report
It is with great pleasure that I provide you with my first CEO’ s report for Fitzroy Learning Network’ s Annual report. Having not joined the organisation until April 2016, I am afraid I have missed much of the amazing achievements of our dedicated staff and volunteers during this reporting period. However, in reviewing the work undertaken, I am filled with a sense of optimism and excitement for our potential for the coming and future years.
Our relatively new Board has strived to ensure a solid framework to support the consolidation of programs and services. Programs and services designed to help build a stronger and more inclusive community. I am encouraged, as a newcomer, on the focus given by FLN to creating programs that respond to the needs of our multi-cultural, multi-lingual community.
The funding challenges during 2015-16 has not deterred the commitment of FLN to deliver a full suite of programs ranging from preaccredited foundation skills to nationally recognized certificated courses in spoken and written English. Our talented and skilled education team delivered basic and intermediate level computer courses, English reading groups, a‘ Step into Work’ job search program and even a Men’ s Shed program for local men with English as an additional language. We also attracted philanthropic funding to deliver an English for All program to support asylum seekers who may not have been eligible for government funded courses.
We were also very proud of the achievements of Rieth, Steven and Maluath from our Clubhouse who were presented with the Judges Award for Best Music Video ' Wild Beast ' at the Global RE @ CH Media Festival, an international showcase of work created by members from 100 different Clubhouses across the world. We wait in anticipation of more success with our new entry of a song called‘ Skating 4 Eva,’ created by the very talented rap group Girl Zone( featuring Achol, Nyawech, Zoe, Akuech and Atong). We are confident the girls will do well and look forward to more images of Fitzroy flying around the world.
Our volunteer program is one of our chief assets and contributes significantly to enabling us to meet the needs of individuals and the broader community. Volunteer contribution throughout the year has included one-to-one mentoring, classroom support, fund-raising, corporate volunteering and much, much more.
Our world is changing rapidly around us. As a result, our attitudes to our neighbours and our community are themselves being increasingly challenged. It is in times such as these that it is vital for organisations such as this one to play their role in building bridges, promoting respect and facilitating harmony.
I feel privileged to be in position to influence the future direction of Fitzroy Learning Network and to be able to help build on its history of responsiveness and innovation.
Our support for refugees and migrants experiencing additional barriers and disadvantage also continued throughout the year. FLN’ s Refugee Support Worker provided invaluable assistance and referral to those struggling with the process of settlement assisting with housing, legal, financial and family violence matters. We ran a weekly sewing group and delivered a very successful Jewelry-making course. These programs are important ways in which we can showcase and tap into the local refugee and migrant community’ s deep and rich reservoir of talent.
Our programs for young people have also expanded and achieved some impressive outcomes. Programs delivered included Djíng for young unemployed women, music and cooking. It was exciting to see our young people publish their original songs on Soundcloud and Bandcamp.
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