Our impact
This year BSL, together with our Community of Practice partners, achieved many important outcomes for people experiencing disadvantage.
The following represents just a few examples of what we have achieved in the 2021 financial year in directly supporting people experiencing disadvantage.
Key outcomes
- Sumner House
- We repurposed our Sumner House facility to support people experiencing homelessness.
- From April 2020 - 30 June 2021, we supported 207 residents in total, 52 of whom were COVID-19 positive.
- 14 former residents are now permanently housed, whilst others are engaged with supports to achieve this goal.
- Youth
- 905 young people participated in the Transition to Work program.
- 117 young people accommodated in our three Education First Youth Foyers, 109 of which were engaged in education and 79 were engaged in employment.
- 120 Students were enrolled at the David Scott School in the 2020 school year.
- 94% of Year 12 students completed their schooling and were awarded their senior VCAL certificate.
- Working for Victoria (WFV) Program
- Established a surge capacity of 102 staff to help with COVID-19 response.
- 50% recruited were from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- 35% were from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
- 74% believed they improved the skills required to be hired into their next role.
- 46% transitioned to either extended short term or permanent roles within BSL.
- 25% secured employment elsewhere at the conclusion of the program.
- Energy
- With our partners, we assisted over 5,000 households to address energy-related hardship or claim the $250 Power Saving Bonus.
- Estimated bill savings or grants totalled over $1,622,800.
- Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY)
- 3,970 families in 100 communities participated in HIPPY, delivered in partnership with 65 local providers.
- Aged Care
- Served 1,200 Home Care Package recipients.
- Provided in-home support to 1,800 households.
- Provided 113,600 hours of Social and Respite care to 400 clients.
- 129 residents supported in residential aged care across the financial year.
- Employment Programs for adults
- Assisted 2,615 people through our employment services and migrant women’s enterprise initiative.
- NDIS
- Supported 30,991 people with disability to access mainstream services and/or develop a funded plan.
- Supported 10,661 children aged 0-6 years and families through early intervention and access to funded supports and/or linked to community services.
- We participated in 1,315 community capacity building and engagement activities.
- Financial wellbeing
- With our partners, 5,809 participants were assisted to develop savings habits and collectively save $2,157,639 through SaverPlus.
- Volunteers
- 1,756 volunteers supported BSL.
- 240 volunteers transitioned to virtual volunteering.
- Policy submissions and publications
- Our Research and Policy Centre produced 21 policy submissions and 28 publications.