Travellers Aid Australia Update - October 2011

Travellers Aid Australia Update - October 2011

Look what you've helped to do!

Thanks to you, Travellers Aid Australia helped a record number of travellers in need in 2010-2011.

Your support really does make everyday travel possible for people who may otherwise not be able to enjoy the access to transport that others enjoy

In 2010-2011 you helped:

• Assist  travellers in need 209,000 times 
• Provide assistance to people who were facing crisis 11,541 times as part of our Emergency Relief program
• A total of 367 students get an education by giving them public transport tickets that allowed them to attend school through our Pathways to Education Program
• Get a 93% approval rating for our volunteers who assist clients using the Medical Companion Project.

Behind each and every one of these statistics is a person that we were able to provide dignified and practical travel support to thanks to your advice, assistance, funds or partnership. Your contribution is enormously appreciated.

To make a further easy and secure donation to Travellers Aid Australia visit our website on www.travellersaid.org.au/donate. Every dollar makes a difference when a simple travel ticket means that someone in crisis reaches somewhere safe. 

For more details about our performance in 2010-2011, read our Annual Report and other program reports at www.travellersaid.org.au/newsletters-publications.

Making a difference to people who need medical care

Our Medical Companion Project has had a real impact on the well-being and confidence of travellers coming to Melbourne for medical appointments.

Travellers Aid Australia's CEO Jodie Willmer recently spoke to Gaelle Broad on ABC Central Victoria's Breakfast program about how simple things like providing volunteers who accompany clients to and from their health appointments in Melbourne CBD has allowed people to take charge of their health. Have a listen to the radio interview here (Audio file, 3.5MB) or download the transcript here (Word, 80KB).

Since this interview aired, the numbers of clients assisted through the program has increased to over 200. This is a clear testament to the valuable contributions of our volunteers: people who give up their time and skill to help someone else.

Travellers Aid Australia is always on the look out for new volunteers for our programs. If you would like to provide a helping hand to a traveller in need, consider volunteering for our Medical Companion Project or our soon to be launched Job Start Travel Program. Visit www.travellersaid.org.au/become-volunteer for details.

Get involved. You really will make a difference.

Can you help someone like Dean* get to a place of support? 

This week is Anti-Poverty Week. It's a timely reminder for you and I to reflect on the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship in our communities. All too often as part of Travellers Aid Australia's Emergency Relief program, we hear stories of people resorting to crime or hardship simply because they have no food or place to stay.  Dean* presented at Travellers Aid Australia after exhausting all other avenues of support. 

Tired, thirsty, hungry and sleeping rough, Dean wanted to go back to his mother's place in Queensland before returning to Melbourne for a court case where he had been charged for stealing food that he could not afford to pay for. 

If Dean was not able to stay with his mother, the risk of his re-offending was high as he had nowhere to go to sleep or eat. Travellers Aid Australia's Emergency Relief Officer arranged for Dean to fly back to Queensland where he had the support he needed to be safe, warm and fed. 

At a later date when he was able, Dean voluntarily paid Travellers Aid Australia back a contribution to the cost of his travel as he was very grateful for our assistance.

Without our help, Dean's options were very limited. An important part of providing assistance to people facing poverty or hardship is getting them to a place of support so they are empowered to look after themselves.

If you would like to help Travellers Aid Australia help more people like Dean, please consider donating to our work via www.travellersaid.org.au/donate.

*names and identifying features have been changed to protect privacy.

Do you believe in Chaos Theory? 

It's real. Butterflies, hurricanes and all.  

We'll leave the science to the scientists. But if you ever doubted YOUR ability to make a difference, take note of the launch of Smart Auslan at the Chaffey Trail in Mildura. It's an example of human Chaos Theory in practise.

Deaf and hard of hearing Australians can now visit Australia's self-guided Mildura Chaffey Trail which has become fully accessible with the innovative use of smartphone technology and applications. Thanks to smartphones that scan Ouick Response (QR) codes, visitors touring the Mildura Chaffey Trail's nine hisitoric sites can display Auslan (Australian Sign Language) videos and caption translations of information for visitors. Mildura Rural City Council is the first council in Australia to use Smart Auslan.  

Why not join us in congratulating Mildura Rural City Council for taking a step in the right direction? While you do so, take a moment to reflect how the contributions of multiple different parties from organisations like yours, made this happen. See:

• The Victorian Tourism Industry Council held a Quarterly Forum on accessibility in June 2011.
• Travellers Aid Australia and other organisations including Travability and the National Sports Museum (who introduced Smart Auslan in their Museum), came together to present on inclusiveness on the day.
• A representative from Mildura Rural City Council attended the Forum, and was so inspired that as soon as she got back home, the Council got cracking on simple accessibility and inclusiveness initiatives! 

Four months later - here's one of the outcomes. Smart Auslan at the Mildura Chaffey Trail. Human chaos theory in action. 

So I encourage you to have faith. Faith that your actions can influence those of others. That you can choose to be the butterfly or the hurricane. Whatever you choose though, just remember that every step and every dollar can lead to change. And we’re here to help.

To explore ways that we can help you make your services or events more inclusive, contact Andrea at marketing@travellersid.org.au to discuss.

Come along and celebrate 95 years of Travellers Aid Australia

The President and Board of Travellers Aid Australia warmly invite you to attend our 95th Annual General meeting.

Facilitator: Mr John McKenna

When: Thursday 27 October 2011

Time: 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Where: Yarra Room, Level 2, Melbourne Town Hall, Corner of Collins and Swanston Streets, Melbourne

RSVP: 19 October 2011

Phone: (03) 9654 2600

Email: andrea@travellersaid.org.au

We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate 95 years of Travellers Aid Australia.

Refreshments will be provided. The venue is wheelchair accessible and Auslan interpreters will be available. Other assistance can also be provided on request, so when confirming your attendance please tell us if you require these or other supports. To help us ensure that your needs can be met, please tell us of your requirements by 19 October 2011.

We acknowledge the support provided by the City of Melbourne.

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