Report to the Community

2011-2012
FOREWORD
I am constantly amazed and delighted at the passion and energy people commit to those in need. Those needs arise out of some of the worst conditions and circumstances imaginable. ASeTTS plays an important role in helping the survivors of torture and trauma rebuild their lives. We are indeed fortunate to live in a country where it is possible to do this. The scale and scope of the humanitarian needs in the world at this time can escape those living safe and secure lives. The year 2011 was a record year for forced displacements around the world. According to the UNHCR, 2011 ended with 42.5 million people worldwide as refugees, displaced or seeking asylum. For most people this is incomprehensible what does that look like? What does it feel like? How are peoples lives changed? No matter the local political complexities or nuances, my commitment to human rights and that same commitment from all the people playing a part at ASeTTS, means that we provide meaningful support and services to those people who have endured a torturous journey. ASeTTS has grown in this year, and we have seen demand for services to those asylum seekers who arrive on our shores increase markedly. The financial position of ASeTTS is solid, and provides confidence that we can continue to help people rebuild their lives, even as the political climate changes and new issues arise. I trust that you will join me in commending the work done by all those who form a part of the fabric that is ASeTTS the clients, the staff, the volunteers, the Board and members. I look forward to seeing the leadership, inclusiveness and respect for dignity of each client making a real difference.

FROM THE CHAIR

As I reflect on the past 12 months, I am inspired by the energy and commitment of all who contribute to achievement of ASeTTS mission of providing holistic services that assist refugee survivors of torture and trauma. The challenge is to ensure the flexibility and resources to adapt to the changing nature of our clients, in a challenging and negative policy environment. Providing an excellent service requires secure finances, which has been achieved by the efforts of the Board and staff in 2011/12. We can better respond to client needs and fund the commitment to low paid workers in the NFP sector. Strengthening governance also continues to be a priority with a subcommittee being formed to complement the work of United Voices by increasing opportunities for client input and feedback In November 2011, a review was commissioned into the culture and operations of ASeTTS. Priority areas are alignment of budgets, work plans and practice to mission, values and strategic directions, better alignment of structures and positions with client and organisational needs, revitalisation of the training function, sound financial processes, improved communication and strengthened quality assurance. Significant progress has been made to improving financial processes, contract alignment and contract security as well as the expansion of the detention services and collaborative relationships with agencies. The remaining priorities are in progress. I extend appreciation to Michael Jones who stepped into the Acting CEO role on short notice in January. He was subsequently appointed to the CEO position in July. Already, Michael has played a leading role with FASSTT in negotiating with funding agencies. I also acknowledge my colleagues for the commitment and the expertise that they bring to the Board. In particular, thanks outgoing members Udo Schutze and Dr Lucy Morris for their significant contributions. Finally, I thank all staff and volunteers for their continuing and invaluable contributions. Their ongoing commitment to the values and work of the Association has contributed significantly to the high regard in which ASeTTS is held by its clients, funding bodies and the wider community. Norma Jeffery, Chairperson

Janet Holmes Court Patron

Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors Inc

Address 286 Beaufort Street Perth WA 6000 | Phone 9227 2700 | Fax 9227 2777 Email reception@asetts.org.au | Web www.asetts.org.au | ABN 83 460 231 835

CEOS REPORT
The financial year 2011/12 has seen ASeTTS face the dual challenge of staff movements and rapid growth in services. It is a testament to the commitment of the staff of ASeTTS that the needs of clients continued to be paramount during the year and that new staff were able to join the team and be welcomed. As of 30 June 2012 ASeTTS employed 53 staff (equivalent to 41.6 full-time); we are becoming less and less a small organisation. One of the issues of growing is the need to be flexible and adaptable. Financially ASeTTS finished the year with income of $4,817,665 which generated a surplus of $624,872. Our retained earnings (less reserves) now amount to $1,218,929. This is equivalent to 2 months of operations plus staff entitlements. As a member of the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT), ASeTTS has played a significant role in initiatives including national data standards and referral protocols. I have been involved in the negotiation of contracts for the provision of services in detention settings with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and other FASSTT agencies and made contributions to agreements on the distribution of funding for the Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT). On the activity front we have met the requirements of all of our contracts but some challenges continue to arise. Asylum seekers who are in immigration detention centres pose a particular challenge in that referral rates for detainees are higher the longer the period in detention. Additionally, as Australias humanitarian intake is capped, the proportion of humanitarian entrants coming from on-shore arrivals (irregular maritime arrivals) is now influencing the demography of the settlement program overall. Our mission is to help survivors of torture and trauma who settle here in Australia rebuild their lives. This is not an easy task. How this happens, is not necessarily well understood by the broader community. The members, the Board and the staff of ASeTTS have demonstrated their commitment and resolve to the rebuilding of lives affected by torture and trauma and I look forward to working in support of that mission in the years ahead.

TREASURERS REPORT
In 2011, we projected that 2012 would be a year of substantial growth for ASeTTS and I am pleased to be able to report that this projection has been realised and that ASeTTS has been able to end the year with a net surplus of $539,232 after allocation of reserves for 2011/12. The two key areas of projected growth for the business were in realising the full year impact of the PASTT Contract and in the growth in services to WA based Detention Centres. These were projected to provide a surplus this year of $488,941 and we have been able to improve on this projection in terms of our final results. Programme performance remained steady during the year with contracted programmes breaking even. A revision of the PASTT agreement in 2010/11 resulted in an increase in contracted funding for activity that had previously come from fee for service arrangements. Fee for service income grew during the year as a consequence of our continued work in the remote detention centres providing counselling support to those asylum seekers who have suffered the impacts of torture and trauma. The continuing growth in demand for these services as a consequence of boat arrivals has contributed significantly to our performance this year. The strong financial performance has resulted in a strengthening of ASeTTS Balance Sheet at the end of the year with Net Assets $623,871 higher than 2011/12. Of this increase, $522,611 is additional cash holdings and the balance a net increase in ongoing debtors and creditors. Aware of the short term nature of many of our contracts, ASeTTS has taken advantage of this years strong position to increase reserve funding available to pay future redundancies as a contingency should contract levels fall in future years. Liquidity remains good with $2.60 ($2.46:2010/11) of current assets available to fund every $1.00 of the Associations short term obligations, marginally better than last year and well above an accepted short term liquidity ratio of 1:1. Cash holdings grew significantly over the year with the Association ending the year with $1,774,582 held in cash and cash equivalents, $522,611 better than this time last year. These funds continue to be held primarily in a high interest bank investment account. The resultant performance for 2011/12 has again left the agency in a strong financial position as it moves into the new financial year. Kenny Annand (FCIMA) Treasurer

Michael Jones, Chief Executive Officer

More than 876,000 people submitted individual claims for asylum or refugee status in 2011(Amnesty International)

Phone: 9227 2700 | Email: reception@asetts.org.au | Web: www.asetts.org.au

2011/12 IN SUMMARY

This period has seen significant changes in the pattern of work done by the staff of ASeTTS. The number of clients has again grown and now exceeds 2,000. We have also seen an expansion in the scale of the services we provide to asylum seekers. New programs have also commenced in our community domain. Over the year there has also been the need to recruit staff in all areas of the association. New and Growing Programs 2011/12 was the first full year of the Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) being contracted and managed under the auspices of the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). ASeTTS had nominated targets for the program for the year and exceeded all targets (e.g. 772 clients compared to a target of 680). Growth in the number of clients participating in groups (from 66 in 2010/11 to 328 in 2011/12), an increase in our reach to outside organizations (training provided to 9 organisations in 2010/11 to 21 organisations in 2011/12) all contributed to a busy year. The commitment of the staff of ASeTTS was clearly evident in meeting this demand for services. The Healthy Relationships for African Families (HRAF) program received funding from both the Departments of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and enhanced the ability of our Community Services to deliver relevant programs to our African communities. ASeTTS was also successful in this period in securing funding for 3 years from the Western Australian State

Governments Ethic Organisations Fund for a Family Links and Connections (FLAC) program which has children at its heart and is designed to work across other, different programs closing gaps and creating linkages. The year also saw significant growth in services to asylum seekers. For the year ASeTTS had 654 asylum seeking clients. This saw the growth of our staff working in detention centres grow from a high of 5 in the 2010/11 year to a high of 11 in 2011/12. Client Origins 2011/12 has seen the flow of significant numbers of clients into the humanitarian settlement programs from on-shore processing, i.e. clients previously in immigration detention. 2010/11 saw 67 referrals of this type and this increased to 276 for 2011/12. Changes in the ethnic profile of these referrals compared to the overall profile of our clients will increasingly influence the provision of some programs. Over the year we have seen an increase in the number of clients from Iran and a decrease in the numbers from Myanmar and Sudan. This is being driven by the profile of the irregular maritime arrivals that go on to on-shore processing. Afghanistan dominates our workload within immigration detention (51% of clients). ASeTTS continues to provide services to clients and communities who have endured more than most people can imagine. The year has been challenging and the efforts and dedication of the staff who make it happen cannot be underestimated.

Before the war my life was like a vase that was then broken when the war came, never to be repaired. But instead of trying to mend the vase, so that it looked like it did in the past, it can be made into a mosaic, which is still beautiful.
Client describing the effect of counselling For more information on ASeTTS: www.asetts.org.au www.facebook.com/asetts www.asetts.org.au/newsletter reception@asetts.org.au

To refer a client: http://www.asetts.org.au/referral

SERVICES AT ASeTTS
Counselling to assist with the effects of torture and trauma on individuals, couples, families, children and groups Community support for new and emerging community groups Assistance for families in transition Assistance for children in transition Couples and relationship counselling and support Playgroup for newly arrived families Womens support group Support for youth at risk of homelessness in the northern suburbs of Perth Food and nutrition advice and support for newly arrived families Volunteer programme (Project Connect) to assist refugee families and individual Information and education on refugee issues, particularly around the effects of torture and trauma Support for African families and communities for healthy relationships ASeTTS is a key member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture (IRCT) and of the Forum for Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT). These networks provide the guidance and professional recognition for the work we do and underpins the holistic approach to the treatments and services developed. ASeTTS operates a continuous improvement process in order to meet the standards for delivery of FASSTT agencies (the FASSTT standards) and to meet the National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010 in Australia. The programme for quality assurance is an ongoing commitment to service excellence and underpins the Associations strategic objectives and plans.

ASeTTS PARTNERS
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA)

Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) Western Australian Department of Health (Mental Health Commission) Relationships Australia The Smith Family St John of God Trust The May Trust The United Nations Office of Multicultural Interests (WA) North Metropolitan Area Health Service And the many donors and volunteers who support our work, without whom, ASeTTS would struggle to meet the increasing demand for help.

I feel much better. I still have flashbacks but have learnt to cope better.
~ Mens Group Participant

Full annual report available from www.asetts.org.au/publications