When Jess, a single mother of four, entered ANGLICARE she was relying solely on benefits from Centrelink and ANGLICARE’s Emergency Relief program for assistance with food and bills.
 
However this only gave Jess temporary relief. With a history of domestic violence and broken relationships, fear and anxiety hung over Jess and her family. Admitting to feeling that her life was “out of control”, with the help of a personal Case Manager, Jess started to take steps towards long-term independence.
 
What is not obvious from Jess’s story is that she has benefited from being part of a new program ANGLICARE is piloting in the Illawarra. Andrew Stratford, Manager of Community Care in Wollongong, says the new program works closely with people on the margins to build on their strengths and help them reach their God-given potential. We see this as an effective investment in doing good and showing God’s love to the community.

Jess is one of many young people in these circumstances. Providing Christian care means that as well as addressing immediate and urgent needs, we work with people to find lasting solutions. It also means that we treat everyone as a unique individual.

“The traditional model of Emergency Relief (ER), providing people with a food parcel or money, only addresses immediate needs. But the people who come to us for ER have complex needs that can’t be fixed quickly. So we work intensively with them to build their long-term self-sufficiency by making sure they access the right services and develop good decision-making skills”, says Andrew.

In Jess’s case, she suffers from depression and bipolar disorder. She struggled with everyday organisation. She found coping very stressful. Her daughters also suffer from depression and anxiety. With support from ANGLICARE, Jess attended counselling and took practical steps to become more organised and manage her health.

The Case Manager showed Jess other practical tips, like how to shop for a family and create order in the household while managing stress.
 
Jess was also facing eviction from her home. Her Case Manager helped her get financial counselling so Jess would be better able to pay her mortgage arrears and ultimately keep a house for her family.

Financial independence is a major goal for Jess, and getting a job after five years of being unemployed was key to achieving this stability. Jess’s Case Manager helped her develop a resume, gain interview skills and apply for jobs. Jess is now employed in a part-time position, which works perfectly around the needs of her children.

Jess takes great pride in her new job and feels she has more control over everyday living. Importantly, Jess can now see a future for herself and her family.

We can take heart from Jess’s story that providing long-term, integrated care does work. Jess’s story is not unique as there are many others who are moving from marginal to becoming vibrant active members of their local Christian communities.

Thank you for being part of ANGLICARE’s vision of lives changing and communities growing by care through Jesus Christ.