About Anchor

Anchor has evolved from local churches in the Outer Eastern Region of Melbourne and their communities since 1989 when the need to support and assist children and young people facing homelessness and those in need of foster care in the region was recognised.

Community volunteers served on the various committees and Boards of Management and others opened their homes and hearts to those in need.  They provided the building blocks and cornerstones for the current Anchor, formed in 2002, after amalgamations and mergers of these smaller community organisations.  They started with minimal Government funding and relied heavily on the support of local churches and the generosity of the wider community.

The formation of Anchor ensured streamlined, viable services by qualified teams of professional, dedicated staff committed to reducing the impact of homelessness in our community and the provision of safe environments for children.  Anchor retains strong connections to Christian churches in the Outer East, however Anchor's services are available to individuals and families from every ethnic and religious background.  Anchor's area of support covers the Cities of Knox and Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.

On average, Anchor supports 75 children in foster care per year.  Each week, Anchor Community Care has initial contacts with up to 120 clients (not including accompanying children) who face homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. Communitiy Care averages 114 crisis contacts per month.

History Timeline

1989
A group of Uniting Churches in the Yarra Valley recognised the need for emergency accommodation assistance for homeless people and those in danger of becoming homeless. They formed the Upper Yarra and Lilydale Emergency Accommodation Program (UYLEAP). Concurrently, the Lilydale Baptist Church and Mount Evelyn Reformed Church were running Teamcare or MECCA (Mt. Evelyn Community Christian Care). This program assisted adolescents experiencing difficulties living at home.

1993
The Supported Housing Advocacy and Care Program (SHAC) in Ferntree Gully, auspiced by the Baptist Union, became an independent incorporated body. Their initial program was to find housing for homeless youth with volunteers but their work expanded to supporting babies and children, many referred by Government departments.

1994
ULEAP and MECCA amalgamated under one management structure and changed name to Yarra Ranges Community Christian Care (YRCCC).

2001
SHAC amalgamated with YRCCC to develop a wider service under one management structure.

2002
SHAC and YRCCC became Anchor. with Anchor Foster Care services based in Ferntree Gully and Anchor Community Care operating from Lilydale.

2003
Knox Community Support Services (KCSS) and Anchor amalgamated on 1 July to deliver services to those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in the Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR). KCSS was primarily a SAAP funded organisation, managed by a committee of management.  A Family Reconciliation Program provided short to medium term counselling for families with young people between the ages of 13-20 years to resolve past and present problems and assist in rebuilding relationships impacting on their ability to remain at home. KCSS was successful in attracting funding for individual projects including a Bali Response project on behalf of Knox City Council and an investigation into the risk and levels of homelessness in people over the age of 65 in the City of Knox.

2005
The Knox and Lilydale Supported Accommodation Assistance Program moved to co-locate at 7-9 John Street Lilydale bringing SAAP homeless services under one roof.

2006
Anchor Foster Care relocated to Knox O-Zone in Capital Boulevard, Wantirna South. Support was extended to children from 0-18 years.

2009
Anchor Head Office moved to the Wantirna South site. 

Our Vision, Our Mission

Our Vision

To significantly reduce the impact of homelessness in our community. To provide a safe home environment for children.

Our Mission

Anchor and the community, a partnership in progress, proactively supporting safe, healthy and caring communities. 

• Through dedicated, caring staff and supporters, identification of initiatives that will provide healthy and safe communities 
• Proactively listen, support, lead and advocate for those we support 
• Work in close collaboration with the community, fostering a real sense of connection '
• Ensure transparent, accountable open business principles '
• Direct maximum resources to our clients

Privacy and Client Records

Anchor upholds the unequivocal rights to privacy of every client and Anchor foster carers. Personal information, including record keeping, is managed in ways that protect the privacy of individuals and families but which allows them personal access in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000.

At all times, Anchor honours the values, the spirit and intent of State and Federal Government legislation including:

• Information Privacy Act 2000,
• Working with Children Act 2005
• Working with Children Regulations 2006 
• Health Records Act 2001
• Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) Standards 
• Children and Young Person's Act 2005 (gazetted in April 2005, Incorporating amendments at 2 January 2007)
  

Anchor staff commit to a professional code of ethics that guide the values, behaviours and practises of all dealings with Anchor clients and other organisations.

Advocacy

Anchor strongly supports improved legal and personal protections, funding and educational campaigns that extend awareness of the issues around child and foster care and homelessness.  This includes support for increased funding and additional programs and resources.

Anchor is a member of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Inc, the peak body for advocacy on issues around foster care and homelessness in Victoria. Specific information on current advocacy, 'hot topics' and training is available through their News/Current Events link on www.cwav.asn.au

Anchor's current concerns include:

• 'The urgent need for increased funding for all programs in particular, the unfounded Front Door project hosted by the Department of Human Services.
• Resolution of the travel zoning discrepancy that sees homeless clients in outer lying areas such as Healesville and Warburton classified as living out of metropolitan area for travel reimbursements but in the metropolitan area for residential zoning purposes, disadvantaging the clients.
• The refusal of Centrelink to make payments to clients relocating near their families when the families live in areas not classified as eligible to receive Centrelink payments.

To find out more about Anchor, including ways to help, telephone 61-3-9801-1999 or email fostercare@anchor.org.au