SpringAnnual Report

2018 – 2019

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri Willum People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and learn, and pay our respects to their Elders, past present and emerging.

Contents Chairperson’s Report 1

Manager’s Report 2

Creeds Farm Community Garden Group 4

Creeds Farm Homework Club 5

Financial Statements 6

Chairperson’s Report 2019 This is my third Chairperson’s Report for Creeds Farm and the last 12 months for our committee has been an exciting one. The key driver for all our decisions has been to improve the engagement and connections with our local, diverse and vibrant community.

As such, earlier this year, the committee approved the position of community development worker as an ongoing one, to enable a permanent and continued focus on strengthening these connections.

So far, this decision has been a successful one, with the drafting our Creeds Farm Community Engagement Plan, which will inform, over the coming months, our Strategic Plan.

Council funding has enabled us to continue and expand our extremely successful Women’s Group, now meeting fortnightly, and providing a place for local women to meet, connect, learn and create.

The Creeds Homework Club also continues to grow, offering free, volunteer-supervised sessions for local primary and secondary students.

Creeds Farm was built in 2011, under the Greener Houses Initiative, so we foster sustainability stewardship and practices. We auspice our thriving community garden, and the shaded trellis constructed last year (with the support of federal funding from Andrew Giles office) is providing a wonderful place for people to grow, meet and eat.

Creeds Farm is in a strong and stable financial position, boosted by our Manager’s continued profiling of our Centre, with community usage over the last 12 months increasing to over 80%.

In the spirit of sharing, I have decided to step down from my role as Chairperson; to open-up the position for renewed focus, vision and energy.

So, I send out a final shout out to everyone that supported me and the committee to in turn support Creeds Farm in its community achievements. Thank you to our funders and partners, to our amazing volunteers, to our staff and of course, to our local community who visit and use our beautiful Centre.

Kathryn Jenkins Chairperson (outgoing) Creeds Farm Living & Learning Centre

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Manager’s ReportMany people contributed to making the year positive and eventful for Creeds Farm. I’d like to thank:

Committee of Management membersPresident — Kathryn Jenkins, Secretary 2018-19 — Adrian Spinelli, current Secretary — Christina DiPierdomenico, Treasurer — Malcolm Shimmins and General Members Gurinder Kaur, and Jo Lee. From 25 June 2019 Ananya Desai joined as a General Member and Milena Schaedler as Treasurer.

Staff, Project Workers and ContractorsWe couldn’t operate without our staff and I’d like to thank employees and contractors for their contributions to Creeds Farm.

Accounting and IT — Peter Drinan

Community Development Workers — Angie Davidson, Areste Pompetti and Isabella Deluca

Youth Gamers Project Worker — Adel Ayoubi

Palletable Project Worker — Michelle Newton

Homework Club Facilitator — Judy Stafford

Cleaners — Sam and Silvia

Volunteers and StudentsAlong with our voluntary Committee of Management members, other volunteers and students on placement enable us to provide a wide range of community programs.

Homework Club — Gursharan Chahal, Paveena Guduru, Amy Fredricksen, Paola Sanabria and Christina Chattertee

Students — Isabella Deluca (Social Work MA), Latrobe University Public Health students Jemima and Semhal

Funding CampaignsA Victoria wide campaign by neighbourhood houses resulted in an increase to our state government funding from 20 staffed hours per week to 25 hours. Efforts by Creeds Farm and other neighbourhood houses in Whittlesea lead to a council decision to increase our recurrent funding by $10,000 per year from 2019/20.

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Project Grants Project grants have made a significant contribution to our work this year. They include:

Victorian government

A new dishwasher and a large screen movie system.

Federal government

Our Community Garden shade structure was opened in August by Andrew Giles MP (and thank you to his office who were key in getting the grant for the project).

Volunteers Grant for a defibrillator, garden tools and IT equipment.

Council Community Development Grants

Palletable Project — workshops around Whittlesea and a competition which re-purposed pallets which otherwise go to landfill.

Hope and Faith anxiety and depression self-help project — improved social connectedness and first aid training.

Youth Gamers program — provided a safe place for young people to enjoy social computer gaming on Friday nights.

Corporate

The Lendlease Seedling Fund grant supported our Coder Dojo group with IT equipment and catering.

Another highlight of the year included the West Papua Youth Project by True Culture, a local Indigenous company. It was a program of cultural support and sharing between Aboriginal and Indigenous West Papuan young people.

Programs and Hirers

It’s wonderful that so many people who use Creeds Farm have done so over many years, and to see the diverse range of programs and uses for Creeds.

Activities that continued on from 2017-18 into 2018-19 include: All Dance Kinda Dance, Sew Happy craft group, Indian Classical Dance, Employease disability and aged care certificate courses, council’s Come Dance adult classes, Whittlesea Community Connections Arabic Speaking Women’s Group, Khalsa Education Society, Donna Fitness, Nathan Elijah Yoga, Alraja Language School, Coder Dojo, My Grace Christian Community Church, Sri Lankan Junior Dance and Seniors, Ukulele Group, Michelle Fort Yoga, Jo Lee Speech Therapy, Susie Keratiotis Yoga, Boat Licence Training, Tiya Dance Troupe & Academy, Extending God’s Kingdom church, Support Your Way disability programs, Tai Chi and Children’s Art Classes.

New programs for this year included Punjabi Bhangra Dance, North East Melbourne Young Engineers (Lego), Adult Art, Art Club for disabled youth, Yoga and Meditation, Table Tennis and Kids Yoga. And our new centre hirers were employment service St John Of God Accord and Harry Chahal personal development.

Max Sargent

Creeds Farm Manager

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Creeds Farm Community Garden Group Creeds Farm Community Garden Group has continued to build the garden in 2018/2019.

The participation of local Kindergartens (Wallaby and Galada) in the garden, including planting, garden maintenance and recreation have been a great feature of the space. Fruit trees are now maturing to a level that they are producing much fruit.

The group continues to meet monthly, with many members also visiting outside regular meeting days. Social media is used to promote the group, with many communications reaching several thousand users.

Local residents have also donated feature plants to the garden to help improve aesthetics.

The constructed shade feature has been particularly well appreciated by garden members, providing long term shade potential for visitors.

The group appreciates the support of the Board, as well as efforts by Max to improve the garden.

Brad Costin

Creeds Farm Community Garden spokesperson.

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Creeds Farm Homework ClubWe have 16 students enrolled and attending so far this year. Our numbers have remained stable mainly due to word of mouth in local schools and the atmosphere we have created. We have created close communication with all parents and enjoy positive and friendly relationships with families. We have students attending from the following schools: Epping Views Primary School, Epping Secondary College, Edgars Creek Secondary College, St Mary of the Cross Mackillop and Antonine College.

This year our numbers average at 8 students per session each week. Student school grade/year levels range from Grade one to Year nine. This year we have experienced difficulty locating volunteer tutors. The La Trobe University education faculty students completing a community placement in term 3 and 4 have been a great support to students and myself. Their enthusiasm and professionalism has been exemplary.

Students are assisted with the following set tasks: reading and comprehension activities, summarising texts; creative, narrative, descriptive and persuasive writing; spelling, humanities and science projects, mathematics homework, preparation for NAPLAN testing.

We are increasingly providing tasks and extension activities to students. We have purchased age and grade appropriate texts to deliver activities to students when homework has not been set and when students require extension activities. Preparation time prior to each session is spent organising materials and tasks to be presented to students. The last half hour of each session is spent on problem solving and cooperative group activities. This year we have also included a story reading component. Reading aloud is modelled and students read aloud in turns. A range of short tasks are completed orally.

Judy Stafford

Homework Facilitator Creeds Farm

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Treasurer’s Report It is my pleasure to present 2018/19 financial statements on behalf of the committee in another successful year for Creeds Farm Living & Learning Centre (CFLLC). Financial statements have been prepared with a view to the transactions carried out as a consequence of CFLLC’s activities over the twelve months from 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019.

I am happy to declare that the 2018/19 accounts have been confirmed as reflecting a true and fair view of CFLLC’s financial position as at 30th June 2019 and that the accompanying statements have been prepared in accordance with the prevailing accounting standards.

Creeds Farm Neighbourhood House gratefully receives grants from the Department of Health and Human Services, City of Whittlesea and Whittlesea Community Connection. These grants cover employment and operational expenses of the Centre. In addition, the House receives income for project grants such as Hope & Faith Group, Punjabi Women’s Exercise Group and Youth Games Program.

The facilities provided by Creeds Farm Neighbourhood House and the welcoming environment has seen room hire from our community partners develop into a significant contributor to our overall income. Class and group activities continue to attract increasing participation and their fees also contribute in a significant way to our overall income.

In 2018/2019 financial year Creeds Farm kept its stable financial position with total equity of $1,276,522 and maintained positive cash flow. Centre was successful in getting more grants during the financial year for various projects. Following are some highlights of the financial year 2018/19:

• total revenue increase by 43%

• net income loss decrease by $12,000

• cash at bank increase by 16%

These achievements wouldn’t be possible without ongoing commitment, dedication and support of Max Sargent (CFLLC Manager), fellow committee members, all our volunteers and Malcolm Shimmins – immediate past Treasurer under whose watch the financial period fell.

Furthermore, a sincere thanks to Peter Drinan, our accountant for his ongoing expertise, support and for providing us with valuable advice of accounting and IT throughout this financial year.

Milena Schaedler

Committee Treasurer

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BALANCE SHEETAS AT 30TH JUNE 2019

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INCOME STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2019

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CASH FLOW STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2019

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Note:1 Statement of significant Accounting PoliciesThis financial report is a special purpose financial report prepared in order to satisfy the financial report preparation requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012. The committee have determined that the Association is not a reporting entity.

Basis of PreparationThe report has been prepared in accordance with the following applicable Accounting Standards and Urgent Issues Group Interpretations:

AASB 101: Presentation of Financial Statements AASB 107: Cash Flow Statements AASB 108: Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors AASB 110: Events after the Balance Sheet Date AASB 1031: Materiality AASB 1048: Interpretation and Application Standards

No other Australian Accounting Standards, International Accounting Standards Urgent Issues Group Interpretations or other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Board have been applied.

Reporting Basis and ConventionsThe financial report has been prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historic costs.

The following is a summary of the material accounting policies adopted by the Association in the presentation of the financial reports. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated.

Accounting Policies(a) Plant and Equipment Plant and equipment are measured on the cost basis.

The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by directors to ensure it is not in excess of the recoverable amount from these assets. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net cash flows that will be received from the asset’s employment and subsequent disposal. The expected net cash flows have been discounted to their present values in determining recoverable amounts.

Increases in the carrying amount arising on revaluations are credited to the revaluation reserve in equity. Decreases that offset previous increases of the same asset are charged against fair value reserves directly in equity; all other decreases are charged to the income statement. Each year the difference between depreciation based on the assets original cost is transferred from the revaluation reserve to retained earnings.

(b) Depreciation The depreciable amount of all fixed assets, is depreciated on a diminishing value basis over their useful lives to the Association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated carrying amount.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains or losses are included in the income statement. When revalued assets are sold, amounts included in the revaluation reserve relating to that asset are transferred to retained earnings.

(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with banks or financial institutions, other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within short term borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet.

(d) Comparative Figures Comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to changes in presentation for the current financial year where required by accounting standards or as a result of changes in accounting policy, or changes to the accounting period.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2019

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Creeds Farm Living and Learning Centre

2 Snugburgh Way Epping Vic 3076 Phone 9023 4606 Email manager@creedsfarm.org.au

www.creedsfarm.org.au