President and CEO Report - Annual Report 2021/2022

Althea Projects acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we walk, work and live, the Bindal and Juru peoples of the Burdekin, the Gudjal peoples of Charters
Towers, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples of the Townsville region and the Yirandhali peoples of Hughenden, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Another fast paced, at times turbulent, but none the less positive and exciting year for Althea Projects. I am incredibly proud of our achievements over the past 12 months.

As we have done since the start of the pandemic, we again worked through the challenges this presented. In particular, the second half of the year was difficult with so many of us needing to isolate and recover from COVID19.

In these times that remain challenging for our community, we have continued to extend what we do and how we do it, so our service offerings remain current, flexible and adaptable and have the greatest impact.

Our highlights this year include:

• Across all services we have supported 3,865 people and delivered 32,755 hours of service delivery
• Name change for Townsville Drop In Centre to Althea’s Community Hub (ACH)
• Successful renegotiation of a new five (5) year agreement for Wee Care service
• Successful renegotiation of a new four (4) year agreement for our ACH Mobile and Outreach homelessness service
• Increasing our foster and kinship carer’s by 20%
• Official opening of our new Fleming Street office in October
• Ongoing flexibility and adaptability to provide continuity of all our services throughout lockdown periods and all the significant challenges that COVID19 presented
• Morehead Meals continuing to evolve into a sustainable social enterprise. Our distribution of low cost healthy and nutritious meals continues to grow significantly, so we can better support the needs of people who are vulnerable in our community
• Implementing our new Infrastructure Sub-Committee, strengthening our operational and strategic engagement with the Board to review our property needs now and into the future
• Another year of generous support from a number of businesses in our community that we are humbled by. See our thank you page for our supporters
• Highly successful IGA Golf Day and Myer Charity Event, with all money raised going to support Wee Care deliver services outside of funding limitations
• Administering approximately $5,000 as part of our Reconciliation Grants to 5 recipients, and creating a plan to increase our reach in the coming year

With our solution-focused, strengths-based approach, the coming 12 months provides great optimism and opportunities that we will embrace.

You will read more details throughout this document.

I extend my gratitude to all our Program Managers, staff and volunteers, who are at the grassroots working tirelessly with our service users, so they receive only the highest quality care and support services. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Board for their invaluable support and leadership. Together we ensure we fulfil our vision and mission to support
and strengthen individuals, families, children and young people so they experience wellbeing and reach their full potential.

Paula La Rosa

CEO

Chairs Message

As we near the end of yet another successful and fulfilling year I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Paula La Rosa on her support, enthusiasm, and leadership of Althea  Projects and the achievements this year. Obviously, none of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of the Leadership Team, staff, supporters, carer’s,  volunteers, and the Board. Our work in the community is highly regarded which is evidenced by the continued support of our funders, partners, and the community as a whole.

The Board and Sub-Committee members are committed to working with Paula and her team to champion the Althea Projects Mission Statement and Values and achieving our shared goals. The work done this year will continue to support and strengthen the community we live in and help us explore areas where we can provide increased support where it’s needed.

Thank you everyone for your support and I look forward to Althea Projects continuing to provide a high level of support to the people in our community.

Alan Newman

President

Thank you

Our achievements are only possible due to the ongoing support by our funding bodies and Supporters. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our government funding partners:

• Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
• Queensland Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy
• Queensland Department of Health
• Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General
• Australian Government Department of Health
• Australian Government Department of Social Services
• Townsville City Council

I want to make special mention to key supporters who have provided very important and significant financial support to us during 2021 / 2022 Armi’s IGA Supermarket and the associated annual “Armi’s IGA Charity Golf Day”

• Armi’s IGA Supermarket and the associated annual “Armi’s IGA Charity Golf Day”
• BM Webb
• Bunnings
• Grill’d Townsville
• GIVIT
• Jam and Bridgewater
• Little Bee Marketing
• MYER Townsville and the MYER Community Foundation
• Pickerings Auto Group
• Rotary Clubs across Townsville
• Rotary Australia World Community Service

Plus, a number of incredible individuals who raised money and donated to us. You are our Althea Angels who keep our local families strong, connected and protected. Every dollar donated goes back into our services and makes a significant difference to the well-being of individuals, children and families in our community.

Paula La Rosa

CEO