Social Outreach and Advocacy
Reaching out to people experiencing disadvantage to improve
health & wellbeing.
While St John of God Health Care is primarily
known for its hospitals and pathology services, we also have a long
heritage in working with and helping people within the community.
We are committed to providing significant care and relief for
people experiencing disadvantage throughout Australia, New Zealand
and the Asia Pacific region, particularly in areas where we have
identified gaps in current service provisions.
Apart from a group-wide Social Outreach and Advocacy program,
St John of god Hospital Burwood operates Casa Venegas, an outreach
service for homeless people with mental health problems.
Casa Venegas
People suffering from
mental health disorders make up one of the most severely
disadvantaged groups in modern society. St John of God Casa Venegas
provides home style accommodation on a medium to long term basis
for homeless people with mental health problems. Over 30% of
homeless people suffer from some form of mental illness or
substance abuse. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,
there are over 100,000 people in Australia homeless on any given
night with up to 20% under the age of 20.
Casa Venegas has homes in
the west and the inner city of Sydney, offering residents
independence, improved quality of life and dignity by:
- Treating each person as a unique
individual.
- Providing each resident with their own room
and respecting their right to privacy.
- Providing recreational, vocational and social
opportunities.
- Having friendly support and assistance ready
when required.
- Providing professional support and advocacy
regarding residents' entitlements.
- Instilling a sense of hope through structured
support services and the provision of role models.
- Offering residents the means to ultimately
transition to independent living.
We currently have residents living in
community support houses and one bedroom units. Some of these
residents receive full board and lodgings in high support houses.
All residents have access to 24-hour on call assistance; assistance
with activities of daily living, meal preparation, laundry,
personal care and household budgeting; assistance with
co-ordinating ongoing clinical management with case managers and
GPs in the community.
Regular supportive visits from Casa Venegas
staff and volunteers encourage:
- Trust and communication between
residents.
- A family atmosphere in Casa Venegas
homes.
- The peace and security that a safe and stable
home life can provide.
Casa Venegas was so named because John of God,
who ministered to the sick in Granada, Spain, in the 16th century,
would shelter at night inside the vestibule of Don Miguel, a
respected and wealthy citizen of Granada. Don Miguel's home was
called Casa Venegas. John of God was moving in a circle of poverty
in which he met men and women who had nowhere to sleep. He felt he
could not accept Don Miguel's hospitality and leave the poor, sick
and weak spending their nights crouched in doorways and being
hunted off by night watchmen, so he invited some of these people to
share his good fortune and shelter with him within the entrance of
Casa Venegas. It was from his Casa Venegas experience that
John went on to found his hospitals.
Contact Casa Venegas
13 Moore Street
Strathfield NSW 2135
Tel: 9715 9231
Fax: 9715 9319