Somerville, At A Glance
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 Margaret Somerville at Somerville's 30th Birthday celebration. |
Somerville Community Services Inc is a non-government, not for profit, youth, family and community welfare organisation indigenous to the Northern Territory. We maintain strong constitutional links with the Uniting Church in Australia but we are governed by an independent and professional Board of Directors, ensuring that the Agency has the capacity to respond to the needs of people whatever their circumstances.
Somerville recognises that being disadvantaged in a modern Western society is a condition relative to general living standards. We give priority to advocacy and improving the resources of people who are uninformed or ill-informed about community services and opportunities which may improve their circumstances.
Somerville supports actions aimed at creating increased opportunities for people to become personally involved in a sharing and caring society.
We promote opportunities for church and other local voluntary organisations to play a more effective part in meeting the needs of the community.
Somerville monitors and evaluates its own service programmes, adapting them to changing community needs and circumstances. We also monitor Federal and Territory programmes affecting community and the way services and funding affect the position of individuals, couples and families in community.
The Agency is financed by public donations, church and service club grants, business support, government grants, sponsorship and agency fundraising activities.
Somerville Homes came into existence in 1966. The homes were named in honour of Margaret Somerville MBE who helped evacuate 95 children from Croker Island to Sydney in 1942 and who returned to Croker Island with the children after the war and continued as a house mother and care giver until 1965. A book entitled "They Crossed A Continent", the story of Margaret Somerville’s epic journey, will tell you how it all began.
As government and social philosophies changed, these houses became homes for the profoundly disabled. In 1980, with expanded community services, Somerville Homes became Somerville Community Services Incorporated.
Our Mission Statement is :
"To enhance the dignity and quality of life of people most disadvantaged in and damaged by our society".
Somerville Community Services seeks the improvement of the human condition in a complex and changing world in which many people are victims, vulnerable or otherwise adversely affected.
To these ends, Somerville will:
Monitor the social complexities and changes, and their implications for communities, families and individuals.
Seek to identify and act upon negative
social changes in advance of their impact.
Work in the best interests of those most
adversely affected by social change.
Be an informed voice that promotes the interests of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Actively contribute to community and
professional debate in relation to social justice and community service issues.
Maintain and extend collaborative working
relationships in the community including government, non-government agencies and
significant community groups.
Continue to provide and develop appropriate
high quality services that are responsive to community need.
Draw on its existing expertise and
experience and develop the necessary new organisational capacities to carry out its work.
Embrace its significant local
responsibilities in the north of Australia, recognise its wider service and social justice
responsibilities throughout Australia and in the South East Asian Region.
Meet its wider regional responsibilities by
strengthening working relationships with organisations throughout Australia and the South
East Asian Region.
Maintain and develop its capacity to fulfil
its missions by protecting and enhancing its resource base - financial and human.
Carry out its work, stay in touch with and
be responsive to the needs of the community it serves.
Facilitate achievement of the Vision, maintain the highest standards of governance and leadership that are expected of a value based organisation.
Somerville’s charter extends throughout the Northern Territory, the top end of South Australia and the Kimberley Region. We currently have bases in Darwin, Palmerston, Howard Springs and Katherine and we provide services and support to surrounding regions.
Somerville works within community, and believes in social change as a positive means of developing community growth and maturation. We acknowledge the desirability of community initiatives which examine and assess the current community structures and works towards positive change in line with emerging wishes of the community. Such a position carries with it the values of participation and community.
Somerville accepts a functional responsibility which includes provision of resources to those in need, and as the need requires, the creation of appropriate structures and community services.
Community Services Achievements
Child Care Industry
Between 1966 to 1998, Somerville managed four child care centres caring for children
between the ages 0-5 years.
Publication of Practical Policies and
Procedures for Child Care Services Book 1997
This book represents the accumulated expertise, experience and knowledge of many Early
Childhood professionals who work, or have worked, for Somerville Community Services Inc.
Somerville has developed detailed policies and procedures to assist the child care staff
with an understanding of work place practices as well as to act as a guide when responding
to the many and varied operational issues which arise daily.
Training and Employment
Between 1988 - 1993, Somerville managed the Office Practices Course Programme which
involved training of young people in the different facets of office administration.
Our Chief Executive Officer,Vicki O'Halloran was awarded the Telstra 1998/99 NT Business Woman of the Year. She was also awarded the Ansett Private Sector Award for companies employing more than 100 employees.
ACCI/BCA Work & Family Awards
Somerville was a finalist for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and
Business Council of Australia (BCA) National Work and Family Awards 2001 and 2002, and won
the NT State Awards in 2004. The Awards are held annually and recognise
organisations undertaking initiatives in providing a more family friendly work environment
for their employees.
Employer of Choice for Women
Somerville is one of an exclusive group of organisations that have been lauded with the
EOWA Employer of Choice for Women (EOCFW) citations since its inception in 2001.
This citation is only awarded to those organisations that are leading the way in equal
opportunity for women in the workplace.
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The Territory's
own...
"Somerville are your local community service. We have been working with Territory families for over 40 years".