CONTENTS
WHO WE ARE 3
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 4
MANAGER’S REPORT 6
REPRESENTATION 8
CAPACITY BUILDING 9
CONNECTION 10
INFORMATION & RESOURCES 11
TREASURER’S REPORT 12
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 13
CRN MEMBERS 15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 16
WHO WE ARE
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 3
BOARD MEMBERS
President
Kittu Randhawa
Vice President
Rowena Stulajter
Treasurer
Stephen Frost
Secretary & Public Officer
Vikki Hine
Ordinary Members
Bhagya Chettipally
Lisa Gobo
Chris Lamerton
Nila Anirudhan
Jenni Goodwin
Community Resource Network (CRN) Inc is a sub-regional
peak community development organisation for Blacktown,
The Hills and the surrounding local government areas
(LGAs).
Our Vision
Empowered local communities and organisations that are
vibrant, robust and connected.
Our Purpose
The principal purpose of CRN is to work with organisations
that operate in the Western Sydney area to directly
alleviate poverty and distress suffered by economically and
socially disadvantaged communities.
CRN aims to achieve this purpose by:
Building the capacity of service providers to work
together on issues affecting disadvantaged
communities.
Enhancing the level of engagement of vulnerable
and disadvantaged communities.
Strengthening the voices of disadvantaged
communities by representing their views.
Providing information and resources on community
projects, programs and networks assisting
disadvantaged communities and vulnerable groups.
Our Values
Our values are the driving force that underpin all our
actions and form the core of our culture and brand. We:
Embrace diversity
Give voice to inequality
Influence innovation
Empower communities
Collaborate responsively
STAFF
Manager
Margaret Tipper
Project Officer -
Capacity Building
Karen Greenhill (to Oct 2016)
Maia Giordano (from Feb 2017)
Project Officer -
Communications
Anthony Brown
Administration Accounts
Brenda Ransom (to Oct 2016)
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 4
Kittu Randhawa
Welcome to Community Resource Network’s (CRN) annual
report for 2016-17. It has been a time of change for CRN,
incorporating sector reforms and renewed strategic
directions both of which are outcome focussed.
CRN has a proud history servicing the Hills and Blacktown
area from 1981 (founded as Blacktown City Community
Services Council); with key achievements along the way.
This year our BCI interagency meeting reached the 20 year
milestone, a meeting that is a platform to build networks
for frontline workers and share information in the local
area; it’s fair to say it is a networking success, so thank you
to those who started up the meeting.
The community, the sector and the demographics for the
area; have changed vastly since CRN began. Therefore
CRN is also adapting to emerging and changing needs.
As such, CRN began the year by ratifying a whole new
Strategic Plan with a vision to empower organisations
supporting an increasingly diverse demographic and be
representative for the whole community. A vision and
direction that is to be implemented through a robust three
year Operational Plan by:
• Developing and distributing Information & Resources
• Providing appropriate representation and advocacy at
the right levels for CRN members and the local
community
• Helping build sustainable connections with
contemporary tools to increase participation for
members and community
• Build capacity through effective training, sharing
resources, developing learning circles and more
mentoring opportunities.
CRN’s funding falls under the NSW State Government’s
Family and Community Services (FACS) Community
Builders Program and this program, along with the other 5
programs, under the Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI)
program are currently in transition to reform.
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 5
The reform is being undertaken as it is recognised that we
need to intervene earlier to reduce the numbers of children
reported as, at risk of significant harm, and that more
children and families need support to have more positive
pathways in their lives.
The outcome we look forward to is being an organisation
that lives up to our name. An overall focus on community
as a whole; better and wider access to a cumulative
resource pool and opportunities to build relevant
sustainable networks.
Like most, we have faced our challenges as an organisation;
I therefore would like to thank all the staff who have shown
dedication to the work of CRN. I would particularly like to
welcome Maia Giordano our newest staff member who has
quickly made a great impression so has immediately
become a valuable asset.
I would like to thank all the board members for their time,
perseverance and especially commitment to CRN. The
board, all volunteers; have this year put in a lot of extra
time to address legacy issues, so that CRN can move
directly into the Operation Plan in the coming year.
It goes without saying we could not deliver without the
support of our funding bodies, to whom we extend our
appreciation in recognising the valuable work of CRN.
All of us at CRN thank our members for their continued
membership and welcome our new members. We have
seen an increase in numbers this year, which we are
confident will be a trend that will continue as outcomes
from our new Strategic & Operational Plans demonstrate
increasing value CRN offers.
“An overall focus
on community as
a whole; better and
wider access to a
cumulative
resource pool and
opportunities to
build relevant
sustainable
networks.”
MANAGER’S REPORT
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 6
Margaret Tipper
The 2016-17 year, certainly lived up to my last Annual
Report where I commented that the commonalities among
community service organisations were “reform” and
“transition”. This was the case with CRN being involved,
through my representation, as the Co-Chair of the FACS
Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) Local Committee and,
therefore, a representative on the FACS TEI District
(Western Sydney) Reference Group.
TEI has taken up a lot of my time throughout the last six
months of the 2016-17 year. This is an exciting time that
will, hopefully, bring about more positive outcomes for
service users and providers. The TEI looks at the current
service provision and service gaps in communities. It has
meant that organisations have had to look at the work that
they do in communities and match them to various
frameworks that FACS have produced, which also aligns
with the NSW Government’s Human Services Outcomes
Framework.
CRN has had ongoing discussions with Blacktown City
Council on service delivery into the North-West Growth
Corridor and how community services will be delivered in
these new areas. Council kindly presented at a Blacktown
Combined Interagency on the growth areas and the data
on these development areas. CRN is also keeping a
watching brief on the redevelopment areas of brownfield
sites in Blacktown and The Hills as medium to high density
takes over from separate dwellings.
To that end, CRN participated in a number of planning
meetings on these areas, including attending a number of
meetings with the Greater Sydney Commission. I was
fortunate to be asked by the Department of Planning to
attend a workshop on BIMBY-Beauty in My Backyard,
where they had brought out an organisation from the UK
and desktop exercised how community can be involved at
the earliest point, before development applications are
submitted.
CRN has developed a trusted role over our 36 years of
operation in providing peer-to-peer mentoring for
organisations when they have issues and ideas that they
need to discuss with an external mentor.
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 7
Throughout the 2016-17 year, many of these conversations
took place and is why all CRN staff undertake ‘Accidental
Counsellor’ training to skill us up in these areas.
CRN has been involved in so many areas, that within this
report, I cannot outline them all. Some are: the Agency
Contact List and the Email Distribution Network which
continue to be tools that are in great demand. Our work as
the auspice of the Blacktown Combined Interagency
continues to flourish as a forum for sector and skill
development. We also continue to partner and collaborate
with many organisations, including private, all levels of
government, residents and others.
I would like to thank the CRN Staff - Anthony Brown, Karen
Greenhill (from May 2016 to October 2016), and Maia
Giordano from February 2017 for their contributions to a
great Team. A special thank you to Brenda Ransom who
retired from her work at CRN in October 2016, after
working with us since 2002.
A special thanks to our Funders – NSW Family and
Community Services, Castle Hill RSL (who provides funding
under ClubGRANTS for the Hills Agency Contact List) and
our CRN Members. Special thanks to K&L Gates who
provided legal advice in CRN applying for DGR status,
albeit, unsuccessfully. Also, thank you to the organisations
that continue to use CRN and that we represent and
advocate for in our work.
Finally, special thanks to our CRN Board: Kittu Randhawa
(President), Stephen Frost (Treasurer), Rowena Stulajter
(Deputy President), Vikki Hine (Secretary), Bhagya
Chettipally; our new Board Members – Lisa Gobo, Chris
Lamerton, Nila Anirudhan, Jenni Goodwin; and, Abbas Raza
Alvi who retired from the CRN Board in July 2017.
The Board initiated a review of our Strategic and
Operational Plans, and we are working toward these goals.
I look forward to working with you all throughout 2017-18.
“This is an
exciting time
that will,
hopefully, bring
about more
positive
outcomes for
service users and
providers.”
REPRESENTATION
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 8
Advisory Roles
TEI Meetings
ClubGRANTS Committee
Representation
Growth in CRN
Membership
As a sub-regional peak body, CRN represents local
community organisations by acting in advisory roles and
on grant committees, writing submissions to all levels of
government, involvement in advocating on issues, and
providing input at consultations and policy forums.
HIGHLIGHTS
Co-Chair of the FACS Targeted Earlier Intervention
(TEI) Local Working Group.
Member of the FACS TEI District (Western Sydney)
Reference Group.
Represented the NGO sector on both The Hills and
Blacktown ClubGRANTS Committees.
Participant and contributor at the NCOSS Sector
Development Forums.
Submission to The Treasury on the Tax Deductible
Gift Recipient (DGR) Reform Opportunities
Discussion Paper.
Represented local NGOs on the Blacktown
Community Safety Advisory Sub-Committee.
Provided input on the Disaster Plan for Community
Organisations template, a project of ACOSS.
17% increase in CRN Membership.
FEEDBACK
“CRN has a vital role in being a two-way
conduit in the TEI Reform process. Your
work is invaluable to the sector in the
current climate. The sector is rapidly
changing and CRN is a valuable tool to
keep us up-to-date and advocate on
members behalf.”
55
17
17%
2
CAPACITY BUILDING
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 9
Total attendees at
BCI Meetings
Organisations Represented
at BCI Meetings
Instances of
Mentoring & Support
Workers received
Leadership Training
In order to strengthen the local community, CRN supports
organisations and individuals in their work by coordinating
relevant training, workshops and presentations, providing
mentoring and support, facilitating planning sessions and
developing research and reports.
HIGHLIGHTS
Coordinated 10 Blacktown Combined Interagency
(BCI) meetings which was attended by 346 people,
representing 106 different organisations,
government agencies and individuals.
Provided a mentoring and support role to
community workers on 103 occasions.
Partnered with The Ariel Group to provide
subsidised training on Leading with Presence:
Storytelling, which was attended by 12 local
community managers and workers.
Supported the successful transition process of a
Member organisation which merged with a larger
organisation to expand and strengthen their
service delivery and long-term sustainability.
Worked with many organisations across Blacktown
and The Hills to address issues of governance,
constitutions, partnerships, mergers, staffing,
communications, and other matters within their
organisations.
FEEDBACK
“A BIG THANK YOU for your support
through this process. Your wisdom and
knowledge has been invaluable to me
personally. I am appreciative there is an
organisation such as yours, that I could
turn to! You made a difference in this
journey!”
346
103
12
106
CONNECTION
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 10
Emails Distributed for
Organisations
713 Email Subscribers
Referrals & Advice
Interagency Meetings
Supported
Increase in website visitors
CRN plays an active role in building connection within
communities through ongoing support of local
interagencies, facilitating partnerships, collaborations and
networks, providing an email distribution network, making
referrals and engaging in online communication.
HIGHLIGHTS
Collaborated with Blacktown City Council and
SydWest Multicultural Services to plan and
coordinate the Blacktown Community Services
Conference which was attended by 107 people.
Partnered with 7 organisations to plan and
coordinate the Blacktown Community Services
Expo which was attended by 90 Stallholders and
around 800 members of the public.
Ongoing collaboration with other organisations as
part of the Western Sydney Collective and
Blacktown Emerging Communities Action Plan
(BECAP) team.
Increased engagement through meetings with
local Aboriginal organisations.
613 Emails distributed for Organisations
promoting their programs, events, training,
services, resources and job vacancies.
27% increase in email subscribers to 713.
201 referrals and advice provided to 850 people.
Supported 16 different interagencies through
participation at 51 meetings.
37% increase in website visitors.
42% increase in Facebook followers.
FEEDBACK
“CRN brings like-minded organisations together to assist
collaboration and ensure better outcomes for our
community by facilitating networking and partnership
opportunities within the community sector, government
agencies and the corporate sector.”
613
27% Increase
201
51
37%
INFORMATION & RESOURCES
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 11
Agency Contact Lists
Distributed
Organisations,
Government Agencies
& Individuals Received
Agency Contact Lists
Sector News &
Information Shared
Interagency Calendars
Downloaded
CRN develops, distributes and makes available information
and resources that are relevant to community workers such
as updating local agency contact lists, disseminating sector
news and information, developing an interagency database
and providing information referral.
HIGHLIGHTS
Updated the Blacktown and Hills Agency Contact
Lists (ACL) for 2017.
Distributed 3,470 ACLs to around 580
organisations, government agencies and
individuals.
Provided 166 sector development news and
information by email to CRN subscribers and at
interagency meetings.
Updated the Blacktown and Hills Interagency
Calendar and information for 2017 which was
downloaded 519 times.
Updated our database of community service
organisations for The Hills and Blacktown areas
which is used as a resource for information referral
to community workers.
FEEDBACK
“CRN is an absolutely fantastic service for
increasing awareness of local information
and resources.”
“Thank you for the role you are playing, it
is beneficial to a lot of people. I find the
emails to be of great value, as I have been
able to attend training and pass
information to colleagues and volunteers.”
3,470
166 5
19
580
TREASURER’S REPORT
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 12
Stephen Frost
The 2016-17 year has seen Community Resource
Network (CRN) have an audited result of no loss, or
surplus, which is zero operating profit.
The Total Equity of CRN remains unchanged since the
2015-16 financial year and stands at a positive balance of
$124,992.26.
I am pleased to advise that all Provisions, employee and
other, are covered for in the Balance Sheet. CRN
undertakes a regular review of all entitlements that
ensures that, if the organisation was to close tomorrow,
our Board responsibilities for payments to CRN staff are
provided for.
CRN received the second year payment under its three
year grant from the Hills ClubGRANT Committee (Castle
Hill RSL) to continue to produce The Hills Agency Contact
List, which is an essential resource for community
members in The Hills. As mentioned, in my previous
reports, this Grant has been expended but please note
that it does not operate under a standard financial year
period.
I would like to thank our CRN staff, Brenda Ransom (until
October 2016), followed by our contracted bookkeeper,
Charles Joseph and Margaret Tipper for their ongoing
operational management of the CRN funds on behalf of
the Board.
CRN has submitted the previous financial year’s Annual
Information Statement (AIS) to the Australian Charities and
Not For Profit Commission in accordance with
requirements and is also about to submit the 2016-17 AIS.
The accounts have been audited by William Tomiczek &
Associates and I would like to recommend them for the
2017-18 financial audit.
The CRN Board reviewed and passed the 2016-17 Audited
Accounts at their Board Meeting through the use of the
electronic procedures of our Constitution by motion on the
9th October 2017. The following pages reflect an abridged
copy of the CRN accounts for 2016-17. Full copies are
available to Members through the CRN Office.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 13
Profit & Loss – Consolidated (1st July 2016 to 30th June 2017)
INCOME This Year Last Year
Grant - FaCS Grants Received 328,423.09 319,593.40
Membership Fees 2,259.08 1,695.45
Interest Received 3,143.99 2,714.23
Hills Club Grant - ACL 6,266.32 6,895.10
The Hills Shire Council Grant 0.00 4,750.00
The Hills Shire Council Grant 15/16 0.00 279.77
Reimbursement Fees 0.00 34.65
Other Fees and Charges 327.27 974.34
Workers Compensation Policy Refund 511.45 94.29
Other Income 277.13 0.00
Donation 20.00 0.00
Grant Administration Fee 34,941.71 35,495.82
TOTAL INCOME 376,170.04 372,527.05
EXPENDITURE Last Year This Year
Total General & Administration 87,940.81 90,841.25
Total Programme Costs 55,388.62 51,237.52
Total Employment Expenses 232,840.61 230,448.28
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 376,170.04 372,527.05
Operating Profit 0.00 0.00
Other Expenses 0.00 0.00
NET PROFIT/(LOSS) 0.00 0.00
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 14
Balance Sheet (as at 30th June 2017)
ASSETS This Year Last Year
Current Assets
Cash on Hand
CRN - Chq CBA 8,851.63 20,231.19
CRN - Cash Management CBA 539,688.56 435,284.72
Credit Card Account -495.00 -214.55
Petty Cash - Administration 139.45 95.90
Total Cash on Hand 548,184.64 455,397.26
Total Current Assets 548,184.64 455,397.26
Non Current Assets
Plant & Equipment
Plant & Equipment - at cost 26,859.00 26,859.00
Plant & Equipment - Accumulated Depreciation -26,859.20 -22,731.20
Trade Debtors 221.83 0.00
TOTAL ASSETS 548,406.27 459,525.06
LIABILITIES
Total Current Liabilities 206,710.23 155,744.81
Total Payroll Liabilities 6,924.98 0.89
Total GST Liabilities 7048.93 165.38
Total Leave Provisions 107,907.25 94,907.29
Total Non Current Liabilities 94,214.43 83,714.43
Trade Creditors 608.19 0.00
TOTAL LIABILITIES 423,414.01 334,532.80
NET ASSETS 124,992.26 124,992.26
EQUITY
Retained Earnings 124,992.26 124,992.26
TOTAL EQUITY
124,992.26 124,992.26
CRN MEMBERS (2016-2017)
CRN Annual Report 2016-2017 15
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
2realise
Ability Options
Adele House Ltd
Anglicare
Australian Cook Islands Community
Council (NSW)
Australian Foundation for Disability
Australian Multicultural &
Settlement Services
Australian Hearing Services
Bidwill Uniting
Blacktown Area Community Centres Inc.
Blacktown City Council
Blacktown Family Relationship Centre
(Relationships Australia NSW)
Blacktown Meals on Wheels Inc.
Blacktown Women & Girls Health Centre
Bligh Park Community Services
Break Thru People Solutions
BREED Taskforce Inc.
Bridges Inc.
Catholic Care Social Services
ChildrenFirst
Citizen Advocacy Western Sydney Inc.
Communities for Children
(Mission Australia)
Computer Pals Blacktown Inc.
Disability Services Australia
Family Worker Training +
Development Programme
Fusion Western Sydney
Graceades Community Cottage
Hills Community Aid Inc.
Interaction Disability Services Ltd
Interrelate Family Centres
Junaya Family Development Services
Karabi Community &
Development Services Inc.
LikeMind (Parramatta Mission)
MacKillop Family Services
Marrin Weejali
Mission Australia Blacktown
Mission Australia Housing
Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency
Neami National
Nepean Community &
Neighbourhood Services
Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care
Services
Oxley Home Care
Parramatta Holroyd Family Support
Peckys Ltd
Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Redeemed Community Services Inc.
Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre
Rosie’s Place
Settlement Services International
Shalvey Community Centre
St Vincent de Paul
(Caroline Chisholm Centre)
STARTTS NSW
Swinson Cottage Family Centre
SydWest Multicultural Services Inc.
Ted Noffs Foundation (Street University)
The Hills Shire Council
The WASH House
We Australians Are Creative Inc.
WentWest – Primary Health Network
Wesley Family Centre – Quakers Hill
Wesley Family Centre – Riverstone
Wesley Family Centre – The Hills
Wesley Mission ACHA
Western Sydney Community Forum
WESTIR Ltd
Youth Rezolutions
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
Barbara Gapps (Life Member)
Bhagya Chettipally
Brigitte Herrmann
Janet Speers
Kathy van Oeveren
Kittu Randhawa
Lisa Gobo
Rowena Stulajter
Vikki Hine
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
CRN would like to thank all of our members who continue to partner with us in strengthening the
local community sector, as well as the valued contribution of our funders.
We acknowledge that in order for CRN to fulfil our commitment to sector development, we require
the ongoing support of organisations, individuals and all levels of government.
We look forward to working with you throughout the coming year in 2017-18.
Community Resource Network (CRN) Inc.
58 Armitage Dr, Glendenning NSW 2761
PO Box 149 Plumpton NSW 2761
p (02) 9832 4762 | f (02) 9832 4802
www.crn.org.au