Working towards an Australian Community where all people are able to receive a guaranteed adequate income in order to enjoy a decent standard of living.

Annual Report 2013 2014

Contents

3 About SSRV

Vision, Mission, Values

5 SSRV Patron, Board & Staff

6 President’s Report

7 Director/Principal Solicitor’s Report

9 Legal Assistance

11 Legal Services At A Glance

15 Case Studies

17 Community Legal Education - Improving Access

18 Law Reform & Policy

20 SSRV Volunteers

22 SSRV Financial Statements

About SSRV

Social Security Rights Victoria is a not-for-profit community legal centre that promotes access to justice and the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged members of the community through the provision of free and accessible legal assistance, education and policy advocacy in the area of social security law.

The service specialises in assisting the most disadvantaged and socially excluded members of the community with their social security issues.

SSRV’s principal activities are:

• The provision of legal information, advice, casework assistance and representation to Victorians in the area of social security law;

• The prevention and early intervention in legal problems through a community legal education program; and

• Law reform activities to address systemic unfairness in the legal system.

VALUES

•Social Justice – promoting and respecting the dignity of each person in their community, especially rights to natural justice and procedural fairness

•Quality – we go beyond to assist each person accessing our service

•Responsibility – we support each other to be accountable to those we assist and our stakeholders

•Integrity – we openly match what we say with what we do.

MISSIONSSRV works to secure the right to equitable social security entitlements for all Victorians. SSRV does this by:

•Acting as a watchdog and advocate for social change

•Providing leadership and a public voice

•Providing community education

•Providing professional legal advocacy services

VISIONAll people in Australia are able to receive a guaranteed adequate income in order to enjoy a decent standard of living.

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About SSRV continued...

FUNDINGSocial Security Rights Victoria is funded by the Federal Attorney General’s Department and the Victorian Government (via Victoria Legal Aid) to provide core services described on page 9, as well as to undertake law reform and legal education work. The funding provided is approximately:

• $199,000 – Federal Attorney General’s Department

• $38,000 - Victorian Government (via Victoria Legal Aid)

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SSRV Patron - Brian Howe AO

Brian Howe AO is a Professorial Associate at the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne where he teaches and researches social policy. He was a Minister in each of the Hawke and Keating governments (1983-96) mainly occupying social policy related portfolios. Mr Howe was the Minister for Social Security 1984-1990 and subsequently deputy Prime Minister 1991-1995. He recently chaired the ACTU enquiry into insecure work with its report Losing Ground published in 2012. He is the chair of the Advisory Council of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

SSRV Board Members

Martin Pike President Nina Boughey Vice-President Merrilee Cox Membership OfficerLeeanne Lukaitis Treasurer (Resigned February) Paul Garry Treasurer (Joined June)Antony McMullen MemberKirsty Gregory MemberGeorgina De Beaujeu Member (Resigned June) Kerry Arch Member (Joined April)

SSRV Staff

Monica van Reyk Director/Principal Solicitor (2014)Deborah Itzkowic Director/Principal Solicitor (Maternity Leave 2014)Graham Wells Senior Lawyer and Clinical Legal Education Supervisor Peter Horbury Manager (Advice and Information Services)Joan Thong JobVoice Project Administrator (2014)

SSRV Contractors

Peter Richardson (Carruss Consultants) BookkeepingTanja Kovac (Kovac and Co.) JobVoice Project Consultant

SSRV Patron, Board & Staff

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At the end of 2013, I was honoured to be invited first to join the board and then, soon after, to take on the role of President of Social Security Rights Victoria. It has been a pleasure to work with two teams of enthusiastic and capable people - the Board and dedicated staff - as we have built the capacity of the organisation and sharpened our focus on the advocacy and casework at its heart.

I strongly believe in the need to assist people in their dealings with the social security system. This is one of the most difficult and complex areas of law, yet many people have to challenge decisions and the system on their own. Many errors are made, especially at the ‘initial decision’ stage, and for people as vulnerable as so many social security recipients are, an error can be the difference between dignity and poverty. As a former Centrelink lawyer I have seen the number and impact of such errors, and am passionate about the need for people, in particular lawyers, to develop and share expertise, help people obtain their fair entitlement and guide decision makers and tribunals so that they get it right.

In 2014, the two major projects for our organisation have been development of the JobVoice portal and the student-based Clinical Legal Program.

The JobVoice project has gone from early stages of development to the start of coding and design of the website itself. This has involved extensive information gathering from hundreds of employment service providers, and planning driven by the project’s manager Tanja Kovac and administrator Joan Thong, together with Director Monica van Reyk and the JobVoice advisory board. The website is intended to be a portal giving people compelled to use employment service providers a voice, and hopefully a means by which issues with providers can be highlighted and dealt with. I am pleased that the launch of the site is now close, and thank everybody

who has worked towards this (as well as our indispensable funders on the project including the RE Ross Trust, Ian Potter Foundation and Legal Services Board).

The Clinical Legal Program complements our volunteer telephone and casework services, bringing in enthusiastic law students to assist our clients while they in turn get experience with real clients and hone their skills. The program, overseen by Graham Wells our Senior Lawyer and Clinical Supervisor with assistance from Peter Horbury, has consistently received good feedback from students about the quality and depth of their experiences.

We offer something unique to students, given there are very few opportunities for them to help clients with complex casework in a challenging area of law. In turn, the students bring enthusiasm, bright legal minds and a fresh perspective to the task, and with guidance make a real and valuable difference in many of our clients’ lives. We have taken on three cohorts of students from Melbourne University, are partnering with Deakin University to take students over the upcoming summer trimester, and are discussing possibilities with other universities. I am excited about the possibilities for this program and look forward to seeing how it develops in 2015. The Volunteer Program, supervised by Peter Horbury our Manager Operations & Information Services, is a core part of what we do and is indispensable to the operation of the organisation’s advice intake service. We are grateful to all of our volunteers, in particular a number who have been with us for a significant amount of time and contribute above and beyond the basic commitment to the organisation.

President’s Report

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Over the past year SSRV has continued to assist disadvantaged members of the community through the provision of information advice through our Telephone Service and the provision of legal advice through our Casework Service.

Both these services are ably managed by Graham Wells, Senior Lawyer and Clinical Legal Education Supervisor and Peter Horbury, Manager (Operations and Information Services) who supervise and

educate our clinical law students and volunteers, respectively. These services provide a ‘win win’ to all involved. Our clients obtain the advice and assistance they seek and the students and volunteers gain experience in dealing with people and clients. Furthermore they learn about social security law and gain a greater appreciation of what life is like ‘on the other side’.

continued...

President’s Report continued...

Director/Principal Solicitor’s Report

The Board lost three valuable members this year, and I would like to thank each of them for their crucial contribution to our organisation. Both Leeanne Lukaitis and Antony McMullen were longstanding position holders, serving for several years as Treasurer and Chair/President respectively. By getting the organisation through some particularly difficult issues and changes they played crucial roles in keeping it viable and leaving us with a thriving centre that is making a difference in many lives. Georgina De Beaujeu, although with us less than a year, brought energy and a willingness to get involved and make an active contribution.

I also thank Monica van Reyk, who has done an excellent job as Director and Principal Solicitor while Deborah Itzkowic has been on maternity leave. Monica has been a crucial support to me and the Board, and has covered an improbably-wide portfolio of responsibilities from meeting the organisation’s reporting requirements and managing staff to leading

‘from the front’ through advice and tribunal case work. And I thank our Patron Brian Howe AO, and our funders who, for an organisation the size of ours, are a combined lifeline and bloodbank.

We are a small legal centre, operating in an area that attracts little of the attention and glamour of the law, but where real people’s lives are fundamentally affected by the advice and assistance they receive. It is a privilege to be part of this organisation, which makes such a big difference with so little, and my final thanks goes to every person who contributes to it in some way.

Marty Pike

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The launch of SSRV’s website has increased SSRV’s online presence and enabled us to provide the community with access to information on social security law, including Information Sheets on a range of topics, which can be easily accessed and downloaded from our website. SSRV’s Facebook page has also provided us with the opportunity to engage in social media and let the community know about what is happening in the social security arena and what SSRV is doing such as the SSRV Clinical Legal Program, our Volunteer Program and the progress of the “jobvoice” portal project.

Our Red Tape newsletter, which has been in circulation since 1990 also provides us with another means of communicating with our subscribers and keeping them informed on the latest social security news. SSRV staff have continued to meet our goal to provide community education in social security law by making presentations to community and other organisations, with an interest in gaining a better understanding of recent changes in social security law and the implications of those changes on individuals.

I wish to extend my thanks to the SSRV Board for its support and for giving me the opportunity to take on the role of SSRV’s Director/Principal Solicitor, in the absence of Deborah Itzkowic, on maternity leave. I would also like to acknowledge and thank our senior managers, Graham Wells and Peter Horbury, who have supported me in my role and generously shared their wealth of experience in social security law and practice. I have found this experience of working in the not for profit sector a very rewarding one, both personally and professionally and one that I will always look back on as a memorable time in my career.

I would also like to extend my thanks to our volunteers and students who have been a pleasure to have around in the office. Their eagerness to be of service and their pleasant cheerful attitudes are inspiring.

Having consolidated our services this year I look forward to 2014/2015 and the continuation of SSRV’s Clinical Legal Program. This is an excellent program, which enables law schools to send students to SSRV for the purpose of acquiring practical experience.

We are also looking forward to the launch of the “jobvoice” portal on World Social Justice Day, 20 February 2015. We believe the portal satisfies an unmet need, of providing a space where jobseekers may provide stories of their experience with job service providers and also obtain information on which provider may be the best match for them, in terms of location and services provided. I acknowledge and acknowledge and thank our funders, the Legal Services Board, RE Ross Trust and Ian Potter Foundation for their support for this project.

The pages that follow my report provide a more detailed insight on the work we have done towards achieving our 2013/2014 goals as well as what we are looking forward to in the year ahead.

We at SSRV welcome your thoughts, comments and feedback. Please contact us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Social-Security-Rights-Victoria or through our website www.ssrv.org.au

Monica van Reyk

Director/Principal Solicitor’s Report continued...

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SSRV provides legal information, advice, casework assistance and representation to Victorians in relation to social security matters.

SSRV’s Services

Telephone and Email Information and Advice Service

The SSRV Telephone and Email Information and Advice Service is available for people in Victoria who need legal information, advice or referral about social security (Centrelink) issues. Interpreter services are available.

Telephone Service: (03) 9481 0355 and 1800 094 164 (free call for rural callers)Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 12:30pm (except for Victorian public

holidays and between Christmas and New Year)Email: info@ssrv.org.au

In the 2013/14 year SSRV provided 1526 telephone and email information and advices. This represents an increase of over sixteen per cent (16.4%) from 2012/13.

Casework

SSRV continues to provide ongoing casework, assistance and representation on social security issues.

SSRV prioritises assistance to clients who are not receiving any form of income support, those who are unable to advocate for themselves and those who are experiencing other forms of significant disadvantage.

Whilst many SSRV clients consistently request assistance with questions of debt, there have been some notable trends in the reasons for contact with the service. These include:

• Disability Support Pension in relation to the recent changes to eligibility requirements and appeals on the basis of medical assessments and the requirement for applicants to have undergone a “Program of Support”;

• Assistance in seeking the full or partial waiver of compensation preclusion periods, ie. where lump sum TAC or WorkCover payments have been exhausted and our client is destitute.

• Issues to do with complex assessments relating to inherited assets e.g. shares in family properties.

During the reporting period SSRV assisted clients with internal Centrelink appeals (to Authorised Review Officers), obtaining information about their Centrelink file by lodging Freedom of Information applications, prepared Compensation for Detriment for Defective Administration (CDDA) claims and helped clients to negotiate repayment plans with Centrelink’s recovery department.

Legal Assistance

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SSRV also represented a number of clients at the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

SSRV provided expert advice and support to many other community services and supports them to advocate for their clients. SSRV has collaborated with other community legal centres, community health services, hospitals, financial counselling services, disability and homelessness advocacy services and other community organisations.

Overall SSRV provided assistance to 1,195 individual clients in the 2013/2014 year, similar to the 2012/13 year.

The service opened 120 casework files during the reporting period for matters requiring more intensive casework assistance. Of the 89 cases closed during the period, 53 involved up to 5 hours work, 24 involved between six to twenty hours of work and 12 involved over twenty hours of work There were 17 cases involving representation for clients at the Social Security Appeals Tribunal or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This represents an increase in our Tribunal advocacy and representation than in previous years.

Looking forward • SSRV is looking forward to continuing

its Clinical Legal Program and we want to thank the Melbourne Law School, the Legal Services Board and the Nelson Alexander Foundation for supporting our clinical program. We are partnering with Deakin University to offer a summer program for their November 2014 – March 2015 Trimester and we are hoping to build on this success in 2015 with other law schools.

• SSRV continues to strengthen our relationships with the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to ensure that the needs of our clients and those of the Tribunals are being met.

• SSRV retains strong links with the National Welfare Rights Network, and other like-minded organisations including the Social Security Entitlements Clinic at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA).

SSRV continues to provide ongoing casework assistance and representation on social security issues.

Legal Assistance continued...

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Client Gender

45%Male

55%Female

65+ 13%

41-64 53%

26-40 24%

18-25 10%

Client Age Range

The numbers and graphs on the following pages outline some of the demographics of and issues raised by SSRV’s clients.  

 

Legal Services At A Glance

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Rural 30%

Metro 70%

MornPen 13%

Gippsland 21%

North East 13%

Central 20%

West Vic 15%

West Coast 7%

Geelong 11%

South 31%

East 13%

Outer Nth 17%

Inner East 3%

Inner Nth 15%

West 14%

Inner 7%

Client Locations

Rural Clients by Region

Metro Clientele

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New Start 23%

Family 11%

Carer/DSP 45%

Age 10%

Student 11%

Admin 13%

Debt 16%

Eligibility 30%

Rate/Pay 41%

Single/C 11%

Waiting 27%

CompPre 6%

Income 39%

Assets 17%

Inquiries to SSRV by Payment TypesThis graph represents the Centrelink payment type that clients are seeking information and advice about. Note that similar payments have been folded into the five major areas (e.g. family includes Family Tax Benefit A and B, Parenting Payment and Baby Bonus).

Presenting Issues raised by clients The following graph displays the type of issues that clients are seeking assistance about.

*Please note that in the following graphs only the top five issues raised are represented, with similar issues rolled into one category.

* *The following graphs are a subset of the “Presenting Issues” graph

Rate/Pay IssuesThe Rate/Pay graph explains the types of issues that arise in relation to the calculation of payments and when they are to be paid.

Waiting = Waiting period – how long must a person wait before a payment may commence.

CompPre = Compensation Preclusion Period effect and calculation.

Single/C = The difference in rate between single and couples.

Income = Income test issues

Assets = Assets test issues

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Study 6%

NZ/O/S 12%

MemCoup 16%

Care/DSP 52%

Activity 14%

Waiver 9%

Recovery 32%

Quant 25%

Prosec 7%

Exist 27%

Priv/FOI 13%

JCA/JSA 21%

Treatm 24%

Reviews 35%

CDDA 7%

Eligibility IssuesCare/DSP = Issues about being granted DSP or Carer payments

MemCoup = Issues where Centrelink has deemed someone to be a “member of a couple” and the client disputes this determination

Activity = Issues raised by people (usually on Newstart Allowance) relating to activity testing and activity participation

NZ/O/S = New Zealand citizens or eligibility for those outside Australia

Study = Student based issues including: length of study, enrolment and full-time status

DebtsRecovery = Issues to do with the recovery of debts and negotiating repayment of debts with Centrelink.

Waiver = Issues relating to clients requesting that their Centrelink debt not be recovered because the recovery of the debt is not in the public interest (e.g. due to personal or special circumstances).

Exist = Where clients are challenging the existence of a debt .

Prosec = Possible criminal prosecution of clients in relation to a debt .

Quant = Where clients are challenging the Quantity (amount) of the debt.

Administrative IssuesJCA/JSA = Job capacity assessment for Newstart Allowance and Disability Support Pension applicants and issues to do with Job Services Australia and the Disability Employment Services.

Treatment = Callers who are dissatisfied with the level and type of service received from Centrelink.

Privacy/FOI = People who are seeking access to their information on Centrelink files through Freedom of Information, or people who are concerned that Centrelink has breached their privacy.

CDDA = Compensation for Detriment due to Defective Administration. This is for people whose situations cannot be resolved through the usual appeal process, for example, they have received incorrect advice from Centrelink.

Reviews = Inquiries about appealing Centrelink decisions.

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Whilst many of SSRV’s cases are not high profile, they are significant to the individuals involved. Furthermore the immense importance of the issues that often underlie and intertwine with them make our work of great importance to our community as a whole. The following case studies demonstrate the significant assistance that SSRV provides to vulnerable Victorians.

(Please note: Clients’ permission was obtained to tell these stories and names have been changed.)

CASE STUDY 1: Disability Support Pension

Barry first approached SSRV in August 2013. He had experienced long term depression and anxiety and was on the NewStart Allowance (NSA). Barry had made multiple applications for the DSP but these applications were rejected. His last application was two years earlier in 2011.

After many letters and phone calls explaining the difference for Centrelink purposes between a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist and general practitioners, and his treating psychologist, Barry was finally able to get a report from a psychiatrist stating that he had a severe impairment attracting 20 points on an impairment table, qualifying him for the DSP.

Initially his new application was rejected, and then after internal review it was accepted.

Barry then asked if we could get the difference in payments from 2011. We offered no guarantees but put in a claim for compensation caused by detrimental administration (CDDA). We submitted that but for Barry’s Centrelink case officer explaining that he needed to see a psychiatrist his 2011 claim would have succeeded given his medical condition was unchanged.

This argument was successful and Barry received the difference between the NSA and DSP for the period from 2011 and his grant of the DSP in 2013.

Case Studies

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CASE STUDY 2: Special Benefit

Kitty was an overseas ethically Vietnamese student from Taiwan who met a young Chinese man here, developed a relationship and became pregnant. When her family were told of the pregnancy, Kitty was shamed and the family’s support was cut off.

Kitty visited her family and upon return to Australia, she was met by the young man, and quickly realised he was married with young children. Kitty gave birth to a baby girl and then was living on the couch at a friend’s place.

Kitty applied for support for her child who was an Australian. She went to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) on her own. There were a number of factors and assumptions made, including the advice from another agency who had been assisting Kitty. Unfortunately the SSAT made a decision against Kitty. SSRV assisted Kitty with an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and prior to the hearing Kitty’s daughter was granted the Special Benefit, allowing Kitty to work part time as well.

CASE STUDY 3: Carer Payment debt

Brianna applied for a carers allowance and carers payment for her two boys, one of whom was autistic, the other had another learning problem. Her husband had left her and Brianna was juggling work and depression.

Centrelink made some administrative errors and she ended up with a debt of approximately $24,000.00.

At the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) SSRV had the whole debt waived under special circumstance submissions, pointing out the administrative errors. After the SSAT decision the outcome was referred back to the Original Decision Maker to rectify it. Brianna forgot about it, and without further Centrelink action, the Centrelink debt management team then picked the matter up and rang Brianna saying they didn’t care about the SSAT decision and demanded immediate payment. SSRV followed this up with Centrelink and Brianna received an apology for this unprofessional behaviour.

Case Studies continued...

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Community legal education is an essential part of SSRV’s services as it provides our clients and community partners with knowledge and resources to recognise when they have a social security issue and what their options may be for dealing with that issue. It is also an opportunity to promote SSRV services to those who most need it and to further develop relationships with our community partners.

During 2013/2014 year SSRV staff conducted training sessions and workshops to a variety of organisations including:

• Centrelink • Peninsula CLC• City based community legal centres• Action on Disabilities in Ethnic

Communities• Flat Out• Disability Action Resource Unit• Moreland CLC • Financial and Consumer Rights Council• RMIT Masters of Advocacy students• Villamanta CLC• Women & Mentoring • Victoria University Law Students

The content of the sessions was tailored to the requirements of individual organisations and included topics such as identification of social security problems, eligibility for disability support pension and negotiating with Centrelink Debt Management.

SSRV Quarterly Newsletter - Red Tape

Publications play an integral part of SSRV’s legal education program. In 2013/14 SSRV published its regular newsletter, Red Tape six times which covered a variety of topics. Archived copies of Red Tape can be viewed on SSRV’s website, www.ssrv.org.au.

Community Legal Education - Improving Access

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Law Reform & Policy

Media AppearancesSSRV Staff undertook various media activities during the year with the highlights being:

• Interview on 3AW’s drive time program regarding ‘Work for the Dole’

• Participation in MMM’s Drive time national program’s ‘mad minute’ again about ‘Work for the Dole’

“Jobvoice” portal project Over recent years, SSRV clients have reported increasing dissatisfaction with Employment Service Providers (ESPs). SSRV is committed to facilitating a different approach to manage these complaints about Employment Service Providers, by providing a voice to job seekers and empowering them as users of employment services. The establishment of the portal responds to an unmet need for job seekers to have a voice about their experiences with Employment Service Providers. The user-driven technological portal will enable streams of feedback from users, service providers and SSRV clients about social security services and in particular employment services. We are very grateful to the Legal Services Board (Victoria) the Ian Potter Foundation and the R E Ross Trust for funding this innovative project, which is due to be launched on World Social Justice Day, 20 February 2015.

During 2013/2014, there has been considerable progress made with the project. An advisory board was formed in March to provide expert advice to the project and is comprised of employment service providers, a social security academic, a social security barrister and a researcher on social security matters.

The Advisory Board had their first meeting in March and provided valuable input into the portal project particularly around the recruitment of job seeker focus groups and a discussion about what format the job seeker website should take.

As part of the development of the portal, input has been sought from focus groups comprised of unemployed job seekers and SSRV clients.

The unemployed job seekers focus group met in early April and identified several issues including:

• high levels of dissatisfaction with most providers because of poor service provision and the consistent frustration over the complaint process;

• the system was designed not to find the job seeker a suitable job but to dissuade them from accessing social security; and

• lack of choice of service providers.

Some participants did speak about what made a ‘good’ service provider. These service providers showed empathy towards the job seekers and their job search

Moreover, the job seekers felt that the providers treated them as individuals, not as ‘numbers’.

The focus group emphasised the need for unemployed job seekers to tell their stories about their Employment Service Providers – good or bad, to highlight and inform other unemployed job seekers of the performances of these providers. As a result, this focus group could see the benefit of having an independent portal where they can voice their stories.

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SSRV also sought additional input by means of “The Job Seeker Portal Project Survey Monkey” and below are some highlights of our survey (a total of 23 responses).

On average, the job seekers surveyed had used 2 to 3 job service providers. 71% of respondents revealed that they had negative experiences with their job service providers. Because:

• their case workers did not know what to do with them; and

• some case workers would talk down to them; and some case workers were aggressive in attitude.

Despite the gloom, one job seeker mentioned that his/her Case Manager supported him/her to stay positive throughout the job search. Despite the negative experiences, the respondents did not do anything about them. This is because the job seekers were unaware of their rights or they feared repercussions. However, for those respondents who did complain to their local MPs and/or supervisors of the job service providers, they found that the outcome was “not helpful”. When it comes to the job service providers finding jobs for the unemployed job seekers, the respondents stated that the former should have:

• clear, effective communication, understanding of different situations, and a range of options for job seekers;

• ways to keep the job seekers motivated despite the knockbacks; and

• make genuine offers of training specific to needs and gaps in the job market.

All of this feedback supports the need for the portal.

National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN)SSRV has continued its involvement with the NWRN (the peak body for welfare rights services around Australia) through:

• Attendance at the annual NWRN National Conference including Annual General Meeting in Brisbane in August 2013.

• Two SSRV staff members were elected to the NWRN Executive and this required attendance at a number of meetings in Sydney as well as monthly meetings by teleconference.

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SSRV Para-legal Volunteer Program

SSRV Volunteer Program was formally established in 2011/2012 with the generous support of the Sidney Myer Foundation and the Nelson Alexander Foundation. During 2013/2014 the Volunteer Program has continued to thrive and SSRV is grateful for the dedication of our wonderful law student volunteers who provide a significant contribution to SSRV’s core services. Over seventy volunteers have now passed through the program and SSRV’s clientele are better served as a result.

Our volunteers undertake much of our intake work, particularly via the Telephone Information Service. This year a number of volunteers graduated to writing appeal submissions to Authorised Review Officers and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. Under the close supervision of SSRV staff, volunteers have attended SSAT hearings and continue to increase their practical legal skills. Volunteers develop an understanding of the values that underpin the community legal sector. The volunteers below undertook at least five advice sessions in the 2013/2014 year.

Other AssistanceThank you to the following organisations and people who have so generously assisted SSRV in the past twelve months with pro bono advice, referrals and in-kind contributions:

Joan Thong - Administration James Joseph – Case assistance and advice Martin Pike - Social Media

December 2013 Intake: Alice HoysteadChris McDermottFreda Chang Jacob BaileyJess JohnJey JeybalaNavee Singh

Continuing Para-Legal Volunteers: Shirlin Wu

Nadisa Kankanige Daisy Brown

Gabrielle ColmanJasmina Davis

Andrew EllisSarah Fong

Hannah MorganShannen de la Motte

Stephanie TenazasAndrew Thompson

Cynthia VasanthanathanFreya Yang

Bobbie Murphy Nyssa Meyer

Jessica NguyenJacky Wong

Aubree Garber

SSRV Volunteers

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Volunteer Program ExperienceMathew Giuliano

My experience at Social Security Rights Victoria, over the past 5 months has been interesting, challenging and fulfilling. I say interesting as I have been able to meet and work with such friendly and dedicated people, challenging in a sense that I have been able to assist those from such diverse backgrounds and cultures, and finally fulfilling as it has allowed me and my colleagues to assist those who genuinely need our assistance.

When I had first heard about the opportunity available at Social Security Rights Victoria I was hesitant and uncertain given I did not have a wealth of knowledge on social security law. However through induction sessions and the help from supervisors I was able to gain an extensive knowledge on the relevant laws and guidelines.

My experience with SSRV has seen me work on the advice lines, answering calls and having the first direct contact with clients. Through this contact, it has helped me develop my communicational skills and also assisted me in understanding and resolving legal issues.

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Shaine Hobbs

SSRV Financial Statements

Statement by Members of the Board of ManagementThe Board of Management of Social Security Rights Victoria Inc. have determined that the association is not a reporting entity.

The Board of Management have determined that this special purpose financial report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the financial statements.

In the opinion of the Board of Management the financial report as set out on pages 22 to 27:

a) Presents a true and fair view of the financial position of Social Security Rights Victoria Inc. as at 30 June 2014 and its performance for the year ended on that date.

b) At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Social Security Rights Victoria Inc. will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Management and is signed for and on behalf of the Board of Management by:

Statement of Profit or LossFor the Year Ended 30 June 2014

Income 2014 2013Grant - Attorney General - Commonwealth 199,080 195,311

Grant - Attorney General - State 36,900 38,310

Project income 160,572 132,127

Interest received 4,833 8,120

401,385 373,868

ExpenditureSalaries 199,730 240,402Superannuation contributions 17,532 17,564Workcover 2,877 1,681Annual leave expense 3,430 2,198Long service leave 3,708 (16,206)Staff related expenses 7,210 6,368Premises 40,812 38,059Office overheads 12,881 11,718Communications 10,824 13,526Finance & accountability 11,610 38,662Insurances 1,287 925Library & resources 386 2,929Travel 947 1,977Programme & planning 15,106 15,382Depreciation 7,019 9,104

335,359 384,289

Income tax expense (Note 1(e)) - -

Surplus / (Deficit) after income tax 66,026 (10,421)Retained surpluses at beginning of financial year 25,736 36,157Retained profits at the end of the financial year 91,762 25,736

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Assets and liabilities statement

2014 2013ASSETS Note $ $CURRENT ASSETSCash and cash equivalents 2 250,035 265,597

Prepayments 1,633 2,443

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 251,668 268,040

NON-CURRENT ASSETSPlant and equipment 4 2,915 9,935

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

2,915 9,935

TOTAL ASSETS 254,583 277,975

LIABILITIESCURRENT LIABILITIESTrade and other payables 5 121,412 211,969

Employee benefits 6 41,409 40,270

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 162,821 252,239

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIESTOTAL LIABILITIES 162,821 252,239

NET ASSETS 91,762 25,736

MEMBERS’ FUNDSRetained surpluses 91,762 25,736TOTAL MEMBERS’ EQUITY 91,762 25,736

Statement of Cash Flows

2014 2013

Note $ $

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Receipts from customers 396,552 293,518

Payments to suppliers and employees

(416,946) (390,732)

Interest received 4,832 8,120

Net cash (used in) operating activities

3 (15,562) (89,094)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

- -

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

- -

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held

(15,562) (89,094)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

265,597 354,691

Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial year

2 250,035 265,597

Notes to the Financial Statements1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Preparation This financial report is a special purpose financial report prepared in order to satisfy the financial reporting require-ments of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012. The Board has determined that the not-for-profit Associa-tion is not a reporting entity. The financial report has been prepared on an accruals and is based on historic costs and does not take into account changing money values or, except where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current assets. The following significant accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period unless otherwise stated, have been adopted in the preparation of this financial report.

(b) Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation. The depreciable amount of all property, plant and equip-ment is depreciated over the useful lives of the assets to the Association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Leasehold improvements are amortised over the shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the esti-mated useful lives of the improvements.

(c) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid in-vestments with original maturities of three months or less.

(d) Provisions Provisions are recognised when the Association has a le-gal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that outflow can be reliably measured.

Provisions are measured at the present value of manage-ment’s best estimate of the outflow required to settle the obligation at the end of the reporting period. The discount rate used is a pre tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The increase in the provision due to the unwinding of the discount is taken to finance costs in the statement of profit or loss.

(e) Income Tax The Association is exempt from income tax under Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

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(f) Leases Leases of fixed assets where substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the asset, but not the legal ownership that are transferred to the Association are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalised by recording an asset and a liability at the lower of the amounts equal to the fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments, including any guaranteed residual values. Lease payments are allocated between the reduction of the lease liability and the lease interest expense for that period. Leased assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives where it is likely that the Association will obtain ownership of the asset or over the term of the lease. Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all of the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are charged as expenses on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease term.

(g) Revenue and other income Revenue is recognised when the amount of the revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and specific criteria relat-ing to the type of revenue as noted below, has been satisfied. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and is presented net of returns, discounts and rebates. All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST). Rendering of services Revenue in relation to rendering of services is recognised depends on whether the outcome of the services can be measured reliably. If this is the case then the stage of completion of the services is used to determine the appropriate level of revenue to be recog-nised in the period. If the outcome cannot be reliably measured then revenue is recog-nised to the extent of expenses recognised that are recoverable.

(h) Goods and Services Tax (GST) Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recover-able from the Australian Tax Office. In these circumstances, the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables in the statement of assets and liabilities are shown inclusive of GST.

2. Cash and cash equivalents

2014 2013

$ $

Cash on hand - 50Cash at bank 12,515 2,097Short-term bank deposits 237,000 263,000Other cash and cash equivalents 520 500

250,035 265,597

3. Cash Flow Information

(a) Reconciliation of result for the year to cashflows from operating activities Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

2014 2013

$ $

Loss for the year 66,026 (10,421)

Cash flows excluded from profit attributable to operating activities Non-cash flows in profit:- depreciation 7,019 9,104

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of purchase and disposal of subsidiaries:- (increase)/decrease in trade and

other receivables- 5,500

- (increase)/decrease in prepayments

811 (80)

- increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

(90,557) (79,189)

- increase/(decrease) in provisions 1,139 (14,008)Cashflow from operations (15,562) (89,094)

4 Plant and equipment

Furniture, fixture and fittings

At cost 21,091 21,091Accumulated depreciation (18,604) (16,016)Total furniture, fixture and fittings 2,487 5,075Office equipment

At cost 14,923 14,923Accumulated depreciation (14,495) (11,688)Total office equipment 428 3,235Computer equipment

At cost 11,786 11,786Accumulated depreciation (11,786) (10,160)Total computer equipment - 1,626

Total property, plant and equipment 2,915 9,936

5. Trade and other payables

2014 2013

CURRENT $ $Other payables 30,820 19,605Grants in advance for specific projects (Non VLA)

- -

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Grant funding unspent for specific projects (Non VLA)

80,793 184,732

Grant funding unspent (VLA funded)

Allowable 9,799 7,632Capital expenditure

121,412 211,969

6. Provisions

Annual leave 15,966 12,535Long service leave 25,443 21,735Extended sick leave - 6,000

41,409 40,270

8. Capital and Leasing Commitments

(a) Operating Leases Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases:

- not later than one year- later than one year- later than five years

1,718 33,1303,437 5,155

- -5,155 38,285

An operating lease had been taken out for the PABX phone system which commenced in July 2008 for a term of 60 months. In July 2013 a new lease was entered into for a new PABX system for a term of 60 months.

The lease of the office premises commenced in June 2012 for a term of 36 months. Lease payments are increased on an annual basis to reflect market rentals.

9. Contingencies

In the opinion of the Committee of Management, the Association did not have any contingencies at 30 June 2014 (30 June 2013: None).

10. Events Occurring After the Reporting Date

No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may significantly affect the opera-tions of the Association, the results of those operations or the state of affairs of the Association in future financial years.

11. Economic Dependency

The association is primarily funded by the Federal and State Attorney Generals Departments Community Legal Service Program 58.8% this year and 62.5% last year. Without the continued support of the Departments, the association would not be able to provide its services to the community.

The association has a funding agreement in place with the depart-ments until 30 June 2015 and there are no indications that these arrangements will be discontinued thereafter.

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Social Security Rights Victoria (Inc) is a community legal centre specialising in social security advice and advocacy.

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Incorporation Number: A0015471X