b'BANKSIA GARDENS COMMUNITY SERVICESBanksia Gardens(Photo: Meredith OShea)In the heart of 2020, when Melburnian workers wereIn 2020, it became a Covid-testing site, and its food parcel confined to their homes, there was an exception. Roughlyprogram was also in high demand. And thats all before half of the staff at Banksia Gardens continued to work toyou get to the fact that Banksia Gardens, with Newsboys provide an essential service. Foundation funding, provides an essential safe haven for the local kids who may not have that basic necessity at As a community organisation, you know youre doinghome. It provides tangible help for those in crisis and it something right when a Government battling a deadlyprovides something less tangible: a sense of self-belief, of pandemic deems you are an essential service. But itsworthiness, of a future.really not a surprise.When you visit Banksia Gardens, you come away going: Banksia Gardens is almost literally the heart ofthis place is amazing! The energy! The staff! It doesnt Broadmeadows. Nestled among the low-rise dwellingsmatter when you walk in, Chief Executive Officer Gina of the public housing estate, it boasts more than fourDougall enthused.decades of helping the local residents and others struggling with aspects of life to find their way.Banksia gardens celebrated its 40 thanniversary last year. One of the 46 programs the organisation runsone that That can mean all sorts of things for the communitiesNewsboys has funded and championedfocuses on the that Banksia Gardens assists. With local residentsessential delivery of education and after-school programs comprising many different cultures, lived experiences andfor the local kids. This program sees about 250 young often diverse hardships or challenges, Banksia providespeople a week working with tutors, getting assistance everything from citizenship test training to knittingwith homework, or, if theyre not in a place where they and playgroups. It does award-winning work in adultcan truly focus on study, supported in other ways, through education, sustainability and combating domestic violence.12NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020'