Four pillars of success

Annual Report 2018–19

Social Employment inclusion

Education Independence © Vision 2019 ABN 67 108 391 831 Unless otherwise stated, the information in this report has been compiled as at 30 June 2019. While every effort has been made to ensure that the report is accurate, Vision Australia Limited makes no warranty about its accuracy or completeness. To the extent permitted by law, Vision Australia Limited, its directors, officers, employees and agents exclude all liability (whether in negligence or otherwise) for: • any error or inaccuracy in, or omission from, the report • any loss or damage suffered by any person, directly or indirectly, through use of the report, including reliance upon the information contained in the report, and any donation decisions made on the basis of its content.

Design, layout and editing by Andrew Pegler Media Reading braille image sourced from brailleworks.com Contents

Message from the Chair and CEO ...... 2 Guided by clients ...... 3 Vision Australia 2018–2019 highlights ...... 4 2018–19 in numbers ...... 6 Education ...... 7 Employment ...... 10 Independence ...... 13 Vision Store ...... 15 Social inclusion ...... 17 Achieving success ...... 19 Our people ...... 21 Your support empowered more people ...... 23 Message from the Chair and CEO

The past year has been a We are innovating where we challenging one for Vision Australia, can make a real difference, and as the continued roll-out of the ReadySET tool is helping our individualised funding schemes clients win better NDIS packages sheds light on the future for our more smoothly. The importance clients and the organisation. of technology in the hands of our As we have reported in previous clients increases constantly, and the years, we have been investing acquisition of Quantum has greatly strategically in people, brand and increased the range and skills across technology in anticipation of a our retail offering. broader, more sophisticated market for the provision of services to Australians who are blind or have low vision. It has become increasingly obvious that a different reality is emerging. Pressure within the NDIS, in particular, has meant that our clients often struggle to secure the packages they need with the services they want, funded in a way that covers our costs. We hope and expect that, over time, client needs and NDIS and MyAgedCare funding will converge, but, in the meantime, we must reluctantly acknowledge that we can sustainably support only a simpler model of the infrastructure we have built over the past five years. The deficit we are reporting in this Annual Report is part of this transition and is not something we take lightly. While we continue the adjustment to this sustainable model, we recognise that our focus on Education, Employment, Independence and Social Inclusion remains the right framework to allow us to deliver on our mission.

Above : Ron Hooton, CEO (left) with Andrew Moffat, Chair (right). 2 Guided by clients Our mission is to support people who are blind or have low vision to live the life they choose. After a year of such challenges, Clients are at the centre of it is even more important to everything we do. They are acknowledge and thank our staff the reason we exist. That’s and volunteers including the Board. why we’re committed to In particular, we farewell Heith building a lifelong positive Mackay-Cruise after six years of partnership with people who outstanding service as a Director, are blind or have low vision. noting that Heith will continue his role as Chair of the Vision Australia We develop a deep Trust over the next year. understanding of each client and their family, learning We acknowledge the efforts of all what they hope to achieve members of the Client Reference in life – such as attaining Group, whose insights and passion an education, gaining greatly assist the quality of our meaningful employment, decision making. participating in activities they Of course, without the support of enjoy, or living confidently our donors, we would not be here. and independently. It is thanks to their ongoing We also engage with our generosity that we are able to community as a whole. We’ve provide services, deliver programs engaged through research and support people who are blind into how we can better link or have low vision. education with job readiness. We thank all of you, our members, We have listened to the views as we navigate through this period of puppy carers about our of transition, and look forward to dog training program. We working with you to support those have also developed new tools who need us. to measure what we do and offer clients structured ways to provide feedback early on, during and after they use our services and supports. The way we work with people and interact with each Andrew Moffat Ron Hooton other is driven by our values: Chair CEO person centred, accountable, Vision Australia Vision Australia collaborative, commercially- focused and agile.

3 2018–19 highlights

Participants in our new nine-month youth leadership program – Learn, Engage, Act, Perform (LEAP) – joined 200 young leaders from across Australia at a four-day leadership camp. It was a great opportunity for them to connect with each other and share common experiences.

Children who are blind or have low vision, their families and the wider community look for hundreds of thousands of Easter eggs at the annual Vision Australia Bendigo Easter Egg Hunt.

Moving away from CDs at the end of 2018, our Library introduced clients to the new and exclusive Envoy Connect audio player. The solar powered device features a huge memory yet fits easily in the palm of your hand and, best of all, it’s extremely affordable.

Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer Ron Hooton, with Board member Bill Jolley and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg inspecting the new $50 note at Vision Australia’s Kooyong Centre. The $50 note became the third Australian banknote to include tactile features.

4 Adventurer, Nick Gleeson, receiving a Vision Australia Award. The awards honour those who help to make a substantial difference through their commitment to Vision Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs hold Australia’s mission to ensure their inaugural Puppyhood to Partnership people who are blind or have event, celebrating the matching of Seeing low vision can live the life Eye Dogs with their handlers. From left to they choose. Other Vision right, handlers Claire, Mark, Debra and Australia Award winners were Jennifer and their Seeing Eye Dogs Willow, long-standing Queensland Miller, Royce and Jedda. volunteers, Debbie and Ashley Lenehan, the Black and White Committee, and performers, Then Governor General Peter singer Sylvie Paladino, and the Cosgrove and Chair of the National Boys Choir. Board, Andrew Moffat with Jennifer Smith, Refurbishment Project Manager at the opening of the refurbished Thousands of people again flocked to Kooyong site. the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for the 81st Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight. This Christmas Eve tradition raises funds to support services for children who are blind or have low vision and their families.

5 2018–19 in numbers

Volunteer 25,435 2,857 1.13m hours Vision Australia Volunteers clients received 392,816 hours of service 96% 15.4% Client satisfaction of employees are blind or have low vision 12,139 Clients accessed 55,674 library services 70,000 Pairs of glasses and Print pages converted into vision aids funded accessible formats: by NSW Spectacles Program 730,719 • 107,000 to braille Books, magazines, • 10,000 to e-text newspapers and • 5,000 to large print podcasts circulated • 2,050 to tactual graphics 3,300 audio hours produced from 78,300 pages of 2,224 +9.1 printed materials Employee net Children received promoter score Live audio described 49,716 153 performances hours of service

6 Education

A strong education is essential At the heart of our services, will be for a more successful journey a forward-looking digital platform through life connecting families, therapists, educators, other stakeholders and, Vision Australia’s four priority areas most importantly, young people are closely aligned across the themselves. It will assist people to organisation, but nowhere more anticipate the paths, opportunities than in our services for children, and challenges ahead, and help young adults and their families. them gain the vital skills we know We’ve worked hard to deepen our will lead to Education, Employment, understanding of our younger clients Independence, and Social Inclusion and their families. in the 21st Century. This year, we’ve been setting the foundations for an enhanced School holiday fun service for children, youth and There’s always something to look families built around the principles forward to during school holidays of the Expanded Core Curriculum at Vision Australia. and employability. Based on extensive consultation and expert While it may seem like all fun and contemporary thinking, our future games, our teams always ensure services will focus on building the plenty of educational activities are life skills of children and young woven through events to ensure adults that enable meaningful young clients are developing skills community participation and, and learning. for many, employment. In Newcastle, children aged between five and 18 and living with varying levels of blindness or low vision, jumped behind the wheel of a go-kart, thanks to a school holiday program offered by our Central Coast and Hunter region. Following the go-karting, participants then took part in the ‘Healthy Change Challenge’, a Newcastle-based initiative aimed at supporting people with a disability to be better educated about health and wellbeing.

Left : Young client, Noah, trying his hand at boxing as part of the ‘Healthy Change Challenge’ at a Central Coast and Hunter region school holiday program. 7 Children between the ages of Adult learning at five and 10 in the Sydney South and South West Region had the tech days opportunity to ride a horse with Vision Australia is making it easier the help of a guide, and learn more for our adult clients to learn about about the equine industry. the latest technology that enables Meanwhile, in Parramatta, them to easily access information enthusiastic eight to 10-year-olds and entertainment, connect joined us in the playroom as intern with loved ones and live more coding programmers. The group had independently at home and out- loads of fun programming a robot and-about in the community. named Dash, and attempting to David Woodbridge, Access navigate it through the maze and Technology Adviser, hosted the hit the target. first of the Tech Friday sessions in our Parramatta office. Following Visiting schools their popularity, more of our Access Technology Specialists followed suit In Queensland, Vision Australia with Tech Tuesdays commencing was awarded a renewed three- at our Sunshine, and year contract to work with school Coorparoo, Queensland offices, and children. Staff visited 570 students occasional events held in some of in 330 schools across the state our other regions. this year; providing occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech The information sessions showcase therapy, orientation and a different product each time, mobility services and access including mainstream technology technology support. with inbuilt accessibility features from the likes of Apple, Samsung Further Education and Google. Bursary Program In 2019, 20 tertiary students received bursaries for technology – monitors, Apple devices, smartphones, braille notetakers, access technology software, music production software – to assist their study. Bursary recipients were enrolled across courses ranging from Law, IT, Sports Science, Fitness and Health Science to Music, Education, Design and Medicine.

8 How many fingers can I see?

Amazing Artist Mia Armsworth severely reduced central vision, no depth perception and struggles to NSW Vision Australia client, Mia focus on objects at a distance. Armsworth, had her art featured in the 2019 ARTEXPRESS exhibition at the Diagnosed with the condition at Art Gallery of NSW. The prestigious age four, rather than allowing it to annual exhibition showcases the best dampen her enthusiasm for art, she works of art from NSW Higher School believes it’s helped her gain a better Certificate (HSC) Visual Arts students. understanding of her passion. Mia’s work ‘How many fingers can She’s come to realise that, “everybody I see?’ is a photo piece that uses sees things differently and art allows deconstruction and collage to us to depict that, and let other people encourage people to reconsider their interpret it themselves”. ideas about living with blindness or Mia moved to earlier this low vision. year to study a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Mia hopes it will “encourage people Arts) at RMIT, Melbourne. to step back and think a bit more “I think the idea of somebody with about how they approach and behave a vision impairment studying fine around people who have a vision arts might seem strange to people impairment”. at first, but I’m really excited about it”, Mia has rare North Carolina Macular she said. Dystrophy which means she has

Below : Mia standing next to her work at the Art Gallery of NSW.

9 Employment

We’ve been running innovative build ‘soft’ employment skills like programs to both introduce our self-confidence, communication clients to the world of work and help and leadership. develop the skills and qualities they As part of LEAP, participants need to find employment. work with their Vision Australia By continuing to foster a committed primary service provider to identify workforce, valuing volunteers, employability skills such as an and offering clients mentoring, elevator pitch, vocal coaching leadership programs, new resources, and executing a fundraising plan. job seeking assistance, or even Professional mentoring and fashion advice; we’re aiming to monthly webinars are also part see more people achieve their of the program. employment goals. And, we’ve Participants also joined around 200 found better ways to measure how young leaders from across Australia satisfied clients are with our services. at a four-day leadership camp in the mid-year school holidays. It Career sampler day was a great opportunity for them On 9 February 2019, Sydney’s North to connect with each other and and North West and Inner West share common experiences, such as and West regions held a ‘Career overcoming barriers and working to Sampler’ event. reach their potential. In attendance were 70 people — mostly aged eight to 18; with Back to work parents, grandparents and After 25 years out of the workforce a large contingent of vision raising her family, Jan came to support teachers. our Kensington employment service A panel of experts, leaders in the for support. blindness and low-vision community We provided help in writing resumes and a team of mentors, provided and cover letters, conducted mock advice from a wealth of experience. interviews, and delivered adaptive Participants connected with adults technology training and assistance who have established careers to with applying for roles. hear insights about pathways Jan secured a role with the National to success. Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the benefits have been life LEAP – Learn, Engage, changing. She’s achieved financial Act and Perform independence, travels to and from work, and loves being an active LEAP is our new nine-month youth member of the workforce. leadership program. Aimed at 14–17 year olds, it’s designed to help

10 Graduate program Building Stronger going strong Futures We delivered another successful Building Stronger Futures is a new graduate program in 2018, with job employment program targeting placements at Channel 31, Bupa and young people. Ninety-nine people WISE Employment. Two graduates aged 15–25 from across the eastern secured ongoing roles; one at Vision seaboard have already participated, Australia, the other with Bupa. as well as some in Bendigo. In 2019, we have another They attended intensive pre- three graduates working in our employment workshops, received fundraising, client services and problem-solving skills and communications areas. concentrated job search support. More than 50 per cent went on Cornerstone and to engage in a new activity — employment, work experience or VAMP further study. We launched Cornerstone, an online hub for young people. Three day ‘boot camp’ Cornerstone offers skill development In May 2019, we ran a pre- resources to help users achieve their employment ‘boot camp’ at our employment goals. Barrett Street, Kensington VIC office We also introduced Vision Australia’s focused primarily on encouraging Mentoring Program (VAMP), confidence and motivation in older connecting young job seekers with clients (aged 40+). professional mentors, who help The interactive program them develop confidence and skills. focuses on developing skills needed for the workplace, using adaptive technology, and maintaining motivation. Dress for success Melbourne’s South East region employment services now offer clients styling and make-up support, including one outfit per year, to help them look and feel confident when attending interviews, starting a new role or actively looking for work. Above : Jan loves her new job with the NDIA. 11 A kickstart to Nic’s career

Vision Australia’s graduate The two-day workshop looked at program gets Nic a job he loves approaches to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff, clients Nic Hoskins, age 24, could not be and volunteers. happier working for Bupa Health Insurance in Brisbane, Queensland. Then it was off to Bupa for the final three months where Nic’s main task When someone new starts in a was to help Bupa provide extra support customer facing role, Nic trains them to call centre staff during peak times. on the company’s products, the Nic’s hard work paid off. The internship systems they’ll use and the support is over but he’s still at Bupa. they can expect. During the Career Start program, A Vision Australia program, supported Nic was mentored by Vision Australia by the Bill and Jean Henson Charitable Paediatric Counsellor, Rebecca Kent. Trust, helped Nic get a job he loves. They talked about his career trajectory When he left Griffith University and Rebecca really helped Nic develop with a Bachelor of Psychological his professional skillset and mindset. Science, Nic like many graduates, had Nic is truly grateful for her support and trouble finding work. Months later, a that of his workmates, Linda, Julie Ann, Queensland Health — Vision Australia Ann and Hayley. initiative assisted him with an office traineeship. This position helped Nic He says, “If you’re at uni, definitely get his confidence back and built his look into Vision Australia’s Career Start professional network, but he wanted program. And if you get in, make the more. Four months in, Nic learned he most of it. Take every opportunity.” was one of three graduates chosen for Vision Australia’s year-long Career Start program. Nic started at Vision Australia in 2018. Below : Nic Hoskins in his role at He helped the team prepare for the Bupa Health Insurance. NDIS; talking to new clients about their needs and expectations. He also assisted clients accessing Vision Australia services through My Aged Care funding, to identify services that best suited their goals. Nic represented Vision Australia at several community events, including the Innovations and Aged Care Summit organised by Redland City Council. A real highlight was flying down to Melbourne to participate in creating Vision Australia’s RUOK365 strategy.

12 Independence

We’ve been working hard on ways • The team are also trialling and to help clients gain and build developing new methods for on their independence. From transcribing complex science, strengthening connections with technology, engineering, and other organisations, to creative math (STEM) material for uses of technology — right through university students. This year to daily living skills like navigating they converted more than transport, exercising and cooking. 15,500 print pages of student From October 2018 to May 2019, material into braille, tactual and nearly 200 people re-engaged with electronic text, for 27 universities us to discover new technologies, around Australia. aids and supports to improve • More than 100 Vision Australia independence and help them live clients used the Federal the life they choose. Government-funded, free personal support service. More Providing access to than 15,000 print pages were converted into audio, braille, information large print, or electronic text, Ensuring people who are including recipes, novels, labels, blind or have low vision have maps, children’s books, music access to information is key to and instruction manuals. their independence. • In partnership with Australia This year Vision Australia’s audio Post, we provided braille letters and transcription teams dispatched from Santa to young clients. 3,200 master and copy requests to 355 clients, organisations and educational institutions. • Our transcription team continues to be a leader in braille music. Thanks to the research and development of new software and production methods, they’ve converted more than 3,000 print pages into braille music this year.

Right : Reading braille – Vision Australia’s transcription team make thousands of print pages available to blind or low-vision people. 13 Adam cooks up a storm Since becoming totally blind 15 years ago, Adam Smith from the Murrumbidgee Hume region had not been able to cook or prepare a meal. He recently participated in weekly cooking sessions, where he enjoyed his increasing independence. Before long, Adam met his goal of cooking a meal for himself and his family.

Right : Adam cooks a meal for his family at home on the barbeque.

Mobility Training Centre Our world-class Leigh Garwood Mobility Training Centre is used throughout the entire learning life of our dogs, and by Vision Australia clients: • It is used to teach young pups the foundations of becoming a Seeing Eye Dog, beginning with guiding and obedience training. • We use it to teach more challenging concepts to both our dogs and clients. This includes navigating a railway platform and getting on and off a train, stairs and escalators, as well as off-leash recall. • We host information sessions to recruit new puppy carers and train our volunteer puppy carers. • It is also used as a controlled, safe environment for children and adults who are blind or have low vision to develop and practise their mobility skills.

Right: A Seeing Eye Dog recruit with trainer, Carly, learns the art of getting on a train at the Leigh 14 Garwood Mobility Centre. Right : Vision Australia client, Norma, enjoys the help provided by staff at Vision Store.

Vision Store

Vision Australia is committed to Our most popular items include: providing blind and low vision • Orcam and IrisVision community with a wide range of wearable solutions daily living aids and assistive technology to enable them to live • Vision Australia large-print the life they choose. calendars Technology is one of the most • Olitech large-button 3G phone important ways we can level the • Talking keyring clock playing field for clients, particularly • Explore 8 handheld in our priority areas of independence, digital magnifier. employment, education and social inclusion. Vision Australia is an approved Department of Veterans’ Affairs And we don’t just provide equipment; (DVA) provider for the Rehabilitation we combine it with expertise. Appliances program, low vision clinics, Our specialist team of retail staff, allied health services and library occupational therapists, orthoptists services. This year we were proud to and other allied health practitioners, arrange support and Vision Store bring assistive equipment expertise products to make the lives of more and guidance to clients’ homes, than 5,000 veterans easier. workplaces and communities. Our Sale profits return to the Vision staff work with clients to find the best Australia community; supporting solution that supports them to make people who are blind or have low the best use of their remaining vision, vision to regain and retain their or compensate for their blindness. independence. Having the support of knowledgeable staff is important for clients navigating the sheer volume of items available to them. Key statistics In fact, Vision Store is now a leading • 40,000 orders distributed national supplier of around 2,000 blind nationally from our and low vision products; from daily distribution centre and living aids — such as magnifiers, canes branch locations – up to and kitchen aids — to mainstream technology like Apple, Google, 1,000 a week. Microsoft and Amazon.

15 Be Connected From 15–21 October 2018, during the inaugural Get Online Week, we Vision Store is a partner of the held more than 25 events for seniors Be Connected Program, an who are blind or have low vision to Australian government initiative #Try1Thing relating to the internet or committed to empowering everyone technology, under the guidance of to thrive in our digital world. It aims Vision Australia staff. to increase confidence, skills and online safety for older Australians.

A calendar date to remember

James Christie is one of the winners of produced in the last 12 months, and the artwork calendar competition, with that’s appropriate to feature in a his painting set to appear in the 2020 decorative calendar. Vision Australia calendar. The calendars are available for purchase Titled ‘Water View Wharf Workshop,’ through Vision Store online and at Vision James took his inspiration for the Australia branches. painting from one of his father’s photos taken from the harbour near Balmain. James’ creative journey started in early high school and progressed from Right : James Christie there to art classes. His art is inspired by water, whether it be the ocean or Sydney Below : His winning Harbour, and natural landscapes. artwork, ‘Water View For this painting, James predominantly Wharf Workshop’. worked with acrylic paint to allow for easier mixing. He used a paint pen, working with a magnifier and lots of light for the fine lines and a mop brush for the water and sky and decoupage for parts of the building. Our annual artwork calendar competition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase amazing work and highlight inspiring art. To enter the competition, clients must submit a painting or drawing they 16 Social inclusion

Vision Australia aims to provide eliminate barriers clients might people who are blind or have low encounter when accessing the vision with the services and support community or exercising their rights they need so they can participate as Australian citizens. fully in every aspect of community Our clients are also empowered to life they wish. develop advocacy skills to pursue To help realise this goal, we work their own rights. collaboratively with government, businesses and the community to

Inclusive democracy Our Digital Access team has been working During the media and communications hard to make it easier for clients to vote campaign for the Federal Election in May and use government services. 2019, Vision Australia created more than 450 accessible format products and Work done via our partnership with South distributed them across Australia. Australia’s Office for Digital Government – which supports social inclusion by We also successfully advocated for allowing people to participate directly change to electoral legislation in with government services, contributing Victoria, allowing Victorians to access and having a say – has been recognised electronic voting. During the media nationally and internationally as a driver and communications campaign for the towards greater social inclusion and Victorian election in November 2018, we government participation for people with provided voting information and ballot differing abilities. papers in accessible format. The Australian Government asked Through our relationships with government us to ensure digital assets supporting the and commercial organisations, Digital Federal election (website and native apps) Access has continued advocating for were accessible, while the NSW Electoral inclusive design approaches to all digital Commission asked us to help deliver an services; strategies that put accessibility inclusive digital voting platform (iVote). first, supporting education, employment, independence and social inclusion.

17 Audio descriptions We’ve introduced new audio description equipment in Albury We are seeing an influx of first- and are working on improving the time users of audio description at client experience. performances across Queensland, We now have 66 audio describers; NSW, the ACT and Victoria. Word 12 newly trained. of mouth is an important driver of This year we audio described audio description usage. 153 performances from Sydney, Our audio description of ABC’s Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, ‘Get Krackin’ was an Australian Wollongong and Albury. first, providing an alternate accessible version via Vision Australia Radio. It was also the first time anywhere in the world where I think you hit just the right audio description was integrated balance between maintaining the into the comedic narrative. ‘ visuals and putting on a comic slant ... having the visual jokes described in that same farcical way makes the whole show so I just wanted to pass on my much funnier. It reminded me thanks to Vision Australia of when AusLan interpreters ‘ for the audio described translate a concert and sign in performance of Harry Potter the style of the music. and the Cursed Child … The comic slant tied the It’s an amazing production and audio description in as part of would have been impossible the performance … to follow without this service. I had a great time, as did the Jennelle Schroder Client and staff member, other people I was with. ’ on the audio description of ‘Get Krackin’ Lauren Henley Former National Policy Officer Blind Citizens Australia ’

18 Achieving success

Measuring our services may need to meet their desired goals. They can then take this to We’ve introduced the Regional their planning meetings with the Client Feedback Tool (RCFT) to National Disability Insurance Agency measure service quality. or My Aged Care, improving their We use RCFT to survey our clients chances of getting the funding for very early in their service journey the things they need. to see how they’re feeling about We are excited about progress against their service plan further developing this tool goals. This ensures any issues are throughout 2020. addressed quickly. The RCFT operates in all regions Helping shape and is fully automated and integrated into our client the NDIS management system. Roll-out for We took part in sector advocacy both clients and our workforce has around communicating with NDIS been seamless and successful. participants. This led to agreements on more accessible format options The client response rate is a strong and faster access to them. 27 per cent — well above our targeted 20 per cent — and shows This year almost 200 NDIS satisfaction levels of 96 per cent. plans were converted into alternate formats. Plan success with We played a key role in discussions Ready SET with the NDIS and McKinsey and Co., regarding the NDIS Price Guide, Ready SET is a purpose-built, ensuring services for our clients are interactive tool used by a staff appropriately funded. member to support clients acquire or reacquire individualised funding. In addition, we’ve acquired funding for 21 clients and their Seeing Eye The tool enables a staff member Dogs through the NDIS, adapting to to guide a client through this new scheme at a much faster understanding their funding options, pace than originally forecast. identifying their goals in different life domains, and what needs they may have based on their goals. Clients are then provided with an educated estimate of the types of services and amount of hours they

19 Meeting demand This year, we have been very fortunate to have the support of in Perth Associate Professor Julian Rait Our Perth centre relocated to a OAM, who is not only a prominent new fit-for-purpose office in West ophthalmologist and received the Leederville, increasing the ability Order of Australia for his work in eye to offer our full range of services in care but is also the President of the Western Australia. Victorian AMA. Vision Australia’s presence in Perth Julian featured in a video fills a growing need for services testimonial that urges healthcare in the state, and ensures people professionals to refer to Vision who are blind or have low vision Australia. This video has been very have access to timely, high-quality well received and used in several services delivered by experts. online campaigns directed at referrers including optometrists, GPs Engaging health care and occupational therapists. professionals Our clinical standing and reputation in the low vision field has been We raised our profile and engaged elevated by attending eye health with new and existing local health conferences and presenting case care and allied health professionals studies in both print and face-to- through continuing professional face formats. We’ve also built strong development (CPD) accredited relationships with Specsavers and educational sessions. Novartis Australia.

Above : Associate Professor Julian Rait OAM. 20 Our people

Our volunteers Veterinary Symposium In May 2019 we held 28 recognition Under the careful curation of our events celebrating the achievements own Dr Nicola Cotton, we held and support of Vision Australia’s the inaugural Seeing Eye Dogs volunteers. Veterinary Symposium on-site at In the past year, volunteers Kensington. It featured 13 guest contributed more than one speakers covering a wide range of million hours to Vision Australia veterinary topics. in areas such as client services, administration, fundraising, radio RUOK365 strategy and puppy caring. Our RUOK365 mental health During that time we have introduced and wellbeing initiative officially several new volunteer roles, including launched in September 2018. the Regional Client Feedback RUOK365 is about tackling mental Tool client liaison volunteers, and health head-on, embedding Technical Support volunteers who wellness into our culture and assisted with the roll-out of the new ensuring that our staff’s mental library technology. These dedicated health and wellbeing is at the core volunteers met clients in their home of all interactions. or over the phone to provide training We’ve trained 60 managers/ on using the new devices replacing supervisors as accredited Mental Daisy players. Health First Aid Officers to support We are incredibly grateful to all our workforce members and our volunteers for their unwavering clients. We also have ready access support and commitment to the to mental health and wellbeing Vision Australia mission. resources on our intranet, The Hub.

Right : Seeing Eye Dogs, like these two inquisitive black Labrador puppies, were one of many topics discussed at the Veterinary Symposium.

21 A lifetime of service

Meet Dorothy Hamilton Among her many impressive accomplishments, Dorothy also Vision Australia staff member and raised four children. volunteer, Dorothy Hamilton, was recognised in the 2019 Australia Considered by many as a trailblazer Day Honours list, receiving an Order and an innovator, Dorothy worked of Australia Medal (OAM) for her incredibly hard for all she achieved, work within the blind and low-vision but did so with good grace. Many community. of her younger blind students found inspiration in what she achieved Blind since birth, Dorothy developed a professionally and personally, love of and a talent for music. and through this saw a future for In fact, she was the first woman in themselves as well. the Southern Hemisphere who is blind Dorothy has been working at Vision to obtain a music degree. She then Australia as a braille transcriber for went on to teach the recorder, piano more than 35 years and remains to this and choir. day, a very valuable and admired staff Dorothy is also a prominent figure member and volunteer. in the braille music code. In 1985 she established the braille music camps Below : Dorothy at her desk and represented Australia a number with volunteer John Tribe. of times at international camps. They have worked together for 23 years.

22 Your support empowered more people

To our supporters, thank you for Along with The Wicking Trust, being so generous in helping people other trusts and foundations have who are blind or have low vision supported our clients, offering to live the life they choose. We a wide range of services and couldn’t support as many people as programs. These include: we do without your most generous • orientation and mobility training contributions and so many people have helped in so many ways. • learning vital early braille and literacy skills through the Feelix For six years now, the Petbarn library Foundation has held an annual fundraiser to support Seeing Eye • new Envoy Connect players so Dogs. With the assistance of Royal older library members have easy Canin, the 2019 Paws for the Cause access to our library catalogue campaign raised an incredible and can continue enjoying the $553,221 in just four weeks. This pleasure of reading books. was due to the dedication, passion Thanks also to our amazingly vibrant and hard work of staff across the group of fundraising committees country and the generosity and around the country like Friends loyalty of Petbarn customers. of Vision Australia, who hold Thank you, Petbarn and Royal Canin, community events to raise funds for helping us raise and train more and contributed close to $500,000 than 70 Seeing Eye Dogs through to support services. this partnership. A special thanks to the Black The J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust has and White Committee of Vision continued to support the digital Australia, Double Bay NSW, who transformation program this year. contributed $260,000 and the This exciting program continues Black and White Committee of to refine and develop client focused Vision Australia, Maitland NSW, who products and services. It helps contributed $100,000 this year. our clients, referrers and the In Bendigo, Vision Australia again community to better engage with conducted its Annual Easter Egg Vision Australia and be in control of Hunt fundraiser. The event linked their user experience. us to some fantastic sponsor/ partners in V-Line, Bendigo Mazda, BUFS pharmacies, Tumble Tots Gym, the City of Greater Bendigo and the SES. It also raised just over $26,000. Eggsellent.

23 Major donors also contributed The project has had a powerful $675,000 to Seeing Eye Dogs across impact, taking our Seeing Eye Dog four key projects: division a step closer to being the • providing upgraded best of the best. transportation for pups Thank you to all our in training generous supporters. • new state-of-the-art veterinary equipment • external vet care for our dogs across the country • the development and production of 600 new harnesses.

Below : A Seeing Eye Dog puppy in the arms of its trainer, wearing a Vision Australia ‘Sponsor a Puppy’ coat.

24 A heartfelt thanks to you, our most generous donors

Gifts in Wills J Hamilton-Smith T J Nolan Donations from the D L Hargreaves J Nossiter Estates of the late: E L Harrison B J Oakley E M L Aiken R E Haswell P A Oliphant S Armytage P I Hendry D K Palmer R E Atkinson R B Heslop F H Parkinson J E Bard R J Hough A I Paul J U Barrie J K Howell L W Pearce M E E Baumgartel K C Hughes T R Pinkney M P Beaumont J L W Hughes K M Rankin S M Biddle M Hussey A R Raphael E H Blyth A J Johnson E T Reinhardt M L Bray E M Joyce J A Rentoul S Breen J N Kelly E W J Richards P J Broad S Krismancic J Rowe F B Brown A T Laird N G Saaty M Burroughs V J Lawrence N Schewtschenko F S Burton M G Lawrence K Scott R V Chitty G M Leslie D M Scrivenor S G Collins E M Lloyd H S Sekhon D E Crawley S B Loeffler K A Snell E V Crohn J F MacDonald P F Spitzer R O Davies M E Mackle A P H Sporle R G Dunn M Mannion E M Stevens M Ellwood V Mason J M S Stewart M Faulkner M L McCrorie C E Tooke J E Fildes R L McDonagh N M Toovey I J Fisher W McPherson C Trenchard W J Flecknoe L Mead J J Trotter M J Forster L J Moar J W Tyrer D J Galvin S F Murdoch J Van Den Anker A M Gibson W E A Murray M E S Wade E Gorman G M Neilson K W Wall P F Graham A D Neville B F Ward K Greenaway S D Newton M P White R F Grimke-Drayton A M Nicholls M W Whyte 25 L Wilson Estate of the late Marjorie Scott Trust H T Woodman Mona Isobel Paul Mazda Foundation B A Wyatt Estate of the late Miss M K A Bell William Hall Fernie Memorial Fund Trusts and Ethel Firth Trust Ms Lily Maude Payne Foundations Family Frank Foundation Charitable Trust Aged Persons Flannery Foundation Olive Woods Trust Welfare Foundation Florance Hattersley Trust Oscar William Allen & Cecilia Tye Fund Floroyol Seeing Eye Eschenhagen Edwards Amy Irene Christina Dogs Foundation Trust Ostberg Estate Foundation of Graduates Perpetual Foundation – Arthur Leonard Raper in Early Childhood Studies Sibley Endowment Charitable Trust Frederick John Banbury Philandron Foundation Arthur Milne Bissett Estate (STAF) Russell McKimmin Brian M Davis Frederick Shepherd Trust Charitable Trust Charitable Foundation Harry Halliwell Estate Skipper-Jacobs Centenary Foundation – Henry James Francis Charitable Trust Scott Family Bequest Estate The Danks Trust Clifford Abbott Davidson Honda Foundation The Donald & Joan Wilson Charitable Trust Ian McLeod & Madge Foundation Collier Charitable Fund Duncan Perpetual The Edgar B C Harding David Allen Trust Charitable Trust Trust (QLD) Dennoch Fund IMB Community The Edith Kemp Memorial Dick and Pip Smith Foundation Trust Fund Foundation J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust The Elliott Family Trust Dorothy Downey Janet Calder MacKenzie The Gregory Patrick & Charitable Trust Charitable Trust Marie Dolores Farrell E C Blackwood John T Reid Foundation Charitable Trust Charitable Trusts The Hardie Family Bequest Edith Jean Elizabeth Judith De Garrood The Hargrove Foundation Beggs Charitable Trust Donation (STAF) The Howard Glover Eric Crawford K & C H Hume-Cook Charitable Trust Memorial Fund Charitable Trust The Kemvan Trust Estate of E W Kathleen and Joseph The Lola Poynton Vicars-Foote Tuddenham Trust Memorial Fund Estate of Robert Leslie Francis Gill Trust The Marian & E.H. John Finlay Lockwood Murray Hogben Flack Trust Estate of the late Bequest (STAF) The Muffin Foundation Georgena E Bradshaw Lord Mayor’s The Orloff Family Estate of the late Charitable Foundation Charitable Trust H E Todd The Profield Foundation Estate of the late Jane Williamson 26 The Ronald Alan Individuals Major Partners Curry Trust Mrs R Andre Priceline Pharmacy The Russell Vontom Ms J Cain Channel Nine Charitable Trust Mr B & Mrs N Callaghan Arts Centre Melbourne The Sally Sinisoff Trust Fund Mr P & Mrs L Christiansen Marriott International Hotel Group The William Mansel In Memory of Higgins & Dorothy Higgins Mr C Colgan Eastland Charitable Trust Mr D & Mrs A Craig 3AW Thomas Charles Gordon Mrs I Dalrymple Herald Sun Phillips Testamentary Trust Mr D Davis Smooth FM Thomas James Dr D Fraser APN Outdoor Malcolmson & Winifred Mr J & Mrs H Freeman Gleeson (STAF) In-Kind Supporters Mrs F Hudson Urquhart Charitable Fund Ticketmaster Mr R Kaiser Westfield Local Heroes Kennards Ms D Kampusis Grant Program Evan Evans Diane Lightfoot William Andrew Bon Villa Maria New Zealand Dr C MacLeod Charitable Trust Entertainment Store Mr P & Mrs J Mannix William Paxton Early Settler Charitable Fund Dr B McSherry St John Ambulance Ann Miller Organisations Victoria Jeanette & David Milston Archibald’s Leak Detection Crown Coaches Mr S Minns Services P/L Ricoh Mr P Okkerse Australian Unity Event Plants Mr G Painton Brookfield Global South East Water Mr J Plummer Integrated Solutions AccessAbilityAustralia In Vitro Technologies Mr B & Mrs J Royle Clubs Lotterywest Mr M Schroder Qantas Terminal Jane Sheridan Canada Bay Club Melbourne Airport June Smith Club Central Reserve Bank of Australia Rodney & Ann Smorgon Dooleys Lidcombe Security Portman & Family Catholic Club Pty Limited Mrs R Yabsley Mounties Group South Australia Grants – Corporate Partners DHS Specsavers Petbarn Foundation Royal Canin

27 Committees / Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, Auxiliaries Coorparoo (QLD) Wangaratta (VIC) Black and White Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, Committee of Vision Euroa (VIC) Warracknabeal (VIC) Australia, Double Bay Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, (NSW) Gisborne (VIC) Willaura (VIC) Black and White Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, Committee of Vision Glenthompson (VIC) Yarrawonga (VIC) Australia, Dubbo (NSW) Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, Black and White Griffith (NSW) Yass (NSW) Committee of Vision Friends of Vision Australia, International Committee Australia, Maitland (NSW) Kiama and District (NSW) of Vision Australia (NSW) Black and White Friends of Vision Australia, Swan Hill Blind Auxiliary Committee of Vision Kyneton (VIC) (VIC) Australia, Mudgee (NSW) Friends of Vision Australia, Corryong Auxiliary (VIC) Mentone/Mordialloc (VIC) Friends of Vision Australia, Friends of Vision Australia, Cohuna (VIC) Skipton (VIC)

Below : Vision Australia CEO, Ron Hooton pictured with Black and White Committee of Vision Australia Double Bay President, Susan Diver OAM, as she accepts a Vision Australia Award in recognition of their support of the blindness and low vision community since 1936. Last year they raised $260,000 bringing their total support to more than $4 million.

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Vision Australia 1300 84 74 66 www.visionaustralia.org [email protected] visionaustralia @visionaustralia vision-australia visionaustralia

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs 1800 03 77 73 www.seda.visionaustralia.org [email protected] seeingeyedogs seeingeyedogsaustralia