Quality of Life
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Quality of of life life ANNUAL REPORT REPORT 2008/09 2008/09 Somerville the courage to be.... Quality of life For more than four decades to achieving social justice and Somerville has been supporting a civil society. Territorians to enhance the dignity and quality of their lives. As the world changes, Somerville will remain determined to right We continue to seek the the wrongs. improvement of the human condition in a complex We believe our quality of life is and changing world. fundamental to our wellbeing. As a not for profit charitable organisation we are committed Acknowledgement Our Organisation Somerville Community Services Somerville Community Services Inc. Somerville is financed by public Annual Report for 2008/2009 is a non-government, not for profit, donations, service club grants, describes the achievements of our youth, family and community government grants, business organisation as a whole and the welfare organisation employing support, sponsorship and agency individual activities of each service. 177 Territorians. fundraising activities. For the most part a report of this Our programs assist those people Organisationally, Somerville is nature cannot extend to recognising most disadvantaged in our society. structured to provide - individual staff achievements for We maintain strong constitutional which there are many, so I • Family Services: Consisting of links with the Uniting Church in acknowledge here the valuable counselling services, community Australia but we are governed by contributions of our Somerville programs, family support services an independent and professional staff in working towards our goals and assisted accommodation Board of Directors, ensuring that the and providing a high quality of • Disability Services: Providing Agency has the capacity to respond service delivery. supported accommodation for to the needs of people whatever people with severe to profound their circumstances. Vicki O’Halloran disabilities requiring 24 hour care. Chief Executive Officer FRONT COVER: Somerville employee Vince Yuen transplanting a Paw Paw tree seedling. THIS PAGE: Each year Somerville Community Services sponsor the Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards. Former N.T. Administrator and Somerville patron, the Hon Austin Asche seen here presenting the award and trophy to the 2009 N.T. Young Achiever of the Year Award winner, Simone Liddy. Somerville Community Services Annual Report 2008/09 Contents History Of Somerville 2 Our Mission Key Achievements 3 “To enhance the dignity and quality of Key Challenges and Key Results 4 life of people most disadvantaged in and Our Growth - Year in Review 5 - 9 damaged by our society”. President’s Report 10 Our Vision Chief Executive Officer’s Report 11 - 12 Finance Manager’s Report 13 - 15 Somerville Community Services Inc. seeks the improvement of the human Corporate Governance 16 condition in a complex and changing Organisational Structure 17 world in which many people are victims, vulnerable or otherwise adversely affected. Board of Directors 18 - 20 Family Services 21 -27 Our Aims Disability Services 28 - 31 To promote the interests and improve the Maintenance 32 - 33 status and well-being of disadvantaged, Human Resource & Administration 34 - 37 marginalised or vulnerable children, young people, adults, families and communities Somerville Staff of 2008/09 38 - 39 through a variety of services, activities Volunteers and Supporters 40 and projects. Finance 41 • provide care and opportunities that allow children and young people to Financial Report 42 - 55 develop and effectively participate in Index 56 - 57 family and community life. Glossary of Terms 58 • strengthen and enhance family and community life. Vision IBC • raise community awareness of the SCS Contact Details and Locations BC needs and issues related to the most vulnerable and/or disadvantaged children, young people and families. • benefit, children, young people and families irrespective of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, disability or birth status. • benefit vulnerable, marginalised and SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY SERVICES INC. disadvantaged children, young people, PO Box 42644 Casuarina NT 0811 families and communities in the Telephone: (08) 8920 4100 Northern Territory and where there Facsimile: (08) 8920 4101 are opportunities in other parts of Email: [email protected] Australia and overseas. www.somerville. org.au ABN 62 302 702 903 Somerville Community Services Annual Report 2008/09 1 History Somerville Homes came into existence in 1965. The homes were named in honour of Margaret Somerville MBE who helped evacuate 95 children from Croker Island to Sydney in 1942 and who returned to Croker Island with the children after the war and continued as a house mother and caregiver until 1965. A book entitled “They Crossed A Continent”, the story of Margaret Somerville’s epic journey, will tell you how it all began and is available from our office or through our web site. In 1980, with expanded community services, Somerville Homes became Somerville Community Services Incorporated. Today Today Somerville employs 177 staff and remains a major local provider of community services in the Top End. Somerville currently has operations in Darwin, Palmerston, Howard Springs and Katherine, as well as providing services and support to surrounding regions. 2 Somerville Community Services Annual Report 2008/09 Key Achievements of 2008 - 2009 Opening of high Consolidation and Significant medical support advancement of our advancement achieved R needs, supported R commitment to R in development and accommodation, creating and/or implementation of in Katherine. supporting socially Person Centred Opening of this valued roles for Active Support service provided people in our society program (PCAS) to a home and support (page 31) improve the quality of for three people life for people living in (page 31) a group home setting (page 31) Roll out of IT Completion of ‘MyTime’ networking services across upgrade and fit-out group expanded to R Disability Services R of former Family R schools (pages 26, 27) houses completed Services building at (page 31) 3 Bonson Terrace, Upgrade of IT Palmerston, to create systems, databases a dedicated Financial and remote server Counselling Centre access completed (page 33) (page 35) All of Somerville’s Funding support Upgrade of supported Community Services obtained to employ accommodation at R Policies and R additional Financial S 46 Chapman Road, Procedures reviewed Counsellors enabling Rapid Creek delayed on ‘best practice’ expansion of Financial to next financial year principles (page 37). Literacy Programs to (page 33) schools and the launch of monthly budgeting workshops (page 26) Energy Audit Recruitment of conducted on all qualified and skilled R houses and office R staff (pages 12, 35) buildings. Implementation of specific energy saving recommendations commenced (page 33) Somerville Community Services Annual Report 2008/09 3 Key Challenges in 2009 - 2010 Addressing the Meeting the needs of Advancing erosion of award the increasing information q wages for community q number of clients q technology across sector employees. requiring counselling all areas of our and support in a organisation climate where individual counselling sessions continue to become more complex. Publish and launch a Commencement Develop and publish book detailing the of Stage 2 extensions our Disability Services q history of Somerville. q to Palmerston q Policy and Procedure Community Centre book Key Results for 2008 - 2009 Family Services 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Counselling - total number of clients 9,955 8,378 9,746 Counselling - total number of contacts 22,716 20,702 22,448 Disability Services 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Supported accommodation - total number of clients 49 46 45 Employees 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Total number of employees (full financial year) 177 163 149 Finance 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Total Net Surplus* $(304,203) $123,244 $(69,980) * Refer financial statement, Director’s Report and Declaration (page 44) 4 Somerville Community Services Annual Report 2008/09 The Year in Review REPORTING AGAINST OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS The key initiatives for 2008-2009 were established from Somerville’s 2007- 2010 Strategic Directions. Each initiative is detailed below, together with a summary of our achievements and future directions in respect to each initiative. Initiative Self-rated Progress Issues Arising and Performance Future Directions Build on our strengths P ] Somerville continued to maintain Increase our representation on by promoting the strong external links, relationships local and interstate Boards, services we deliver and and membership on key Committees and Councils. In continue to develop Committees, Councils and Boards addition, build on our relationships in the as a platform to promote the relationship and ‘Memorandum community to enhance services we deliver and advocate of Understanding’ with East knowledge of for our clients and their needs Timor humanitarian organisation, Somerville’s work. (pages 11, 31). Fundacao Lafaek Diak. Underpin the P ] Somerville’s “Staff Incentive Continue to position Somerville promotion of our Program” continued to be very as an employer of choice. services by active and successful. This Continue to develop positive investing in our program was further enhanced strategies to develop and retain staff (skills and by following through on staff. resource levels), our recommendations raised in staff systems and our surveys and a National Research Continue our