Annual Report 2008-09 ABN 27 109 607 472 Vision, Mission & Values Our Vision A society that is committed to the prevention of dementia, and that values and supports people living with dementia. Our Mission To minimise the incidence and impact of dementia through leadership, innovation and partnerships - in advocacy, policy, education, services and research. Our Values Respect for the dignity of all individuals Cooperative working relationships Integrity, accountability, transparency Value the contribution of all people involved with our work Strength through unity, with respect for diversity Responsiveness to our community The Australian Government funded programs of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW are: National Dementia Support Program which includes early intervention or Living with Memory Loss, National Dementia Helpline and Referral Service, Education and Awareness, Dementia Memory Community Centres - at North Ryde, Bega and Port Macquarie, Regional Partnerships which includes part funding of the library and some education services. The Australian Government has also funded a Remote Access Dementia Education Program and the Bega Mobile Respite Team and the CCRC. 2 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW All of these people live with dementia Contents Report from the Chairman 4 Report from the Chief Executive Officer 6 The Board of Directors 8 Our donors 12 Volunteers 14 The year in review: 1 July 08—30 June 09 16 The Board and Advisors 18 Concise financial report 20 Contact Us 36 Cover photo: staff, family and friends of AlzNSW pose with Tim Bailey from Network Ten for a live cross for the nightly weather report to promote the 2009 Memory Walk in Parramatta. Annual Report 08-09 3 Report from the Chairman John Watkins joined us as CEO just before the last AGM and we have had a great year together. He has related well to the staff with whom he has worked, has guided the organisation through a difficult economic period and has gained for us some wonderful publicity and media exposure. John has got on well with Directors and has David Say also retired and we want to thank him understood (from one of his previous lives) for equally good advice and concern for us and what Directors are on about and what Directors our affairs. Pat has been succeeded by Ian worry about. The extra media attention means Horton who has had to face some tough that our work in helping families living with decisions in the last twelve months. We sold dementia will do better. In that regard, mention part of our holding and took losses in so doing. might be made of the Parliamentary Friends of But going that way was “less worse” than any Dementia which meets twice each year at alternative that the Committee could envisage. Parliament House Sydney. More and more The situation was complicated when one of our State Members are joining us now, and we hold brokers (and then a Member of the Investment electorate specific information which will help Advisory Committee) had to go into receivership relatives who want to speak to their local during the year. As we come out of the global representative. We hold the numbers in each financial crisis our investments are improving locality with dementia now and the numbers again. There is better economic news and a coming through the pipeline – all powerful better economic outlook. While interest rate material and very appropriate information for rises will hurt those with mortgages, they will Members of Parliament and for any local press mean greater income for us and for the people outlet. for whom we work. It has been a difficult year economically as we We settled a budget in July which is modest and endured the trough of the global financial crisis. requires hard work from officers. John Watkins It was a particularly hard year for our has engineered things so that there are few job investments. Here tribute should be given to a losses (quite an achievement in this financial very hard working Investment Advisory situation) and has been able to keep all services Committee. running. We were unable to contribute this year to a National website development project but It was under the Chairmanship of Pat McMillan hope that we can join the project when economic but he retired and we want to thank him again circumstances improve. for wonderful service and attention to our affairs and our needs. 4 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW “Our view is fixed on our special clients and on their families and on getting the structure of our Board just right” The Board has had some changes this financial Thanks go to each of the Board Members who year. We are very proud of Dr Robert Yeoh AM gave so much and worked so hard. Board who has been elected to the Board of Members are volunteers who do this work Alzheimer’s Disease International. He has because they each believe in the Association been a past President of AlzNSW (we now have and in what it is setting out to do. a Chair) and has been National President too. We wish him well in his Some of our Members important international have an “Alzheimer’s” role and know that he background – either by will represent Australia being a carer or an well. There has been appropriate professional some sickness, one – and some members are death of a beloved experts at governance. partner, and carer dis- To each of the Board tress on the Board this Members go thanks for a year and our best job that is well done and wishes go to those impressive too. Board members who are affected. Robin Thanks also go to Wirth has had to stand The Dementia Awareness Week lecture by Prof Constantine officers who have given Lyketsos from the USA was held at NSW Parliament House on down due to ill health. 22 September 2009 and was well attended by our members. so much and have been She brought her social Photo L to R: Prof Lyketsos and Prof. Peter Baume. such believers in what we science background to are doing. We are looking bear when dealing with our special clientele. forward to the next year. Our view is fixed on She has been Deputy-Chair of the Association our special clients and on their families and on and a great support to the Chair. We wish her getting the structure of our Board just right. and Richard well. Dr Marc Budge has let it be known that he will retire from the National Presidency when his term expires in 2010. Neil Samuel from Victoria heads a small working group (I am on it) which is looking at the best way to plan for Marc’s retirement. Glenn Rees’ term at National Executive Director will finish in 2012 and we will have to plan for that too. Professor Peter Baume AC Chairman Annual Report 08-09 5 Report from the Chief Executive Officer “Dementia will become the dominant health and social issue of our time.” Dear Members, The message is clear. All of us have to start to plan. Local, State and Federal governments, It has been a very busy twelve months during private companies, communities and families will which there has been a marked increase in the all have to think about and plan for a future when interest and concern over the dementia dementia will become the dominant health and challenge facing Australia. social issue of our time. The recent release of Access Economics We have started to advocate for that new future reports have brought a great deal of media here at AlzNSW through our efforts to raise the attention to this often misunderstood and at profile of dementia and connect with opinion times forgotten condition. These reports have leaders and political representatives. And of revealed the enormity of the dementia epidemic course we do it every day through our facing our society. counselling, information and education services provided to people throughout the State. Currently there are over 245,000 Australians diagnosed with some form of dementia. This is In doing that work we have a professional and expected to explode to a staggering 1.1 million hardworking staff who are absolutely committed by mid century. The impact of that epidemic to providing the highest level of support to will be felt in every corner of NSW but it is the people living with dementia. Their efforts across coastal communities of NSW and Sydney’s NSW have really made a difference in the lives west and south-west where the burden will be of many people. greatest. We are also very fortunate to have the guidance The reports also highlight the emotional, of a very dedicated and talented Board and the physical and financial burden on carers and the support of our Advisory Council. expected shortage of 150,000 carers by 2030. 6 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Maxine McKew visits the Vincent Fairfax Family Resource Centre at North Ryde in January 2009. L to R: Sandy and Mary Potter, John Watkins, Maxine McKew and Peter Baume It has been a challenging year with the Global Financial Crisis impacting on our fundraising but things have started to improve in recent months and we look forward to 2010 with growing confidence. The two major challenges facing us next year will be our move from our Talavera Road offices to new accommodation in the grounds of Macquarie Hospital very close to the Vincent Fairfax Family Resource Centre and the renegotiation of the Federal Government National Dementia Support Program from which we draw a substantial amount of our funding. We are well positioned to be successful in both these Fundraising luncheon with the Australian Treasurer held on challenges.