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Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) Annual Report for the year ending December 2015 Our Patron, John Doyle AM Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) acknowledges and pays respect to Aspect is a public benevolent institution with deductible gift recipient the traditional custodians of the many lands and cultures of the places status (DGR6966) as endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office. in which we live and work. In addition, Aspect holds NSW Charitable Fundraising Authority In preparing the annual report for the year ending December 2015, Number 10991, ACT Charitable Collection Authority Number we have reduced our impact on the environment by retaining it on our 19000299, Victorian Fundraising Registration Number 10688, website and producing only a limited number of copies in print. QLD Certificate of Registration as a Charity Number CH2466, Aspect is a company limited by guarantee, duly registered under the WA Charitable Collections Licence CC21640 and SA Collections Corporations Act 2001. for Charitable Purposes Licence Number CCP2016. Aspect is also authorised to fundraise in Northern Territory and Tasmania. Annual Report for the year ending December 2015 2 Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia’s largest not-for-profit provider of services and supports working with people on the autism spectrum and their families. Knowledge about autism has come a long way since 1966 when six families founded Aspect as the Autistic Children’s Association of NSW to provide schooling and support. Now, 50 years on, Aspect operates one of the world’s largest network of schools and satellite classes for students on the spectrum and is approved to provide a range of therapy, intervention and lifestyle options under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We offer evidence-informed services and supports across all life stages and share this evidence-informed Aspect practice and applied research internationally. At Aspect, we believe that people on the autism spectrum are a different brilliant and this shines through in our work with more than 14,000 Australians on the spectrum and their families each year by our nearly 1,000 staff. Our Vision The best opportunities for people on the autism spectrum. We develop person-centred solutions, which are flexible, Our Mission responsive and evidence-informed, with people of all ages on the autism spectrum and their families. We are passionate about people, about being positive and Our Values about what’s possible. Inside the report Message from the Chair & CEO..........................4 Treasurer’s report.................................................7 Chelsea’s family chose to swim, not sink.....10 Tom followed his dream.....................................12 Aspect Choose & Connect celebrated a different brilliant..............................................14 Our Supporters.....................................................16 Our Patron, Life Governors & Life Members....19 Strategic Plan 2016 – 2018..............................20 2015 Statutory Accounts..................................22 Registered office: Building 1, Level 2 Website: autismspectrum.org.au 14 Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Email: [email protected] ABN: 12 000 637 267 Phone: (02) 8977 8300 Banker: Westpac Banking Corporation Fax: (02) 8977 8399 Solicitor: Kemp Strang of the Kennedy Strang Legal Group Our Annual General Meeting will be held at the State Library of Auditor: Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd NSW, Sydney, Australia on 25 May 2016 at 2.30 pm. Investment Advisor: JB Were Pty Ltd Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) 3 Message from the Chair & CEO Back in 2013, Aspect made the significant to lease the former Ashford House site near central decision to become a national organisation Adelaide to Aspect for 30 years at a peppercorn rent. with the launch of its national program of The school will be part of Aspect’s network of schools workshops and consultancies known as Aspect using the Aspect Comprehensive Approach for Education Practice. 2014 was the year when Aspect (ACAE) which involves building the skills children need began to implement its national strategy. to transition into a non-autism specific environment. Initially, the school will accommodate 25 children. By Last year in 2015, while Aspect continued to 2018, the aim is to have 80 students enrolled in the build its national presence, Aspect focused school. on becoming a truly person-centred, family- focused, customer-driven organisation in Aspect signed an agreement with Autism Initiatives, readiness for the implementation of this once the UK’s second largest national autism-specific service in a generation change to disability services provider for the exclusive use of Autism Initiatives’ Five – the National Disability Insurance Scheme Point Star framework in Australia. This unique person- (NDIS) - which will commence its rollout in centred autism-specific framework was developed by NSW and Victoria in July 2016. Autism Initiatives over a period of ten years and its application has brought outstanding results to many As a result Aspect refined its vision and mission (see individuals on the spectrum. The framework which page 3) to clearly identify that it is focused on being focuses on understanding the person on the spectrum an autism-specific provider - the very reason for its from their own perspective is now being piloted by existence - and that it sees people on the spectrum as its Aspect Choose & Connect Victoria as the first step in its partners with strengths and capabilities to be valued. Aspect-wide implementation. Financially it was an excellent result in 2015 with the Aspect and Sunshine, one of New South Wales’ most Total Comprehensive Income for the year of $0.67 significant disability providers for people with an million. This was nearly entirely related to the operating intellectual disability, signed a strategic alliance on 27 surplus for the period. The financial result was based on July to develop new programs and initiatives as the the continuing strong budget management across the NDIS is rolled out in NSW. This is Aspect’s first ever organisation with a budget turnover of $78m and nearly formal strategic alliance with another organisation 1000 staff. underpinned by a deed with commitments at both Board and management levels. It is focused on opportunities A highlight for 2015, confirming Aspect’s national that will arise with the rollout of the NDIS in NSW and provider status, was when Aspect was contracted by the transfer of NSW government services to the non- direct source by the Commonwealth Department of government sector. Education & Training to provide the third phase of the Positive Partnerships contract. This $18m contract from For the first time ever, Aspect passed the 1000 student 2015 – 2019 continues the outstanding work done by the places mark across its eight schools in 2015 with the Positive Partnerships team, many of whom have been result that by December there were 1,024 student places, employed by Aspect over the past eight years. With the making it one of the largest autism-specific education new contract all staff and the program as a whole is networks in the world. New satellite classes attached to managed by Aspect. Aspect schools were opened in Sydney at Trinity Catholic Primary School and Emmaus College, Kemps Creek, On 5 May Aspect announced that it would open the and Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill, in Wollongong at Aspect Treetop School in Adelaide in July 2016 - the first Cedars Christian College – the first independent Christian Aspect service to be based in South Australia and the school to host a satellite class in the state – and in Port first school to be established by Aspect outside of New Macquarie at St Paul’s Catholic High School – our first South Wales. The South Australian Government agreed secondary satellite in that part of NSW. Annual Report for the year ending December 2015 4 While Aspect Education passed this significant milestone, satellite class units at Coffs Harbour in 2016. all of Aspect’s therapists – its speech pathologists, The Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2015, held at the psychologists and occupational therapists – formed into Brisbane Convention Centre and hosted by Autism one team now simply known as Aspect Therapy. This Queensland, was a very successful event for Aspect. major re-organisation of its more than 150 therapy staff Aspect staff presented a total of 19 presentations and was in readiness for the rollout of the NDIS. During the posters – the largest number by any one provider. There year there was continuing significant growth in this was strong international interest in our work. Aspect will team in response to the many requests for this specialist be hosting the next Asia Pacific Autism Conference on 7 support from families across NSW, Victoria and the ACT. – 9 September, 2017 at the new International Convention In fact, during 2015 Aspect became a very significant Centre at Darling Harbour, Sydney. therapy provider in the ACT as that territory fully transitioned across to the NDIS. Sadly, Mark Schlosser who had served Aspect for eight years and most recently as National Director, Aspect continued to receive strong corporate support Aspect Family & Individual Options had to retire in during 2015 with $320,000 from the Greater Foundation October due to ill health. His contribution to Aspect had to continue and expand its Early Intervention Readiness been significant at many levels both in developing its Program in the Hunter and Port Macquarie over the next corporate organisation and in leading service provision. two years bringing the total donation from the Greater to His unexpected departure was deeply felt across the $750,000. Aspect also received $148,000 from Sargent’s organisation. Pies as the major contribution towards establishing Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) 5 Aspect achieved or exceeded in 10 of its 14 Key two, staff turnover of 12.09% was within half a Performance Indicators for 2015. These were: percentage point of its target and the lost day rate due to staff injuries at work was higher than expected because • Aspect was in contact with 14,937 people on the of a small number of long term claims.

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