annual report 2010 connecting potential to life satisfaction c ntents frequently used terms inside front cover vision and values page 3 about us page 4 year in review page 5 letter from our president page 6 general managers report page 8 dine out for disability page 12 strategic plan 10/11 page 14 quality 10/11 page17 organisaton Chart page 20 our programs page 22 governance page 24 our people page 26 health and wellbeing page 32 treasurer’s report page 36 Our Service User’s financial statements page 38 our supporters page 52 farewells page 53 about this report page 53 index page 54 Frequently used terms The following abbreviations are used throughout this report: ADHC: NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care AHA: Australian Hotels Association CoM: ConnectAbility Australia Committee of Management OH&S: Occupational Health and Safety Service User/s: Individual/s who receive support from ConnectAbility Australia 2 ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 visi n mission and values Our Vision Connecting potential to life satisfaction. Our Mission To support the development and maintenance of life skills, social opportunities, and friendships for people with a disability in the Hunter and surrounding regions. Our Values Our Organistion Adheres to the Disability Service Standards. Is respectful and committed to breaking down barriers that inhibit full achievement of individual goals and aspirations. Provides a fair, equitable and safe working environment to quality staff. Promotes a diverse community through an open and welcoming environment. Our Service User’s Are provided with opportunities and challenges to enrich their life goals. Are valued and respected for their personal strengths and individuality. Are the backbone of our organisation and our purpose for being. Our staff Are committed to the organisation’s values. Have empathy for service user’s. Are dedicated to professional development and practice. ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 3 ab ut us connecting to dreams ConnectAbility Australia assists people with disabilities overcome barriers to achieving their goals, dreams and aspirations. ConnectAbility provides disability support of the Committee of Management (CoM) services to individuals aged over 18 with high and interested community members. to very high support needs. We operate History throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port ConnectAbility Australia commenced in 1992 Stephens and the Hunter. We are based in as Newcastle and Hunter Community Access, Hamilton, NSW where our centre consists of a program area including kitchen facilities, when research conducted by the University of computer room, art space and fully equipped Newcastle found that there was little sensory room. opportunity for people requiring high levels of support to access community based services. All services provided are based on respect for the individual and their rights to have the At the same time a group of determined same access as all members of the community members also become aware of community, to opportunities and challenges the need for a service to support people that enrich their lives. Support delivery is overcome the barriers that existed to underpinned by the NSW Disability Service accessing the community. Standards and the principles of person Since receiving our first funding from the centredness. Department of Families for the NCA outreach Legislation program, we now provide services across the areas of post school programs and supported ConnectAbility also operates within day programs. These project areas are funded prescribed legislative frameworks. Key acts through the NSW Department of Family and include the: Community Services, Ageing, Disability and NSW Disability Services Act, Home Care (ADHC). Health Records and Information Privacy A significant project aimed at facilitating Act, access to the community for people living at Occupational Health and Safety Act Hunter Residences, Stockton, commenced in (NSW). Anti Discrimination Act (NSW). 2003. Industrial Relations Act. In 2010 in consultation with our service users, Our Members families and stakeholders we changed our name to ConnectAbility Australia to better As a body incorporated under the reflect our vision, mission and goals and the Associations Incorporation Act NSW, work that we do. ConnectAbility Australia has a valued membership made up of service users and their families and carers, staff, past members 4 ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 year in review connecting to outcomes Highlights Of our many achievements in 2010-2011 we were particularly proud of the following: Launch of our new name and logo with the assistance of TAFE NSW, Hunter Institute and Kent Woodcock. Our partnership with Newcastle and Hunter Branch of the AHA to launch Dine out for Disability and successfully raising over $90,000 to buy a modified bus. Implementing Sport and More: Wheelchair Rugby League project. Increasing our connections with our service users, families, carers and stakeholders . Providing PART (formerly Professional Assault Response Training) to over 70% of staff. Hosting 3 Hunter wide discos attended by over 500 dancers with disabilities. Implementing our new management structure. Redeveloping new website with assistance from Jess Irwin and Nathan Pritchard, TAFE NSW, Hunter Institute . Still to be achieved Of the goals we set in our last annual report the following goal is outstanding: Adoption of new constitution (will be put to a special meeting in September 2011). Summary of Organisational Performance 08-09 09-10 10-11 Change Service users supported 147 157 162 +5 Activity Support hours 73,488 74,190 73,572 -618 Income $2,902,410 $3,108,683 $3,182,963 +$74,280 Expenditure $3,164,974 $3,061,231 $2,952,806 -$37,014 Financial (Loss) Profit ($264,180) $47,452 $230,156 $182,704 Total 79 78 77 -1 Staffing Casual (%) 38% 4% 8% +4% Turnover (%) 6% 13% 8% -%5 No of injuries 32 31 33 +2 OH&S Lost time (%) 28% 32% 18% -14% Administration related 0 1 +1 Complaints Service related 4 3 -1 ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 5 c nnecting to... creativity During the past 12 months, ConnectAbility’s art group began a three piece art work depicting the landscape of Newcastle. When completed the work will be hung in our newly fitted out upstairs office. During the year the group explored nature, their surroundings and their place in the world through drawing, painting and ceramics. They also experienced trips to local exhibitions to view the work of other artists. Their work was exhibited in Promise: Celebrating the Achievement of All Artists in 2010. Nathan hard at work. 6 ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 a letter from our president I welcome you to our 19th annual report, though it is the first for ConnectAbility Australia. The change in name and look was an intentional strategy to better reflect who we are, the service we provide and the vision we hold for our organisation. When I reflect upon the year that has passed I Manager, Karen Stace who has contributed find that it has been filled with positive enthusiastically and innovatively. momentum, and many inspirational We have now reached a point where our accomplishments as we continue to develop infrastructure is sufficiently robust to allow us to and expand. None of this would have been move outside familiar borders and think more possible without the valuable input of a laterally in order to realise our objective of growing number of partners and supporters building better services, providing innovative who have expressed an interest in programs and making them available to a ConnectAbility by working together with us in greater range of people. meaningful and creative ways. We offer our most sincere appreciation to each of you and I commend this report to you and hope that acknowledge the importance of your you will join us in our efforts to make a lasting involvement, whatever shape and form that and meaningful difference in the lives of may have taken. people who can benefit from the support we offer. It is with every confidence that I look ConnectAbility is founded on a sound business forward to the continued progression of model, evidenced in our strong financial ConnectAbility Australia. performance and long list of achievements. We have held steadfast to the view that the budget shall remain the servant of our people and be maximised to produce an environment conducive to quality outcomes for service users, their families and our staff. We have strived to apply the highest possible standards in corporate governance and our operational processes, at all times maintaining the primary objective of making certain our Laurel Lambert everyday activities remain faithful to our President mission statement. The end result provides confirmation that we are moving in the right direction under the leadership of our General ConnectAbility Australia annual report 10/11 7 general manager’s report Adopted at our 2010 Annual General Meeting , our new name and logo represent our vision and commitment to connect the people that we support to a life in which they have every opportunity to realise their hopes and dreams, however big or small. This report highlights the many ways that Infrastructure Group enabled us to purchase 4 ConnectAbility Australia works to make sports wheelchairs. These will be able to be connections between our organisation, the used by any group in the Hunter. The project people that we support, their families and has also received some fantastic support from carers and the community. Making the players and staff at the Newcastle Knights connections to other people, the world who have assisted us in promoting the sport. around us and our own ability to set and More about the success of this project ap- achieve our goals is something that many of pears on page 18. us take for granted, but remains a challenge During the year we were asked to auspice a for many people with disabilities and their grant application to the Newcastle families.