Our Mission Providing Leadership on Dementia Advocacy, Awareness and Understanding
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ABN 27 109 607 472 our mission Providing leadership on dementia advocacy, awareness and understanding. our vision Our vision is for a society committed to the prevention of dementia, while valuing and supporting people living with dementia. The Australian Government funded programs of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW are: National Dementia Support Program which includes Early Intervention or Living with Memory Loss, 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. Photography: Lynton Crabb (crabb.com.au) contents report from the chairman 4 report from the chief executive officer 9 the board curriculum vitae 16 our volunteers 21 the board and advisers 22 our donors 24 concise financials 25 Annual Report 2006-07 3 Dr Peter Baume Peter Dr As we come to the end of As a result, your Board my first year as Chairman of has taken the decision that report from Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, I Alzheimer’s Australia NSW am pleased to be able to report should not be seen solely, to members that the year or even principally, as has been one of change and service providers. the chairman consolidation. We are not property There are currently some developers, or Government, – 220,000 people in Australia in the business of providing Report from the Chairman the from Report who are living with residential accommodation Alzheimer’s Disease of whom for large numbers of people. approximately one third reside Rather, our principal roles in New South Wales. are those of educators The best available projections and advocates. estimate that by the year This change in direction 2050 the national figure will does not mean that we have risen to 750,000 and the should abandon all our work number in New South Wales in client services. will rise to about 250,000 – more than the current national total. If we are to become educators of the community and of Using a commonly accepted other health professionals, multiplier effect this means and encourage others to ‘pick that, unless the situation up the ball’ in the provision of changes dramatically, by 2050, client services, Alzheimer’s 3.75 million people in Australia, Australia NSW must continue and 1.25 million people in New to nurture and develop its own South Wales will be directly core expertise. or indirectly affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. This will mean that we need to maintain a ‘hands on’ approach These very concerning albeit it aimed at a different end figures prompted the result. We will want to identify Australian Government to and put in place ‘best practice’ declare dementia a National for others to copy and we will Health Priority and commit want to identify and fill niche record amounts of money for gaps that we see. dementia care, research and support. The Area Health Services and commercial health care They also led Alzheimer’s providers are our potential Australia NSW to reconsider partners and consumers for it’s position in the community. our recognised expertise. Clearly, an organisation such as We will need to build stronger ours is not in a position to be relationships with Area Health all things to all people. We are Services and the commercial not able to provide all the care health care providers to that the 70,000 people in New encourage them to purchase South Wales with Alzheimer’s our programs and expertise. require…let alone the needs We are the recognised of the projected 250,000 ‘experts’ in the area and have people in 2050. …by 2050, 3.75 million people in Australia, and 1.25 million people in New South Wales will be directly or indirectly affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. 4 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Annual Report 2006-07 5 Dr Peter Baume Peter Dr much to offer the community Alzheimer’s Australia had held Bill was formerly Chief as it cares for the growing the contract for a significant Executive Officer of the number of Australians afflicted period and its loss was seen Multiple Sclerosis Society with dementia. by some as a major blow. of New South Wales and oversaw a period of significant Alzheimer’s Australia NSW has For me it was an opportunity structural and cultural a long and proud association to take the organisation in an change…not all that different with the Rotary Club of exciting new direction. to what is occurring within Sydney. This association has The loss of the DCC Alzheimer’s Australia NSW. – been extremely beneficial to funding became the catalyst the organisation. Without that In his 12 months with Report from the Chairman for change. It meant that support our road would have the organisation, Bill has the culture of the organisation been more difficult. demonstrated exceptional needed to change and while leadership, interpersonal But our vision now must change is not easy, and indeed skills and achievements in go beyond those areas that painful, for some, it did diverse cultural and business Rotarians come from. We allow the organisation to environments. I am confident have learned that large parts have a good look at itself and that with these skills Bill will of Sydney, and indeed of identify the gaps that needed continue to build a dynamic NSW, are under-supplied with to be filled. culture focused on serving even basic services for people 2006-2007 saw some people with Alzheimer’s. with dementia. changes to Board Finally, I would like to formally We are aware that more than membership. recognise the enormous half of the state’s Alzheimer Mr David Scarlett, a former contribution made by all our population has received President, left the Board volunteers (including our only marginal support from in November 2006; Ms Board members), donors, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW. Christine Leaves retired in supporters and staff. Our growing partnerships with January 2007; and Ms Larissa The strength and continuity of the Area Health Services and McIntyre in June 2007. Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is other health care providers in Mr Ernest Alchin and former assured while ever it manages other parts of the state will President Geoffrey McIntyre to attract people of this caliber. mean that our expertise will have indicated that they will become more widely available Thank you for your continuing not be seeking re-election at to far greater numbers of support. the Annual General Meeting. people in need. On behalf of their fellow Board Earlier this year, the members and people with Commonwealth decided to dementia and their carers and award the Dementia Care supporters, I would like to take Competency (DCC) funding this opportunity of thanking all (long held by Alzheimer’s of these dedicated servants Australia) to another private Dr Peter Baume AO of the organisation for their organisation. Chairman service and counsel. This was one part of a The year also saw the community care program appointment of a new on which the work of the Chief Executive Officer. organisation heavily relied. Bill Northcote joined the A great deal of the service organisation in June 2006 and delivery and education was appointed to this role in programs had been based September 2006. around that funding stream. Alzheimer’s Australia NSW has a long and proud association with Rotary. This association has been extremely beneficial to people living with dementia. 6 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW There are currently some 220,000 “people in Australia who are living with Alzheimer’s Disease of whom approximately one third reside in New South Wales.” AnnualAnnual Report Report 2006-07 2006-07 7 7 Our goal is to ensure that our “own services, and those provided by others, are of the highest quality and are available to all those who need them.” 8 Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Bill Northcote Bill One hundred and one years 9 Build partnerships after German psychiatrist and on the basis that they report from the pathologist Alois Alzheimer will benefit people first described Alzheimer’s affected by dementia. disease, Alzheimer’s Australia Consequently, it is no surprise NSW is now entering a that these nine objectives chief executive new era in the understanding form the basis of the newly – and support of people with developed Strategic Plan Report from the Chief Executive Officer Executive Chief the from Report this disease. 2007-2010 which was officer By the year 2050 the number developed as a result of a of people with this disease series of meetings between in New South Wales will senior management and have nearly quadrupled to an the Board of Alzheimer’s estimated 250,000. Australia NSW. If Alzheimer’s Australia NSW The plan includes a revised is to play a meaningful role mission statement. in their support then as an This new mission organisation we will need to: statement ‘Providing 1 Be financially sustainable leadership on dementia advocacy, awareness 2 Strengthen our capacity and understanding’ more to influence key decision accurately reflects our purpose makers to achieve better in terms of the outcomes we outcomes for people are seeking to achieve. affected by dementia There are three key focus 3 Expand our activities areas to progress the work of to increase community our mission: awareness and understanding of dementia • Advocacy, Awareness and and awareness of Understanding Alzheimer’s Australia NSW • Consumer Focus and 4 Promote dementia Innovation risk reduction in the • Ensuring equitable access community to services for people 5 Promote research for the affected by dementia prevention of dementia through partnerships and connectivity.