Disability Sport & Recreation 2012-2013 Annual Report
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Disability Sport & Recreation 2012-2013 Annual Report Better health outcomes for Victorians with disability through sport and recreation For every one in a million Executive Report On behalf of the Board and Management of Disability Sport & Recreation, it is with great pleasure that we present our annual activities for the 2012-2013 financial year. We have seen significant progress toward our strategic ambitions right across the organisation. We are now firmly positioned as the health-promoting peak organisation for the disability sport and recreation sector in Victoria. Our achievements are possible because of the wonderful support of thousands of individual donors from our community, our members, staff, volunteers, sponsors and program partners. The diligence of our Board and staff resulted in a pleasing financial performance and puts us in a good position for growth. This year, we were impacted in different ways by frequently changing external policy and funding environments at state and federal levels. However, our purpose, our history, our vision and our structure means we are ready to adapt in a considered way. The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an exciting and necessary shift in federal government policy and we look forward to the Victorian transition being completed by September 2014. Economic barriers to sport and recreation will be reduced for NDIS participants. We are encouraged by the opportunity to increase participation in sport and recreation as a result of this policy change. Our existing capacity and practice to provide services to DHS clients was extended to NDIS participants when our registration as a service provider under the NDIS was accepted in June 2013. We adjusted to Access for All Abilities funding changes introduced by the Victorian Coalition Government, which, unlike federal policy initiatives, continues to direct resources at an organisation level. These challenges only reaffirm that our philosophical position is right. Whilst many gains have been made, there is still a long way to go for a truly inclusive and accessible society. Our position has always been and will continue to be, that person-centred, self-directed approaches are needed in the collective mind-set of sport. Equity must be embedded, as a natural part of everything we do. We firmly believe in the right to a fair go. Putting individuals first and using sport and recreation as our tool to bridge the health inequity gap is the right approach. We can draw on foundations that were laid over 50 years ago, putting better health outcomes, sport and recreation at the centre of our work now and in the future. There are approximately one million Victorians with disability. Our work keeps us heading towards making sport and recreation a genuine option for Victorians with disability, as part of a healthy lifestyle for every one in a million... and we’re counting. Jeremy Long Rob Anderson Chair Chief Executive Officer 2 Disability Sport & Recreation One million Victorians have disability. We’re working to bring sport and recreation opportunities to each and every one. Our strength is our understanding everyone is unique and applying this in everything we do. Our opportunity is bridging the participation and health equity gap… for every one in a million. “Taking part in sport and recreation is a great way to lead a healthy lifestyle. It provides physical activity, social connections, builds confidence and independence. Everyone needs these foundations for health. Too many Victorians with disability are missing out on these basic human rights.” (Kevin Coombs OAM, DSR Patron and founding member) 2012-2013 Annual Report 3 Toward inclusive sport and recreation opportunities... for every one in a million “Creating partnerships is the most effective way to build capacity of sport and recreation organisations to meet individual participation needs.” (Tim Nield, Acting Manager Sport and Recreation) We worked with Basketball Victoria, Melbourne Heart Football Club, Northcote City Football Club, Bowls Victoria, Fitzroy Victoria Bowls Club, Sporting Shooters Association of Australia – Victoria Wheelchair rugby Branch, creating inclusive opportunities to participate from social As the State Sporting Association for wheelchair rugby with to elite levels. the support of Protect Services, we managed the development pathway from introductory programs through to state “Development pathways are important for long term participation. representation. We hosted the 2012 and 2013 Protect Victorian Some people like the social aspects of sport and others are driven Wheelchair Rugby League and the Victorian round of the 2013 to compete.” (Tim Nield, Acting Manager Sport and Recreation) National Wheelchair Rugby League. 7-a-side-football Recreation Camps We delivered the 7-a-side football program, now in its fourth year, Activities like canoeing, quad biking and snowboarding were in partnership with Northcote City Football Club and Melbourne introduced in a safe, supportive environment to young Victorians Heart Football Club. The program had 22 young players with with disability at our summer and winter camps. The camps cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or who have experienced provide much needed respite to families of young people stroke. Our Victorian team competed in the 2012 National with disability. Paralympic 7-a-side Football Championships. “Going on camp makes me feel independent. It’s good to be amongst friends and we get to try to lots of different sports”. (Ben, Disability Sport & Recreation Member, age 17) This work reached approximately 3000 Victorians with disability. 4 Disability Sport & Recreation Making sport and recreation accessible... for every one in a million The SportRec Access program provides a Importantly, we follow up to see how gateway online, by phone or in person for people are enjoying the program we’ve Victorians with disability to find the most suggested, and make changes if needed. appropriate sport or recreation activity “This works because we are listening for them. to what Victorians with disability want. The results speak for themselves. People This program brings a person-centred with disability accessing this program take approach to the collective nature of sport. part in sport and recreation at almost double the rate of people with disability who People’s interests, geographic location, don’t access it. age, gender, level of ability or disability, preferences for group or individual programs (Rob Anderson, CEO, Disability Sport & Recreation) in a range of settings are just some of the considerations in matching Victorians with disability to the right programs. This work reached approximately 2500 Victorians with disability. Our equipment library service has 35 pieces of adaptive equipment to assist Victorians with disability to play sports such as lawn bowls, wheelchair basketball, handcycling, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby, athletics, and recreational activities like fishing and going to the beach. “My son wasn’t going to be able to take part in his school’s safe bike riding lessons because of his disability. David was desperate to be involved and have fun with all his class mates. Disability Sport & Recreation arranged for us to loan a junior handcycle quickly and easily. It meant the world to him and he had a great time” (Michelle, David’s Mum) 2012-2013 Annual Report 5 Spreading the word… for every one in a million WheelTalk School Awareness Program We piloted the SportsWorks program in Northcote, Ballarat, Geelong and Heidelberg. The program uses sport and recreation as a tool to improve employment, health and education outcomes in young Victorians with disability. “Thanks to the support of Inner North Community Foundation WheelTalk is an experiential learning and community this pilot has been really successful. We’re planning to roll it out in education program to raise awareness of disability, risks of more schools so we can meet the demand” unsafe behaviour and the importance of leading a healthy (Luke Tracey, SportsWorks Program Coordinator) lifestyle. IMPACT brings this awareness to Victorian workplaces. Sportsworks reached 60 students during the pilot. The kids love the wheelchair basketball activity. But it’s more than just fun, it gives them a brief insight into what it’s like to use a wheelchair. It’s a great leveller.” (Sam Bramham OAM, WheelTalk and IMPACT Program Coordinator) WheelTalk reached 25,000 young Victorians in more than 250 Rehabilitation to Recreation program is an outreach service in schools and tertiary institutions across Victoria. it’s fourth year, introducing sport and recreation to people with a recently acquired disability in Victorian rehabilitation centres, including The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, and many other health services. We educate allied health professionals and their patients on the benefits of sport We focused on web-based communication channels to and recreation as part of the transition from rehabilitation to reach more Victorians with disability. The strategy has the community. helped membership growth, attracting approximately 40 new members per month. “The program is unique because it’s peer-to-peer and it’s practical. We bring in equipment and invite our members to share their Facebook fans grew 48.87% experiences too. We show them what’s possible and how Twitter followers grew 41.21% to get there. We’re also bringing new ideas into allied health.” (Sean Corcoran, Rehabilitation to Recreation Program Coordinator)