COMMUNITY REPORT K ARI 2013/2014 CONTENTS KARI VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS 4 CHAIRPERSON REPORT 5 CEO REPORT 6 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT PROFILES 8 OUR SERVICE STRUCTURE 10 OUR SERVICES 11 OUR VALUES AND STANDARDS 12 OUT OF HOME CARE PROGRAM (OOHCP) 14 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 23 COMMUNITY EVENTS 27 COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS 28 PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY GRANTS 30 3 OUR VISION OUR MISSION WHAT WE SEE FOR THE FUTURE Flourishing Aboriginal families, youth and communities. WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO Building strength in families and services. OUR STATEMENT KARI is committed to providing quality, sustainable services to OF COMMITMENT Aboriginal communities, especially in the areas of Aboriginal TO THE COMMUNITY child protection and Aboriginal community support programs. We will continue to seek further opportunities to expand programs and our service capacity. We will continue to develop local partnerships with our key stakeholders to enhance our resources and service delivery. We will endeavour to deliver all our programs in a culturally appropriate manner and promote the ideals of self-determination. The service will conduct itself in a professional manner, and deliver programs that are of a high standard and deliver good outcomes. This will be achieved by adhering to quality policies and procedures, good recruitment practices, staff support, involving community, maintaining partnerships and open communication. 4 REPORT FROM THE CHAIRPERSON In regards to the NSW State government decision to transfer OOHC responsibility over to the NGO sector, I am proud of the fact that this agency is one of only a few that is keeping pace with the transfer process. This highlights the high quality planning and expertise that currently exists within our service operations, and I congratulate all concerned. I would like to acknowledge all the hard work done by the KARI team over the past 12 months, and in particular all the good work done in supporting our children and young people in foster care. I am very satisfied in knowing that all of our programs and services are designed to ensure that Aboriginal culture and identity is the priority. I would like to acknowledge our marvelous foster and respite carers for their ongoing dedication and commitment in supporting our children and young people in care. We all know how challenging this role can be at times, but we also know how satisfying and rewarding it can be at the same time. I would like acknowledge my fellow Board of Directors for their valuable contribution made throughout the year. In particular I would like to acknowledge Anthony Ashby who resigned from the Board in September 2013. Anthony was a long term Board member who gave great support and commitment to the service, we thank him and we wish him well for the future. Moving forward, I am very confident with our plans for continued service growth in our continued efforts to support our children and young people, and our community in achieving a better quality of life, self-determination and economic independence. GARY POTTS CHAIRPERSON 5 REPORT FROM THE CEO I am pleased to see the roll out of our service growth planning come to fruition for this financial year. Much of our success can largely be attributed to the tireless work done by our out of home care team, which is superbly led by our Chief of Operations, Casey Ralph. I would like to make special mention of our marvelous foster carers who have all been so committed to their foster care role and their support of our children in care. I would also like to thank all of our respite carers for the role they play in supporting our carers and children in care. I would like to acknowledge the support provided to me during the year by the KARI Board of Management and in particular our Chairperson, Gary Potts. I would also like to acknowledge and thank all our consultants and partners for assisting us throughout the year. We are now preparing for another exciting year ahead, and have set our sights high in terms of additional service growth and securing more quality partnerships that will allow us to do more good work for our community. In closing, I would like to make it known how proud I am of all the KARI staff. These people are the reason we have such a good reputation and why people want to work closely with us. Their continued passion and commitment to their roles ensures that our clients and community are in good hands. Yours Sincerely, PAUL RALPH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 6 7 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT PROFILES GARY POTTS PAUL RALPH ANNE MARTIN CHAIRPERSON CEO – DIRECTOR DIRECTOR Gary is a Wiradjuri man from Paul is a founding member of Born at La Perouse in Sydney, Parkes, NSW, however he spent KARI and the current CEO. A Anne has held a range of senior most of his life in Campbelltown, proud Aboriginal man with family public and non-government sector NSW. He is a proud father of three connections on the north and roles across Indigenous affairs, great daughters and a devoted south coasts of NSW, Paul has including State Manager for ATSIC husband to a loving wife. Gary and spent 35 years living in Gandangra and Senior Advisor to the Chair. his wife are also foster carers. Gary Country, which is located in south- Anne has always placed an has been involved in Aboriginal west Sydney. Over the years, Paul emphasis on the health and affairs for the past 15 years, and has worked across a number of wellbeing of Aboriginal youth, has held a number of positions on important Aboriginal portfolios and has been instrumental in many boards and committees in relating to Aboriginal employment, establishing innovative education the Campbelltown/Liverpool areas. housing, education and policy programs that operate both Currently, Gary is employed with development. This experience has nationally and locally. Housing NSW in an Aboriginal enabled him to travel to many specialist position, and has been Aboriginal communities across Anne has also worked on programs with Housing for over 15 years. Australia and see first-hand the in South Africa, Israel, New Zealand many social issues that affect and Canada. Currently, Anne is the Gary is well-known within his Aboriginal people. At the same Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC community and is currently time, he is privileged to see the Committee. coaching a local NRL football team. diversity and resilience of the He is honoured to be the current world’s oldest culture. Chairperson of KARI, and sees KARI as a leader in the area of Aboriginal Over the past 15 years, Paul has child protection and wellbeing, as worked exclusively in the Aboriginal well as providing specialist support community NGO sector. This has and training to its wonderful carers. been the most challenging, but at the same time most rewarding period of his professional career. Paul is now committed to devoting the remainder of his professional career to serving his community to the best of his ability. 8 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT PROFILES ISABELLE PHILLIPS GEORGE VILLAFLOR ANTHONY ASHBY DIRECTOR DIRECTOR PARTING TREASURER The Founder and Managing Born in Queensland, George is Anthony served with distinction Director of Mackerel Sky – a descendant of the Wagiman on the Board from 1 December Leadership Matters, Isabelle has people (NT). He spent his early 2009 to 23 September 2013. an undergraduate degree in Adult childhood in Darwin at the former Education, majoring in Human police paddocks, which is now Resource Development. She focused known as Stuart Park. Whilst not her post graduate studies on stolen, he spent some time at a linguistics, and is now completing a stolen children’s home - Retta PhD, bringing together the fields of Dixon in Darwin before moving to positive psychology and leadership. Queensland, where he played A Isabelle is an experienced and grade rugby league. accredited coach, and trains coaches George became involved with Land around Australia, New Zealand, Rights in the 80s with the Alice Singapore and China. Springs-based National Federation Isabelle started her career in of Land Councils before working for education, working with children the North Queensland Land Council. at Redfern Primary School, and He was the CEO of the first Cape then with migrants and refugees in York Aboriginal legal service in the Fairfield and Cabramatta. Prior to late 80s, and was admitted as a starting Mackerel Sky – Leadership barrister to the Supreme Court of Matters, Isabelle worked for Vedior; Queensland and the High Court. He the world’s third largest human has worked in Indigenous child care capital company, running HR and protection in both the Australian Talent Management consulting Capital Territory and Queensland, businesses on the eastern seaboard and is currently the P&C President at of Australia. Today, her consulting his local primary school in Canberra. business primarily designs and runs Currently not formally practising law, leadership development programs George works in other Aboriginal for government, corporates and the areas, and is still involved with land NFP sector. rights and working with Indigenous Isabelle is the adoring parent of two children in care and protection. gorgeous children who adopted her as their mum when they were three. 9 SERVICES STRUCTURE KARI BOARD OF MANAGEMENT KARI TEAM KARI PROGRAMS PROGRAM SYSTEMS & NETWORKING FUNDING MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE 10 OUR SERVICES WE RECRUIT, TRAIN ABORIGINAL FOSTER CARE ABORIGINAL ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT QUALITY We co-ordinate the delivery of a We continue to provide an ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN full case management model to our advocacy support role to our THE FOSTER CARE ROLE. children and young people in care. community to ensure they are We recruit, train and support quality assisted in an appropriate manner.