Annual Report 2018 – 2019 1 Acknowledgement of Country 4 Message from the Chairperson 5 Acknowledgement Board of Directors 6 Message from the CEO 7 of Country Organisational Structure 9 Disability Services 13 Awabakal Ltd acknowledges that We recognise and respect our we operate and function on the cultural heritage, beliefs and Business Services 15 lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, relationship with the land, which Housing Management 17 Mindaribba, Biraban, Bahtabah continues to be important to our Medical Service 19 and Wonnarua people. Aboriginal community living today. Mental Health Report 21 We wish to acknowledge the We acknowledge our Elders – the Family Health 23 custodians of these lands, the knowledge holders and teachers. Elders and community past, Dental Report 26 present and future. We acknowledge our youth – Medical Data 27 our hope for a brighter and We acknowledge and pay respect stronger future. Community Services 31 to the ancestors that walked and Early Learning and Education 37 managed these lands for many We acknowledge and pay our respect generations before us. to our community members who Thank You and Goodbyes 39 have gone before us and recognise Aged Care 41 We acknowledge and pay respect their contribution. to the fight and struggle our people Finance 43 dedicated towards our culture and Directors’ Declaration 47 the contribution they made and Auditor Sign Off 49 make to the life of this city and our regions. We acknowledge and recognise all Aboriginal people who have come from their own Country and who have now come to call Contents this Country their home. 3 Awabakal Annual Report 2018 – 2019 4 Message from Board the Chairperson of Directors I’m pleased to report that Awabakal has had This year in particular the Board have provided another year of successfully delivering services the Management team with the strategic support to our community. to make sound, well informed decisions to respond to community need. With our new brand and image well established we are in an excellent position to expand and We hope to continue this support into the future excel in all areas of our business. and guide the organisation to plan and provide for a sustainable future. The strategic plan for 2017 – 2020 is very much about developing and implementing smart business On behalf of all Directors thank you for your systems that allow us to deliver quality services continued support. Awabakal is leading the way. to our community. We have been undertaking a number of internal processes to support our teams Darren Faulkner to continue to make a difference in the lives of our Awabakal Chairperson community members. The progress we have made in expanding our regional services in Medical, Aged Care and NDIS has been significant, we have increased access to our community in all these areas. This growth has resulted in an increase in employment opportunities for our community and we anticipate this to continue as our organisation grows further. The Board of Directors have been working hard Abie Wright to maintain our connection to the needs of the Director community as we balance the growth in all areas of our Business. The Board remain committed to Kevin McKenny the community and advocating for more services Stephen Griffen Director where they are needed most. Director Di Ball Treasurer Warwick Wright Director Edward Smith Director 5 Awabakal Annual Report 2018 – 2019 6 As you may be aware I left the organisation in experiencing huge growth in numbers of people October 2018 and returned in July 2019. I left to accessing our services which is great and we take a position as CEO of the Aboriginal Health look forward to working with community to build and Medical Research Council (AHMRC) in services that meet their needs at the local level. Sydney. During this time Awabakal continued to serve the community well by providing access The next phase of our strategic plan is to develop Message to many services across a number of different linkages across our programs so that our services portfolios. My time away from the organisation are integrated and supporting families to the best allowed me to develop skills in different areas of our ability. We are looking to engage in strong, that I am now implementing at Awabakal. meaningful partnerships with other providers who can complement what we provide in our way. One of these areas is workforce development from the and supporting our Aboriginal staff to be skilled practitioners in their area of expertise. This will This is an exciting time for allow our Aboriginal staff to be leaders in their Awabakal and all those professions and providers of quality, culturally involved with us. I would appropriate programs and services. like to take the opportunity CEO As we continue to work on developing our to thank the Awabakal team services regionally, we are investing in better ways to deliver our services including our and Board of Directors for transport and telecommunication systems. the role that each and We welcome feedback on how our services every one has in making a are working for community and have responded to many suggestions to date. We encourage you difference to the lives of to provide feedback on our services. our community members. As we are building our organisation across many Raylene Gordon communities in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Awabakal CEO Port Stephens and Maitland areas we are 8 Organisational Structure Care Coordinator Regional (all locations) Services Manager Aged Care Aged Care Education & Early Workers Workers Leadership Learning Aged Care Op r era Lawn to ti Lawn a on Regional in s Maintenance d C Maintenance Team Regional r o Services Manager Workers o o Workers o Por r Services Manager C m t S d a t i Community s e e n Medical p a n T h Relations o e t i d n o t n s r a a r l T t e i e p a a m O M Regional Board Services Manager Aged Care of Directors m N a e e r O w T o t p c e a e a i n r s r i a t a d ti le u r o T q o n e o s a ac Health Planning Regional C m C C o e M s EO o Lak n & Performance Services Manager Lawn r o Lawn di ti Maintenance na ra Maintenance Manager Aged Care tor e Workers Op Workers Aged Care Aged Care Business Workers Workers Services Manager Registered Nurse (all locations) Newcastle Team ner Se itio nio ct r C ra lin P ic l a a l P es Fam r s ic il e y Medical rv y S n Education c e u e h S p o p G t o r l r r o o P t o or i g p t S m S e n i p a te s Services e & Early u p r e T h v t S S e i d n c y l n s e i a Regional l T s t Maitland Port Stephens m i e Services Manager a a a Learning Team Team F m Medical M Regional r Services Manager e k D Education & Early r t i o r r e Family & m N Learning o S c W a e Community t e p o e s n h w p t r T e i l Engagement u o ( c c r a W e S i a i N e r v i s y c t a l r u H l i rs y k e u e e l h q S i a Te c m m m a a a a m M F r F ) Lake enio Early S ) Childhood He le ad da Educators Te en ach (Gl er Director Young Starters Lake Macquarie Teacher Early Team Childhood Early Educator Childhood (Young Starters) Educators 9 Awabakal Annual Report 2018 – 2019 10 Community Business Relations Services Accounts ort Payable pp P u rom S o Assistant s ti n on io s Accountant t a O ic ffi n c u e r m A rt cc m o ou o p n p t C a u n Payroll Regional S t T Officer Services Manager I Community Relations r C e Business o n t m Services Manager T r e m a D a P i / m u s s Disability a y n t s b i L it e C l y Support i a r e n o l Community a D i it u e s o y c d e Worker Q Development e v u rd S / fi r e B i up ty f ( lo s n p e O Workers Y pm n at or af k ou e o or t S s (TIS) th nt ti Ri & ica TI un S) Comm Disability Support Community Worker Development Disability Workers Support (Youth) Worker 11 Awabakal Annual Report 2018 – 2019 12 Disability Services Awabakal could see there was the need for Due to the hard work and culturally appropriate services for people living unwavering commitment with a disability in the community. So just over 12 months ago we made the decision to invest from staff, Awabakal in launching a disability service specifically for Disability Service has aboriginal community. In that time Awabakal grown from just an idea Disability Services has grown steadily and has been able to assist many community members to a business today that access culturally appropriate services enriching employs 14 staff and their lives.