CONTENTS The 57th Annual General Meeting of The Spastic Centre will be held at The Spastic Centre’s premises at St Ives Community Access Service at 2.00pm on Saturday, 13 November 2004. All members are entitled to attend and are cordially invited to do so. ABN: 45 000 062 288 – www.thespasticcentre.com.au – email:[email protected] Mission Statement & Core Values page 2 Celebrating Sixty Years page 3 President’s Report page 4 Chief Executive Officer’s Report page 6 Highlights of 2003 – 2004 page 7 Services Highlights page 10 Research Activities page 12 Reports from the Board Committees page 13 Fundraising & Marketing Activities page 16 Thank you page 22 Sponsors & Supporters page 23 Financial Section page 29 Registered Office 187–189 Allambie Road Allambie Heights NSW 2100 Tel: (02) 9451 9022 Fax: (02) 9451 4877 Postal Address PO Box 184 Brookvale NSW 2100 Bankers Commonwealth Bank of Australia 48 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000 Auditors KPMG, The KPMG Centre 10 Shelley Street Sydney NSW 2000 Annual Report 2004 – The Spastic Centre 1 CORE VALUES & MISSION STATEMENT I Respect acknowledging the worth of every INDIVIDUAL I Accountability transparent, ETHICAL, responsible practices I Independence promoting self-determination I Partnership linking and WORKING with others I Fairness equitable and accessible services I Innovation new and creative SOLUTIONS Building futures ... for people with cerebral palsy and their families. 2 Annual Report 2004 – The Spastic Centre CELEBRATING SIXTY YEARS For sixty years, The Spastic Centre has Notwithstanding changes in the use of been guided by a vision of responding in language over time, the organisation has pragmatic and contemporary ways to the taken the decision to retain the company needs of people with cerebral palsy and their name ‘The Spastic Centre’ in recognition of its families. origins and its widespread community awareness and respect. Our founders, Neil and Audrie McLeod, embarked on a journey to create opportunities The development of a number of major for children with cerebral palsy in treatment organisational initiatives has meant that and support. associated program names, images and logos have been developed. Examples include the The essence of their courage and CP Helpline, CP Register and Lending a foresight has been the foundation for our Helping Hand. values and principles throughout the history of our development. As we go forward the strength of these initiatives and the awareness of their purpose This annual report marks a time for us in the community will undoubtedly increase. to be reflective as an organisation that has matured and grown well beyond early ‘The Spastic Centre’ will remain as our expectations. foundation and link to our proud history. While retaining our caring and Through the efforts of our families, supportive approaches, The Spastic Centre supporters, volunteers and staff we have continues to build and celebrate the autonomy woven a rich fabric of understanding and of people with cerebral palsy and to support support. and strengthen their families and carers. It is from this that we move ahead This is achieved not only through its confidently to continue to build futures. expanding local service networks but also by We now dream of a time when the embracing technology advances and discovery of a cure for cerebral palsy will be developing mutual support initiatives that found, so that the organisation would be foster independence and resilience. needed no longer. For many of our original families, the Until that day comes, we will work with very name of the organisation embodies the the energy and fortitude that characterised our pride of pioneering efforts for recognition of beginnings. the needs of people with cerebral palsy. AUDRIE & NEIL McLEOD The Spastic Centre was established in 1945 by Audrie and Neil McLeod. Along with a group of parents they established a range of services for children with cerebral palsy. Since then, The Spastic Centre has been driven by strong client participation and over time has developed its services in response to the changing needs of this group. We now deliver services from over 70 different sites, making us one of the largest non-government organisations in the disability sector. In Australia, it is estimated that every 18 hours a child is born with cerebral palsy. There is no known cure, no pre-birth test and the incidence of severe disability is on the increase. Cerebral palsy is a physical condition that affects movement. The Spastic Centre is constantly trying to ensure that people with cerebral palsy have access to what they need and to positively influence and inform the community on issues surrounding cerebral palsy. Our services include residential support for adults, respite for adults and children, employment support and placement, therapy services and technology solutions for children and adults. Annual Report 2004 – The Spastic Centre 3 PRESIDENT’S REPORT The Spastic Centre promises to build futures for people with cerebral palsy and their families. The end of the financial year 2003/2004 saw Our 60th birthday approaches … the adoption of “Building Futures” as the The Spastic Centre’s 60th birthday mission of The Spastic Centre and the approaches and with it comes a promise of an launching of the Strategic Plan 2004-2007. organisation with increased reach, This next planning cycle builds upon effectiveness and influence. the achievements and strengths of the past There is no more fitting example of this four years, echoes the voices of our many promise than our new, fully operational rural constituent groups and clearly reflects their therapy service centres for children – a long expectations for the future. held dream of The Centre and families living in The period under review was a most rural and remote areas of New South Wales. significant chapter in the history of The As we are now close to officially Spastic Centre and its highlights are not only opening our tenth new rural service outlet, fine examples of The Centre’s building futures The Centre acknowledges the valuable for people with cerebral palsy and their partnership of the Minister for Ageing, families but also milestone markers that MARELLE THORNTON AM Disability and Home Care, The Hon. Carmel promise to shape the future design of our Tebbutt and her departmental officers. President of The Spastic Centre & organisation and its programs of service in Chairman of the Board The increased, ongoing funding they New South Wales and the Australian Capital have made available evidences their Territory. confidence in our organisation and ensures A positive financial position … that our children’s services are truly statewide For the second year in a row, our and that our existing metropolitan and regional financial statements record a significant programs are enhanced. surplus. A surplus of $3.124 million ($4.1 Another recent milestone event was million: 2002/2003) and an accompanying the launch of the NSW Cerebral Palsy increase in Members’ Equity were achieved. Register. This positive position allowed the The design of the Register, the vital transfer of a further $2 million to The Cerebral information it will gather over time and its Palsy Foundation and thus increases the movement towards national status will return from its interest earnings, ensuring a provide the platform from which medical steady discretionary income stream for new researchers, service providers, governments and enhanced service programs and and communities across Australia can learn organisational initiatives. more about cerebral palsy – its causes, Again, we wish to record our deep incidence and prevalence. appreciation to the late Elsie Thompson. With critical data such as this, The distribution of her estate over the prevention strategies may become more of a past eighteen months, a successful reality as well as allowing our organisation and fundraising year and careful stewardship of others to plan with greater certainty and to The Centre’s finances and assets all ensure that resources are directed where they contributed to the healthy financial position at will have greatest impact in building futures June 30th. for people with cerebral palsy and their families. More importantly however, is our aim to achieve a balanced budget for 2004/05 at Acknowledgements … the same time as extending our services and It is a rich organisation indeed that can in spite of increases in the cost of wages and boast a community of donors, volunteers, low interest returns on investments. sponsors and supporters that really make a Thanks are extended to Mark Bryant, difference. Vice President of The Centre, and Chairman of The Centre is both proud and grateful the Finance and Audit Committee, and to to be one such organisation. To all who have Chief Executive Officer, Rob White and his joined us in our mission on behalf of people Senior Management team. with cerebral palsy and their families, we It is much to their credit that your salute your generosity, resourcefulness, organisation is in such good financial shape. unswerving purpose and compassion. 4 Annual Report 2004 – The Spastic Centre PRESIDENT’S REPORT “If I see further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Your gifts of time, energy and money of his considerable professional skills as well increase The Spastic Centre’s capacity in as his insightful life experience. building futures for its clients and their The Committees of the Board are most families. effective in streamlining the business of the We thank also our funding bodies – Board of Directors and attend to the finer New South Wales Department of Ageing, detail of the business of The Centre. Disability and Home Care, Department of To the Chairpersons of those Health, Department of Education and Training Committees – Mark Bryant, Robin Way, Peter and Commonwealth Departments of Family Whitfield and Brian Williamson – are extended and Community Services, Education and our special thanks.