A new chApter begins todAyour journey And the wAy forwArd

#1

07the Veggie box brings people together

08honouring our first AustrAliAns

14giVing kids in cAre A Voice

10MAke tiMe for friendship At Moudji

the newsletter for eMployees of life without bArriers

issue #1 March 2014

who we Are is defined not just by how we look And tAlk but More iMportAntly, by whAt we do. we work together to deliVer these VAlues.

welcoMe to this first edition of we liVe life, our new regulAr stAff newsletter.We have launched this newsletter as part of our 20th anniversary coinciding with a refresh of our brand and values.

In this special edition we shine the spotlight on some of our achievements. We hope you enjoy reading about those who through their passion and commitment partner with others to change their lives for the better.

Each month we’ll publish articles about how we’re working with clients, improving the way we do business and share inspirational stories. We will also profile teams, innovations and successes.

We encourage you to share your stories and experiences in future editions. Please send through ideas and contributions to mac@lwb.org.au

welcoMe to we liVe life

Our new brand marks the next chapter in our story and opens the door to a bright future.The brand gives us a fresh and dynamic identity to proudly share with others.Our new brand reflects the contemporary environment in which we deliver our services. We’ve put an emphasis into how the brand is presented digitally, and have focused on the use of moving artwork.You’ll see this in our marketing approaches and in the way we tell stories through video.The new brand retains the Life Without Barriers name and gives it new life while reflecting the hope, support and optimism that was envisaged when the name was first conceived more than 20 years ago.For further information about our new brand, and frequently asked questions, please visit the intranet.

our brAnd our VAluesEarly in 2013, a group of us got together to develop a clear set of behaviours to underpin our values and bring them to life in our daily work. Staff were surveyed, focus groups were held and feedback from manager sessions were all incorporated into this work to ensure everyone’s voice was heard. Our refreshed Values represent the voice and thoughts of all of us and underpin everything we do at Life Without Barriers.

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In this 20th anniversary year, we pay tribute to our Life Without Barriers journey.

It’s our 20th anniversary! I’d like to share with you the journey our organisation has taken and celebrate the extraordinary people we have supported and the talented staff who have helped build this organisation.

we honour our journey

celebrAting 20 yeArs of AchieVeMent

Life Without Barriers was established through the shared determination of local community members in Newcastle who wanted to improve the lives of people with disability.

Motivated by their own personal experiences and in response to demand for local disability support services, they decided to act.

Generating interest in the community, proposing to create a new non-government organisation for supporting people living with disability, a Board was formed and Life Without Barriers was established.

Since those days in the early 1990s, of supporting and delivering services, initially for people with disabilities, we have held to the fundamental ethos that people achieve better outcomes when their natural supports and relationships are strengthened within their community.

Through our dedicated, well-qualified professionals delivering locally responsive, coordinated and integrated services to our most vulnerable community members, we’ve come a long way.

With relationships at the foundation of everything we do, we have forged our own path.

Since Life Without Barriers began in the 1990s our services have grown from delivering disability services to the full scope of community services from family support and out-of-home care to home and community care for older Australians, and support to refugees and asylum seekers.

Our work in the areas of mental health, homelessness and youth justice has also improved the lives of the hundreds of people we support. We’ve come a long way and we will continue to grow.

We’ve helped thousands of people and we will continue to deliver services wherever they’re needed.

In 2012–13 we supported nearly 2000 people with disability. Through endorsing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2013, we will continue to ensure people with disability get more personalised, coordinated and responsive care than ever before.

In the twelve months to 30 June 2013, we also provided family support and out-of-home care services, to help more than 1800 children, young people and their families stay safely together or when this was not possible, have somewhere safe to live.

In that same period we delivered services to support more than 800 older Australians to remain living in their home; and helped more than 300 refugees and asylum seekers to settle in Australia.

It’s the services we provide and the people we support, across Australia and New Zealand that sets us apart from other community service agencies.

Over the past few years we’ve also entered a new era for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives. Our commitment to Reconciliation is one example of how we are strengthening our support, and listening to first Australians, across Life Without Barriers and in the community.

We’re changing with the times and we’re committed to continuous improvement.

It’s one of the many reasons why we’ve unveiled a fresh new look. Our brand and values refresh mark a new chapter in our story and lead us to a bright future.

We’re proud of who we are today, where we have come from and where we are going.

We thank you, our loyal staff and supporters, for helping us to grow into the organisation we are today. We will continue to evolve. Come on the journey with us!

Our model of support and approach to identifying and recruiting the best person for the job across the service sectors has allowed us to reach into some of Australia’s most remote communities. State and regional offices have been established as we’ve grown, ensuring we remain close to the local communities that we support.

Now Life Without Barriers is one of the most significant providers of community-based services in Australia – and we employ local people.

Our services are now delivered across more than 250 communities with a ‘never say no’ innovative approach coupled with a responsive problem solving attitude. We are also trusted by government, the community and clients in both the conduct of our organisation internally and publicly.

We’ve got many achievements to celebrate.

Though still a relatively young organisation, we are able to draw upon learnings from the past to shape our future direction. We have our leaders, past and present, to thank for who we are today.

Let’s all be proud to be part of this great organisation.

Claire Robbs, Chief ExecutiveTerry Lawler, Chair of the Board

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We celebrate the ability, strengths and diversity of people with disability.

That’s why every year we’re proud to host our National Disability Services Achievement Awards to coincide with the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December.

Our sixth annual awards showcased the achievements of people from across Australia, and we were delighted to share their incredible stories of resilience, courage and perseverance.

Last year The Veggie Box Delivery Group from Rocherlea, Tasmania won our Community Builder Award.

relAtionships coMe first

our VAlues

Through the Veggie Box program, six men – Leigh Barnes, Lee Carver, Stephen Clark, Nigel Duerden, Jeffrey Goodluck and Michael Ling – are making the most of a valuable opportunity to gain new skills, increase their social interaction and contribute to the community.

As they go through their day and deliver their veggie box to people who can’t get to the grocery store, the men have established wonderful relationships with community members, developed new friendships, and contributed to the capacity of the community to be able to address food security issues.

Tony Crothers, Program Coordinator, Rocherlea, Tasmania said the program provides customers with easy access to locally grown produce, while reminding local farmers that their produce is valued.

“One of our regular customers is an elderly gentleman with disability who relies on us for the delivery of fresh vegetables every fortnight as he doesn’t have easy access to transport to go shopping,” Tony said.

The Veggie Box program is another reminder that Life Without Barriers is committed to assisting people with a disability to develop skills, build community connections and access key services to sustain the best living arrangements possible.

the Veggie box brings people together

we are people people. Relationships come first. Listening helps us understand.

we build relAtionships

we are imaginative in our thinking and open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

we Are iMAginAtiVe

we are respectful and caring in our dealings. We see the big picture but never lose sight of detail. We welcome diversity.

we Are respectful

we are responsive to needs, determined to get things done and do them well.

we Are responsiVe

we are courageous in our convictions. We stand up for what we believe in.

we Are courAgeous

“ coMing together is A beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” Henry Ford

Allan Barton, Disability Support Coordinator, Life Without Barriers Rocherlea, Tasmania with a participant in The Veggie Box program, Stephen Clark.

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Cultural respect and planning to meet the diverse needs of the people we support is an essential part of our services.

we Are iMAginAtiVe

Life Without Barriers has continued to find new ways to strengthen the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the organisation and the communities in which we work.

On Thursday 20 February, a possum skin cloak was presented to the Reconciliation Committee during a meeting at the national office in Newcastle.

The cloak had been created by the National Cultural Respect Steering Committee at their final meeting in December 2013.

They had designed their symbol of Reconciliation on the possum skins, under the guidance of Aboriginal artist Mitch Mahoney, and the skins were stitched together to assemble the cloak.

A poster of the Life Without Barriers Reconciliation journey since 2005 was also presented at the meeting and is now available on our Reconciliation intranet page.

To further the organisation’s commitment and accountability, Life Without Barriers has established a new Reconciliation Steering Group and a Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives team this year.

honouring our first AustrAliAns Through combining roles from across Life Without Barriers, creating a new agenda and increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander decision-making capacity, we are confident our Reconciliation team is strengthening the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Life Without Barriers and in the community.

Our new Reconciliation direction is a reminder that we are strongly committed to continuing our journey towards unity and respect, and making a real difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It was in July 2009 that Life Without Barriers launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan with a clear commitment from our Board to effectively and responsibly work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities.

We continue to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original custodians of the land and strongly believe in recognising, respecting and advancing the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of the first Australians.

We also acknowledge the importance of family, cultural and community ties to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“ if you cAn dreAM it, you cAn do it.” Walt Disney

On Thursday 20 February 2014, a possum skin cloak was presented as a gift from the Life Without Barriers National Cultural Respect Steering Committee to the Life Without Barriers Reconciliation Committee, comprising Life Without Barriers Board members, from left: Sue Gordon, Terry Lawler (Chair of the Board), Gillian Calvert, Mitch Mahoney (Aboriginal artist), Sharon Gollan (Chair of the Reconciliation Committee), Jan Lowe, Paul Murphy, Robert Ferris and Anthony Deegan.

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At Life Without Barriers our first priority is to deliver the best service and support arrangements for people with disability.

On a practical level, we partner with people with disability and their families or carers, to change lives for the better by delivering clinical support services, transition support programs, community access and participation activities, family support and respite care.

Our Moudji Respite Centre at Queanbeyan, New South Wales is one example of how we provide supervised respite accommodation for people with disabilities, ranging from children aged seven to adults, aged 65.

Moudji currently provides respite for up to 31 people on a monthly basis, for between two and seven days.Louise Little, Program Manager, Far Southern Region New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, said, “Moudji is an Aboriginal word for friendship and that’s what we’re offering – the opportunity for people with disability

we Are respectful And cAring in All our deAlings

to build friendships and relationships when they visit our centre.”

The centre also delivers school holiday programs which focus on enabling people with disability to have similar opportunities and experiences as their peers.

Through delivering centre-based respite options, Moudji provides an essential community service to the area.

Life Without Barriers provides in-home respite services, host family or supported holidays and community options that go some distance towards giving people with disability, their carers or families short-term breaks and strengthening the care giving relationship.

MAke tiMe for friendship At Moudji

our cAll for More foster cArers

At Life Without Barriers we provide out-of-home care to support children and young people who are not able to live with their families.

We thank our foster and kinship carers for providing these safe and supportive homes.

Our carers are the reason we were able deliver family support and out-of-home care to more than 1,800 children and young people in 2012–13.

Life Without Barriers carers demonstrate exceptional commitment to meeting the needs of children and young people in their care.

Rosie* from regional NSW has cared for Trevor* – who has autism and Asperger syndrome – for the past eight years.

Rosie gave up work to care for Trevor, who has since made great progress in developing his skills through speech therapy and is now achieving new goals.

After a ‘negative experience’ in her own childhood growing up in a foster home, Rosie has a steely resolve to provide

Trevor with the best possible upbringing, enjoying the same opportunities other children experience.

“I want Trevor to experience life; just because he’s a foster child doesn’t mean he should miss out,” Rosie said.

“My role is also to prepare Trevor so that when he is old enough to leave me he can go out into the real world.”

As a mother of two adults, Rosie was aware of the difference nurturing a child’s ability can make. With the vigour of a parent raising a child for the first time, she looks for every opportunity to brighten Trevor’s future.

“To see where Trevor’s come from and where he is now… we’ve proved the experts wrong. He’s thriving and finally achieving the goals he wants.” If you know someone who might be interested in becoming a foster carer please call 1300 592 227 or email carers@lwb.org.au*Names changed to protect identities.

Every child has a right to be safe and supported to reach their potential.

“ r-e-s-p-e-c-t find out whAt it MeAns to Me!!” Aretha Franklin

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Our Life Without Barriers’ team at Alice Springs held a smoking ceremony at the office on Monday 3 March 2014.

With our Chief Executive, Claire Robbs in attendance, four women from the Alice Springs Akeyulerre Healing Centre – Margaret Kemarre(MK) Turner, Bessie Liddle, Ava Wallace and Pam Lynch – visited the office to conduct the ceremony.

Having gathered fresh emu bush leaves in the morning, it began with MK Turner indicating the ceremony would focus on ‘wellness and healing so everyone can move from strength to strength’.

we Are responsiVe to needs

Staff and the people we support then walked through the smoke, from leaves being set alight, and were brushed with emu bush. Pam Lynch walked from room to room, smoking out negativity and ushering in the future.

Claire Robbs thanked participants adding: “We’re always keen to deliver services to help local people live the best life possible and, our whole Life Without Barriers team is striving to do more for local people, especially children, young people and their families.”

eVeryone loVes Alice

our toowooMbA chAMpion

Award winner Sherie Navin.Chief Executive Claire Robbs was brushed with emu bush from Bessie Liddle as part of a smoking ceremony at Life Without Barriers, Alice Springs.

At Toowoomba, Queensland, Sherie Navin, Disability Support Worker, strives to ensure Life Without Barriers meets the needs of people with disability with the right supports at the right time.

Sherie’s outstanding contributions led to her receiving the Innovation Award at the Life Without Barriers’ National Disability Services Achievement Awards on 3 December 2013.

The awards recognised Sherie’s creative approach in developing innovative programs that create opportunities for people with disability to participate in activities and develop new skills.

Sherie’s incredible ability to establish rapport and respond to individual needs has resulted in people who have not previously been willing to attend programs, participate in and enjoy activities, and apply newly acquired skills in their day-to-day lives.

From volunteer work that provides opportunities for people to make a meaningful contribution to their community, to healthy lifestyle programs that develop practical skills to improve health and wellbeing, Sherie’s ability to think outside the square has resulted in real impact.

Caroline Pederson, Operations Manager, Toowoomba, said, “Sherie is passionate about education, opportunities, self-advocacy and standards of service delivery for people with disability in Toowoomba.

“Her work objectives are to increase individual empowerment through a range of programs, supports and networking opportunities for all. The differences she makes to people’s lives are that she never loses sight of the individual and their potential.”

Lorraine Liddle, Operations Manager, also thanked the healing centre for the ceremony – which had a personal touch thanks to the participation of her mother Bessie.

Lorraine is an Arrernte Luritja woman who is proud of her Aboriginal culture. She was born and raised in Alice Springs and has a strong connection to her country and people of the region.

“Locally we deliver disability services, family support and out-of-home care, and for older Australians, we provide home care packages,” Lorraine said.

“As Alice Springs is the regional hub of Central Australia it attracts Aboriginal people from all over the region and well beyond. Many Aboriginal people visit regularly to use the town’s services.”

According to the 2011 census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent an estimated one in five people living in Alice Springs. Of the 25,186 people living in Alice Springs, there were 4,689 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Alice Springs. With many local Aboriginal people also living in surrounding communities, the population at Alice Springs often rises at times due to people attending medical appointments as well as cultural and sporting events.

That’s why Valerie Rowland, General Manager, Northern Territory places a local focus on delivering Aboriginal and Reconciliation initiatives.

“During my recent stint at Alice Springs, I was able to share information about some of our Reconciliation initiatives at Life Without Barriers with people and appeal to local Aboriginal people to become a Life Without Barriers foster or kinship carer,” Loretta Perry said of her visit to the Northern Territory.

“ only A life liVed for others is A life worthwhile.” Albert Einstein

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It’s a wonderful achievement that Life Without Barriers is making a difference to people wherever they live. In 2013, Life Without Barriers opened early learning centres for children living in two remote Northern Territory communities – Minjilang on Croker Island and Lajamanu on the edge of the Tanami Desert.

The centres deliver high quality, culturally sensitive early learning and development programs to support 30 children, aged birth to five years, to grow and thrive.

Staff at the Minjilang centre include Ruth Fejo, who has spent her entire life on Croker Island.

In her role at Life Without Barriers, Ruth has a new outlet to share the love of her birthplace with those who now call Croker Island home.

“I’ve always wanted to work with kids and to do it without leaving Croker Island is great,” Ruth said.

“I set up the centre every day, look after and supervise the kids and do all sorts of different activities with them”.

With Ruth’s help, the centre is also playing a role in the preservation of the local Iwaidja language. Iwaidja is classified as vulnerable to extinction by UNESCO with only about 150 speakers remaining and it’s preservation through education of children is vital to keep it from becoming extinct.

“I teach some words to the kids who haven’t learnt Iwaidja at home, especially the non-indigenous kids. Not everyone

looking After children in the northern territory

can understand the language so it’s good that they can learn it here while they are young.”

Ruth’s role in the children’s education will increase over the coming months as she has started observing and programming for the education needs of the children. She will formalise her skills by completing a Certificate III in Children’s Services and will be able to teach other traditional activities to the children at the centre.

“I’ve just done my remote first aid certificate and next is the children’s services certificate. Teaching Iwaidji is one thing but I enjoy all sorts of traditional stuff like painting so it will be great to share that with the kids. I love kids and it’s great to be able to work with them every day.”

Early this year, the courageous actions of our supporters, and the people we support, have landed us in the media spotlight.

Urthboy and Josh Pyke, two of Australia’s hottest musicians joined forces with some of our young people in foster and residential care to create a music track and animated video clip which talks directly about their experiences in care.

The aim of the project called Spitballin’ with Urthboy was to empower young people in out-of-home care to talk about their experiences and draw out their opinions about life as a young person in care.

On Thursday 6 February 2014 Australia’s national youth music station Triple J launched Someone Else’s House and it then reached third place on the Australian Hip-Hop iTunes’ charts. The track now regularly features on Triple J and ABC TV’s Rage and has reached more than 22,000 hits on YouTube.

we Are courAgeous in our conVictions And Actions

“ courAge is whAt it tAkes to stAnd up And speAk; courAge is Also whAt it tAkes to sit down And listen.” Winston Churchill

Two of the young people consulted for the track, Josh and Anthony also talked on Triple J about their experience in foster and residential care and their hopes of becoming social workers. Our Chief Executive CIaire Robbs, and case coordinator Ali Chisholm, then discussed the importance of giving children in care a voice.

For Josh, 18, the track Someone Else’s House is aptly named, having lived in more than 50 foster or residential placements since he was seven and attended more than 10 schools.

“Learning to trust again has been a challenge as you don’t know when you will be leaving,” Josh told Triple J listeners.“Around the age of 14 I also started mixing with the wrong people, and trust was again an issue as there were thieves or

people who would blab to others; not having parents or siblings to talk to was hard.”

Our media interviews provided an invaluable opportunity to ensure the subject of out-of-home care shone in the media spotlight to remind young people who are in care, or leaving care to live independently, that they are not alone.

Our dedicated staff and the CREATE Foundation deliver services to young people to develop their transition from care plan and provide information about how to apply for housing, access health services and find a job or go on to further education or training.

To hear the interview or watch the track, visit the Urthboy project homepage on the Life Without Barriers intranet. The song is available to download on iTunes with all proceeds going to the CREATE Foundation, to fund grants and programs that will help make a difference to the lives of young people in care.

shining the spotlight on our kids in cAre

Josh and Urthboy at Triple J for the launch of Someone Else’s House.

Urthboy joined forces with young people in care.

Ruth Fejo works at the childcare centre at Minjilang.

did you know, life without bArriers is on fAcebook And twitter? pleAse ‘like us’ to join in the conVersAtion And support the orgAnisAtion or follow us on twitter @lwbAustralia

fiVe Minutes with kyp boucherArea Operations Manager, Mental Health, Immigration and Country Services, South Australia

When and why did you join Life Without Barriers? I joined Life without Barriers in 2005 to commence the mental health programs. Working in the area of mental health is a keen interest and passion of mine and Life Without Barriers had won a tender to support people to transition from psychiatric hospitals to community based accommodation and support.

What do you most enjoy about your work? The values and philosophy of the organisation; and the ability to be flexible, innovative and creative to meet the needs of the individuals we support. I also enjoy the support provided to implement our innovative ideas.

What profession other than your own would you consider? When I was younger I wanted to be a hairdresser, and did consider personal training at one point but I am not sure I could be that fit.

What is your favourite food? I love Thai food.

What inspires you? Advocating for social justice.

What would you change about your life or the world if you could? I would love to completely stamp out any form of racism.

What sound do you love and why? I love the beach, so would have to say the sound of the ocean.

The word that best describes me is...Passionate.

My first job was... Salesperson at a toy shop.

I relax by... Enjoying a good comedy either, movie, show or live.

Through these and other good news stories, we’ve shared our wonderful stories and expert opinions with over one million people in recent months.As Life Without Barriers enters a new phase, Australians have been interested to hear the stories from the people we support, and opinions from our organisation on the big social issues facing our communities today.

Our Chief Executive Claire Robbs has been lending a hand to support other non-profit organisations such as The Big Issue’s International Vendor Week. She sold magazines in Adelaide – where we have award-winning homelessness support programs – to raise much needed funds for the homelessness publication. She also spoke about her experience on Adelaide’s 5AA Breakfast Show where she answered the presenters’ questions about the challenges that homeless people face.

Claire was also called upon by Radio National’s Life Matters program, for their story on International Women’s Day on 8 March. The presenter Geraldine Doogue called upon us to discuss why there aren’t more women leaders, and what can change to re-balance the gender

bias in leadership. In particular, she wanted to understand how our organisation offers equal opportunities for all emerging leaders.

Another major project receiving a lot of attention was Make Some Noise, which saw 14 of our young people in out-of-home care work with musicians Urthboy and Josh Pyke to create the track ‘Someone Else’s House’. The track was written from the point of view of young people in care. Their experiences, feelings and opinions are beautifully woven into the lyrics.

One young man involved in the project – Josh – turned 18 in December 2013 and left our care. Josh has become a great advocate for the rights of young people in care to be heard. He appeared alongside Claire Robbs, Urthboy, and case coordinator Eugene Wilson to promote the song through national media including Triple J, Channel Ten’s Studio 10 and Radio National. The Studio 10 presenters were moved by Josh’s story, in particular the gratitude that Josh had for Eugene, who helped him turn his life around over the five years he has supported him.

Look out for projects like Make Some Noise in 2014, as Life Without Barriers offers more ways for children and young people to have their voices heard.

fAMe... reMeMber our nAMe