ANNUAL REPORT 2017 - The Deaf Society · services we provide. • Increase in the surplus from...
Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT 2017 - The Deaf Society · services we provide. • Increase in the surplus from...
ANNUAL REPORT 2017
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017
VISION Equity for deaf people
PURPOSE‘Deaf life: Your way, your language’.
We work with deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing people. We work to break down barriers, create choice and support
you to reach your goals.
PATRON
PATRON His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) Governor of NSW
Highlights of the Year ............................................................................................................................. 3
Message from the Chair ......................................................................................................................... 4
Overview from the Chief Executive Officer ......................................................................................... 5
In memory of Vice Patron Nola Colefax OAM .................................................................................... 6
Our People ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Our Strategy – how we performed ....................................................................................................... 8
Chair, Finance and Audit Committee’s Report .................................................................................... 13
Financial Report ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Membership & Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 19
CONTENTS
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 3
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
2016 Deaf Festival
The annual Deaf Festival
was a wonderful success
with community
members young and old
joining in activities such
as the Auslan Spelling
Bee and the family
classic, traffic light game.
Resilient Australia Award
In October 2016, The Deaf Society
and emergency service partners won
the NSW Resilient Australia Award in
the community category. The award
recognised the Get Ready program
which has empowered the Deaf
Community to prepare for natural
disasters like fire, flood and storms.
Auslan at NRL Grand Final
The 2016 NRL Grand Final was the first time an Auslan performance of the
Australian National Anthem was included at a major sporting event. An
audience of over 80,000 people witnessed this historic and proud moment for
the Deaf Community.
My Interpreting App
In 2016, we designed and
launched a new website which
makes it easier for deaf people
to book an interpreter using
their mobile, tablet or iPad.
Now to book an interpreter with
NDIS funds, it is 4 simple steps
plus a once-off registration.
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 20174
The 2017 financial year (FY2017) was
another successful year for the Deaf
Society. Not only did we grow our
operating profit to $475,080 compared
to the previous year’s trading loss of
$146,619. The Board, along with the senior
management has developed a strategy
to build the capacity and services that
we deliver to the community. This plan
is aimed to drive revenue to $20 million,
by 2021, and significantly increase the
services we provide.
• Increase in the surplus from FY2016 to
FY2017 of $621,699.
• The rollout of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme.
• Increase in interpreter services the Deaf
Society provides.
• Increase in sign language course
enrolments by 36%.
These are very pleasing results, considering
the changing business environment
the Deaf Society works within and
the constant challenges including; the
complete rollout of the NDIS, changing
government policy, reduced funding
opportunities, and aligning our services to
customers’ needs.
However, the challenges we face are only
opportunities for the organisation to grow
and prosper, provide better services to our
customers and improve our engagement
with the broader community.
If the Deaf Society is going to continue to
grow and flourish, we must build a business
model that is substantial, resilient, and
delivers quality services to our customers.
We must continue to listen to our
customers and develop strategies that will
promote and assist, those people in the
deaf community that require support.
This is my first year as Chairperson of the
Deaf Society, and there are so many people
to thank. To the staff of the Deaf Society,
you are the face of the organisation. For
your determination, devotion and drive to
deliver the many programs and projects,
a big thank you.
It would be remiss of me, not to
acknowledge the two Directors who
have left the organisation over the past
year, both made enormous contributions
to the Deaf Society during their tenure
with the organisation.
Vivek Prabhu, sat on the Finance &
Audit Committee for several years
and oversaw the financial audits and
management of the investment portfolios.
Vivek’s skills in understanding financial
markets and his ability to work with the
investment advisers to build long-term
investment portfolios for the Deaf
Society will benefit the organisation for
many years to come.
Ken Deacon, sat on the Board for more
than ten years and held the position of
Chair for many years. Ken has made many
significant contributions to the Deaf
Society during this time. He has guided
the organisation in the employment of a
new CEO and understood the changing
environment including the implications of
the NDIS. All should appreciate his desire
for the organisation to strive and improve
the services it provides to the
deaf community.
To my fellow Board members, who have
devoted energy and time to assist and
guide the organisation over the past year,
thank you.
Brian Halse
Chairperson
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 5
OVERVIEW FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
This year, we have seen many new
challenges and exciting opportunities to
improve the quality of our services and
support for our deaf, hard of hearing and
deafblind customers.
As we prepared for the full roll-out of the
National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) in NSW, the Deaf Society team
have been listening to our customers and
implementing changes or introducing new
services to make their journey easier. This
would have not been possible without a
team who are very focused and passionate
about their customers ensuring that we
give 100% to all of you.
The Board and leadership team have also
been working strategically so that we may
continue to provide high quality customer-
focused support and proactively respond
to the significant changes in the sector
including NDIS and My Aged Care.
In December 2016, the Deaf Society
experienced great sadness with the passing
of our beloved Vice-Patron, the late
Nola Colefax, OAM. Nola‘s funeral was
well attended with many people in the
community paying tribute to a remarkable
and loyal woman who has inspired many
people. Her legacy and contribution to the
Deaf Society and the community will never
be forgotten.
I would like to thank the many people
who have tirelessly supported the Society
during the past 12 months.
Firstly, I would like to thank past Chair,
Todd Wright for his guidance and hard
work. Brian Halse accepted the Chair
position when Todd stepped down in
February 2017 and has been a wonderful
support to me and the Executive Team
during this dynamic time.
I would like to especially thank Vivek
Prahbu and Kenneth Deacon for their
years of dedicated service and loyalty to
the Society. Michael Boneham, Kashveera
Chanderjith and Vince Lam have joined
the board in February 2017 and brought in
continuity of financial knowledge as well
as their individual perspectives to drive the
Society forward.
Secondly, I would like to thank the
Executive Managers; Ivana Krunes, David
McQuiggin, Sharon Nann and John O’Neill.
Each one of them are strongly committed
to making the Deaf Society stand out as
a thought leader in the deafness sector,
one that provides high quality service
and support to deaf, hard of hearing and
deafblind people as well as their families,
friends and employers.
Thirdly I would like to thank the whole
Deaf Society team across NSW and
the ACT for showing me every day, the
difference they make for our customers
and importantly our community. The team
has been phenomenal as they worked
towards equity for deaf people.
Lastly I would like to thank our members,
donors and supporters. Without you, we
cannot achieve equity for deaf people. I
look forward to continuing to work toward
the Deaf Society’s vision and ensuring that
together, we achieve equity for everyone.
Leonie Jackson
Chief Executive Officer
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 20176
In 2016, we farewelled a dearly loved
member of the Deaf Community, our
Vice Patron Nola Colefax OAM. Nola died
peacefully on 15 December 2016, a few
months after celebrating her 95th birthday.
We would like to pay tribute to Nola’s
astonishing determination, deep generosity
and the lasting impression she made on the
Deaf Community by recognising some of
her greatest achievements.
In 1973, at the instigation of Kenneth Tribe,
the Deaf Society attempted to establish
a drama group. When few people showed
interest, they asked Nola to round up a
group of 20 who were to become the future
NSW Theatre of the Deaf. It was at this
time that Nola discovered a deep passion
for theatre and the visual arts.
Whilst working full time on a factory
assembly line, Nola dedicated most of her
spare time to the theatre company. In 1978,
six months before she was due to retire
from factory work, Nola accepted a full
time position in the Theatre of the Deaf as it
was launched as a professional company.
She had a full life in the theatre -
participating in the American National
Theatre of the Deaf’s summer programme,
performing Brecht and Shakespeare,
working in theatre-in-education, and
representing Australia at international
seminars such as UNESCO’s visual theatre
event in Paris.
It was in Paris that Nola met with the
budding linguist Trevor Johnston, an
encounter that served as the catalyst for the
1989 publication of the Auslan Dictionary
of which he was the editor.
In 1981 Nola Colefax was awarded an
Order of Australia for her services to
the Theatre of the Deaf. She continued
trailblazing her way towards the
formation of the Concerned Deaf Group,
the publication of an autobiography
Signs of Change, ongoing involvement
in Deaf Society Committees, the Deaf
Senior Citizens group and Deaf Christian
Fellowship. In 2010, she was appointed Vice
Patron of the Deaf Society, the first deaf
person to be given this honour.
Nola has impacted and inspired hundreds
of people in her lifetime and will always be
remembered for her graciousness, tenacity
and zest for life.
IN MEMORY OF VICE PATRON NOLA COLEFAX OAM
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 7
We aim to lead by example, our workplace is bi-lingual
and bi-cultural where both Auslan and English are used
and valued. We value our diverse employees including
those engaged on a casual basis and appreciate the skills
they bring as we work toward equity for deaf people.
Our team works in partnership with not-for-profit,
corporate and government organisations to achieve
greater impact. Most importantly, our team empowers
our customers to access all areas of life on an equal
basis with others.
Andrew Niklaus
Community Worker
Andrew is a passionate
Community Worker
who works tirelessly
to ensure that our
support for deafblind
customers including
meetings and outings,
are of high quality.
He is always willing
to go the extra mile
for customers and
works with colleagues
at any level to ensure
the best outcomes
for our customers.
Teresa Thomson
Support Coordinator and Parent to Parent Coordinator
Teresa has developed
a great relationship
with all of her
customers. She works
closely with hard
of hearing people,
supporting them
to understand and
implement their NDIS
plan. Additionally,
her experience and
dedication to supporting
parents of deaf children
ensures that families
are supported on
their journey.
Kate Matairavula
Manager, Customer Service Team
Kate works tirelessly
to ensure the Deaf
Society’s customers
receive the best
possible service and
inspires her team
to exceed customer
expectations. In a
changing environment
and with a new
team, she has led
the establishment
of new systems with
each service area to
ensure the customer
experience is easy.
Kathy Wright
Interpreter
Kathy has been
an interpreter and
interpreter mentor
for the Deaf Society
for over 17 years. Her
passion, dedication and
professionalism makes
her a role model for
all in the interpreting
industry. This year
Kathy has decided to
reduce her workload
as she eases into
retirement. Thank you
Kathy for your long and
outstanding service.
Renee Pratt
Customer Service Officer
Renee is our unflappable
and welcoming face
at the Deaf Society
Parramatta reception.
She is bilingual so
able to interact
confidently with all
our customers. Apart
from answering 50
calls a day, numerous
emails and greeting
customers when they
arrive, she also steps in
to assist other members
of the team during
peak periods.
STAFF PROFILES
OUR PEOPLE
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 20178
OUR STRATEGY – HOW WE PERFORMED
To work effectively towards or vision of
equity for deaf people, we set ourselves
five strategic directions for 2015-2018:
1. Improve and expand services for
individuals and communities
impacted by deafness
2. Increase workforce participation
3. Strengthen communities impacted
by deafness
4. Continue to develop a customer-focused
Deaf Society
5. Growth for sustainability
The following pages (8 – 12) contain
a summary of outcomes against the
five strategic priorities during the
2017 year.
In 2017, we continued to improve and
expand services for individuals and
communities across a range of service
areas including interpreting, education and
training, everyday living skills, employment
and support coordination.
Interest in Auslan courses continues to
grow exponentially. In 2017, a record
1,208 students enrolled in a beginner
community course while 355 enrolled in
an accredited course. The growth in Auslan
students fosters greater awareness and
understanding of the Deaf Community, its
unique language and culture. It also creates
a pathway to a career in Auslan/ English
interpreting which is experiencing high-
demand at present.
It has also been wonderful to see an
increase in the number of families with
deaf children requesting Auslan tutoring
in the home. Due to National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS), families are now
able to access Auslan training at a time
and location that suits the family. In 2016,
we were proud to support 12 families and
expect the demand for this service to grow
in the future not just among families but
hard of hearing adults too.
The Deaf Society is also expanding
services in the areas of assistive
technology, support for hard of hearing
people and services for regional areas.
For the past six years, the Deaf Society
has delivered the Smoke Alarm Subsidy
Scheme (SASS) in partnership with Fire
and Rescue NSW and NSW Government.
The scheme reduced the cost of visual/
tactile smoke alarms to just $20, making
them affordable to deaf people. Of the
over 2,000 smoke alarms that were
distributed through the scheme, 531
were distributed in 2017 alone.
While the SASS program has come to a
close, we recognised the new opportunities
for deaf people to access the technology
they need through the NDIS and My Aged
Care. With this in mind, we have added the
provision of assistive technology to our
suite of services.
Recently, we have also recognised a
growing need for support services for
hard of hearing people. In 2017, the Deaf
Society was successful in receiving an NDIA
Information, Linkages and Capacity Building
(ILC) grant to research the barriers to
accepting and seeking help for hearing loss.
The research will inform the development
of a progressive, impartial online service
which provides individuals and families with
emotional, clinical and practical support.
We look forward to realising this project in
the next 12 months in consultation with the
community and stakeholders.
In preparation for the final NDIS rollout
stage which includes Northern NSW, Mid
North Coast and the Illawarra Shoalhaven
among other areas, the Deaf Society has
employed a Country Services, Manager
to oversee regional service delivery in line
with the NDIS. The support provided by
the NDIS is particularly important for our
regional customers and we look forward
to continuing to improve and expand our
service provision in these areas.
IMPROVE AND EXPAND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEAFNESS
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 9
3,609 hours of independent living support provided
INCREASING WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION
The continued rollout of the NDIS across
NSW has created an increased need for
an Auslan skilled workforce. To meet the
growing demand, the Deaf Society has
provided a range of training programs
across education, individual support
provision and interpreting.
With an increasing number of people
enrolling in Auslan courses and families
requesting Auslan tutoring in the home, we
recognised the need to upskill more deaf
people with the Certificate IV in TAE10
(Training and Assessment) required for
teaching. Eight people have successfully
completed the course in 2017. We look
forward to welcoming them to the Deaf
Society team.
Working in partnership with TAFE, the Deaf
Society supported 16 people to achieve the
Certificate III in Individualised Supports
which in turn services our increased need
for support workers under the NDIS. In
total, 20 Support Workers were added to
our pull of casual staff and is expected to
grow in 2018 as service bookings increase.
Recognising the increasing demand for
interpreters, the Deaf Society once again
delivered the Diploma of Interpreting. For
the first time, the cohort comprised of
deaf and hearing students with 12 students
achieving their NAATI accreditation and
joining the workforce.
In 2017, we partnered with Uber to deliver
an information session in Auslan. Dozens
of community members took the
opportunity to learn about; becoming
an Uber driver, as well as the accessible
Uber app features for riders and drivers. It
is wonderful to work with an organisation
that embraces accessibility and encourages
the employment of deaf and hard of
hearing people.
100+ Support Coordination customers
18,965 hours of Auslan/English Interpreting
531 tactile smoke alarms distributed
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 201710
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEAFNESS
In terms of community engagement, we have
provided a range of events that allow for
skills and information sharing. Our specific
focus has been; 1) continuing to build the
capacity of deaf people around the NDIS
and emergency preparedness, and 2) social
activities that strengthen our community.
In preparation for the final stage of the
NDIS rollout, we delivered nine NDIS
workshops across NSW with a total of 195
people attending. The workshops were
an opportunity for the community to
understand the potential of the NDIS and
learn about the application process.
In the new year, we will shift our
focus to NDIS plan management and
implementation, by delivering workshops
to support customers in understanding
their NDIS plan and how to use online
portals such as My Gov and the NDIS
participants portal.
We have also expanded on the success of
the Get Ready – Emergency Preparedness
project. With the support of NSW
Government - Women in Leadership grant,
we were able to train our existing Deaf
Liaison Officers (DLOs) in mentorship.
The training enables the DLOs to mentor
new volunteers in the areas of community
leadership, effective communication, conflict
management and community development.
Following the training, an additional nine
deaf volunteers were recruited and are being
mentored by the DLOs.
Following the training, the mentors and
mentees in partnership with emergency
services have delivered 13 community
emergency preparedness workshops with a
total of 299 people in attendance.
Perhaps most significantly, the DLOs
delivered a workshop in Lismore following
the March 2017 flooding. The workshop
was not only an opportunity for the local
community to heal but also learn about
what steps they can take to prepare for
future natural disasters.
To strengthen our community, we provided
a series of social events engaging with a
broad range of people including families
with deaf children. The annual Deaf
Festival was once again a great success with
community members young and old coming
out to enjoy the day and engage in the
activities such as the Auslan Spelling Bee
and the family classic, traffic light game.
We also hosted screenings of the ground-
breaking American film No Ordinary
Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie in Gosford,
Sydney and Canberra with over 300
people in total attending the screenings.
The family-friendly film was written and
directed by deaf people which meant the
story strongly resonated with community
members and families.
The Turning Point
“Both my husband & I have found being
connected to Fiona deeply helpful – a really
important part of the support we received
as we began this journey of parenting our
son with hearing loss.
Speaking to Fiona on the phone when my
son was ten weeks old was a turning point
for us, as she was able to provide a sense of
hope and possibility by sharing her own son’s
story. We felt inspired, motivated and also
relieved as many of our fears were addressed.
As time has gone on, further conversations
and meetings with Fiona (including being
generously invited over to her home to
meet her family) have provided really
useful information and support.“
Rosanna Pajak, participant in the
Parent-to-Parent Mentor Program.
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 11
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A CUSTOMER FOCUSED DEAF SOCIETY
With a focus on continuous improvement,
we have further developed systems, skills
and processes to improve and measure
the customer experience.
Late in 2016, we launched the My
Interpreting mobile web app. First of its
kind in Australia, the app is designed to
make it easier to book an interpreter using
your mobile phone, tablet or iPad. Now to
book an interpreter with your NDIS funds,
there are only four steps plus a simple
once-off registration.
Since the launch of the app, interpreter
bookings from NDIS customers has risen
to approximately 20% of all bookings
demonstrating the growing market and
need for a simple booking tool.
Additionally, the Deaf Society embarked
on a redesign of the website with the aim
of making it easier to find information and
make enquiries/ book services. The new
website was launched in March with an
overwhelmingly positive response from
the community: “Love the new website
more clear and easy to find information”.
Engagement with the website has
grown significantly;
• Email subscriber rate has quadrupled.
• Enquiries have increased 98%
compared to the same time last year.
• Page views have increased 32%
compared to the same time last year.
Aside from a customer’s online experience,
we have also been working on improving
their interactions with the organisation.
In May, the Customer Service Team
undertook a full day of training in
excellence in customer service with a
focus on managing and enhancing the
customer’s experience.
The Customer Service Team also led the
implementation of a customer satisfaction
tool across all service areas. Following
an analysis of current tools used in the
organisation, the team implemented a
plan to streamline the collection of
customer feedback and satisfaction
ratings by transitioning the organisation
to the Net Promoter Scale tool. The
project is in its early stages and we look
forward to reporting on our outcomes
next year.
We were also fortunate to receive the
Stronger Communities grant from the
Australian Government to upgrade
the Parramatta reception area. The
refurbishment has opened the space
and created a welcoming, deaf-friendly
reception area for our customers and
their families.
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 201712
GROWTH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
We recognise that to grow and be
sustainable we need to implement
systems that improve our processes
and efficiency, and work in partnership
with other organisations.
In 2017, we implemented a new finance
system which included integration with
key operational systems in interpreting,
education and community services. The
new system has significantly improved
finance processes and provides more
accurate and timely information.
In the year ahead, we look forward to
upgrading our case management system
and implementing a customer relationship
management system. The changes will
enhance the customer experience across
all key service areas.
Over the past year, we have also continued
to develop partnerships and productive
relationships to support our customers
and community;
• Fire and Rescue NSW have been a
valuable and committed partner of
the Smoke Alarm Subsidy Scheme by
assigning local fireman to support
with the installation of visual/ tactile
smoke alarms.
• NSW State Emergency Services, Fire
and Rescue NSW and Red Cross
continue to be enthusiastic and dedicated
partners of the Get Ready project. In
particular, we look forward to working
closely with NSW State Emergency
Service in creating a formal volunteer
program for deaf and hard of hearing
people within their organisation.
• Thank you to our 2016 Deaf Festival
sponsors; Uber, Google, Australian
Hearing and Cochlear for their support.
• In 2017, the Break the Sound Barrier
campaign celebrated its one year
anniversary. We continue to be proud
partners and stand behind the campaign
which aims to put the health of deaf,
deafblind and hard of hearing people
on the national political agenda. This
year the campaign has made significant
progress toward this aim by instigating
a Federal inquiry into the hearing health
and wellbeing of Australians.
We also continue to be part of an
interagency meeting group including
ASLIA NSW, Deaf Australia (NSW), The
Shepherd Centre, Royal Institute of Deaf
and Blind Children, NSW Deaf Sports,
Accessible Arts, Ephpheta Centre, Hear for
You and Deafness Forum. We look forward
to growing our existing relationships and
creating new partnerships in 2018.
The Deaf Society was successful
in attaining a NSW Government
Communities Grant to deliver a Youth
Camp in Northern NSW. It was the first
time a youth camp had been hosted in
Northern NSW and was attended by 25
young deaf and hard of hearing people.
Over 4-days, the youth enjoyed a full
program of outdoor activities and
personal development workshops in a
deaf-friendly environment.
The camp began with an empowerment
workshop giving the participants the
opportunity to discuss with their peers
the barriers they face living in a hearing
world. For many of the campers, it was
the first time they were able to share their
challenges with people that can empathise.
They also learned about their rights
and responsibilities in school and the
workplace which gave them the tools
and confidence to meet some of the
challenges they face.
The camp was led by young deaf adults, who
role-modelled deaf-friendly communication
and inclusiveness. The experience of being a
camp leader has inspired one deaf adult to
further their studies enrolling in an Outdoor
Recreation course.
“I feel more confident and have found my
passion for leadership and working with
deaf people. I can’t stop talking about the
camp with my family and friends. Thank
you so much for accepting me as a leader,
I’ve learnt lots of valuable skills”.
Northern Rivers Deaf Youth Camp
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 13
CHAIR, FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE’S REPORT
This is my first report on behalf of the
Finance and Audit Committee. I wish to
acknowledge the efforts of the previous
Chair, Vivek Prabhu, who retired from the
Board during 2016.
Vivek worked tirelessly with the
Management team led by the CEO to
robustly structure the Society’s financial
processes and reporting system, ensuring
that the Society was, and is, in a positive
financial position to meet the challenges of
an ever changing environment, particularly
with the ongoing roll out of the NDIS.
Thank you Vivek for your commitment and
contribution to the Deaf Society during your
tenure as a Director and Chair of the Finance
and Audit Committee.
As a result of the implementation of these
processes and systems, and the hard work
of the Operating team, the Society has
delivered a positive financial outcome for
members during financial year ending
June 30, 2017.
This year the Society delivered a surplus of
$474,080 (2016: $146,619 deficit). Total
comprehensive income (after including the
changes in market value of investments held)
for the year was a surplus of $907,229 (2016:
$634,184 deficit). Pleasingly, this surplus was
delivered along with revenue growth this
year to $7,492,679 (2016: $6,798,631). At
the close of the financial year, the Society
had net assets of $16,746,945 (2016:
$15,839,716). I appreciate the support of our
members and recognise the efforts of our
Directors and staff that have worked hard to
make these results possible. The support of
the Commonwealth and State Governments
and the generosity of our donors is also a
critical contributor to the ongoing viability
and success of the Society.
The net income from fundraising activities
in 2017 was $32,121 (2016: $39,865) . The
Society is indebted to those individuals and
organisations that choose to support the
Society in this manner.
During the 2017 financial year the Society
made a change to one of its financial
advisers, moving from Duetsche Bank (who
no longer operate in this field) to Escala. We
retained our other investment adviser, JB
Were. During the year, income generated
from investments totalled $644,533 (2016
FY $686,700). The value of investments
held increased by $798,908 (2016: $487,565
decline). This gain was further supplemented
by realised gains of $722,106 (2016:
$244,391) on the sale of some investments.
The return (including franking credit) on the
Society’s externally managed investment
portfolio for the year was approximately
9.5%, exceeding the CPI+5% (7.1%) objective
set out in the Investment Policy for the
financial year. We would like to thank our
external financial advisers for this creditable
performance. The present extremely low
interest rate environment, in which the
Reserve Bank has maintained the official
cash rate at a record low of 1.5%, and the
Society’s conservative investment policy to
ensure retention of capital, will necessitate
an ongoing review by the Finance & Audit
Committee and the Board of the objective
return in the Investment Policy.
This year’s total comprehensive income
of $907,229 (2016: $634,184 deficit) is an
indication of the commitment and focus of
the Board and Management Team on running
the business robustly, whilst ensuring
that the ongoing investments made by
the Society in readying itself for the full
implementation of NDIS and positioning the
Society for a sustainable future.
I wish to thank the members of the Finance
& Audit Committee, the Board and the
Management Team for their ongoing
commitment and support.
Michael Boneham
Chair, Finance and Audit Committee
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 201714
CORPORATE INFORMATION
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017
ABN 21 952 195 236
Directors
David Atkinson
Kenneth Deacon
Kashveera Chanderjith
Vivek Prabhu
Susanne Alexandra Rae
Julie Tait
Todd James Wright
Evan Kidd
Elizabeth Wee
Brian Peter Halse
Michael Boneham
Vince Lam
Company Secretary
Louise Hicks
Registered Office and Principal Place
of Business
Suite 401 Level 4
69 Phillip Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Bankers
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
90-92 Audley Road
Petersham NSW 2049
Investment Managers
JB Were
Level 42, Governor Phillip Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Escala Partners Ltd.
Level 25, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Auditor
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Eclipse Tower
Level 17
60 Station Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Page 8 Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu ABN 74 490 121 060 Eclipse Tower 60 Station Street Parramatta Sydney, NSW, 2150 Australia Phone: +61 2 9840 7000 www.deloitte.com.au
17 October 2017 Dear Board Members
The Deaf Society (previously known as The Deaf Society of NSW) In accordance with Subdivision 60-C Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, I am pleased to provide the following declaration of independence to the directors of The Deaf Society. As lead audit partner for the audit of the financial statements of The Deaf Society for the financial year ended 30 June 2017, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been no contraventions of:
(i) the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 in relation to the audit; and
(ii) any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. Yours sincerely DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU David Sartorio Partner Chartered Accountants
The Board of Directors The Deaf Society Level 4 69 Philip Street Parramatta NSW 2150
For the detailed financial report, visit our website www.deafsocietynsw.org.au.
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 15
2017 2016
$ $
Revenue 7,492,679 6,798,631
Investment gain 722,106 244,391
Employee benefits expense (5,625,445) (4,868,683)
Depreciation expense (42,241) (52,235)
Administrative expenses (595,141) (450,442)
Occupancy expenses (366,490) (338,378)
Consulting and marketing expenses (419,219) (1,023, 937)
Other expenses (691,097) (455,966)
(Deficit)/surplus for the year 475,080 (146,619)
Other comprehensive income:
Items that may reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Fair value (loss)/gain on available-for-sale assets 432,149 (487,565)
Total comprehensive (deficit)/surplus income for the year 907,229 (634,184)
STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017
2017 2016
$ $
Current assets
Cash and bank balances 512,572 327,472
Trade and other receivables 822,433 846,774
Other financial assets 316,033 532,197
Other assets 202,225 174,441
Total current assets 1,853,263 1,880,884
Non-current assets
Other financial assets 16,674,308 15,875,400
Property, plant and equipment 87,164 132,681
Intangible assets 43,006
Total non-current asset 16,804,478 16,008,081
Total assets 18,657,741 17,888,965
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 1,407,299 1,546,375
Provisions 456,947 408,081
Total current liabilities 1,864,246 1,954,456
Non-current liabilities
Provisions 46,550 94,793
Total non-current liabilities 46,550 94,793
Total liabilities 1,910,790 2,049,249
Net assets 16,746,945 15,839,716
Equity
Reserves 7,025,499 6,593,350
Accumulated surplus 9,721,446 9,246,366
Total equity 16,746,945 15,839,716
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2017
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 201716
Fundraising income excludes bequests, as it is not considered to represent income from active fundraising. There were no fundraising activities conducted jointly with traders.
Declaration by the President in respect of fundraising appealsI, Brian Peter Halse, Chair of The Deaf Society (previously known as The Deaf Society of NSW) declare, that in my opinion: (a) The accounts give a true and fair view of all income and expenditure of The Deaf Society with respect to fundraising appeals;(b) The statement of financial position gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs with respect to fundraising appeals;(c) The provision of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (NSW) and the regulations under the Act have been complied with;(d) The conditions attached to the authority have been complied with; and(e) The internal controls exercised by The Deaf Society are appropriate and effective in accounting for all income received and applied by the
Society from any of its fundraising appeals.
Brian Peter HalseChairSydney, 17 October 2017
DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017
The directors declare that:(a) in the directors’ opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debt as and when they become
due and payable; and(b) in the directors’ opinion, the attached financial statements and notes thereto are in accordance with the Australian Charities and Non-
for-profits Commission Act 2012 and the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (NSW) including compliance with accounting standards and giving a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the company.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors made pursuant to s.60.15 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulation 2013.
On behalf of the directors
Brian Peter Halse Kashveera Chanderjith CA(SA)Chair DirectorSydney, 17 October 2017
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF FUNDRAISING APPEALS FOR THE YEAR 30 JUNE 2017
2016 2016
$ $
Income
Annual mail appeal - -
Donations 31,481 39,965
Merchandise Sales 15 249
Total fundraising income 31,496 40,214
Expenditure
Postage, printing, stationary 1,654 2,245
Total cost of fundraising 1,654 2,245
Net Surplus 29,842 37,969
The surplus for the year is used to ameliorate the deficits incurred by the society in providing vital services, in particular support for members of the Deaf Community and their families. In 2017 year, the deficit amounted to $479,362 (2016: deficit $405,586).
% %
Total cost of fundraising on fundraising income 5 6
Net surplus on fundraising income 95 94
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 17
Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of The Deaf Society
We have audited the accompanying financial report of The Deaf Society, which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June
2017, the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the statement of cash flows and the statement of changes in equity
for the year ended on that date, notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the
directors’ declaration as set out on pages 9 to 33. In addition, we have audited The Deaf Society’s compliance with specific requirements of
the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 for the year ended 30 June 2017.
Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report and for Compliance with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991
The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with
Australian Accounting Standards and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and for compliance with the Charitable
Fundraising Act 1991. The directors are also responsible for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable compliance
with requirements of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s compliance with specific requirements of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991
and the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards
require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance whether the entity has complied with specific requirements of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the financial
report is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the company’s compliance with specific requirements of the Charitable
Fundraising Act 1991 and amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including
the assessment of the risks of non-compliance with specific requirements of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and material misstatement
of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control, relevant to the
company’s compliance with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view, in order
to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of
the company’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of
accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.
Inherent Limitations
Because of the inherent limitations of any compliance procedure, it is possible that fraud, error, or noncompliance with the Charitable
Fundraising Act 1991 may occur and not be detected. An audit is not designed to detect all weaknesses in The Deaf Society’s compliance with the
Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 as an audit is not performed continuously throughout the period and the tests are performed on a sample basis.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu A.B.N. 74 490 121 060
Eclipse Tower Level 17 60 Station Street Parramatta NSW 2150 PO Box 38 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9840 7000 www.deloitte.com.au
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 201718
Any projection of the evaluation of compliance with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 to future periods is subject to the risk that the
procedures, may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with them may deteriorate.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion:
(a) the financial report of The Deaf Society is in accordance with Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Act 2012, including:
a. giving a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2016 and of its performance and cash flows for the
year ended on that date; and
b. complying with Australian Accounting Standards and with Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Regulation
2013;
(b) the financial report agrees to the underlying financial records of The Deaf Society, that have been maintained, in all material
respects, in accordance with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and its regulations for the year ended 30 June 2017; and
(c) monies received by The Deaf Society, as a result of fundraising appeals conducted during the year ended 30 June 2017, have been
accounted for and applied, in all material respects, in accordance with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and its regulations.
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU
David Sartorio
Partner
Chartered Accountants
Parramatta, 17 October 2017
T H E D E A F SO CI E T Y A N N UA L R EP O RT 2017 19
MAJOR DONATIONS AND SPONSORS
MEMBERS AS AT 30 JUNE 2017
Mr Adam Salzer
Mr Alastair McEwin
Mr Alex Jones
Ms Alexandra Hynes
Ms Alison Toft
Ms Amy Cavestany
Mr Andrew Niklaus
Mr Andrew Wiltshire
Ms Anne Woods
Ms Anne M Smith
Mr Anthony Gorringe OAM
Mr Anthony Mackrodt
Mr Barry Duggan
Mr Ben Gelin
Ms Betty O’Brien
Mr Brendan McQuiggin
Mr Brian Halse
Mr Brian Johnston
Mr Brian Surtees
Ms Bridget Carty
Ms Bridget Nunan
Mr Bruce Drabsch
Ms Carol Tiley
Ms Charlene Grace
Mr Christian James
Mrs Christine Bible
Mr Colin Allen
Mr David Atkinson
Mr David London
Mr David McQuiggin
Mr Dennis Johnston
Ms Elizabeth Wee
Mrs Ethel Goff
Ms Evelyn Christie
Mr Frances Whiteley
Mr Frank L Peterson
Mr George Barbouttis
Mr George Krams
Mr Glenn A Welldon
Mr Graeme Stevenson
Mr Harry Roberts
Ms Helen Nicholson
Ms Helen Trendos
Ms Inge Jahn
Ms Jacqueline Endicott
Miss Jane Brewer
Ms Jennifer Maclaughlan
Mrs Jennifer Hannan
Ms Jitka Navratil
Mr John Gould
Mr John Grant
Mr John Mooney
Mr John O'Neill
Ms Jordanna Smith
Mrs Judith Delawsky
Ms Judith Watson
Ms Judy Clews
Ms Julie Tait
Miss Kashveera Chanderjith
Mrs Kate Matairavula
Mr Ken Deacon
Mrs Kerry Priem
Mr Kevin Mitchell
Ms Kristen Whiteley
Ms Leonie Jackson
Ms Louise Hicks
Ms Lynette Hartmann
Ms Margaret Dale
Ms Margaret Day
Mrs Margaret Drabsch
Mrs Martha Gelin
Mr Martin Budd
Ms Mary Cook
Mr Matt Dempsey
Ms Megan Hannon
Miss Michelle Norberry
Mr Michael Boneham
Mr Michael Hedley
Ms Natalie Kull
Ms Norma Giuffre
Mrs Olive Watson
Ms Patricia Mutton
Mr Peter Hannan
Mr Peter Miller
Mr Ray Todd
Mr Ray Whitten
Ms Robyn Stanton
Mr Roger Ashworth
Mr Ron Bryant
Mr Ron Nicholson
Ms Rosalie Kassulke
Ms Sharon Everson
Ms Sharon Nann
Mrs Sharon Xabregas
Mr Stephen Barr
Mr Stephen Nicholson
Mr Steven Turner
Mrs Sue Rae
Mr Thomas Bennett
Mr Todd Wright
Ms Toni Rose Robson
Mr Trent McMillan
Dr V D Bear
Mr Vince Lam
Mr Vivek Prabhu
Ms Wanda Stewart
Ms Young-Joo Byun
$10,000 AND OVERJLDJS Foundation
$5,000 AND OVERJ ChurchUber
$1,000 AND OVERAustralian HearingCochlearGoogleP Hunt
$500 AND OVERC GraceL JacksonC Richardson
$200 AND OVERE AshD BeaverO BolligerJ BonnerI H CampbellJ HarlandC V HoodR J HowsonE HuntM MacAuthurC MaherF MueckeV PhillipsQuota International of QuirindiP Ryba
N WeaverC R WilhelmWhelan Project Co Pty LimitedJ Wiseman
$100 AND OVERD BrownY J ByunV CaradusR EarnshawEsty’s Southern American Sausage SizzleB W GlockemannJ GouldP M GriffinC Harris
M HertzbergC JacobsL G JohnsonL Jones H LearoydNew England Sector of HealthShare NSWM R ParkerJ RoachJ RockeyJ RosethD RouvrayL WhitemanR A Wood
Level 4, 69 Phillip Street Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: (02) 8833 3600
SMS: 0427 741 420
Email: [email protected]
Skype: deafsocietyofnsw
Website: www.deafsocietynsw.org.au