In the spirit of Reconciliation, - Life Without Barriers · 5 Year Snapshot 6-7 State Snapshot of...

In the spirit of Reconciliation, Life Without Barriers acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this country, and their connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to them, their cultures and customs, and to Elders both past and present.

This document may contain images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased.

WELCOMEWelcome to our 2014 Annual Report Summary. This document is a snapshot of our services and activities during the 2013-14 financial year, and a summary of our complete 2014 Annual Report that is available this year as a digital online website at lwb2014.org.au Our Online 2014 Annual Report is complete with information on our governance, operations and performance over the past financial year.

It also features video and audio stories of our clients, staff and volunteers that illustrate a life without barriers.

Please visit lwb2014.org.au to learn more about Life Without Barriers, our people and our purpose.

http://lifewithoutbarriers2014.reportonline.com.au/

| 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Who We Are 3 Making a Difference 45 Year Snapshot 6-7 State Snapshot of Services 8-9Welcome from the Chair of the Board 10Welcome from the Chief Executive 12Reconciliation 14Our Services and Pillars of Practice 16-17 Disability Support 18 Child, Youth and Family Services 20 Out Of Home Care 22 Community and Aged Care Support 24 Mental Health Support 26 Homelessness Programs 28 Refugees and Asylum Seeker Services 30Our People 32 Reward and Recognition 34 Our Foster Care Community 35Strategy 39 Key Priorities 40 Our Board of Directors 42 Our Executive Team 44 Governance 45 Board Committees 455 Year Financial Summary 46

CONTENTS

2014 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 3

Life Without Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation working in over 250 communities across Australia and New Zealand supporting more than 5,500 people to live their best life possible.

WHO WE ARE

We work with individuals, their carers and others in the community to ensure the best care and support is developed with each individual around their needs. We also partner with the community, elders, government and private sector to improve the lives of the people we support.

WHAT WE DOOur services include:• caring for children, young people

and families• supporting people with disability• caring for older Australians• supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples• caring for people with mental health

issues• helping the homeless • supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

We believe in the rights of people and the importance of relationships. These foundations shape our approach to care and underpin the values of Life Without Barriers.


We are working in an environment where the average Australian is older, a quarter of the population has experienced mental illness, one fifth live with a disability, and the demand for intervention to support children and young people rises by five percent each year.

It is for reasons such as these that Life Without Barriers has continued to expand the number and range of services over the past 20 years, and it is why we continue to grow. Today, we are one of the largest providers of social services in Australia.

Increasing choice and control is a key driver for all providers in the sector now, and people rightly have an expectation of increased responsiveness, higher quality services and greater value for money.

Our focus is on imaginative, innovative and responsive service solutions to assist clients to become the master of their own circumstances; to live life to the full and restore their ability to choose what is right for them.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE


“ Our focus is on imaginative, innovative and responsive service solutions to assist clients to become the master of their own circumstances. ”


5 YEARSNAPSHOTLife Without Barriers is a national organisation, but our operations are local and community-based. We employ and support local people and offer a vital network of services across Australia.

2010

4467

1743

204MILLION

248MILLION

290MILLION

310MILLION

2011

4823

2219

2012

4948

2653

2013

5298

3582

201462543899345MILLION

CLIENT NUMBERS

EMPLOYEES

$ANNUAL TURNOVER

These figures are a ‘point in time’ record of LWB clients at 30 June 2014. This is not a cumulative figure of the clients LWB supported during the 12 months under review.


5 YEAR

NSW/ACT

2540NT

131NZ

292QLD

1721TAS

337SA

602VIC

167WA

464

CLIENTS SUPPORTED


NSW/ACT1258 OUT OF HOME CARE

1194 DISABILITY

22 HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE

11 MENTAL HEALTH

67 REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

9 YOUTH JUSTICE

NT65 OUT OF HOME CARE

94 DISABILITY


NZ53 OUT OF HOME CARE

239 YOUTH JUSTICE

QLD568 OUT OF HOME CARE

242 DISABILITY


1 MENTAL HEALTH


SERVICES

Service numbers are higher than client numbers as many clients receive more than one service from LWB as part of our wrap-around service provision model.


TAS95 OUT OF HOME CARE

215 DISABILITY


1 MENTAL HEALTH


SA82 OUT OF HOME CARE

56 DISABILITY


355 MENTAL HEALTH


54 HOMELESSNESS

VIC30 OUT OF HOME CARE

51 DISABILITY



WA155 OUT OF HOME CARE

227 DISABILITY


29 MENTAL HEALTH


5 YOUTH JUSTICE

1 HOMELESSNESS

SERVICES SNAPSHOT


FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARDWELCOME

Twenty years ago, a group of ordinary people joined together to start something extraordinary – to remove the obstacles that were preventing people with a disability to live their lives the way they chose.

Life Without Barriers was established through the shared determination of local community members in Newcastle, motivated by their own experiences and in response to demands that local disability support services just couldn’t meet.

By generating community interest a Board-led, independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation was formed to support people living with disability – Life Without Barriers.

I am proud to have been part of the movement that formed Life Without Barriers, and prouder still to be its Chair today, particularly as we celebrate the organisation’s 20th Anniversary.

In the past two decades, Australia’s growing and diverse population has brought with it challenges and opportunities to address the social needs of Australians. Life Without Barriers has risen to these challenges and opportunities and now provides a broad-base of services in over 250 communities across the nation.


But the social services industry is currently undergoing its most significant and dramatic changes for many years. We believe LWB is well placed to respond to these changes, and further improve and widen our service provision to add more value to people’s lives but to do this we need to ensure financial sustainability, not only accumulating net assets.

Having said that, our financial results continue to be strong in terms of net profit, operating cash flow and our overall financial position; and we have ensured that our surpluses have been appropriately invested. In particular, we have focused at improving our systems to ensure an improved quality and range of services for clients and the broader community.

Wherever possible the assets we hold have been used to contribute to the provision, breadth and quality of the services that we provide. To this end, the Board is committed to ensuring there is appropriate governance and transparency evidenced in our Annual Report as well as a clear understanding of the motivation and ‘can do’ culture that drives us.

LWBs success has occurred due to our focus on achieving results – results for people. We must all continue to regularly ask ourselves – “what have I done to improve the quality of someone’s life today”?

I am grateful to my fellow directors for the courage and commitment they bring to Life Without Barriers and to our Executive Team, led by Chief Executive Claire Robbs. Thank you to our many funders who support the delivery of our services and to our staff for their dedication and professionalism to support clients. I wish to particularly thank our carers for their compassion and care to people in need.

The information that you will read, watch and listen to in our online Annual Report is only a glimpse of the very large story of Life Without Barriers, but I commend it to you and hope that it informs and inspires you as to what can be achieved when ordinary people work together.

Terry Lawler Chair


People are our purpose, our motivation and our greatest resource.

Life Without Barriers was formed to support people to live the life of their choosing, and remove obstacles associated with disability, isolation, ageing, family breakdowns and homelessness that often prevent individual choice.

But it is also people, in particular the dedication and quality of our staff and volunteer carers, that means we can deliver the support our clients depend on.

Earlier this year we revisited Life Without Barriers’ values to ensure continued alignment between our services, our approach and our promise to our clients and the community at large. We were pleased that we had remained steadfast in the things we valued, and we are proud that they are being reflected daily in our actions and activities.

Our values of building relationships, being courageous, respectful, imaginative and responsive to people’s needs are part of everything we say and do, and are the key to all the decisions we make. We are proud

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVEWELCOME


of our ongoing commitment to these and so decided this year to relaunch our brand with our values as the public platform.

We believe our new look for Life Without Barriers showcases us as the modern, creative organisation that we are, committed to supporting all people. Our new brand is easy to see and recognise, and reinforces our fresh, relevant and professional approach to everything we do.

We’ve chosen to do this now for two reasons. Firstly, after 20 years we feel it’s time to increase public awareness of our organisation; and secondly, to support the growth of our services.

The nature of not-for-profit organisations is changing as the social services industry undergoes widespread reforms here in Australia and across the world. As governments seek community-based organisations to pick up the development and running of services, the industry needs to approach its work not only in humanitarian terms but as sustainable, well run businesses; businesses that can demonstrate sound governance and accountability of public monies.

An organisation that can’t run its business is not going to be in the business of helping others for very long.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people that ‘are’ Life Without Barriers. Thank you to the 2,500 people who provide Out Of Home Care for children and young people across Australia as volunteers, and to the 3,000 staff who support adults and young people living with a disability, mental illness or needing support through the juvenile justice system or refugee services; and thank you to our partners and sponsors for your generous support of our services.

Through these combined efforts we will continue to help people across Australia live the life they choose and live their life without barriers.

Claire Robbs Chief Executive


At Life Without Barriers we believe that reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds of all Australians. As a nation we need to work together to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the rest of the population by improving cultural, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing.

But reconciliation is more than a belief for us – it is embedded in all of our actions and activities.

To ensure we work effectively and responsibly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and that our services meet their needs, we developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that is reviewed and refreshed each year.

THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN IS CULTURAL RECOGNITION IN OUR WORKPLACES, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND SERVICE DESIGN AND DELIVERY.

Our RAP also provides direction for real actions that have a positive impact on communities and individuals, and achieving measurable outcomes for the people and communities we work with, and ensures the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard throughout our organisation.

RECONCILIATION

This includes developing in our strategy a clear vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in our care, a reporting framework within our governance, and clear aspirations for leadership through a community of practice. These goals reflect the views of our people and the people we support and include plans to advance the cultural competence of our employees, carers, managers and leaders.

OUR FIRST RECONCILIATION PLAN WAS LAUNCHED IN JULY 2009, AND ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC THREE YEAR PLANNING CYCLE. MOVING INTO OUR FOURTH YEAR OF OUR PLAN, THE REFRESHED 2012–15 EDITION BUILDS ON OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE AND DEMONSTRATES OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO RECONCILIATION IN THE FUTURE.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that requires our constant attention to what respect, relationships and opportunities mean to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.


“ I was looking for my father, but Life Without Barriers helped me find my family, my place, and my peace of mind. ” Aiden, Portland, Victoria.

Aiden with his sister Nora.

See Aiden’s story @ lwb2014.org.au



12|13

LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS: PILLARS OF PRACTICE FRAMEWORK

OUR GOAL Clients live life to the full – and choose what’s right for them

OUR BEHAVIOURS THAT MAKE OUR PILLARS REAL FOR CLIENTS

• Be open and invite feedback

• Listen carefully and check that you have understood

• Find out what clients think and feel about what we are doing

• Listen to words, observe behaviour

• Tell clients what we have changed based on their input

• Use warm and friendly language and show kindness

• Be respectful to all people at all times

• Seek opportunities to genuinely engage with and listen to people with lived experience

• Be authentic in all interactions

• Be prepared to change how we do things to remove any barriers to involvement

• Do not make assumptions about how things should be done

• Acknowledge that the client is expert in their own life

• Speak up for our client’s interests without fear

• Strive to help a client achieve goals

• Think ‘nothing is too hard, impossible or too bizarre ’

• Make your planning relevant

• Inspire, engage and support team members

• Foster the sense that they can change people’s lives

• Do the right thing not the easy thing

• Be open to new ideas and be prepared to fail and learn

• Keep accurate records of what we do and share information regularly

• Acknowledge and congratulate others on doing well

• Invite team members to provide feedback on how we do things

• Develop shared objectives

• Communicate regularly and openly

• Create forums where staff can offer news ideas

• Reward new ideas that make a real difference

• Provide options and models that are proven to work

• Try a different model if the results aren’t good enough

• Be open to change when you see a better way to do things

• Evaluate what you are doing regularly

• Look to peers to see what they are doing that’s new

OUR PILLARS – HOW WE CREATE RESULTS WITH CLIENTS

LISTEN TO OUR CLIENTSand demonstrate that they are being heard

RESPECT CULTUREand remove the barriers to participation

PLAN WITH THE INDIVIDUALand create a plan that expresses their goals and aspirations

SUPERVISE OUR STAFF WELL have a better understanding of performance, capacity and outcomes achieved

WORK AS A TEAMto multiply our energy and achieve more with our clients

CHOOSE THE MODEL THAT WORKS and get better results

OUR VALUES – AND WHAT WE STAND FOR

FOUNDATION POLICIES

Organisational structure, governance, capability framework, risk management, quality systems and human resources.

OUR PURPOSE To partner with people and change lives for the better

WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

WE ARE IMAGINATIVE

WE ARE RESPECTFUL

WE ARE RESPONSIVE

WE ARE COURAGEOUS

PILLARS OF PRACTICE


Our services are described in this report and, in some cases, told through the stories of the people we work to support.

OUR SERVICES

Providing services in different program areas across different states and territories, where some services are unique to one particular region, involves implementing a range of models of care that reflect the characteristics and needs of the regions and client groups.

But across these models of care there is one element that is always the same, and this is having the client at the centre of all decisions.

To deliver a quality person centred, individualised service to each of our clients, we have developed our Pillars of Practice Framework which articulates for our staff ‘why we do’, ‘what we do’ and ‘how we do it’.

This approach enables us to provide effective services that transcend traditional sector boundaries and reach more children, young people, individuals, families and communities in need to make a positive difference to our clients.

Our Pillars of Practice Framework consolidates the common elements and shared approaches, across all program areas for staff behaviours that are value-based and lead to results with clients.


In the past 12 months we have provided support to just under 2,000 people across Australia living with a disability.

NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEMELife Without Barriers was an inaugural provider for the National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS launch on 1 July 2013 in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

Implementing the scheme required both LWB and clients to work even closer together as systems and processes were put in place and tested, almost simultaneously. As a national organisation we‘ve been able to capture the learnings as each site rolled out, placing our clients and teams at a greater advantage at subsequent site launches through this valuable first-hand information and experience.

PERSON CENTRED SUPPORTLWB believes that the people we support should play the biggest role in designing their supports, as part of our person-centred planning.

We’re continually increasing the choice and flexibility of service provision and accommodation options for the people we support, to complement support from family, friends and other services.

Our disability support services include:• accommodation options • supported accommodation • host families• in-home support• respite care options• clinical support services • community access and participation• recreation activities • mentoring opportunities• transition support• education support, and• employment services.

DISABILITY SUPPORT

“ We’re increasing the choice and flexibility of how we provide support and accommodation options. ”


“ Life Without Barriers lives up to its name – they’ve actually given me back my life. And I appreciate that because I didn’t think I ever would have a life as a person in a wheelchair. ” Chris, Newcastle, NSW.

Chris (left) with Karen, LWB Hunter Disability Accommodation Program Manager.

See Chris’ story @ lwb2014.org.au



We provide a range of services, from family support aimed at assisting vulnerable families to retain their parenting role, through to foster and residential care for children and young people who are unable to live at home.

We also seek to arrange for family contact, clinical services, educational and employment services, transition support, cultural planning and respite care as part of our wrap-around support.

Our services include:• foster care• residential care • supported accommodation• respite care.

We also offer:• case management / care coordination• family contact• clinical services • education and employment services • transition support • cultural planning • foster carer recruitment, training

and support, and• research and evaluation.

CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES

When a child or young person cannot live at home we provide safe and stable homes through our Out Of Home Care services. In the past year, we have supported Out Of Home Care to over 2,000 babies, children and young people across Australia and New Zealand.


“ Life Without Barriers is helping me learn how to live on my own and with my parenting skills. They’ve helped me to feel calm and confident as a mother. Having my baby living with me here, full-time, is one of my hopes. ” Tracy, Brisbane, Queensland.

Tracy and her daughter, speaking with LWB Youth Program Case Manager Paula Lye.


OUT OF HOME CARE

FOSTER CAREChildren and young people aged from birth to 17 years of age who are unable to live with their own families are cared for volunteers in the community within their own home on a short or long-term basis.

Specialised or therapeutic foster care is provided to children with high or complex needs such as disabilities, developmental delays or learning difficulties, or challenging behaviours.

RESIDENTIAL CAREA team of trained residential support workers 24-hour care to one or more children or young people in a dedicated residential house. We aim to help children transition into a family and young people into semi-independent living arrangements.

SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATIONSupported accommodation services provide flexible living arrangements and lifestyle-supports to young people preparing to leave care. The support is tailored to each young person’s needs and goals, and focused on developing their skills and independence, and building links within the community.

RESPITE CAREWhen a foster carer needs a break, short-term care is arranged for the children and young people with a respite carer. It is usually planned in advance but can, on occasion, be required immediately. Respite also provides children and young people with opportunities to develop further skills and build their support network.

YOUTH JUSTICE SERVICESAt Life Without Barriers we work with young people who have been in the Juvenile Justice system supporting them with housing, education and training, transport, mentoring and alcohol and drug counselling; and opportunities to increase their workforce participation.

MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPYLWB is the Australasian Network Partner/license holder for the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program. MST operates from a family preservation model that seeks to keep a family together. It is an intensive 4-5 month, home-based intervention for young people aged between 12 and 16 years (sometimes 10, 11 and 17 year olds), which focusses on supporting parents and caregivers by teaching them the problem-solving skills necessary to better manage their children’s behaviour.


“ I know as a teenager I wasn’t always easy, but Life Without Barriers never gave up on me; and as an adult, I’ll never choose anyone over them. They’re number one to me. ” Jason, Wollongong, NSW.

Jason (right) with LWB Program Manager, OOHC, Alicia Pearson and Support Worker, Nathan Miller.

See Jason’s story @ lwb2014.org.au



More and more people are wishing to receive home-based support or care in the community, and with an ageing population the demand for these services is expected to rise. Our flexible range of services provide assistance while still ensuring clients retain their independence. This is key to our client-directed care approach.

COMMUNITY AND AGED CARE SUPPORT

Our services include: • in-home services – assistance with

light daily tasks, personal care, home and garden maintenance, home modifications and meals

• community-based services • clinical services – nursing and health

services • carer support – including respite and

counselling • day-centre services offering

opportunities for social activities.

Services are for people aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people at risk of premature or inappropriate admission to residential care, and also for some carers of older Australians.

HOME CARE PROGRAMSOn behalf of the Australian Government we deliver Home Care Packages in regional New South Wales, Gippsland, Victoria, and Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and Veterans’ Home Care services to eligible veterans, widows or widowers to assist with independent living through the Veterans’ Home Care program in selected regional areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Through the Queensland Community Care Services we support people under the age of 65 years who would otherwise be unable to live in their own home without care and support; and in partnership with the Wollongong City Council, LWB provides support to people with a disability aged over 55 years, or over 45 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.


“ For the last 17 years, Dale wouldn’t go anywhere and I tried and tried. It’s only in the last 12 months or so that Dale has come on because of Life Without Barriers. He never wanted to paint but now he loves to paint and sing. He’s happy... and so my life has now also changed. ” Carol and her son Dale, Mackay, Queensland.

Carol (left) with her son Dale and LWB Team Leader, HACC, Pam Bellingham.

See Dale’s story @ lwb2014.org.au



MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Our approach to mental health support operates within a framework of recovery. The individual’s involvement in decision-making is essential to planning ongoing care and recovery.

Delivered by qualified staff, our services include: • psychosocial rehabilitation support

individually tailored to promote community participation and access, and the development of living skills that promote independence

• supported accommodation within a home or residential unit in the community and which may be transitional, on a long-term basis or 24 hour support

• Respite care (in-home or centre-based care, host families, supported holidays and community activities).

INTENSIVE PSYCHOSOCIAL SUB-ACUTE SERVICEIn 2013, LWB has embarked on a sub-acute service as part of the National Partnership Agreement on supporting individuals to avoid hospitalisation. Intensive psychosocial support services are for people at risk of becoming unwell or needing assistance to step back into the community after a short stay in hospital; and for home-based sub-acute mental health services.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG COUNSELLINGLWB provides free, confidential counselling services through its face-to-face and telephone Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) programs. In partnership with the people we support we develop an action plan that includes intervention strategies such as inpatient detoxification and relapse prevention programs with assistance from mental health services, health support services, and financial and personal services.

South Australia is our lead state in the provision of Mental Health services.

SNAPSHOT OF OTHER SERVICES:South Australia Programs for clients with alcohol dependency

New South Wales Socialisation support services

Victoria Individual psychosocial support program delivered in consortia

Western Australia Residential rehabilitation and respite service for young people

Queensland Housing and Support. Individual and family psychosocial support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Transitional Recovery for high-needs clients

Tasmania Youth care packages (12-18yrs) and psychosocial rehabilitation


See Lois’ story @ lwb2014.org.au

“ I take every opportunity to enlighten others about the realities of drug dependence in an effort to create change around the stigma and labelling attached to drug use. I often think to myself when hearing judgement, ‘if only you knew their story’, as there is always a story. ” Lois Rose-Smith. Registered Nurse/AOD Clinician Mount Gambier, South Australia



HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS

At Life Without Barriers we deliver support through a range of interventions to people sleeping rough on the streets, in public places and bushland, and to people at risk of homelessness.

Homelessness services aim to resolve a person’s homeless status and re-establish their connections with the wider service network, addressing issues that contribute to, and cause, homelessness.

THE RIVERLAND SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICE This is an intensive case management support service for clients sleeping rough in the Riverland area. Its strength is in its collaborative approach of engaging and developing a rapport with clients. This service includes a free-access service facility: laundry, shower, kitchen and gym; and our assertive outreach program that visits people sleeping rough along the Murray River in the Riverland area.

Anecdotal information and observations suggest there are over 1,000 homeless people in the Riverland area.

ADELAIDE METRO HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMLWBs Adelaide Metropolitan Homeless program supports vulnerable people with high and complex needs, many of whom have suffered extreme traumas. The team is trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and cultural awareness. Developing a trust-based relationship is the foundation of our program and the team provides each client with the necessary services to facilitate and support positive individualised outcomes.

NGAANTHU-NGAY-WI BAYAN (COOKTOWN) WOMEN’S SHELTERIn August 2013, we opened the Ngaanthu-ngay-wi Bayan Women’s Shelter in Cooktown in Far North Queensland. Since the shelter opened it has provided emergency and short-term accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence and those at risk of homelessness.


“ Unless you jump in the river, which is freezing cold, there’s nowhere to shower if you’re homeless. This place is vital. It gives so much support. It points you in the right direction for everything. It’s a place where you feel welcome. ” Stephen, Berri, South Australia

Stephen at the LWB Riverland facility for homeless people in Berri.

See Stephen’s story @ lwb2014.org.au



REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKER SERVICES

During the past 12 months, Life Without Barriers’ Refugee and Asylum Seeker program delivered settlement support to unaccompanied humanitarian minors, Complex Case support for refugees in need of special assistance, and community housing services.

An expansion of the community housing program into Sydney and Hobart in August 2013, was an exciting and fast-paced development in response to a government request for increased service delivery.

Additionally, teams across all states adopted new service models in early 2014 to commence supporting families and vulnerable adults within community housing. Previously the service had been limited to care for unaccompanied minors.

The expansion of our services in community detention coincided with LWBs transition out of the Settlement Program in March 2014. However, our work in supporting people awaiting the outcome of refugee applications has continued to grow.


“ To be able to demonstrate to families in our program what cultural equity looks like in Australia through my own work and experience, is a privilege. ” Asmaa Ahmed, Program Manager, refugee and asylum seeker support program

Asmaa Ahmed, LWB program manager, refugee and asylum seeker support program.

See Asmaa’s story @ lwb2014.org.au



OUR PEOPLEWE’RE “PEOPLE” PEOPLE

Our people are our greatest asset. Our business is caring and supporting people throughout the community, and to do that we rely on the skills and dedication of our staff and volunteers.

We can be confident in the care we are giving our clients by supporting our workforce to be the best they can be within a great team environment, with access to modern systems and resources.

In 2013-2014, we had an eight percent increase in overall staff numbers. We saw

a decline in our casual workforce (1.5%) and full-time workforce (2.5%) but an increase in part-time workers of 4%.

Our rolling average turnover for the year under review was 30% compared to 35.6% for the previous period, and reflective of the industry as a whole.

SUPPORT ROLES

3629%

1113%ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP

309280%DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE

3348%CLIENT SERVICELEADERSHIP

NUMBER OF STAFF AGAINST JOB ROLES


TOTAL EMPLOYEES 2013-2014

PERCENTAGE CHANGE



NSW 1502 39% 1300 823

NT 208 5% 227 197

QLD 754 19% 726 510

SA 363 9% 334 274

TAS 190 5% 190 139

VIC 183 5% 126 135

WA 553 14% 524 465

NAT 137 4% 143 110

NZ 9 0.2% 12 -

TOTAL 3899 3582 2653


In 2011, we undertook a staff survey which identified Life Without Barriers could show improvement in staff recognition. In response to this feedback, we held our inaugural Employee Recognition Awards this year, showcasing people from across the country and organisation who had demonstrated the organisation’s values to achieve positive outcomes for clients and improve our support processes.

Over 150 peer-nominations were received and we held events in business units across the country in the lead up to announcing the national winners.

REWARD AND RECOGNITION

2013 LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS NATIONAL DISABILITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS During the year we held our sixth annual National Disability Achievement Awards recognising and celebrating the achievements of people with disability who access our services, and the staff, volunteers and community partners who help make these achievements possible.

Held in December, on the International Day of People with Disability, our 2013 Awards paid tribute to 21 people from across our service areas.

Priscilla Allum, LWB Disability Support Worker, Katherine, Northern Territory Winner of the Community Connection Award

The Veggie Box Delivery Group, Rocherlea, Tasmania. Winner of the Community Builder Award


OUR FOSTER CARER COMMUNITY

Carers form the heart of our organisation and are vital to the delivery of services to support children, young people and people with disability. Recruitment of new carers, and support and retention of our existing carers is a key priority for the Board and Executive team. LWB National Teams have undertaken a range of initiatives over the past 12 months to strengthen our carer community in line with the Board priorities and LWBs business plan.

This year, a research project on Carer Attraction and Engagement with Sydney University of Technology was completed with a range of key staff and established foster carers to provide insight into LWBs carer attraction, recruitment and retention.

CARER NUMBERS 2013/14 CARER NUMBERS 2012/13NSW 1334 1324NT 37 51QLD 584 531SA 148 153TAS 58 56VIC 33 25WA 161 311NZ 26 25TOTAL 2381 2476


CARER LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTWe place a strong emphasis on pre-service training for new foster carers. Between January and June 2014, we trained 140 new carers, covering themes such as trauma and attachment, behaviour management, and working within a case management framework.

We also offer a range of learning opportunities to our existing carers including self-paced courses through our LWB Carer Learning Pathways. For foster carers of children and young people with high-level complex needs we partner with specialist learning and development agencies to provide training to our carers.

CARER CONSULTATIONOne way we stay connected with our valued carers is through consultation groups. Volunteer consultation groups were held with home-based carers around the country to discuss matters of interest providing feedback on services, and new initiatives. LWBs National Carer Consultation Group (NCCG) is our internal body representing the views of our carer community at a corporate level. Membership is for two years, and in late 2014, we will welcome a new group of members to the NCCG.

CARER AWARDSThis year, Life Without Barriers launched the inaugural 2014 National Carer Awards in partnership with the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services, Carers Australia and Families Australia. The National Carer Awards provide an opportunity to publicly recognise carers who go above and beyond in providing care to some of Australia’s most vulnerable people. The award winners will be announced in November 2014.


“ It makes a difference knowing that we’re not there on our own to support these children, that there’s an organisation that’s there to support us. ” Long-term Foster Carer.


STRATEGYOUR PURPOSE To partner with people and change lives for the better.

OUR MOTIVATION Championing opportunity for all.

Our strategy provides the checkpoints that we use as an organisation to realise our commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live the life they choose.This is demonstrated through our services, models of practice, our community engagement, our carers and staff, and our systems and infrastructure that all underpin our capacity and capability to deliver the support we have pledged to provide.

We reach each checkpoint by measuring our progress against key strategic priorities.


KEY PRIORITIES

THE FIVE KEY PRIORITIES ARE: 1. Embed the LWB Way2. Partner with People to

Change Lives for the Better3. Improve Systems and Processes4. Transform Disability Services5. Sustain and Diversify Income

OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS KEY PRIORITIES Each key priority has objectives and actions that direct our resources to support our clients to have the opportunity and ability to self-direct the care that they need.

Progress against our key priorities at the end of our fourth year of our Five-Year Strategic Plan, show we are tracking well in all areas. This progress is an extrapolation of activities identified on 30 June 2014 that are to be either scoped, planned, developed and/or implemented before 30 June 2015, and factoring in recognition of projects completed since year one.

OUR PERFORMANCE TOWARDS KEY PRIORITIES This is our fourth year of reporting against our current Five-Year Strategic Plan.

In 2012, recognising the ongoing changes in the market and the growth of the organisation, LWB developed a three year Strategic Implementation Plan that affirmed our purpose and values, and defined the key Strategic Direction Areas of focus for the next three years.

In refreshing our values in 2013-2014, we developed a set of five key priorities directed at ensuring we reach our goals of the strategic plan in its final year. The five key priorities provided a strengthened platform for reviewing and planning ongoing activities.

Over the next nine months LWB will be engaging with a large range of stakeholders (clients, carers, families, staff, communities, funding agencies, regulatory agencies, Commonwealth, State and Local governments, peak bodies, academic institutions) to help define the organisation’s next Five-Year Strategic Plan due to begin in July 2015.


OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS KEY PRIORITIES

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%KP 1 KP 2 KP 3 KP 4 KP 5


Terry Lawler Chair of the BoardExperience: Independent non-executive director since July 2002 and Chair since 2002. Special Responsibilities: Chair. Member of the Finance and Audit Committee. Member of the Remuneration Committee. Trustee of the Life Without Barriers New Zealand Trust.

Gillian Calvert AO DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since February 2012. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Practice Committee. Member of the Risk Management Committee. Member of the Research and Public Policy Committee.

Anthony Deegan DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since November 2004. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Risk Management Committee. Chair of the ICT Steering Committee. Member of the Remuneration Committee. Trustee of the Life Without Barriers New Zealand Trust.

Robert Ferris DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since July 2002. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Member of the Reconciliation Committee. Member of the Research and Public Policy Committee. Trustee of the Life Without Barriers New Zealand Trust.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Sharon Gollan DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since March 2006. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Reconciliation Committee.

Sue Gordon AM DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since December 2009.

Graeme Innes AM DirectorExperience: Independent and non-executive director since May 2014. Special Responsibilities: Member of the Practice Committee.

Jan Lowe DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since April 2004. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Life Without Barriers New Zealand Trust. Chair of the Research and Public Policy Committee. Member of the Remuneration Committee.

Tracey McCosker DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since July 2002. Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. Member of the Risk Management Committee. Member of the Reconciliation Committee.

Paul Murphy OAM DirectorExperience: Independent non-executive director since July 2002.


CHIEF EXECUTIVEOur Chief Executive is responsible for leading the Executive and ensuring organisational functions and objectives are realised; and is responsible for the ongoing management of the organisation in accordance with the strategy, policies and programs approved by the Board.

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

EXECUTIVEOur Executive is made up of the Chief Executive and eight Executive members. It provides effective leadership to drive and monitor the strategic direction of our organisation and establishing business plans to meet our strategic goals.

Claire Robbs Chief Executive

Bruce Mulligan Director of Human Resources

David Lynch Chief Financial Officer

Lauren Murray Director Operations, New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory

Loretta Perry Ambassador Values and Culture

Brad Swan Director Operations, North & West Australia

Tracy Mackey Director, Strategy and Engagement

Andrew Kilgour Acting Director Operations, South East Australia

Mary McKinnon Director, Practice and Quality


GOVERNANCE

OUR CIRCLES OF SUPPORT

BOARD COMMITTEES

Quality governance is embedded in our culture, extending beyond the Board of Directors and occurring through all levels of our organisation; manifesting best-practice services delivery, respectful partnerships, and valued staff. Our governance structure supports the delivery of our strategy and ensures that our operations achieve and continuously improve on a high quality standard of care.

Finance and Audit CommitteeResearch and Public Policy CommitteeRemuneration CommitteeRisk Management CommitteeReconciliation CommitteePractice Committee

CARERS

OP

ERATI

ONAL FUNCTIONS

EXEC

UTIVE GROUPSOPERA

TIONAL COMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE TEAM

BOARD COMMITTEES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PEOPLEWE SUPPORT


5 YEARFINANCIAL SUMMARY

2013/14$’000

2012/13$’000

2011/12$’000

2010/11$’000

2009/10$’000

Revenue & ExpenditureTotal Revenue & other income

344,852 309,757 290,287 247,501 204,371

Total Expenditure 337,086 303,687 284,693 244,697 202,722Operating Surplus / (Deficit)

7,766 6,070 5,594 2,804 1,649

Assets & LiabilitiesTotal Assets 97,744 90,004 73,979 68,610 64,073Total Liabilities 59,083 59,598 50,076 50,143 48,412Net Assets 38,661 30,406 23,903 18,467 15,661Cash flowsNet cash from operating activities

13,004 20,218 11,984 586 15,953

Net cash from investing activities

(13,470) (1,363) (4,398) (7,193) (9,067)

Net cash from financing activities

0 (165) (70) 196 0

Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June

58,728 59,170 40,414 32,901 39,328


5 YEARREVENUERevenue has grown significantly over the last five years. Over this time Life Without Barriers has expanded into a number of new service sectors in addition to growing the existing services provided in each state.

OPERATING SURPLUSOperating surplus has grown in line with the growth in revenue and is reflective of achieving economies of scale for back office support services and a continual focus on minimising administration support costs.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIESAssets have grown broadly in line with Life Without Barriers’ revenue growth. Liabilities have been declining in relation to revenue which is in part reflective of a reduction in funding received in advance.

This summary financial information is intended to provide an overview of the financial statements and to highlight key changes from year to year. It is not intended to replace or modify the content of the audited Financial Statements. The audited Financial Statements (both full and summary versions) are available on our website at lwb2014.org.au

OUR VALUESWE BUILD RELATIONSHIPSWe are people people. Relationships come first. Listening helps us understand.

WE ARE IMAGINATIVEWe are imaginative in our thinking and open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

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

WE ARE RESPONSIVEWe are responsive to needs, determined to get things done and do them well.

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

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 OUR VALUES.

Life Without Barriers National Office

352 King Street Newcastle NSW 2300

PO Box 2226 Dangar NSW 2309

T: 02 4033 4500 F: 02 4927 5113 E: [email protected] W: lwb.org.au lwb2014.org.au

@lwbaustralia

LWBAustralia

YouTube

Life Without Barriers

http://www.lwb.org.au


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