ANNUAL REPORT

2017/2018

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.......................4

2017/2018 YEAR IN REVIEW........................................................................................6

STRATEGIC PLAN........................................................................................................7

SERVICES.....................................................................................................................8

MARKETS....................................................................................................................14

ACCESS...................................................................................................................... 21

REPUTATION..............................................................................................................24

TALENT....................................................................................................................... 26

FUNDRAISING.............................................................................................................49

FINANCIALS................................................................................................................51

STATUTORY STATEMENTS......................................................................................56

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The year 2018 marked Yooralla’s 100 year anniversary of supporting people with disability. Through the year, this significant historic milestone was celebrated by Yooralla customers, their carers and staff across Victoria. Channel 9’s national breakfast program, The Today Show, covered Yooralla’s achievements over the past century in a feature story. Yooralla now supports more than 4,000 Victorians living with disability.

More than 50 percent of Yooralla’s customers have been assisted to transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and new customers have chosen to receive their supports from the organisation. Yooralla actively consulted with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and was grateful for the timely discussions that resulted in improving the process of transition for many customers.

Recertification audits

During the year, Yooralla was audited by external auditors, SAI Global, and received certificates of registration, for the period 9 February 2018 to17 February 2021, indicating that the organisation had complied with:

the requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services Standards in the provision of day programs, education, training, early intervention, support, accommodation and respite services, and

the National Standards for Disability Services for the provision of employment services, including personalised support services to people with a disability in a supported employment environment.

The reports from this comprehensive recertification process noted that “customer feedback in all areas was very positive; customers were happy with the support and services provided by Yooralla. Carers who were interviewed felt supported by Yooralla and felt that their family members were well cared for and treated respectfully”.

In the regions where clients had transitioned to the NDIS, customers and families said that Yooralla had been very supportive and helpful throughout the process.

The culture of continuous improvement and consistency of good practice were noted; there were no “non-conformances”.

Yooralla also successfully passed an external audit of its Early Childhood Intervention programs, in June 2018, which meant that the organisation maintained its formal status as an approved Victorian NDIS provider of early childhood supports. In order to be able to deliver early childhood supports under the NDIS, service providers in Victoria are required to be independently assessed every 18 months (unless conditions of approval state otherwise), to ensure they meet the Victorian Early Intervention Standards 2016 and comply with the NDIS Guide to Suitability requirements.

SAI Global carried out the audit, visiting Yooralla’s Allied Services and Wellbeing (ASW) sites in Melbourne’s north, outer east and outer south. The high quality service provided by ASW practitioners to children and their families was noted. Yooralla was also highly commended for its clinical supervision, and reflection and development programs, as well as the overall preparation for the audit.

Delivering high quality, safe supports remains a priority for Yooralla.

Compliance

Compliance with the new Child Safe Standards, introduced by the Victorian Government for all services working with children, has also been achieved.

In January 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services introduced a new incident monitoring system. Yooralla adjusted its existing system and processes to comply with the new definitions and regulations.

The centralised system for logging, tracking and reporting on all customer incidents, feedback and complaints, known as RiskMan, was aligned with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Client Incident Management System (CIMS). All major impact and non-major impact incidents are now directly exported from RiskMan to CIMS.

From 16 August 2017, the Disability Services Commissioner was empowered to inquire into and investigate major incidents. Yooralla established the processes that were

required to respond to any inquiries initiated by the Office of the Disability Services Commissioner.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Yooralla’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was launched during National Reconciliation Week, after receiving formal endorsement from Reconciliation Australia. Through a practical implementation of the RAP, Yooralla is committed to fostering and building relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria, creating education and employment opportunities and ensuring that our organisation is inclusive and welcoming.

Community engagement and consultation

Yooralla has again appreciated the support it has received from members of the Yooralla Community Partnership Advisory Committee (YCPAC).

Matters that were discussed during the year included:

customer transitions to the NDIS and systems for supporting the transition to the scheme

building workforce capability customer transport arrangements protecting the privacy of customers changes to the eligibility criteria for young people with disability in short term

accommodation cultural diversity awareness the engagement process for developing a RAP the development of a draft Disability Employment Action Plan the additional investigative powers for the Disability Services Commissioner changes to the Medical Treatment Act research activities and partnerships residential fees and NDIS pricing arrangements maintaining transparency through customer engagement, and a dedicated ‘team site’ was developed for the sharing of information with and

between members of the committee.

Enterprise Bargaining Agreement

This financial year, the Yooralla Disability Support Worker Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2017 (EBA) was formally approved by the Fair Work Commission, coming into effect in March 2018. The EBA provides improved benefits for Yooralla’s Disability Support Workers. Yooralla has worked hard to improve the terms and conditions of employment, while ensuring the organisation remains financially viable in the evolving NDIS environment.

Financial result

The result for the 2017/2018 year was a surplus of $0.8M. Details are provided in the Finance Report.

The Board wishes to thank the staff and volunteers for a year in which much has been achieved in the midst of substantial change; 2018/19 will be a year of continuing to deliver on the philosophy of the NDIS by supporting even more customers to achieve independence and equality.

2017/2018 YEAR IN REVIEW

17% Reduction in WorkCover claims

Number of staff training:

7,557 course completed

7,224 e-learning

14,781 total

More than 520 attendees at the AGM and BDO

1,896 number of staff members

STRATEGIC PLAN

Yooralla’s five-year strategic plan outlines Yooralla’s approach and strategic priorities from 2014 to 2020.

The strategic plan was reviewed and refreshed by the Board in 2017. The plan was originally developed in 2014 to prepare Yooralla’s individualised and customer responsive services for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The vision, mission, values and key strategies remain relevant from the original plan. The focus on delivering high quality services that respect the rights of people with disability was reflected in the strategic plan during the refresh.

Yooralla is motivated to continue to modernise services so that customers and staff choose Yooralla, based on demonstrated performance and the organisation’s values.

SERVICES

Yooralla will focus on improved service delivery based on evidence-based outcomes, and people with disability will inform the development of new services. We will build digital solutions to create more inclusive customer experiences and ensure our services are efficient and sustainable.

OPERATIONAL UPDATES

Community Services

The 2017/2018 financial year was a period of robust growth and development for the Community Services division. As the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues to roll out, with the number of participants increasing, two services within the division have seen a year of particularly strong growth.

Assistance with Daily Living – consistent with the philosophy of the NDIS, more and more participants move towards independence, requiring Assistance with Daily Living, whether it is at home, in the community, at school or work, for business, health or leisure.

Support Coordination – Yooralla continues to support participants and their carers to understand and implement NDIS plans. Given Yooralla’s expertise in supporting customers with high and complex support needs, there has been strong demand for the specialist Support Coordination service.

Yooralla’s opportunity shop in Chelsea, which opened in July 2017, now serves as a multifunctional space, and is a well-established feature on the Chelsea shopping strip. The facility is also used as a work space for Yooralla staff working in the area. Yooralla’s Community Engagement team held several free one-on-one meetings from the office at the site, to assist NDIS participants and their carers to prepare for and make the most of the NDIS. Supported by invaluable Yooralla volunteers, the shop also offers retail work experience program for Yooralla’s customers.

Yooralla supports Greg to travel independently

“I can do it! I can take the train to South Morang on my own,” Greg said with confidence and excitement to his mum Rae.

Greg, a Yooralla customer who lives in Camberwell, was going camping for a weekend and his parents were not able to drop him off at South Morang train station where he was meeting with his camping friends.

“One of the camp leaders offered to take him, as she lives near South Morang station, but Greg felt confident to take the train there himself after doing Discovering Melbourne at Yooralla’s Learning Hub,” said Greg’s mother Rae.

Discovering Melbourne is one of many programs at Yooralla’s Learning Hub. The program was created to support people with disability to visit different parts of Melbourne, gain experience and develop confidence travelling by public transport independently.

Rita Trotta, Service Manager at Yooralla’s Learning Hub, said customers brainstorm places they would like to visit.

“They plan each outing themselves. Using Google maps they look up where they want to go and determine the best way to get there, whether they need to take a tram, a bus or a train and how far they need to walk from the station. Afterwards we reflect on each trip,” she said.

Greg said while he was a little nervous to go to South Morang on his own, he also felt very proud to be able to do it.

“Mum was really surprised when I said I can go by myself. I never travelled that far on my own before. Mum dropped me off at our local train station. I had to go to Flinders Street station first and change platforms there to take another train to South Morang. It gave me a real sense of independence,” he said.

“That was his first solo train trip out to South Morang, and he had a great time at the camp. From our perspective this was a big step, but it was taken because of the

experiences and confidence that Greg has been building up in all his activities at Yooralla,” said Rae.

The Learning Hub is one of Yooralla’s 16 Community Hubs across Melbourne and Victoria, where adults with disability can access innovative and stimulating programs and activities designed to enhance life skills and promote choice, inclusion, independence and wellbeing.

Residential and Respite Services

The 2017/2018 financial year was a time of consolidation for the Residential and Respite Services division, with a focus on refurbishment and development in Residential services.

There has also been ongoing demand for Yooralla’s short-term accommodation services, also known as Respite. Yooralla’s short-term accommodation for children and young people with high support needs in Melbourne’s north was renovated, with new equipment, toys and home entertainment devices added to the house.

Committed to continuously improving the quality of its services, Yooralla has implemented a range of measures to further enhance customer safety, quality and wellbeing at Yooralla’s Ventilator Accommodation Support Service (VASS), following a formal service review.

Given the high and complex health support needs of residents and respite customers, a registered nurse with experience in community-based health support was hired as the new Service Manager, in close consultation with the Australian Ventilator Users Network (AVUN) Steering Committee.

The role of registered nurses at the service has also been reviewed and revised to improve clarity in their work and communication practices with Disability Support Workers, and to strengthen clinical supervision and peer sharing. In consultation with the AVUN Steering Committee, a full-time nurse educator with extensive experience and training was hired to provide ongoing medical and equipment training and professional development support to staff.

To further improve safety and enhance communication between customers and staff, the VASS facility’s call system was upgraded and additional power points installed in every room to meet changing customer needs.

The division has also reviewed the compatibility in some residences to further improve the experience of customers. This resulted in a successful internal reconfiguration of some customers’ living arrangements, in consultation with the Department of Health and

Human Services. There have been positive outcomes for the customers and their families. It also reflects good consultation and planning.

This financial year, Yooralla has also opened two new Residential sites to support young people with high and complex behaviour needs through implementation of intensive support models. This unique model of support has led to positive outcomes for the young customers.

Yooralla has also partnered with BeyondHousing, the largest community housing organisation within the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions of Victoria, to develop a brand new purpose-built residential site in Wattletree Grove in Benalla, for customers who currently live at a Yooralla residential site in Garden Street. Facilitated by Yooralla, future residents were actively involved in the development of the design of their new home.

Yooralla supports Jean-Marie to be independent

Jean-Marie says if not for Yooralla, she wouldn’t have discovered just how capable she was to live on her own.

“Because you have a disability does not mean you can’t live independently,” she said.

“I lived with my mum for 50 years. Mum used to cook and clean, and put my clothes out. Now I do everything for myself,” says 52-year-old Jean-Marie, who has an intellectual disability.

She says that moving to Yooralla’s innovative accommodation in Frankston, designed for younger people with disability living in, or at risk of nursing home placement due to a lack of alternatives, has changed the course of her life forever.

“I cook for myself and I learned to do things for myself. I go to concerts and shop. I feel proud that I’m doing all that. The staff really help me and they’re the best staff out,” she says.

Jean-Marie enjoys being able to make her own choices about everyday life: what to wear, what to cook for dinner, what to do with her spare time and how to budget her

money. She regularly goes to the gym, attends drama classes and hosts dinner parties for her family at her new home.

She lives in one of six purpose-built units specifically designed for people with disability, to support independence. All units feature smart home and communications technologies that are able to be operated via a tablet or smart phones, to communicate with staff in case of an emergency and to allow control of heating, cooling and light conditions. Residents can call a staff member on-site for assistance day and night.

Allied Services and Wellbeing

The Allied Services and Wellbeing (ASW) division experienced significant demand for its services in the 2017/2018 financial year. This covered all areas of the division’s skill set including: physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nursing and teaching. Continued growth in demand for these services is predicted for the coming year.

This financial year, Yooralla was pleased to receive a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Information, Linkage and Capacity Building Grant in partnership with the Independent Living Centre of Western Australia Inc. and LifeTec, to expand the National Equipment Database (NED) Innovations Project. This project will support NED updates to improve its ability to provide free, independent information about assistive technology for people with disability.

Recognised as one of the leading Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS) specialists, providing support for more than 500 children and families, Yooralla was selected as the ECIS provider by the Victorian Government to support an additional 126 children and families across Hume Moreland, Bayside Peninsula, Brimbank, Southern and Western Melbourne, bridging the gap while they wait to enter the NDIS.

Committed to ensuring continued innovation in therapeutic practices throughout the sector, the ASW team presented on Yooralla’s latest work on power-standing wheelchair prescriptions and travel training.

The demand for power-standing wheelchairs has been steadily increasing. Outside of the physical and health improvements, these devices have significant benefits relating to social inclusion. With limited prescription information around these devices, the ASW team developed best practice guidelines to assist therapists in developing an accurate prescription.

These guidelines were presented at the Oceania Seating Symposium in New Zealand and at the Assistive Technology Supplier Association (ATSA) Living Expo in Melbourne. The ATSA presentation was conducted with a Yooralla customer, who demonstrated the features of his power standing wheelchair and shared his first-hand experience using it.

The division also developed a travel training program to train professionals, carers and families to support people with disability to use and navigate the public transport system. In 2017, representatives from ASW travelled to Singapore to present Yooralla’s travel training program to multiple disability service providers. The workshops focused on how to prepare people with disability to travel by public transport, what they need to do to be able to use it and how to advocate, or support someone to advocate, for better and more accessible transport options.

Yooralla also participated in a project aimed to assist Public Transport Victoria to experience navigating public transport from the perspective of a person with disability. The insights will be used to continue to improve public transport accessibility for people with disability.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment and Diagnosis Clinic

Yooralla’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment and Diagnosis Clinic (ASDADC) provides services at no cost to families within lower socio-economic areas of Melbourne’s northern suburbs. The aim is to ensure that no child is disadvantaged by financial limitations and has access to early intervention supports and services to ensure best outcomes at critical development periods.

These assessments are costly for families and wait lists for fully funded services are currently between 12 and 16 months across Victoria. A diagnosis is required to access crucial early intervention services and specialist supports for the child and their family. Best practice evidence indicates that early intervention as soon as possible in the life of the child results in meaningful and lifelong outcomes for the child and their family.

Using an established referral relationship with paediatricians and the Royal Children’s Hospital, children who are currently waiting for assessments and unable to afford out of pocket assessment, will be offered a place at Yooralla’s ASDADC. These children will receive a report from two specially trained clinicians, a speech pathologist and psychologist, that outlines all the information gathered throughout the course of the assessment process.

The report will be provided to the child’s paediatrician to ensure a collaborative diagnosis is made. This will assist the family in accessing crucial early intervention services to set them on the right path to access the support their child will need.

Yooralla will continue to support our customers within our allied health services, who do not meet the ASD criteria, including providing access to speech pathologists, occupational therapists, educators and psychologists. In addition, we will provide support and guidance to children and families that do not currently receive support from Yooralla, including referrals to other community services as appropriate.

The Parenting with Disability program

Since 2014, in collaboration with The Royal Women’s Hospital, Yooralla continues to coordinate the Parenting with Disability (PWD) program, which supports new parents with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities. The PWD program is one-of-a-

kind in Victoria. Its aim is to empower new families before and after the birth of their babies, by assessing and prescribing appropriate equipment, modifying current equipment, and carrying out functional task analysis. There is misconception and stigma in society for parents with disability, and this program is championing successful outcomes, working to overcome this.

Currently, the PWD program is a free service, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. During the period of change to the NDIS, the program will continue to evolve and adapt to the new funding arrangements through the NDIS. This change will require innovation, creativity and renewed advocacy to support Victorians to have equal rights and opportunities to parent with confidence and skill.

Yooralla nominated to engage in consultation on the NDIS

Yooralla was nominated as the Victorian Representative by the Office of the Senior Practitioner to engage in consultation with the newly established NDIS Quality and Safeguards Office and the federal government. Consultation included feedback on the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, the rules in relation to behaviour support and restrictive practices and systems to monitor and track restrictive practices. Information in relation to planning complex supports for people with behaviour of concern was also shared as part of the consultation. This included participation in several days of face-to-face consultations in Canberra with key federal and state stakeholders.

Making change by travelling in the shoes of others

Yooralla Occupational Therapist, Emelia Young, was featured in a video made by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) for their Travelling in the Shoes of Others initiative, which they ran in collaboration with Yooralla, Vision Australia, Guide Dogs Victoria and the Spina Bifida Foundation.

“Travelling in the Shoes of Others is all about involving staff from different areas of PTV, including engineers and designers of the transport network, to experience what it’s like to have a disability and try to use public transport. The ultimate goal is that they then put their experience and new knowledge into actions that make local transport more accessible for everyone,” said Emelia.

Staff from VicRoads also participated in the program.

VicRoads project designers were able to experience the challenges of using a mobility device around the busy Punt Road and Swan Street intersection.

“Although it is confronting for the participants, it’s also essential for them to experience the network and environment as it currently is – inaccessible for many people with disability. The participants are responsible for implementing changes that will affect thousands of Victorians, and if they do not have all the information available, they cannot create an accessible and easy to use transport option,” said Emelia.

“Quite a few changes have occurred because of the program and we’re hoping it can continue to be the catalyst for future changes,” she said.

MARKETS

Yooralla will focus on growing services in new and existing markets. We will create partnerships to improve outcomes for customers and build our productivity in a more competitive market.

Yooralla’s community partnership advisory committee update

In the 2017/18 financial year, Yooralla’s Community Partnership Advisory Committee (YCPAC) met regularly to review various strategic and operational matters.

Yooralla’s YCPAC is comprised of customers, their family members and carers, and Yooralla staff and is a cooperative endeavour, underpinned by mutual respect and equality.

This year the ongoing members were:

Dr Wayne Ramsey, AM CSC Committee Chair, Yooralla Board

Ms Jennifer Williams, AM Yooralla Board

Ms Irene Anderson Mr John Barnett Dr Charmaine Hall Mr Peter Johnstone Ms Susanne Jones Ms Michelle McFarlane Ms C. Mary Reid Ms Nancy Sadka Mr Sean Walsh Mrs Lynette Zanchetta

Dr Sherene Devanesen Yooralla, and

Ms Elaine KrassasYooralla.

YCPAC membership remained unchanged throughout the 2017/2018 financial year.

Yooralla would like to thank all members for their invaluable contributions.

Second year of NDIS roll out

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) further expanded across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne during the year. The NDIS commenced in inner and outer east Melbourne, inner Gippsland, Ovens Murray, Bayside Peninsula and Hume Moreland.

Yooralla has continued to work in partnership with the NDIS to improve outcomes for customers.

The NDIS sought to collaborate with participants and service providers during the year, to improve experiences and address challenges for all stakeholders. In early 2017, Yooralla participated in provider forums to inform the design of the participant pathway. This resulted in the new pathways that were released in October 2017, which addressed some of the challenges and concerns of customers and Yooralla. Yooralla was pleased to note that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will be developing new participant pathways for:

participants with complex support needs children aged zero to six participants with psychosocial disability participants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex,

and asexual or allied) communities.

Yooralla also participated in the Independent Pricing Review (IPR) that resulted in changes to the NDIS pricing framework. The IPR report was released in March 2018 and Yooralla continues to work constructively with the NDIS on pricing matters.

The NDIA also worked with Yooralla to ensure a smooth introduction and implementation of the Supported Independent Living (SIL) quoting tool. Yooralla has received positive feedback from the NDIS that our SIL documentation provides the right information and detail for the NDIS to make informed decisions about participants’ NDIS plans.

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Engaging with the community

Yooralla’s Community Engagement team has continued to meet with existing customers, staff and the broader community to support people to make the most of the NDIS.

Our focus is on supporting people at all stages of their NDIS journey, whether they want to know if they, or the person they care for, are eligible, how to prepare for their planning meeting or how to implement their plan. To do this, our Community Engagement team has held more than 350 one-on-one discussions with carers and people with disability across Victoria. Yooralla has received extensive positive feedback from the people who attended our sessions, including:

“The information that was shared with me was specific to my child.” - Nicky from Glen Eira.

“The one-to-one session was really beneficial because … I was able to ask questions about our son’s needs with a person who was very knowledgeable in the area and took the time to listen and respond.” - Heather from Manningham.

“Your advice was succinct and understandable.” - Lesley from Bayside Peninsula.

The team met with more than 120 staff to explain the NDIS. Yooralla was prominent at 32 disability events throughout Victoria, answering questions about the NDIS and Yooralla’s services.

Our Community Engagement team presented 10 interactive NDIS workshops to various groups in the community ranging from the Vietnamese Community in Australia Victoria Chapter, Royal Melbourne Hospital Young Adults Transition Service, Nepean Special School, Katandra Primary School, Southern Eastern Disability Inclusion group and Bentleigh Lions Club.

Yooralla continues to build relationships with NDIA’s Local Area Coordinators (LACs) including Brotherhood of St Laurence and Latrobe Community Health to ensure we have the latest information.

Yooralla partners with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Victoria

Yooralla has partnered with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Victoria (the Award) to create more opportunities for Yooralla’s young customers.

The partnership was formally announced at a black tie dinner hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Edward in April 2018.

This partnership is an example of Yooralla proactively taking action to support inclusion for people with disability.

The Award is open to people aged between 14 and 24 years old and has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The partnership is organised around three core initiatives:

1. Yooralla customers will have access to undertake the Award.2. Yooralla is now a registered volunteer provider for the Award participants, which

will enable Yooralla to access more volunteers.3. Yooralla is now a Registered Duke of Edinburgh Employer, which means Yooralla

recognises the Award participation as part of its recruitment process.

ACCESS

Yooralla will ensure customers can easily connect with and use Yooralla services. We will provide transparency and offer flexibility to move in and out of services. We will build one central point of access and provide outstanding customer service.

Intake and Community Engagement

Yooralla’s Intake team is the central point of communication for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants when they receive their NDIS plan and are looking to use Yooralla’s services. The Intake team works with participants, Support Coordinators, Local Area Coordinators (LACs) and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to respond to requests for service, provide quotes and establish Service Agreements.

Website

To support NDIS participants and their carers to connect with, and better understand, Yooralla’s services and the NDIS, Yooralla updated its website to provide specific information for:

a person with disability

a carer of an adult with disability, or

a carer of a child with disability or developmental delay.

Wi-Fi

To improve access to the internet for residents in Yooralla’s residential services, Yooralla’s IT team trialled a Wi-Fi solution for customers at selected locations. Providing access to the internet enables communication for residents through Skype and email as well as the ability to view and research topics of interest online.

A connection lasting half a century

Daniel, who has a degenerative form of cerebral palsy, began his 50 year connection with Yooralla at the age of five when he was a student with Yooralla’s kindergarten.

He was later a student at Glenroy Special School, where he witnessed the Queen officially open the school in 1976. In his 20s and 30s he was an employee in a Yooralla Business Enterprise, and now he is a resident at one of Yooralla’s accommodation sites so that he can live closer to his mother.

Daniel is a proud Tiger’s fan.

“The first thing that people know about me is that my blood is not red - it is yellow and black!” he proudly says.

When asked to reflect on his connection with Yooralla, Daniel said he wanted to send a big thank you to the carers, the occupational therapists, the physiotherapists and the speech pathologists.

“Especially thanks to my wonderful teachers and principals at my three schools that helped me to get where I am. Thank you to the occupational therapists and physios - because someone with cerebral palsy spends a lot of time with occupational therapists and physios. I would also like to thank the speech therapists that I’ve had to work with as well. It hurts me to actually talk – one of my doctors told me I shouldn’t technically be able to talk!” said Daniel.

“As far as Yooralla, as an organisation goes, they’ve been wonderful for me,” said Daniel.

Yooralla also recently trialled Wi-Fi service at Daniel’s accommodation.

He said the value of Wi-Fi was that it was important for people with disability who needed communication aids. Daniel likes to read three books at once, however with this eyesight deteriorating he can’t continue to do this.

“With the Wi-Fi, I can now download talking books and keep reading,” said Daniel.

YOORALLA’S MILESTONES OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS

1918 – Yooralla began

Yooralla began when Evangeline Ireland, also known as Sister Faith, established Victoria’s first free kindergarten for children with disability in Melbourne.

1920s - 1930s – Continued expansion

Yooralla expanded to become a school for children with physical disabilities. Demand continued particularly due to outbreaks of Polio. Yooralla survived the Great Depression thanks to the generosity of Victorians, and survived on donations alone until 1938.

1942 – Moved to Macedon

In 1942, during World War Two, the school was relocated to Macedon because of the fear of bombings.

1959 – Telethon began

In 1959, the first Yooralla Telethon began on Channel 9. The telethon ran for 20 years, contributing greatly to expanding Yooralla’s services and infrastructure.

1962 – Balwyn Special School opened

In 1962, the Balwyn Special School – today known as Belmore School – opened, with Yooralla providing therapy, personal care and accommodation support to students.

1976 – Glenroy Special School opened

In 1976 Yooralla worked with the Victorian Government to build the Glenroy Special School and Training Centre, where Yooralla also provided therapy support to students.

1977 – Merger with VSCCA and ILC opened

In 1977 Yooralla merged with the Victorian Society for Crippled Children and Adults, to become The Yooralla Society of Victoria, expanding its support for all people with disability.

Yooralla also opened Australia’s first Independent Living Centre, which provides information and advice about the latest technology and equipment for people with disability, their carers and therapists such as physiotherapists and speech pathologists..

1991 – Jingle released

Yooralla released its memorable advertisement, Yooralla is people helping people achieve.

2007 – Ventilator Accommodation Support Service (VASS) opened

Yooralla opened a new accommodation facility specifically for people dependent on mechanical ventilators requiring high-level 24-hour support. It is the only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

2013 – NDIS agreement signed

Victorian Premier, Dr Denis Napthine, signed Victoria up to the NDIS with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard at a Yooralla residential facility.

2018 – Centenary celebrations

Yooralla celebrated 100 years of supporting people with disability and their families throughout the year

REPUTATION

Yooralla will build its brand in the market and leverage our experience to influence community opinion, disability policy and decisions that support our vision. We will invest in research and development to build inclusive practices, improve equality and ensure human rights are upheld.

Research update

Improving access to disability services and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is one of Yooralla’s priorities. In January 2018, Yooralla entered into a Collaborative Research Agreement with Swinburne University of Technology to undertake a project titled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement in Disability Services. The project will investigate how Yooralla can effectively and respectfully support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living with disability. Under the guidance of the First Peoples Disability Network, this Indigenous-led multidisciplinary team will work to gain a better understanding of the barriers to accessing disability services experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The study’s principal investigator is Dr Justin Trounson, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow.

Meeting the healthcare needs of people with intellectual disability is another of Yooralla’s Research Agenda 2017–2020 priorities. In December 2017, Yooralla entered into a Student Project Agreement with Swinburne University of Technology to provide a three-year PhD scholarship under the supervision of Associate Professor Elisabeth Lambert and Associate Professor Rachael McDonald. This program of research is designed to better understand the health issues, factors affecting health issues and the health-related needs of people with intellectual disability. This work is intended to guide health policy, service development and health promotion programs.

Another Research priority is improving the psychosocial wellbeing of families and carers. The Pursuit of Wellbeing Study is a National Health and Medical Research Council/Yooralla Partnership project involving researchers from the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Monash University and Swinburne University. Final data collection will occur in 2018.

The study aims to trial a capacity building program that increases the self-efficacy of key workers to support the mental wellbeing of parents of a child with disability accessing Early Childhood Intervention Services. Outcomes to be examined include key workers’ confidence in supporting parental mental wellbeing; managers’ self-efficacy in supporting key workers’ and parents’ mental wellbeing; and parental mental wellbeing. The financial impact of the capacity building program will be estimated to determine whether this program is good value for money.

Customer satisfaction survey

Towards the end of 2017, Yooralla conducted its annual Customer Satisfaction Survey with customers and families. The survey is one means of receiving feedback from our customers.

The survey focused on:

satisfaction with services provided by Yooralla over the past year, and

any changes in customer satisfaction compared to previous years.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, with 89 percent of customers satisfied or very satisfied with the services they receive. This reflects the positive responses from the previous two surveys. Similar to previous years, the most positive response was recorded for the statement “I feel safe and at ease using Yooralla services”, with a positive response of 96 percent, followed by “staff support me to make my own choices”, with a positive response rate of 95 percent. These scores align with Yooralla’s vision and mission to support and empower customers to live the life they choose.

The voice of the customer in this survey has identified that our services, and in particular our staff, are our greatest asset and their strengths and skills are recognised by the people we support.

Thank you to the customers and carers who participated in the survey, as the results enable Yooralla to continue to learn and grow.

Awards

Peter wins Premier’s Volunteer Champions’ Impact Award

Yooralla customer and volunteer, Peter Johnstone, won the 2018 Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions’ (PVC) Impact Award, for his long-running volunteer work at Yooralla.

“I am so thrilled to have won this award, I never expected it! It’s been such a big year for me – attending a black-tie dinner hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Edward to celebrate Yooralla’s partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Victoria; then Yooralla’s 100th birthday celebrations and now this!” said Peter.

The PVC Awards recognise the impact volunteers have in building Victoria’s communities, services and connections. There are four award categories: Impact, Service, Leadership and Teamwork.

Peter has been public speaking for more than 20 years about living with disability. On behalf of Yooralla, Peter has presented to various community groups, schools and universities, as well as public forums.

He also regularly presents to new staff at Yooralla inductions and teaches video production and editing at Yooralla’s Learning Hub on Flinders Street. He is also a member of Yooralla’s Community Partnership Advisory Committee (YCPAC)

Robbie wins 2017 Dulcie Stones Writers Competition

Robbie Wales, who has been working for Yooralla’s Business Enterprises in Seymour for the past seven years, won the 2017 Dulcie Stones Writers Competition for his submission titled ‘Leading My Life’.

The inaugural Dulcie Stone Writers Competition is a new writing competition open to people with intellectual disability, designed to showcase their voices.

In ‘Leading My Life’, Robbie explored a variety of his thoughts and feelings under the three headings: ‘How do I feel?’, ‘What do I think?’ and ‘What do I want?’.

Underneath the first heading, Robbie writes about the states of happiness, heartbreak, sadness and positivity that he fluctuates between – happiness when things go right and the weather is nice and sadness due to his recent divorce.

He also writes passionately about his thoughts on religion and gender equality under the heading ‘What do I think?’.

“I think there should be more equal opportunities out there. What men can do, women can do. I understand there might be some constraints. I’m a man and I think there are things women can do better than men,” said Robbie.

Robbie ends ‘Leading My Life’ by outlining his goals for the future, which include befriending a few of his favourite movie stars, finding a new girlfriend and travelling throughout Europe and America.

Robbie has also been writing a novel for the past few years and plans to continue entering writing competitions.

2017/2018: Monthly highlights

2017

JULY: CHELSEA OPPORTUNITY SHOP OPENS

Yooralla’s new opportunity shop in Chelsea opened on 10 July 2017 to serve as a multifunctional space for staff, customers and the local community. Supported by Yooralla volunteers, the shop also offers a retail work experience program for Yooralla’s customers, and acts as a space for customers to meet with Yooralla staff to prepare for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

AUGUST: ST ALBANS COMMUNITY HUB’S ART EXHIBITION

Yooralla’s St Albans Community Hub opened its first art exhibition for friends, families and community members, at the Sydenham Library. Brimbank Council Mayor, Councillor John Hedditch, and Councillor, Victoria Borg, attended the event. Yooralla customers used a variety of mediums, including painting, screen printing and drawing, to produce the artwork for the exhibition.

SEPTEMBER: YOORALLA HELPS LUCY’S DREAM COME TRUE

Yooralla customer, Lucy, received her new wheelchair bike and took it for a test drive during the week of World Physiotherapy Day. The inspiration for Lucy to use a wheelchair bike came from Lucy’s sessions with her Yooralla physiotherapist, in which she enjoyed riding an adapted stationary bike called a Therabike.

OCTOBER: YOORALLA’S SEYMOUR GARDENING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES TEAM IS THRIVING

A client of Yooralla’s Gardening and Maintenance Services team, from Yooralla’s Seymour Business Enterprise, was so impressed with their services that she donated money to pay for a new wheelbarrow. The skills of employees at the enterprise are developing rapidly, and they recently branched out into using concrete and constructing shaded areas to protect gardens.

NOVEMBER: YOORALLA CUSTOMERS ENJOY MATES DAY ON THE BAY

Supported by Yooralla and the Future Fish Foundation, a group of Yooralla customers celebrated the annual Mates Day on the Bay, fishing for snapper, flathead and whiting. Yooralla customer, Yann, hooked the biggest prize of all, being awarded Most Enthusiastic Fisherman of the day, taking home $300 in new fishing gear for his efforts.

DECEMBER: YOORALLA’S NDIS PRE-PLANNING SESSIONS IN MORELAND AND HUME A SUCCESS

Yooralla’s Community Engagement team held free one-on-one NDIS pre-planning sessions in Moreland and Hume to support the local community to prepare for the NDIS rollout. The sessions were quickly booked out and were so successful that Yooralla held additional NDIS information sessions in the region in 2018.

2018

JANUARY: YOORALLA’S NDIS FORUMS FEATURED ON ABC REGIONAL RADIO

ABC Regional Radio featured a news segment on Yooralla’s NDIS forums in Benalla. Yooralla Community Engagement Officer, Shelley Hosking, was interviewed on the Mornings with Sandra Moon program. The interview explored Yooralla’s free NDIS pre-planning forums, and how they support people with disability and their carers in the Ovens Murray area to prepare for the transition to the NDIS.

FEBRUARY: YOORALLA CELEBRATES CHINESE NEW YEAR

Yooralla customers and staff from various accommodation services met in Box Hill to celebrate Chinese New Year. All guests were dressed in the traditional Chinese New Year colour – red – which symbolises good fortune, joy and happiness. The place was beautifully decorated, traditional Chinese music was played and a big feast, prepared by a local Chinese restaurant, was shared.

MARCH: YOORALLA ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

Yooralla worked with the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to make it easier for people with disability, who have limited or no proof of identity, to obtain their birth certificate. As a result of the collaboration, new processes have been created for Victorians living with disability, who may have insufficient proof of identity, to apply for their birth certificate.

APRIL: LARGE GRADUATION HELD AT YOORALLA BUSINESS ENTERPRISE – FOOTSCRAY

More than 70 people gathered at Yooralla’s Business Enterprise in Footscray for the largest graduation ever held at the site. Forty of Yooralla’s supported employees were presented with Go Work Skills’ Certificate 1 in Transition Education – an accredited qualification developed to support the inclusion and participation of people with disability in the community.

MAY: YOORALLA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

Yooralla held a ceremony at its Box Hill Community Hub to officially launch its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), after it received a formal endorsement from Reconciliation Australia. The RAP outlines the practical actions that Yooralla will take to drive the organisation’s contribution to reconciliation. A Smoking Ceremony opened the event, followed by an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Yooralla customer Chrissy.

JUNE: YOORALLA DEMYSTIFIES THE NDIS FOR THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY

Yooralla held a workshop for the Vietnamese Community in Australia, Victoria Chapter, to ensure its members were ready for the NDIS rollout in the region. A Vietnamese-born Yooralla employee from Yooralla’s St Albans Community Hub attended the workshop to explain to participants, in Vietnamese, the services Yooralla offered and how it could support them and their families.

Awards

Yooralla’s Business Enterprise an award finalist

Yooralla Business Enterprise – Seymour was a finalist in the Seymour Business Awards 2018.

The awards, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Seymour, provide a platform to recognise and promote business excellence within the Seymour region and its business communities. The aim of the awards is to support and encourage business development, improvement and diversity, and to help to sustain the region’s economic future.

Yooralla Business Enterprise – Seymour was nominated for the Service Business Excellence category by a supported employee.

The category recognises business excellence in delivering professional, or trade services, to the Seymour community and beyond. It is open to all industries providing services to customers and recognises progression, determination, teamwork, resilience and sustainability.

Yooralla’s Victorian Disability Awards winner Emelia Young

Yooralla Occupational Therapist Emelia Young won the Minister’s Award for Outstanding Leadership at the 2018 Victorian Disability Awards.

Since 2017, the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing has chosen a winner for this award from the awards’ finalists. The Minister’s Award goes to someone who has demonstrated immense leadership skills and has been a driver of change.

Emelia was recognised for her work on the Parenting with Disability program – a collaborative project between Yooralla and The Royal Women’s Hospital, aimed to support new parents with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities.

She was also highly commended in the Excellence in Promoting Health, Housing and Wellbeing Award category for her contribution to the program. Emelia was at the forefront of the establishment of the program in 2014, which she continues to coordinate.

Yooralla was also highly commended in the awards’ Excellence in Employment Outcomes category for its outstanding work in Supported Employment in partnership with Schneider Electric in Benalla.

The partnership between Yooralla and Schneider Electric in Benalla has endured for more than 18 years providing work and learning opportunities, associated with componentry assembly of electrical transformers, for Yooralla’s supported employees in Benalla.

The Victorian Disability Awards, run by the Department of Health and Human Services and National Disability Services, recognise the achievements and contributions of individuals, teams and organisations that provide support, leadership, advocacy, service and education to improve the lives of people with disability living in Victoria.

TALENT

Yooralla will build an engaged, customer focused and responsive workforce who are educated, skilled, inspired and who demonstrate our Yooralla values. We will focus on attracting, developing and retaining the best people and invest in developing our future leaders.

Workforce update

In the 2017/18 financial year, the People and Culture division focused on building a capable and productive workforce, maximising employee engagement and investing in leadership talent.

Underpinned by the July 2017 to December 2019 Workforce Strategy, the division continued to focus on building an engaged, skilled and responsive workforce to meet the growing demand stimulated by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rollout.

The People and Culture team sought to attract people who have the appropriate skills and experience and who also exhibit behaviours consistent with Yooralla’s values.

Further training and upskilling of existing staff, using various training programs including the extensive Functional Skills Training for Disability Support Workers program was provided.

The division made further enhancements to Yooralla’s recruitment screening of Disability Support Workers (DSWs), including: video interviewing, enabling each applicant to be assessed individually, and the inclusion of a literacy test to ensure that new employees are able to communicate with our customers and perform their roles safely and effectively.

Yooralla used the latest technology to attract and engage with future employees across many different platforms. This has been done with the use of new video interviewing

technology enabling customers and their families to be included in the selection of their support workers.

2017 Yooralla Staff Excellence Awards

Values Award

Individual winners

Susan Daniel Shelley Hosking Amy Huang Brenton Daw Jo Malone Angela McLaughlin Peter O’Donoghue Kailash Sharma Eva Schuch Keryn Trott Shelley Tubb Chris Wallace Rosemary West Glenn Whiting Margie Arthurson

Equal team winners

The Inclusion Support Program team The Cowan Street team

Volunteer individual winners

Clair Duffus Stephanie Bell Giodarno Biondi Paul Bird

Ian Drysdale Brianna George Pascale Giampa Frances Hardy Lisa Stickland

Customer Human Rights and Outcomes Award

Individual winner

Rod Carracher

Team winner

The Lardner Road team

Highly Commended

The Lardner Road team

Operational Goals Award

Individual winner

Kathy Dillon

Equal team winners

The Personalised Services team The Employee Relations team

Highly Commended

The CMS Project team

Leadership Award

Individual winner

Jo Malone

Individual winner

The Finance team

Highly Commended

Melissa Pool Rebecca O’Keeffe

Board profiles

Jennifer Williams, AM Chair

Jennifer is the current Board Chair of Yooralla. She is also Chair of Northern Health and Chair of the Alfred Whole Time Medical Practice Scheme. She is a Board member of the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, Barwon Health, the Australian Medical Research Future Fund and InfoXchange.

Prior to being a non-Executive Director, Jennifer was Chief Executive of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Chief Executive of Alfred Health and Chief Executive of Austin Health and a Council member of La Trobe University.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of Science and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her service to public health in the 2017 Australia Day Honours list.

Dr Wayne Ramsey, AM, CSC

Wayne has more than 35 years’ experience in medical management. His professional interests lie in the field of clinical and research governance. His final appointment prior to retirement was as Executive Director, Medical Services and Quality at Monash Health. Other senior appointments have included Director General Defence Health Service, Director Clinical Governance ACT Health and Adjunct Associate Professor of ANU Medical School.

Wayne holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medical Science, Master of Health Administration and Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.

Barbara Alexander, AO

Barbara is a long-standing supporter of disability rights, both personally and as a former Mayor of Benalla. She helped found the Benalla Support Group for Children with Special Needs and held roles on school council, Ballandella (Central Access) and was President of Benalla and District Hospital for five years. Barbara was President of the Victorian peak body representing families and children, the Association of Children with Disabilities, for five years and has also held roles on state and national advisory committees on disability. Barbara was instrumental in the establishment of a national body for families/children now known as CDA.

Barbara is a business person who operated hospitality/accommodation businesses for 20 years, and who retired to become Executive Officer of Tomorrow:Today Foundation, a Benalla community philanthropic organisation focused on overcoming disadvantage through education.

Sandra Beanham

Sandra is a senior marketing and business consultant with over 30 years’ experience working with some of Australia’s most well-known organisations in a variety of industry sectors. These sectors include fast moving consumer goods, cultural destinations, business-to-business, government and not-for-profit organisations. She has considerable experience working within the disability sector, a strong background in governance and 20 years’ experience on a variety of councils and boards.

Sandra is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute..

Julie Fahley

Julie has over 30 years’ experience in the management of large scale transformation programs and the implementation of new operating models, the re-design of organisational structures, the re-engineering of processes and the deployment of new systems. Julie has fulfilled many roles and leadership positions including KPMG partner, consultant, a software vendor and a Chief Information Officer. Her extensive experience has given Julie a unique perspective on the challenges, risks and opportunities of delivering major programs across multiple industry sectors and corporations. Julie has an unwavering focus on achieving the agreed program outcomes.

Having retired from KPMG partnership, Julie’s current Board portfolio includes Seek, IRESS, Datacom, CenITex, HPV and Partners Life. Julie has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics) and is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants in Australia.

Claire Keating

Claire Keating is a non-executive director and independent consultant. She is a chartered accountant and was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) from 2002 to January 2016. Claire has over 25 years’ experience as consultant and internal and external auditor, specialising in superannuation and funds management. She is a former member elected director of PwC Superannuation Fund and has held a number of management roles with PwC, including leader of the Melbourne Financial Services Assurance Practice and National Investment Management Assurance sector leader.

Claire is a director of CARE Super, State Super NSW, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and the NAB Wealth Boards comprising MLC Investments Ltd, Navigator Australia Ltd, Antares Capital Partners Ltd and National Asset Management Ltd and a board member of the Judicial Commission of Victoria.

Dr Jane Tracy

Jane is a medical practitioner who has worked for over 25 years with people with disability, their families and support staff. She is currently the Director of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health, Monash Health. Jane’s career focus has been teaching medical and allied health professional students and practitioners in relation to the health and healthcare of people with developmental disability. Jane works collaboratively with people with disability, and those who support them, in the design and implementation of educational activities to ensure their voice is heard by health professionals. She has also worked with disability staff in a range of projects designed to further develop their practice in supporting people to achieve and maintain optimal health and function.

Jane has an adult son with disability and so has both a professional and personal understanding of, and commitment to, the field.

Michael Vanderheide

Michael Vanderheide has served as Chief Executive of CenITex, the Victorian Government’s shared services provider of ICT infrastructure services, since July 2011. Michael’s professional experience is a mix of public and private sectors, with organisations including Qantas and ActewAGL, in executive roles in the fields of IT and Human Resources. He joined the ACT Government’s Chief Minister’s Department in December 1998 as a Director of what was then called the Office of Information Technology and Multimedia and later, he established and led the ACT Shared Services organisation. In 2018 Michael was appointed as a Director on the Board of YMCA Australia.

Michael has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Business Administration and served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra. He has extensive experience in driving significant organisation-wide transformation.

Key Management Personnel

Dr Sherene DevanesenChief Executive OfficerMBBS, DipObs, RACOG, FRACMA, FCHSM, FIML, FHKCCM, GAICD

Narayan PrasadChief Financial OfficerMBA (Deakin University), FCPA, GAICD

Damon BurgessChief Information OfficerBComp, AssocDip (EngComp Syst), MInfoTech

Rod CarracherChief PractitionerMRN, EMPA, GAICD

Michelle HolianExecutive Director, People and CultureBSc (Hons), MBL, GAICD

Russell ShewanExecutive Director, Planning, Business Development and Corporate ServicesBAppSc (ManTech), MEng (ManMan)

Elaine KrassasExecutive Director, Community ServicesMBA BA (Joint Hons), FCPFA (UK), FACHSM, FIML, GAICD

Leanne TurnerExecutive Director, Residential and Respite Support ServicesBHealthSci, PostGradDip (Health Administration), MBA, GAICD

FUNDRAISING

We would like to acknowledge and thank the following who have generously provided financial support to Yooralla in the 2017/2018 financial year:

Trust & Foundations

Clifford Ward Trust Estate of Arthur Leonard Raper Estate of Ruth Louvain Pryce Trust Ivy Jean Anderson Charitable Trust John Murphy Charitable Trust Katherine Farnsworth Legh-Cavendish Trust Nossal Family Trust Persephone Foundation Pty Ltd Peter Isaacson Foundation Pethard Tarax Charitable Trust Springboard Endowment Fund The Datt Family Foundation The David Taylor Galt Charitable Trust The Dr David and Jennifer Komesaroff Endowment Fund The Landman Foundation The Russell Foundation The William Angliss (Vic) Charitable Fund The William Buckland Foundation Ward-Ambler Foundation Yorke Family Foundation

Corporations

Blue Print Drafting Ownership Matters Tricoteur Pty Ltd

Bequests

Estate of Alfred Noel Curphey Estate of Bertha Hardie Estate of Charles K Edwards Estate of Dudley Adams Estate of Elaine Schreiber Estate of Gertrude Kellaway Sheath Estate of Jean Roberts Estate of Kathleen Howard Estate of Lindsay James Baldy Estate of Lydia MacMichael Estate of Margaret Jean Sutton Estate of ME Lloyd Estate of Mr Reginald Stanley Frederick Shepherd Trust Golf Hill Bequest James Francis Mearns Foundation Loftus-Hills Trust The Frank Broadhurst Memorial Charitable Fund

Key Supporters

Alexander Gillies Dr Harshal Nandurkar E McGain Jim and Winifred Peart John Ralph AC and Barbara Ralph Patricia Peck Ros Milne

FINANCIALS

Yooralla has reported a surplus of $0.8M for the year ended 30 June 2018. Realised and unrealised gains in investments contributed significantly to the operating surplus. The underlying operating result, excluding gains due to market movements in value of investments, was an operating deficit of $1.5M.Various factors that contributed to the underlying operating deficit include one-off costs related to closure of services not adequately funded under the NDIS, costs of implementation of the NDIS, lower than anticipated fundraising revenue and low margins for some services under the NDIS.

Components of total comprehensive income $m

REVENUE

Yooralla’s revenue from operating activities has grown by around 5.4% in 2017/2018 to $108.5M with strong revenue growth in some services. Funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and Training and Commonwealth Department of Social Services accounted for the majority of the operating revenue. At the end of 2017/2018, around 60% of Yooralla’s customers had transitioned to the NDIS. NDIS revenue will account for the bulk of the revenue in 2018/2019, as over 90% of customers are expected to have transitioned to the NDIS by the end of FY2019.

Revenue from Operating Activities

REVENUE BY SERVICE TYPE

EXPENSES

Labour costs comprise over 78% of the total costs. A number of initiatives have been implemented to improve labour productivity through improved planning and rostering.

Breakdown of Expenditure

NET ASSETS

Net Assets of Yooralla have increased by $4.0M to $85.8M. Yooralla is in a strong financial position and is well placed to operate in a NDIS environment.

Yooralla’s Net Assets

STATUTORY STATEMENTS

Carers Recognition Act 2012

The Carers Recognition Act 2012 (Vic) promotes the values and role of people in care relationships. Yooralla understands the different needs of persons in care relationships, and that care relationships bring benefits to customers, their carers and the community. Yooralla is committed to a model of service delivery that involves carers in the development of our services. Yooralla’s support services are developed in partnership with people with disability and their carers. Yooralla’s policies recognise the importance of respecting and taking into account a person’s care relations and help to ensure that carers are also at the centre of practice and service delivery.

Freedom of Information Act 1982

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) provides a right of access to information held by Yooralla. All freedom of information (FOI) applications received by Yooralla were processed in accordance with the provisions of the FOI Act. Yooralla provides an annual report on FOI applications to the Freedom of Information Commissioner.

The majority of applications to Yooralla under FOI are requests by customers for access to their own personal records. For the 12 months ending 30 June 2018, Yooralla received five FOI applications. Of the requests received by Yooralla, access was granted in full for four applications and for one application no document was available. No applications were referred to the Freedom of Information Commissioner or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for review. Yooralla’s FOI Officer for the 2017-2018 year was Dr Sherene Devanesen (Principal Officer).

Making a request

Access to documents may be obtained through written request to Yooralla’s Freedom of Information Manager, as detailed in section 17 of the FOI Act. In summary, the requirements for making a request are:

the application should be made in writing. the application should identify as clearly as possible which document is being

requested. the application should be accompanied by the appropriate application fee. The fee

may be waived in certain circumstances.

Further information about accessing information is available on the Yooralla website www.yooralla.com.au and FOI access request forms are available by contacting Yooralla. Requests for documents in possession of Yooralla should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer

PO Box 238, Collins Street West VIC 8007

Email: foi@yooralla.com.au

Access charges may also apply once documents have been processed and a decision on access is made, for example photocopying and search and retrieval charges. For further information on FOI visit www.foi.vic.gov.au.

OUR MISSION

To provide quality, sustainable and flexible services that uphold human rights and create opportunities, empowering individuals to live the life they choose.

OUR VISION

A world where people with disability are equal citizens.

Published by Yooralla

© Yooralla 2018

Whilst reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, neither Yooralla or the Yooralla Board of Directors accept liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly by the statements or opinions expressed, nor from reliance on this information.

Apart from any use permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 no part of this document may be reproduced without permission from Yooralla.

September 2018.

Yooralla is a charitable organisation registered with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC) and is a Company Limited by Guarantee.

ABN: 14 005 304 432