ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017

YOUR chOicE our purpose

president’s report 01

executive officer’s report 04

10 Year strategic direction 05

our Vision, Mission and Values 06

our year in numbers 07 / 16

Corporate services report 08

Aroundagain report 10

Mildura Chocolate Company report 1 1

Christie’s emporium report 14

self-Advocacy and keeping safe 15

Artrageus report 17

enhanced Living report 20

GrowAbility report 21

Life skills report 24

My Choice report 25

Years of service 28

Financials 29

Thanks to Community partners & supporters 31

We respectively acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land the Latje Latje people and their nearest neighbours the Barkindji people. It is a privilege to be standing on this country and we recognise

and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with their land.

CONTENTS

YOUR chOicE our purposeYOUR chRiSTiE cENTRE

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It is with great pleasure that l present our 63rd Annual report.

I would like to acknowledge and thank all staff, Volunteers and supported employees for their dedicated and tireless work during the year ably led by our executive officer Florence Davidson.

It was with regret that we accepted Debi Glasson’s resignation from the Board after 14 years of service and with pleasure that we welcomed Bob Jankowski and Jenny Bennett. Their skills add greater depth to our very able Board and will assist us in navigating the way ahead.

Thank you to all Board members for their efforts during the year.

our social enterprises continue to go from strength to strength with Christie’s emporium, Mildura Chocolate Company and Aroundagain all leading the way.

We have secured a philanthropic grant which will see a transformation with our Growability social venture at the Aroundagain site, which is a great

opportunity to move from idea to action.

The role arising out of the National Disability Insurance scheme (NDIs), although challenging, will bring a new and exciting time for the organisation with a number of participants already using the NDIs service with us.

our Community events continue to grow with our second year at the Mildura Golf Club for the Night Glow and we are into our 49th year with the police and Fireman’s golf day. A highlight earlier in the year was our inclusion in the Western region Awareness Tour, Wimmera & Mallee 2017 Torch run. We had many participants carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of Mildura for the special olympics Australia facilitated by the Victorian police.

As we launch our next strategic plan, an ambitious document, that ensures the Christie Centre continues to be at the forefront of service provision within our community, we look forward to an exciting time ahead.

PRESiDENTSreporT

Board Members:ross Humphreys (Chair)

Andrew Hudson

Jenny Bennett

Deb Broadhead

Inga Dalla santa

John Fleming

Debi Glasson

Bob Jankowski

simon rule

ross HuMpHreYs

As WITH ANY JourNeY, WHo You TrAVeL WITH CAN Be More IMporTANT THAN Your DesTINATIoN - UNkNOwN

4

ExEcUTivE OfficERS

reporTFLoreNCe DAVIDsoN

This year has provided us with some exceptional outcomes not only for individuals, but team members, business units and, as a successful place-based, solution focused enterprise.

our reputation as an innovative service, that delivers on goals with evidence based actions, has been met with the successful granting of funds for our inclusion in the National Disability Innovative Workforce project. This project will see our specialist active and positive behaviours team input into the National agenda on working with people with extreme and complex needs.

We were able to formally establish our reconciliation Action plan and continue our partnerships with our culturally and diverse partners. We firmly believe that diversity ignites creativity, problem solving and innovation.

This year we provided a range of options to our leadership team with Krister Jonsson the long term Manager of Aroundagain taking on a project Manager role, and Ms sharon Brettig taking on the ever changing environment at Aroundagain. Ms Jenny Chaplin is leading the active positive behaviours team, and Ms Amy Whitford joined

the team in an advanced practitioner role. These changes strengthen our leadership roles and offer greater support for teams.

our community partnerships continue to flourish with a substantial grant from the Ian potter Foundation allowing us to move growAbility from an idea into a budding social enterprise. Coupled with tremendous local support to purchase a new forklift, allowing us to create further supported employment opportunities.

I thank the Board for their stewardship, our leadership team, sensational support staff who daily make such significant contributions, the corporate services team who diligently keep the systems working, our participants and families as well as our amazing supporters Leeanne and erin from Juxter, sue and Wendy from Wendy Brooks & partners, Jan and Duncan and the team from Murray river salt.

As we meet the challenges of an ever-changing environment, our foundation of individual service delivery remains strong and central to our mission to improve aspirational opportunities with people to meet their goals.

MAY Your CHoICes reFLeCT Your Hopes, NoT Your FeArs – NelsoN MaNdela

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OvERviEw Of OUR 10 YEAR STRATEGic DiREcTiON

The Christie Centre’s vision is to support people to have meaningful lives in their community.

We will grow through efficient delivery of individualised, person-centred services and supports to meet our vision.

our five pillars along with our Vison, our Mission and our Values are the foundation which supports our strategic direction.

OUR viSiONsupporting people to have meaningful lives in their community

OUR MiSSiONConnecting people with people

OUR vALUES- open and honest communication- Team work and collaboration- respect - Accountability- Building strong relationships with

people, their families, other services and the community

BE A vALUED AND PREfERRED PROviDER

Cultivate inclusive, flexible and accessible services that are valued and chosen.

ADvOcATE fOR cOMMUNiTY ENGAGEMENT

engage and listen to people with disability and nurture meaningful lives without boundaries.

BUiLD ON SUSTAiNABiLiTY

ensure our organisation and branches are sustainable to offer value for money and opportunities for growth to achieve our vision.

PROviDE ExcELLENcE iN SERvicE & SUPPORT

promote independence, meaningful engagement and inclusion for people with disability, supported by a flexible and value driven workforce.

EviDENcE GROwTh

Identify and evidence areas where support has led to growth.

perForMANCe To INspIre GroWTH 2017-2027

OUR 5 PiLLARS Of GROwTh

10 YEAR STRATEGic DiREcTiON

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This year has been a whirlwind of new and innovative experiences for the Christie Centre. With our philanthropic partners delivering multiple successful submissions and the creeping in of NDIs, it certainly has been the most challenging period of the 7.5 years I have been here.

However, the corporate services team has worked continuously to adapt and implement changes of significance, from transitioning to a new system for payroll, the relocation of reception area, installation of a new phone system, constant progress in quality assurance, restructuring of in-house purchases to upgrading and maintaining registers, just to name a few. of course, this could not happen without our wonderful staff, some of whom have joined the team recently.

We are looking forward to transitioning to a fully NDIs compatible service and anticipate this to

bring further growth for the Christie Centre, not to mention the many new families and participants we will have the pleasure of engaging in our service.

The corporate services team wish to express our appreciation to all Christie Centre staff, participants, volunteers, customers, supporters, community partners and the Board of management.

We go into the new financial year with a positive outlook and now have another year of experience to face whatever challenges come our way.

oNe reAsoN peopLe resIsT CHANGe Is BeCAuse THeY FoCus oN WHAT THeY HAVe To GIVe up, INsTeAD oF WHAT THeY HAVe To GAIN.

cORPORATE SERvicES reporT127

160

$43,714

8

9

Visits by State and Federal Ministers this year

Accredited Certificate I in Work Education completed

Number of participants

Number of different weekly program choice options

Raised in local fundraising

7

JILL MorGAN

109

This year we have undertaken National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) certification standards in document destruction, and look forward to this high level accreditation to ensure that we are providing our customers with best practices when it comes to our business.

The shop and yard at Aroundagain have had a revamp and we now have signage for building items and two new 40ft containers supplied by Wakefields to use for storage.

We continue to enjoy great support from the community with their generosity in donating unwanted items to sell and importantly, avoid ending up in landfill.

our staff and Volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure the shop and yard are presentable and customer service is of a high standard, seven days a week, 361 days of the year.

We are constantly looking at ways to improve

the business and develop opportunities for all staff and to expand their skills and knowledge. A range of new ventures will see the expansion of the building supplies section and a service of great mutual benefit to local builders, the community and Aroundagain. We have expanded our partnership with Luke Tierney, (Lifestyle Developments) who has been a great support and has assisted us with obtaining building items from houses to sell at Aroundagain.

A new opportunity has arisen to assist GJ Gardner homes by providing a team to clean up yards before handing over to their new owners.

our partnership with Mildura rural City Council is strong as we both strive to incorporate innovative ways to avoid items going to landfill.

Watch this space for the exciting additions to be implemented in the next 12 months.

AROUNDAGAiN reporT

MOST PREFERABLE

LEAST PREFERABLE

AVOID

REDUCE

REUSE

RECYCLE

RECOVER

TREAT

DISPOSE

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The last year has been one of growth for Mildura Chocolate Company in terms of both business and staff. our move to Murray river salt’s Bothroyd Court facility has created many opportunities. staff from both companies enjoy a strong connection, from daily chats to celebrating occasions together. Working within another company’s space has also re-enforced the workplace ethics and standards that we strive to achieve.

Corporate gift ordering has been a major area of growth for our business, with social procurement now a principal factor in many businesses’ purchasing and making conscientious buying decisions. That our values are clearly stated and BACKeD up by the proud incorporation of pieces created at the Artrageus studios into the packaging design, continue to be a strong seLLING poINT.

Mildura Chocolate Company has received recognition as an exceptional example of a successful social enterprise, through media

opportunities and numerous visits from dignitaries. A high point was a visit from The Governor General, The Honorable sir peter Cosgrove, who awarded two of our staff members, Jacobus Hagemeyer, aka John Merks, and Craig Charles with Governor General Medals. Congratulations!

We are excited to have a new staff member Anna on board and also the new opportunities for workplace training we are able to offer Lifeskills participants studying Certificate 1 in Transition education. elizabeth has developed many skills this year and her ability with numbers has helped her become an integral part of our packaging team. Trudy wants to one day work in a coffee shop and her half day with us is a step on her journey.

We thank our volunteers once again for selflessly giving their time and sharing their lives with us. Your support continues to make a significant difference to us all.

MiLDURA chOcOLATE cOMPANY reporT

A HuGe THANK You To our CorporATe pArTNers: MurrAY rIVer sALT, oLAM AND AusTrALIAN preMIuM DrIeD FruITs. Your DoNATIoNs, GeNerosITY AND BeLIeF IN us Keep us MoVING oNWArDs AND upWArDs.

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As we move into our third year of operation, we note a significant increase in sales as a result of expansion of stock lines and broadening our marketing by utilising social media, Mildura Living magazine, local papers, Facebook, as well as our updated website.

Working with a positive team, willing to make change and creating pathways from training to work experience to employment for participants has been a highlight.

We have employed a participant as a cleaner and recently we had the opportunity to employ another in a store person’s role where all skills in office warehousing are being undertaken.

By increasing the link between Christie’ s emporium and the Christie Centre as a whole, we are able to create a unique training experience for people and expanded the positive social impact that comes with employment.

This year team members gained their forklift licence and one went on to gain their truck license. The future shared logistics with Aroundagain will improve customer service and reduce operational costs.

chRiSTiE’S EMPORiUMreporT

DIVersITY… peopLe MAY Be sAID To reseMBLe THe pIeCes oF A puzzLe, eACH uNIque, YeT eACH esseNTIAL To BrING ouT THe CoMpLeTe pICTure - fELix ADLER

15 16

6325

5961

7921

110

8%

Highest viewed post on Facebook

Number of Christie Centre staff

Increase inparicipant numbers

Volunteered hours so far

Participants volunteering in community

proGrAM DesCrIpTIoN: ‘Improved outcomes for people with disabilities, their families and carers, which are driven by the response to their changing needs, build the capacity of people with a disability to assert their human rights.’

support people with a disability to take their place as equal citizens within their chosen communities, and empower people with a disability to assert their rights as consumers.

As well as advocacy, it teaches how to be safe in the community and what services are available. It also assists people to identify their own safe places and safe people in the community and compile this into a personalised safety plan.

These self-advocacy and keeping safe principles will be implemented across all of our programs at the Christie Centre.

sessIoNs CoNDuCTeD: Human rights

Tour of sCHs - sunraysia Community Health service

Dealing with emotions and identifying safe people and places

Visit by Vic police - keeping safe in the community

Visit the Mildura police station

1:1 with each participant, how to use communication tools and communicate abuse

OUR cOMMiTMENTTo seLF-ADVoCACY& KeepING sAFe

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Another successful and productive year at Artrageus, with people taking up the opportunity to express their artistic selves through various mediums.

We have been able to deliver a program to a group of adults who are interested in the process of making art, support their individuality in art making and assist and teach as necessary. support has been given to individuals to be critical of their art and strive for their best, and assisting people to develop their confidence and their independence skills.

We have introduced people to new ideas and ways of making art, pottery, sculpture, print making, textiles, and to support their learning in any art form they choose. people have had the opportunity to access art and artists within the community, and to exhibit and sell their art where possible.

The drama group spent a long time writing and rehearsing preparing for their performance, making props and costumes. our own band, CC rangers, has practiced diligently each week and gained experience with a number of performances as they develop their skills within the community.

The Kaleidoscope exhibition was launched at last year’s AGM held at Mildura Arts Centre. It was a real triumph as was the 3rd Trash to Art exhibition. These opportunities would not be possible without the guidance and support of our Arts team.

ARTRAGEUS reporT

HAppINess LIes IN THe JoY oF ACHIeVeMeNT AND THe THrILL oF CreATIVe eFForT - UNkNOwN

2019

over the last 12 months, all the units in the Christie Centre’s community living option have become occupied, with both purchased and rental options being used.

one person moved into her new unit in November 2016, and has choice and control over who, what and when she is provided with support. she is provided with a combination of support options by both paid support mentors and natural supports from her family network.

Her choices have empowered her to develop self-advocacy skills and independent living skills, over the seven month period. she has developed her culinary skills, to be able to prepare and cook her favourite meal – spaghetti bolognaise, to videoing herself in all components of preparation and cooking of the meal, and is quite proud to show her videos, which she has presented to the Christie Centre Board. This particular person is very proud of living in her unit, which she watched being built from the clearing of the land, to

choosing the unit she wanted to move into.

our move this year from group programs and the traditional holidays based on the 46 week funding model, has opened up service delivery and allowed for more flexible options for people, ensuring a holistic, person centred practice to be embraced with great success.

1:1 support options have increased, with people taking the opportunity to be supported within their home or within the community with the person of their choice to support them. This has allowed greater inclusion and encourages people to fully participate in all aspects of their community.

Community Based support has seen individuals taking the opportunity to “book in” for short term breaks from home. We provided the chance to come and try all service options throughout the Christie Centre, including supported employment. This has encouraged people to exercise choice and control of their decision making.

ENhANcED LiviNGreporT

“Her CHoICes HAVe eMpoWereD Her To DeVeLop seLF-ADVoCACY sKILLs AND INDepeNDeNT LIVING sKILLs, oVer THe seVeN MoNTH perIoD”- PARENT

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GrowAbility is the newest social enterprise of the Christie Centre family and it is fair to say that it has grown remarkably in a very short space of time. In october 2016 we opened the show garden and sales area at Aroundagain, and since then have installed a 40 foot shipping container which has been converted into a powered workshop and potting shed.

plant sales have been above expectations and we have also had several special orders from local businesses. (All the plants have been propagated, either from seed or cuttings, and grown through to completion by participants). There are currently 8 people undertaking Certificate II in Horticulture at suniTAFe with many of them expected to complete their studies at the end of this year and move into employment options with growAbility.

There has been a second, hardworking group of five people working from suniTAFe who have

honed their skills and produced the bulk of our plants for sale.

In January this year we began to offer supported options for people to trial working at the GrowAbility site with a view to potentially transitioning to employment in the future. Many people have had the opportunity to access the site and trial this program. Currently, we have three people working from GrowAbility at Aroundagain Friday mornings who maintain the sales area and show garden, ensuring there is always a ready supply of fresh plants for sale.

In April this year GrowAbility received a large grant to progress this project into a social enterprise and create more employment options for people with a disability. Community support for this project has been phenomenal and we are looking forward to growing this budding enterprise.

GROwABiLiTYreporT

sTreNGTH LIes IN DIFFereNCes, NoT IN sIMILArITIes – stepheN R Covey

our BuDDING NeW soCIAL eNTerprIse

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LifE SkiLLSreporT

As we encourage people to try new experiences and look at a variety of options, we have facilitated new ways of gathering feedback.

evidence of this is one participant who loves worm farming & gardening, was offered a trial within the GrowAbility program at Aroundagain. With collaborative support from staff at home and at the Christie Centre who know him well, he was encouraged to persevere with the trial period.

Adjusting a few aspects of the program, offering a broader variety of tasks, respecting his verbalised preference to refer to his new program as Aroundagain (work) rather than GrowAbility, combined with the cooler weather, success was achieved, much to the delight of all parties involved.

A new person requires intense support to attend programs/activities, build confidence, self-esteem and gain skills. one year on and this person has a completely new, very positive outlook on life and

continues to go from strength to strength, now living independently and managing their personal matters with minimal hours of support. Now mid way through an accredited certificate course, and to top it all off, this person has commenced employment at Aroundagain and become a role model for others.

With so many varied program/activity options on offer, many participants have quite diverse timetables with a mix of half and full days at various sites. Changes have been implemented as per request. on a few occasions, participants have requested a specific core mentor whom they may have developed a particularly good rapport with, assisting with their choice and control.

“I love my new job and workmates and new responsibilities” (everyone sees his increased confidence and empowerment to make his own choices).

A MIND THAT Is sTreTCHeD BY NeW experIeNCes CAN NeVer Go BACK To ITs oLD DIMeNsIoNs - oliveR WeNdell holMes, JR

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The past year has seen many changes within program delivery at My Choice.

smaller individualised programs are being developed to meet the requests/choices/needs of people, their family/carers. our hours and days of service have changed as our flexibility of service delivery is now being taken up by more people.

An example of one of our more successful programs is the Individual Craft morning. This comprises of five people with one support staff. each person chose the program as they had an interest in craft/sewing. They all work on their own project at their own pace with the support staff assisting them individually. The staff person had a personal interest in sewing/craft, so we are also matching the support staff to the programs to maximise outcomes.

The new Multi-Media program allows people to learn and develop their knowledge and skills

using technology for communication, sensory engagement and socialising. We have had many people take up the opportunity to ‘have a try’. Another new experience for people is using skype to connect with people from other organisations to share information and socialise.

our fitness programs i.e. gym, sports, swimming, have the added expertise of an exercise physiologist working within programs. This has seen a development in more individualised fitness programs, which we are seeing a growing interest in as people increase their mobility and fitness levels without realising that they are doing it.

As always, the health and wellbeing needs of individuals is met with consistently high standards by the staffing team, especially as we see more complex and compromised health concerns.

MY chOicEreporT

LIFe Is A MATTer oF CHoICes, AND eVerY CHoICe You MAKe, MAKes You – JohN C MaxWell

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MY ABiLiTY iS GREATER

ThAN MY DiSABiLiTY

EMPLOYEES YeArs oF serVICe

PARTiciPANTS YeArs WITH us

5 yeaRsJanette ApplebyIvan BehsmannBianca BugejaAleisha O’BrienCheryl Taylor

this yeaRCorey BrambrickDaniel CarterJordan FoxJesse GraylingMat LangNick McMinn 5 yeaRsAnnelyse SloperPhil Taggert

10 yeaRsMel CastlemanKrister JonssonJohn Romeo20 yeaRsMatt Teasdale

10 yeaRsDaniel Wilson15 yeaRsBobby MitchellDomenico Pediglieri20 yeaRsJimmy Rammos25 yeaRsMatthew Englefield

25 yeaRsNorelle Bate30 yeaRsJeff GreenJoseph Rodi

30 yeaRsNeil KelceyRaylene Kelcey45 yeaRsSharlene Zappia

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fiNANciALS

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chRiSTiE cENTRE iNcORPORATEDABN 68 554 592 464

STATEMENT BY MEMBERS Of ThE cOMMiTTEE

chRiSTiE cENTRE iNcORPORATEDABN 68 554 592 464

STATEMENT Of PROfiT OR LOSS AND OThER cOMPREhENSivE iNcOME fOR ThE

YEAR ENDED 30 jUNE 2017

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SPEciAL ThANkSThe Christie Centre could not continue to provide services

and support to people living with a disability without the support of so many people, companies, organisations.

our sincere appreciation to all those who generously provided assistance in so many ways…

CoMMuNITY supporTers

CoMMuNITY pArTNers

Matt Leeder painter & DecoratorMildura Arts Centre Mildura Base HospitalMildura Fire Brigade Mildura Lions Club Mildura police Mildura Working Man’s Club pizza Café premium Art supplies select Harvest stefano’s Cafe southern Cross Farms sunraysia Farmers MarketWentworth Community Bank Branch - Bendigo Bank

Bendigo Health Bunnings Carers Vic Commonwealth Bank Australia Devilee’seworks employment solutionsForeman sheean electrical & Communications In Tec Mildura Leonards plumbing Loddon Mallee service providers NetworkMDAs Mallee Family Care 35 Generous locals contributed to

our forklift fundraising campaign

AUSTRALIANINLAND BOTANIC GARDENS

MILDURA / WENTWORTH

For any enquiries please contact The Christie Centre

115 Twelfth St, Mildura VIC 3500P: (03) 5023 2761

www.christiecentre.com.au

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