achieving full potential - genu · st laurence volunteers by serving them a three-course hot lunch....

16/17Annual Report

impacting the lives of people and adding value to the communities we serve.

Achieving full potential

We are pleased to report on our progress for the 2016/17 period and to demonstrate the various ways we have delivered on our vision: ‘together we innovate and build resilient, inclusive communities to help people achieve their full potential’ and on our purpose: ‘we listen, you choose, we respond’.

As the markets in which we operate continue to become increasingly competitive, we again have seen the importance of providing innovative services which offer maximum flexibility and choice and deliver consumer outcomes. We are committed to placing consumers at the core of our decision-making and to empowering our consumers to live the life they choose.

Annual Report Objectives

A Message from the Chair and CEO

Who are we?

Our People

Strategic Direction

Our Programs

Governance and Leadership

Financial Position and Performance

Statement of Comprehensive Income

Statement of Financial Position

Our Partners

Service Awards

Locations

01

03

04

07

11

20

27

28

29

30

31

32

Contents

A Message from the Chair and CEOThis past year has been a time of exciting and significant change for St Laurence Community Services that will pave the way for our organisation to grow stronger into the future as part of a merged entity.Business expansion: an opportunity to be stronger togetherIn the introduction to our 2015/16 annual report, it was stated that St Laurence Community Services (SLCS) would need to attain greater scale if it was to secure its future in the longer term.

St Laurence believed a successful merger would secure a strong future for a not-for-profit provider operating in the aged care, disability and employment sectors.

The report further indicated that a conversation had begun with Karingal Inc. to explore the benefits of merging as a new single legal entity, and at the time, the Board of SLCS was very optimistic in joining with Karingal.

On August 5, 2016, we announced that St Laurence Community Services would merge with Karingal, following a ‘Yes’ vote by members of both organisations. Since the announcement, both organisations have been working together on transitioning across to a single organisation – Karingal St Laurence (KSL).

The two organisations’ Board of Directors, Executive Team, and Management Teams have spent the year working towards transitioning the various parts of the businesses into a single entity, and integrating through a structured change and integration process. Karingal and St Laurence continued to operate as separate organisations during the past financial year until they became the new legal entity Karingal St Laurence on July 1, 2017, and recently rebranded to genU.

This merger is primarily about providing people with a disability, or those who are aged or disadvantaged, with a more comprehensive range of services both now, and in the decades to come.

The disability services and aged care sectors have significantly changed, and will continue to evolve well into the future. The same can be said for our Employment

Services Divisions in the employment services sector. This merger provides a secure foundation, allowing us to move forward with more certainty for our clients and families, job seekers, older clients and staff.

Karingal St Laurence also provides a stronger local voice, and a further dimension to Geelong’s reputation as a ‘centre of excellence’ for disability and aged care, alongside other key organisations such as NDIA, TAC, WorkSafe and Deakin University.

In March 2017, Mike McKinstry took on the role of CEO of St Laurence following the departure of Toby oConnor, as well as continuing in the role of CEO of Karingal and Karingal St Laurence. This additional role assisted in the ongoing integration process and Mike was able to work closely with the Boards of each entity.

St Laurence Community Services would like to recognise Toby’s significant contribution over the last eight years as CEO of SLCS, as well as thank him for the work that he and Mike did together with both Boards and Members to enable the merger to occur.

Board Directors from both organisations will fill the nine Board positions for Karingal St Laurence, with Rod Payne (Karingal’s former Chair and current Board Member) being appointed the initial Chair of the new entity.

Accomplishing such a successful integration within a short time needed the concerted effort of many people.

We would like to thank both Karingal and St Laurence management and staff for all of their hard work and expertise in assisting with the transition process.

ESH Group acquisitionLate in 2016, the acquisition of Employment Services Holdings (ESH) Group by Karingal was announced, following successful negotiations and the completion of an intense due diligence process. This important acquisition became part of Karingal St Laurence when the transition was completed on July 1, 2017.

The ESH Group is a leading provider of employment, training, recruitment and labour hire services, comprising of two separate businesses – Employment Services Group (ESG) and IPA Personnel. It has offices throughout the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, as well as in the Australian Capital Territory. This complements the services we currently deliver through St Laurence Employment and MatchWorks in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, and as such, transforms Karingal St Laurence into a truly national organisation going forward (KSL now has offices in every state in Australia, except Tasmania and Northern Territory).

p 01 - St Laurence Annual Report 16/17

This is a strong platform, upon which KSL can now look to grow into the future.

This purchase now ranks KSL’s combined MatchWorks and ESG Employment Services division as a substantial national provider of employment services across Australia. The acquisition of IPA Personnel also provides a recruitment and workforce solutions business to expand KSL’s services to employers.

The additions also give KSL the opportunity to continue delivering employment outcomes and supporting clients and job seekers in the employment sector, while importantly expanding our Disability Employment Services to locations across Australia. The increased geographical coverage and income diversification will allow KSL to continue to advocate for people with a disability, and those who are disadvantaged in the community.

Final St Laurence Community Services Annual ReportWhile this will be the final St Laurence Community Services Annual Report, we are tremendously excited for what the future holds for Karingal St Laurence – for our clients, for our members, and for our staff.

We also wish to thank all previous Directors, who served in a voluntary capacity, for their vision and unwavering commitment to the organisation.

We are extremely proud of St Laurence Community Services rich history, and we know its strong DNA will be carried on for generations to come as part of Karingal St Laurence

Toby oConnor hands over the mantle of St Laurence CEO to Mike McKinstry at his farewell morning tea.

Shirley Rooney Chair

Mike McKinstry Chief Executive Officer

St Laurence Annual Report 16/17 - p 02

Who Are We?St Laurence Community Services Inc. was created in 1996 and has a long and proud history as a not-for-profit-organisation operating extensively across regional Victoria.

For over twenty years, we have been leading the development of ground-breaking approaches which positively impact the lives of our clients and add value to the communities we serve.We provide a diverse range of supports and services in the areas of aged care, disability, social housing, retirement housing and employment and training.

Our innovative service offerings are tailored to provide real choice and flexibility in meeting our consumers’ individual goals whilst delivering maximum outcomes, quality of life and independence.

Our workforce is committed to building relationships which place the consumer at the centre of all decision making.

Our Purpose, Our Vision and Our Values articulate why we are here and how we operate. They underpin our daily operations and strategy.

OUR PURPOSEWe Listen : You Choose : We Respond

OUR VISIONWe innovate and build resilient, inclusive communities to help people achieve their full potential.

OUR VALUESIntegrity

We help people in need who seek our help. We are honest, trustworthy and transparent in our dealings with service users and stakeholders.

Equity & Access

We work to ensure each person receives the resources they need to maximise their potential and to actively participate in the life of their community.

Inclusiveness

We respect all people. We provide opportunities for meaningful participation to those who seek our help.

Empowerment

We ensure people have the necessary information to make informed choices and where an individual has difficulty in making decisions themselves we work closely with their family and carers to achieve the best outcome for them.

Dignity

We recognise the intrinsic uniqueness of each person and we value their human worth and treat them as equals.


Our PeopleDelivering the VisionWe value greatly the expertise, commitment and talents of our people who support and empower our consumers. The work they do allows our consumers to realise their goals and the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives.

Total Head Count

STAFFAge Demographic

Board Members

Male

Female

2 8

16-19: 10

21 72

20-29: 93

22 78

30-39: 100

58 98

FULL TIME: 156

113 378

PART TIME: 491

8 65

CASUAL: 73

179 541

TOTAL: 720

44 151

40-49: 195

7 3

TOTAL HEAD COUNT: 10

65 161

50-59: 226

26 70

60-69: 96

23% 2%

13%

15%

26%

31%

13%

69%

8%


VOLUNTEERTotal Head Count

Volunteers by Division

51

144

35

35

2

163

TOTAL: 214

Aged Care

Disability Services

Housing

Corporate Services

Overview of our volunteer program 2016-2017At St Laurence Community Services Inc. we are grateful for the generous support and commitment of our workforce of volunteers. Across the 2016/17 financial year, they collectively donated in excess of 17,000 hours of service. Our volunteers fill a wide range of positions across multiple service delivery areas, including aged care, disability services, housing and employment and training. Furthermore, our volunteers hold key roles to assist us to successfully run events, functions, projects and research. This is a marvellous effort.

We acknowledge the enormous contribution made by our volunteers whose support is invaluable in helping St Laurence to fulfil its mission to ‘build resilient, inclusive communities to help people achieve their full potential’.

Acknowledging our volunteersEnd of Year Party 2016The annual St Laurence Volunteers Christmas Function was held at the Lara Bowling Club in December. Eighty of St Laurence’s 200+ volunteers were in attendance on the day. Events like this are such a wonderful opportunity for St Laurence to ensure that our volunteers are recognised.

Traditionally, the St Laurence Executive Management Team demonstrates their gratitude for the work performed by St Laurence volunteers by serving them a three-course hot lunch. Our leaders, Toby oConnor and Mike McKinstry addressed the gathering and indicated the central role of volunteers for St Laurence and Karingal following the merger. Toby presented 30 certificates recognising the valuable place of individuals within the volunteer team to those in attendance, which included one volunteer who has been offering support for over 55 years!

Volunteer Group


5 YEARSElizabeth Bar Costa - EHCDianne Harvey CostaLance Knight FlindersBill Lewis St Laurence ParkMaureen Lewis St Laurence ParkJim Lindsay Costa – EntertainerKaren Sherwell Costa - FlindersUrszula Slemenda Costa - FlindersAntje Smith St Laurence HouseFrances Campbell DoCareMichelle Knox DoCareWilma O’Dwyer ParticipateGail Rose ParticipateSharon Welgus Participate

10 YEARSBarry Parsons Costa - FlindersMary Pugh St Laurence ParkAnnette Wendleman St Laurence ParkAudrey Rowe ParticipateMerle Shawcross DoCareDarryl Wilkinson DoCareHeidi Hawker DoCare

20 YEARSTrish Slaymaker CostaBarbara Graham Participate

LONGEST SERVING ACROSS KSL(pictured below)Lola Lewis CostaMargaret Reid DoCareBarbara Chappell Participate

National Volunteer Week (NVW) was celebrated from May 8 – May 14 2017. NVW is an annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of Australia’s nation of volunteers. This year, we invited volunteers from Karingal to come together with St Laurence volunteers for the first time, to network and become a united volunteer team. To mark the occasion, volunteers were invited to attend a volunteers’ event at Simonds Stadium where they were formally welcomed to Karingal St Laurence and thanked by their colleagues, managers and executive management.

Volunteers across both St Laurence and Karingal were thanked personally and in writing by the CEO Mike McKinstry and provided with a “National Volunteers Week” badge to wear for the month of May 2017.

In light of the new Karingal St Laurence Volunteers Program, volunteer service awards were presented at the Karingal St Laurence Volunteers event.

St Laurence and Karingal Volunteer Service Award Recipients:

National Volunteers Week May 2017

Merger MingleMore than 200 Karingal and St Laurence staff came together to learn more about each other at the KSL Merger Mingle, held Thursday December 1 at Eastern Hub.The mingle featured stalls with people offering information about the different services Karingal and St Laurence provide.

St Laurence and Karingal Volunteer Service Award Recipients:

58 years of service. St Laurence’s longest serving volunteer, Lola Lewis.


Strategic DirectionConsumer Relations1. Consumer Focus Consumers shape the suite of services and products we offer.

2. Innovation The services and products we offer are driven by research, tailored to meet the needs of individual consumers and deliver achievable outcomes.

3. Grow Services We have a reputation for offering quality services and products and this helps to grow business.

Workforce4. Consumer Focus We have a driven workforce that uses evidence to track consumer

progress towards their goals.

5. Innovation We have a team approach to decision-making in order to deliver efficient and effective service outcomes

6. Grow Services We have a flexible and responsive workforce that enables us to expand the suite of consumer-driven supports, services and products

Governance7. Managing Risk We have a comprehensive approach to managing risk.

8. Financial Security We have achieved the right balance between creating good value for consumers and managing our resource.

The work done by St Laurence is underpinned by eight strategic objectives.


1996 - 2017

Over Twenty Years of MemoriesOver the yearsA time to reflect on St Laurence’s journey, experiences and growth since its inception.St Laurence Community Services Inc. was established as a separate entity in 1996 after the Brotherhood of St Laurence divested its Geelong regional operations. St Laurence is a community-based independent Public Benevolent Institution founded to assist communities in Southern and Western Victoria.

Some of our services have been in continuous operation since 1958. Since that time, St Laurence has grown to become a major provider of human services, supporting many thousands of clients and their families each year.

In 2017, St Laurence merged with fellow Geelong community services provider Karingal to form Karingal St Laurence (KSL). Through this new combined organisation, the historical work of St Laurence will continue as KSL and be better placed to be recognised as being one of Australia’s premier people-centric human services organisations.


Over The Years


OurProgramsSt Laurence Employment Services MyWORKjobactiveSt Laurence MyWORK tendered under the Department of Employment’s open competitive tender process and was successful in being awarded jobactive contracts in the Employment regions of Barwon, Ballarat and South Coast of Victoria.

The primary objective for jobactive providers is ‘to help eligible job seekers find and keep a job and ensure employers are receiving candidates that meet their business needs.’ St Laurence MyWORK has worked hard to deliver outcomes and our results to 30 June 2017 are impressive: over 4,300 job placements have been recorded that have resulted in more than 1800 12-Week Outcomes and 878 26-Week Outcomes. More than 870 job seekers have commenced in Work for the Dole activities which provide valuable vocational skills that are the foundation for securing jobs.

As a result of this performance, St Laurence MyWORK is thrilled to announce the June 2017 jobactive star ratings confirmed that all the hard work has paid off, with strong 4-star performance in Barwon and South Coast of Victoria Employment regions for St Laurence MyWORK.

Barwon Region key achieverMyWORK Barwon Region was one of only two of the 202 Australia-wide contracts that achieved eight out of the nine Indigenous Outcome Targets for Performance Period 2 (January to July, 2016).

The Department of Employment announced the fantastic result for St Laurence at the jobactive CEO Forum.

Part of the team’s success involved working together with employers, employment development officers, Allied Health Professionals, placement consultants, Ready for Work facilitators and external stakeholders.

St Laurence’s Indigenous Consultant provided advice and direction for the team, which supported Indigenous job seekers and took time to understand the cultural challenges they faced.

MyWORK remains committed to ensuring all job seekers connect with secure, ongoing employment.

Disability Employment ServicesSt Laurence MyWORK has worked hard to deliver impressive results in our Disability Employment Services. At 30 June 2017, over 1000 participants have been placed into jobs, achieving in excess of 767 13-Week Outcomes and 564 26-Week Outcomes.

The Disability Management Service program caseload has continued to increase in size, with over 400 participants currently being serviced by St Laurence.

A high number of placements have been achieved and our DMS star ratings reflect this performance.Although June 2017 star ratings show an increase in performance, we will continue to focus on enhanced outcomes and quality performance.

St Laurence understands the importance of quality service, especially in this competitive market place. Our commitment to outstanding results and delivering the best outcomes possible will continue to see St Laurence grow and further cement our excellent reputation of being a provider of choice.


Harmony DayHarmony Day was celebrated at St Laurence’s Ballarat jobactive office in March, where employers and job seekers were greeted by the sounds of African drums and the digeridoo, followed by food tasting from around the world.

Local employers showed their support by giving a presentation of their organisation and what they look for when hiring new staff. Local job seekers mingled with the employers and many found new ideas for training and employment. Local cafes including Café Merkama, Curry Star and Noble Dragon, provided food for the event.

The St Laurence office was bright with the colour orange, as it signifies freedom of ideas, and encouragement of mutual respect. Harmony Day symbolises social communication and meaningful conversations and celebrates Australia as a vibrant and multicultural country – from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world.

The event recognised that cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths in Australia and is truly the heart of who we are.

Compliance and Re-CertificationsIn June 2017, external auditors Global Mark undertook an in-depth review of St Laurence’s MyWORK Quality Management Systems. The audit ran for one week and reviewed our level of compliance against the various quality standards that regulate our employment programmes:

• ISO9001:2008 Surveillance Audit for Employment Services (jobactive and DES) and Corporate Services

• National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) Surveillance Audit for DES and ADE

The results of the audit found no non-conformances across the two standards, and at the time of this report, St Laurence has been recommended for re-certification for both ISO 9001:2008 and the National Standards for Disability Services.

Case Study

Positive employment outcomes for KirkColac Indigenous client Kirk, who completed the GROW/G21 Pilot program early this year, was unfortunately unsuccessful in obtaining a position with Australian Lambing Company. But that didn’t stop GROW Consultant Leah and Employment Consultant Anna in assisting Kirk to gain an interview at Barwon Water, where he was successful in gaining an apprenticeship with them. Kirk has recently completed his training and is now working in the field. Kirk is going extremely well in the role and was asked to be the Indigenous Ambassador on behalf of Barwon Water, where he tossed the coin at the Geelong v Port Adelaide AFL game at Simonds Stadium, during Indigenous Round.


Advanced Career TrainingGrowthThis year has seen significant changes for ACT, with the wind down of classes at the end of 2017 and enrolments commencing initially into Karingal Training and then into the new Karingal St Laurence Registered Training Organisation (RTO). This is not only an exciting and challenging time for staff as they learn new systems and procedures, it also presents many opportunities for them to grow within the industry and to utilise all their skills and abilities. Within the broadened scope of registration, Karingal St Laurence is now able to offer courses that haven’t previously been available, creating opportunities for growth and providing greater exposure to the communities we serve.

ComplianceIt was a volatile year within the Vocational Education sector, with many RTOs either being de-registered and shut down, or having restrictions on their ability to operate due to non-compliance. In late 2016, ACT was again offered a Skills First Funding contract with no conditions attached, showing that ACT continues to be a highly regarded low-risk RTO.

ACT continues to adapt to the changes and challenges within the Vocational Education sector and maintains its commitment to meeting its registration and funding compliance requirements to the highest of standards.

The FutureACT has embraced the changes that have come about through the merge with Karingal, viewing the merger as an opportunity to learn and grow, sharing space with the Karingal Quality Assurance team and working cohesively throughout the reporting period to share knowledge and gain greater insight into the new structures and procedures associated with the change.

ResourcesACT has continued to develop resources available to both internal and external customers with great success. In particular, ACT’s training materials developed for use by students with an intellectual disability have been warmly received within the disability community. The resources are visually appealing and apply the use of best practice disability accessibility standards in relation to text, white space and colour. ACT has been able to successfully market these resources to both the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and Northern Support Services.

Case StudyAdvanced Career Training a success for ScottScott has recently completed his Certificate I in Transition Education at ACT with great success. Scott is now enrolled in Certificate I in Work Education and is enjoying it immensely. He’s always the first student in the building when he has class, and he’s on track to complete the certificate at the end of the year. He will then be able to transition into further study, supported by open employment.

Scott recently completed work placement at the Elite Training Centre gym in Newtown.

Here’s what they had to say about Scott:

Scott showed great enthusiasm for any task he was asked to complete and would ask to assist without hesitation. Over the course of the eight weeks, Scott demonstrated improved abilities to work independently and use his initiative to complete tasks without prompting.

Scott was an asset to the Elite Training Centre team during his placement and we wish him all the best in his future placements”.

Image

Case Study

Retirement dream a reality for Joseph and JosephineNew Residents Joseph and Josephine have lived locally in Lara for a number of years and would often walk through the park and picture themselves retiring by Hovels Creek.

This dream has now become a reality. Joseph and Josephine worked closely with St Laurence to re-design and renovate an ageing unit to provide the space that will allow them to live their retirement years just how they have dreamed. Josephine even has a spinning room built on to continue her craft whilst watching the birds in her new native garden.

Housing2016/17 has been an exciting and productive year for St Laurence Housing Services. During the year, we saw the completion of the build for the new library and gym at the St Laurence Park Retirement Village. The library has always played a big part in the lives of the park residents and they are thrilled with the new larger and inviting space. Since the opening of the new library, the residents have started a book club and are meeting monthly to review and discuss a book they have all just read. This is also creating new ways for new residents to get to know their neighbours in a social setting.

Coupled with the library is the brand new park gym, providing residents with a convenient and well-equipped space to exercise and maintain their active lifestyles.

In August 2016, St Laurence Housing Limited presented the MiCASA range of specialist disability housing options. MiCASA offers a range of innovative housing products that enable participants to choose the option that best suits their individual needs and desires. This is achieved through the provision of a number of base options from which to start building the perfect living arrangement.

In the social housing space, work has continued to plan and design solutions to the ageing dwellings on a number of the Geelong sites. 2017/18 will be an exciting year as we see a long and detailed planning process start to come to fruition.


Aged and Community CareSt Laurence values the journey with aged care consumers and this has continued as the Living Longer Living Better reforms have been further implemented in 2016/17.Together with the aged care and disability service sector reforms, St Laurence announced an intention to pursue merging with Karingal. The announcement of the merger provided an opportunity to review both the St Laurence and Karingal “way“ of delivering services and the consumer experience in light of international best practice. The continued changing landscape of aged care policies and funding arrangements requires ongoing flexibility to achieve the desired suite of services for people ageing in Australia. Aged care in Australia moved to a consumer-driven market in 2017 and St Laurence responded to this by implementing modifications to services to sustain options which meet consumer expectations.

Residential CareCosta House residential aged care successfully responded to changes in government policy, the funding environment and the increased consumer preference for respite beds. Respite continues to be a favourable option to support families who provide care in the community and for people considering trialling residential aged care before finalising a decision to take up residence permanently. In 2016/17, over 1,580 respite bed days were utilised compared to 1,377 days in 2015/16.

There remains a steady demand for permanent care in all areas of Costa House from the more independent units in lower care accommodation options to the spacious, well-appointed, secure dementia unit.

A highlight of Costa House is the active Leisure and Lifestyle team who manage a busy calendar of activities throughout the year such as music programs, show days, Grand Final day, and activities taken from the resident survey. With a generous donation from Tuckers Funeral Services, a flagpole was purchased and a Lone Pine was planted on ANZAC Day at the annual resident’s service. A donation of 7,000 poppies will help to complete the ANZAC memorial site dedicated in 2017.

Costa House encourages a culture of living the life you choose as independently as possible.

Case Study“Music is my second wife”Eric is 90 years old and has been playing the piano for 80 years. His grandfather taught him how to play the piano when he was just 10 years old.

At the age of 11, Eric’s future career as a pianist nearly came to an abrupt ending. He shattered his elbow in an accident and the injury was so bad that the doctor’s advice was to amputate, but Eric’s mother insisted they set it as best they could. As a result, he has limited movement in his left arm. Eric’s passion and love of the piano is so strong that this setback didn’t stop him learning and playing the piano.

Fast forward 15 years and he found himself playing as a professional pianist on a ship called the Arcadia. He also played what he called, “the summer season”, in Leicester.

Now, Eric plays for his friends at Costa House, filling the hub with his music and everyone loves listening to him play. When the sounds of the piano start to spread throughout the building, residents start to wander in to listen, staff and volunteers pause on their way through the hub, and family stop to listen. He truly has a gift.

There is so much joy in the room when Eric plays and he can feel that energy as his fingers move across the keys. The piano is so important to Eric; it gives him a purpose; it gives him pure happiness.


Allied HealthAfter 32 years in operation, The Eric Hart Centre continues to deliver physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, dietitian and occupational therapy services to the ageing members of the community, ensuring people can maintain their wellbeing and longevity in the community.

Respite CareCottage and Centre-based respite services are delivered from the scenic Lodge at Ocean Grove and the charming centrally located Newtown St Laurence House. Again this year, the program has supported over 150 carers who live with someone with dementia. The role of supporting carers is an essential element of the success of supporting older Australians to remain at home for longer. St Laurence acknowledges the Carers Recognition Act 2012 and is proud to continue to work closely with the carers of people experiencing dementia. The Carers Act formally recognises and values the role of carers and the importance of care relationships in the community.

Home Care PackagesSt Laurence continues to facilitate services across the Barwon South Western and Grampians regions, with over 75 brokered contracts supporting more than 310 consumer’s choices in care providers. As we move towards the merger with Karingal, St Laurence has taken the opportunity to redesign the service and ensure consumers are accessing expert advice to navigate the sector and to maximise the purchase of services to keep people in their home for longer.

The Home Care Packages team has worked to support a diverse range of consumer goals and aspirations in 2016/17. The expertise of the Case Managers, Service Coordinators and administration support has ensured that despite government policy changes and the increased pressure on staff and resources, we haven’t lost sight of the reason we exist.

Support and Care ServicesCommunity care for people ageing and living with a disability relies heavily on staff who go out into people’s homes and the community, providing 1:1 supports. These supports promote independence and living a normal life. The St Laurence Support and Care team continues to be a popular option with consumers within the Barwon South West and Grampians regions and is looking forward to expanding into new regions in 2017/18 as we merge with Karingal.

Outreach servicesIn 2016/17, the demand for support within the region escalated and the region’s annual targets were met five months into the financial year at the end of November. St Laurence met with DHHS and negotiated a repurposing of funds to support innovative projects to help vulnerable people sustain their housing options and reduce further risk of homelessness.

Social EngagementMyPATHSocial Engagement Services design and deliver innovative skill development opportunities that respond to the needs identified by people with a disability.

MyPATH leverages off an innovative and fun curriculum-based approach to lifelong learning, with nine Experience and Learning pathways that can also lead to accredited courses, volunteering, work experience, supported and open employment.

Featuring a centralised and streamlined referral and intake process, personal information intake forms and resources are used to help people navigate their way through the choices available to them with the introduction of outcome tracking software. This ensures MyPATH provides a more structured and transparent service delivery framework that delivers increased levels of engagement in choosing and planning programs and pathways.

Consumer and family feedback indicates that outcome tracking has further enhanced the transparency and accountability offered by MyPATH, enabling consumers and their supports to track progress against outcomes, receive constructive feedback and identify opportunities for further development or skill consolidation and maintenance.

VALiD ConferenceThe annual VALiD Having a Say conference was held in Geelong at the Deakin Waterfront campus, with St Laurence staff contributing in many ways.

The MyPATH Big Band provided entertainment to conference attendees in Costa Hall and the performance enabled the band to ‘hit the road’, fulfilling the goals of many who attended weekly practice sessions to refine their performing skills.

The highlight of the conference for many MyPATH participants was providing a presentation. The combined MyPATH Colac and Geelong Leadership Groups presented in line with the conference theme ‘Lead Your Life’ and the presenters did themselves proud and did an outstanding job.

MyPATH Awards celebrate successful yearThe annual MyPATH Awards night was held in December in both Geelong and Colac and was a time for staff, participants and families to come together to celebrate a year of hard work and fantastic outcomes.

The night was organised by the Geelong and Colac Leadership Groups, which are specific MyPATH programs.

These groups enable participants to develop transferable skills such as organisational skills, time management, public speaking, and of course, event planning.


Participants were presented with certificates for outstanding participation in MyPATH for the year, with each participant taking delight in being called up to receive their certificate.

Entertainment was provided by the St Laurence MyPATH “Big Bag Band”, a solo artist and DJ Fuzzy. The MyPATH dance group also demonstrated their skills and the work they have done over the year with a choreographed dance.

Ground Force DaySocial Engagement Services MyPATH continues to foster opportunities for collaboration across services and community partnerships. This included the partnership with Geelong Kardinia Church to undertake “Ground Force Day”, a large-scale revamp of Cox Rd MyPATH site.

The revamp on August 27 included the construction of a basketball key with ring and backboard, new carpark using 70 cubic meters of crushed rock, 200 cubic meters of mulch to garden beds and edging, over 120 plants/trees planted, painting of all outdoor furniture and pedestrian crossings along with car parks and every window in all buildings cleaned inside and out.

With over 150 enthusiastic volunteers from Kardinia Church and generous donations from the wider community, the Cox Rd site

has been transformed into a beautiful space where MyPATH consumers are able to enjoy the benefits of this upgrade every day. The basketball court is being utilised every day, rain, hail or shine.

Relaunch of MyPATH Art Unlimited a successThe relaunch of My-Path Art Unlimited saw a very successful exhibition “A New Direction”, held at the Gordon Gallery Geelong in August which featured numerous new original works by artists with a disability.

A key component of the Art Unlimited studio is to provide a fully inclusive experience for the artists. This includes not only producing the work but, exhibiting and sales to provide greater opportunities for artists to find success in mainstream galleries.

Art Unlimited is a creative visual arts studio based at St Laurence’s MyPATH campus in Cox Road. Artists enjoy access to a professional studio along with guidance and support from a dedicated team of practising artists. The studio aspires to further cement its reputation in both the disability community and in contemporary ‘Outsider Art’ practiced locally, nationally and internationally as a studio of best practice successfully operating under the NDIS framework.

Case Study

Natasha’s artwork wins a commendable award2017 has been a significant year for Natasha Janetzki. She transitioned from school to MyPATH’s Visual Arts Program Art Unlimited.

Natasha has great potential as an artist. At the studio, she has been assisted in developing new techniques, expanding her creative abilities and improving on her unique style.

Her approach to the execution of her artworks has transformed significantly; she now produces artworks exploring all different mediums and visual modalities.

This specialised visual arts studio has enabled Natasha to develop her communication skills and empowered her to create and maintain friendships. Natasha’s support network have added, “Tash is now a happier and more grounded person; she is in the right environment with the right support”.

One of her artworks “Vases” was on display at the Art Unlimited FUSION Exhibition 2017 and won one of the commendable awards.

Natasha was selected to take part in the “Who Are You” workshop at the Geelong Gallery. She drew a self-portrait that will be displayed among other participants in one of the designated venues throughout Geelong whilst the Archibald Prize 2017 is on show at the gallery in November 2017.

Participating in these events has given Natasha the opportunity to promote her independence and life skills and be a valued member of her community.


The Evening of the ArtsSt Laurence MyPATH and Colac Secondary College (CSC) joined forces in October to provide a “Combined Evening of the Arts-Theatre Restaurant” for all to enjoy. The evening was held at CSC Performing Arts Centre and proved to be an excellent venue for the event. The aim of the evening was to provide a fully inclusive social event, accessible to all and showcase the many and varied talents.

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed with complimentary champagne and an opportunity to admire the wonderful art work on display from MyPATH Art Unlimited artists and Colac Secondary College students.

The evening commenced with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem performed by CSC students and followed with a 2 course dinner and entertainment comprising of solo talents, various bands, dance groups, rappers and state school spectacular performances.

The event was initiated by Colac Secondary College, and their willingness and enthusiasm to work together with St Laurence MyPATH reinforces the positive relationship and partnership that can grow in the community.

The Colac and District Community FoodshareThe Colac and District Community Foodshare (CDCF) operates as a community partnership project between St Laurence, the Colac and District Community Foodshare Committee, Foodbank Victoria, Secondbite and multiple community services organisations in Colac and surrounding areas.CDCF coordinates the collection, storage and distribution of healthy groceries to people experiencing disadvantage in Colac and surrounding areas.

Since its opening in October last year, the CDCF has distributed well over 40,000kg of food, equating to approximately 80,000 meals. From July this year, the service has been jointly operated by community volunteers and MyPATH program participants. The new operating model has created a great opportunity for MyPATH participants to develop pre-employment skills (such as literacy and numeracy) and contribute to the wellbeing of their local community.

Brew Crew delights at Geelong WestMyPATH Geelong West campus now offers a barista program, much to the delight of all who attend this site on Thursdays. The program is modelled on the very successful MyPATH barista programs that have been in operation at both the Queen St, Colac and Cox Rd, Geelong campuses.

The barista ‘brew crew’ work hard to produce lovely fresh scones and quality coffee from a commercial style coffee machine. The crew take orders from participants, staff and visitors alike and deliver once orders are complete.

This program sees participants build great skills and knowledge in relation to producing quality products and providing warm hospitality.

Research and DevelopmentDuring 2016/17, the Research and Development Unit continued to work towards a co-design framework for the organisation by integrating and embedding consumer satisfaction and outcomes across all of St Laurence. This aim is in line with St Laurence being an active learning organisation with a view to creating innovative services with its consumers. Research and Development worked with MyPATH and MyCommunity to seek feedback from consumers about the services they receive. From this survey, 97% of consumers said they could make choices at MyPATH and 94% said they learn new skills while at MyPATH. A high response rate and high satisfaction level with the services delivered was captured – a great result.

Research and Development continues to be a partner in the Careers in Health and Community Services Program as part of early entry level workforce development program that introduces young people into careers within health and community sectors. The number of students continues to increase in this space, from 28 in 2011 to 277 in 2016. This program, under Skilling the Bay funding run by the Geelong Regional Local and Learning Network (GRLLEN), is placing Geelong at the forefront of addressing workforce shortages within this sector.

Funding was secured by Research and Development in Rounds 1 and 2 for Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) transition through the Department of Social Services. This funding was able to be used to engage a consultant to work on the business model for the ADEs at St Laurence as they transition to NDIS funding.


Corporate ServicesInformation, Communications and TechnologySt Laurence’s Information, Communication and Technology team continued to provide critical support to all service teams throughout the 2016/17 financial year. The team co-located with the Karingal Information Technology team following the announcement of the merger, and worked on a number of key projects including email migration, systems support and implementation, site support, account management and asset management.

The team continued to rollout the transition to the cloud (Office 365) with the aim of creating a more resilient and streamlined system for staff and service participants. St Laurence team members worked alongside their Karingal counterparts on a number of projects, and were one of the first teams to co-locate under the Karingal St Laurence banner.

With the increase of locations following the merger, the combined team will have a series of major projects to work on including supporting the Employment Services division in its push to gain more Disability Employment Services (DES) and jobactive contracts.

Human ResourcesThe Human Resources Team has been working in a changing landscape during the merger of St Laurence Community Services and Karingal Inc. The team has worked hard to offer support and guidance on positive cultural change across all divisional areas.

The merger has provided benefits and challenges for the Human Resources Team. The team has been strengthened by a combined focus on ensuring our organisation responds effectively to regulatory reforms, and laying down clear plans for our increasing workforce.

Risk ManagementSt Laurence continues to embed risk management practices and principles by using the Integrated Risk Management Framework to identify, manage and treat risk across the Association.A major focus for 2016/17 for the Risk Management Department has been working towards a KSL combined framework, incorporating the best practices of the Karingal and St Laurence frameworks for all areas of Quality, Compliance and Risk.

St Laurence has seen an arduous schedule of external accreditation and certification audits in 2016/17 including a major re-certification audit to the Human Services Standards (HSS), and annual surveillance audits of ISO9001:2008 and the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS). Continued accreditation was recommended for all audits with the third-party auditors consistently providing positive feedback to the practices of St Laurence programs.


Governance & Leadership


Directors of St Laurence

Qualifications • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, FRACO

• Practising Ophthalmologist

Background • Medical Director, St John of God Geelong 2004-2017

Dr Patrick LockieDeputy Chair

Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Qualifications • Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Bachelor of Law

• Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance

• Past graduate of the Leaders for Geelong Program

Background • University Solicitor of Deakin University

Ms Shirley RooneyChair

Ex-officio Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Member, Governance and Strategy Committee

Director of the Board since June 2013

Qualifications • Bachelor of Economics

• Grad Dip Welfare Admin

• Master of Arts

Background • Assistant Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

• President, National Council of Churches in Australia

• President of Council, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School

• Member, Multifaith Advisory Group, Office of Multiculturalism and Citizenship, Victoria

• Former Chair, Brotherhood of St Laurence

Bishop Philip HugginsDirector

Director of the Board since 2009

Qualifications • Fellow, Institute Public Accountants

Background • Previous Executive & Director in a variety of Organisations

• Deputy Chairman Samaritan House

• Ambassador Secondbite

• Advisory Committee Geelong College / Deakin University Centre for Learning & Innovation

• Judge Victorian Department of Justice community awards

Mr Andrew BalaamDirector



Chair - St Laurence Housing Ltd (February 2016)


Qualifications • Diploma of Business

• Fellow Certified Practising Accountants

Background • Retired after 33 years in local government at the executive management level

• Sirovilla Inc. Hon. Treasurer and member of Committee of Management. Member of Governance subcommittee.

• Chair, St Bernard’s Belmont Parish Council

Mr Dennis BarkerDirector


Chair - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee


Qualifications • Master of Business Administration, Governance & Ethics

• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

• Graduate Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Venture Capital, Haas School of Business, Berkley

• Diploma Impact Leadership • Graduate Diploma Community Health

• Registered Nurse • Registered Coach and Mentor

Background • Entrepreneur, Governance Specialist

• Founding Director, of Governance Evaluator Pty Ltd

• Director, Rural Work Force Agency (RWAV) (2013-2017)

Ms Fiona MercerDirector


Qualifications • Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors

• Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2010

• Level 1 Coach, Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership

Background • Leadership Development Coach

• Deputy Chairman, Southern Rural Water

• Chairman, Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management

• Deputy Chairman, Order of Australia Association

• Former Chairman, Victorian Coastal Council and former Board Member, Barwon Water and EPA Victoria

Ms Diane James AMDirector


Qualifications • Bachelor of Business

• Bachelor of Health Administration

• Master of Business Administration –University of Melbourne

Background • CEO, St John of God Hospital Geelong

Mr Stephen RobertsDirector





Mr MikeMcKinstryChief Executive Officer

Qualifications • Bachelor of Arts – Economics & Marketing

Background • 18 year Rover/Landrover (England). Whilst at Rover, Mike spent a substantial amount of time in Japan with Rover’s then partner Honda, and Germany with BMW who bought Rover in 1995.

• Since moving to Australia in 2000, Mike has held senior positions in:

- PBR brakes – based in both Melbourne and Michigan USA

- Alcoa Rolled Products - based in Point Henry, - Amcor packaging, - Hills Holdings (of the Hills hoist fame).

• Member – Committee for Geelong Strategy & Policy Committee

• Member – Geelong Business Club

• Member – Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)

Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director) since April (2017)Ex-officio Member, Finance, Audit and Risk CommitteeChief Executive Officer (Executive Director) St Laurence Housing LtdChief Executive Officer, Karingal Inc. (since July 2015)

Qualifications • Bachelor of Business

• Master of Business Administration

• Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance

• Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)

• Fellow Chartered Secretaries

• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

Background • Experienced Finance and Compliance Executive with diverse industry experience

Toby arrived at St Laurence in 2009, and introduced social inclusion to underpin a move to consumer governance, client-directed service paradigms and the next generation of services to people with disability. These have equipped the organisation to meet the challenges being presented by governments pursuing ‘new public sector management strategies’ such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Consumer Directed Care.

Mr Michael CarrollDirector

Mr TobyoConnorChief Exective Officer



This year we farewelled


2016-17 Board & Board Committee Attendance

ANDERSON RichardBALAAM AndrewBARKER DennisBETTS MichaelBLACKMORE DonCARROLL MichaelCLAIR DanielCOVILL FrankCROFT Krystyna

EDGAR AdrienneFAGG KeithFARIS RosemaryJAMES AM DianeKILINSKI MarkKING MichaelLOCKIE PatrickMCMANUS TonyMERCER Fiona

MOORE AndrewNELSON TrevorOSBORNE MarkROBERTS StephenROONEY ShirleySIMMONDS DanTRETHOWAN JasonUZELAC BernadetteWILLIAMS Geoff

Board Of DirectorsFinance, Audit & Risk Committee AGM

Andrew Balaam 9 of 9 6 of 6 .

Dennis Barker 7 of 9 6 of 6 '

Michael Carroll 7 of 9 4 of 6 .

Philip Huggins 5 of 9 * '

Diane James 8 of 9 * .

Patrick Lockie 8 of 9 2 of 2 .

Fi Mercer 5 of 9 * .

Mike McKinstry 2 of 2 2 of 2 '

Stephen Roberts 5 of 9 3 of 6 '

Shirley Rooney 9 of 9 4 of 4 .

Toby oConnor 7 of 7 4 of 5 .

* Indicates not a Member of Committee

Members of St Laurence


Executive Management Team

Qualifications • Bachelor of Nursing

• Certificate of Palliative Care

• Master of Health Management

Background • Leading Aged Services Australia, Director State Division

• LASA Rural Regional Taskforce (Chair)

• Director/Secretary Lara District Community Enterprise (Bendigo & Adelaide Bank)

Ms Ann Butcher

General Manager, Aged and Community Care Services, appointed April 2010

Qualifications • Graduate Certificate Management


• Graduate Australian Institute Company Directors

Background • G21 Affordable Housing Working Group

Mr Matthew Cheal

Manager Housing Services, appointed July 2008

Qualifications • Bachelor of Commerce


• Graduate Certificate Human Resource Management

• Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

Background • Australian Institute of Company Directors (Graduate)

Mr Garry Ellis

Chief Financial Officer, appointed April 2009

Qualifications • Advanced Diploma of Disability

• Diploma of Health Counselling & Medical Terminology

• Advanced Certificate in Residential and Community Services

• Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment

Ms Leanne Green

Executive Manager Social Engagement, appointed January 2016


This year we farewelled

Background • Experience in employment services leadership and management

Ms Tina Hewett

General Manager Employment and Training Division, appointed October 2013

Qualifications • Bachelor Social Science

• Masters of Criminology

• Diploma of Management

• Specialist Certificate in Social Inclusion

Outside St Laurence

• Board member - Committee for Geelong Leaders for Geelong Program

Ms Megan Peacock

Manager Research and Development, appointed June 2009

Ms Sharen Waugh

Manager Quality, Risk & Compliance, appointed November 2009

Qualifications • Graduate Diploma, Manufacturing Operations

• Graduate Certificate, Competitive Enterprise

• Bachelor of Applied Science

Qualifications • Bachelor of Arts

• Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

• Certified Practitioner – Australian Human Resources Institute

• Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment

Background • Australian Human Resources Institute (Member)

• Australian Institute of Company Directors (Member)

• Victorian Chamber of Commerce Geelong Regional Business Council (GRBC) (Member)

Mr Peter Bauerle

General Manager, Corporate Services, appointed March 2013


Financial Position & Performance

Finance ReportThe 2016-17 financial year result was a similar outcome to the previous year with a surplus that exceeded target.

Despite an ever changing operating environment that has become more competitive in recent years with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Consumer Directed Care funding system in Aged Care, there was positive performance across most areas of the organisation.

These changes have had major impacts on operating models, with St Laurence recognising the need to evolve to ensure the ability to remain competitive and to continue to provide quality services in a system that increasingly offers wider choice to clients. The adjusting of business models, including a strong emphasis on staffing levels and cost has become a focus of the senior operational staff.

The merger between St Laurence and Karingal Inc. will ensure the financial viability of current service delivery

areas. There is a strong expectation that the combined resources of these organisations will provide a solid base for continuing to evolve in the new funding environment. Competition is expected to increase in all of the areas in which we currently operate. Improving access and quality of service provision will be critical in retaining and increasing client numbers, with the work already done in assessment of staffing levels and cost containment assisting in maintaining financial viability.

The St Laurence Board of Directors, Management and employees appreciate the ongoing support of the funders who enable the provision of services required by our clients, particularly the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

As always, we also thank our volunteers who enable St Laurence to deliver the wide range of services currently available. We also thank the donors and sponsors who contribute to St Laurence and look forward to maintaining these relationships into the future.

St Laurence Annual Report 15/16 p 27

Statement of Comprehensive Income2017 2016

$ $SERVICE INCOMEFees for accommodation and service 5,534,545 5,299,351Commonwealth fees 31,077,125 29,282,260State fees 6,252,501 7,132,798TOTAL SERVICE INCOME 42,864,171 41,714,409

OTHER INCOMECapital Grants - 50,000Profit / (Loss) on disposal of assets 4,316 (34)Donations 122,036 64,343Retail sales 930,140 870,718Interest 368,950 369,678Other Income 489,928 611,098TOTAL OTHER INCOME 1,915,370 1,965,803TOTAL INCOME 44,779,541 43,680,212

EXPENDITUREEmployee benefits expense (30,124,800) (30,226,752)Program expense (4,274,045) (3,863,345)Information technology expense (3,506,236) (2,614,624)Occupancy expense (2,301,911) (2,207,661)Transportation expense (704,316) (801,602)

Repairs and maintenance expense (671,198) (661,956)

Advertising and promotion expense (79,053) (161,466)Finance expense (50,582) (26,148)Other expenses (1,358,722) (1,317,911)TOTAL EXPENDITURE (43,068,863) (41,881,465)

Surplus for the year before depreciation and amortisation expense 1,710,678 1,798,747

Depreciation and amortisation expense (1,722,345) (1,713,841)SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR (11,667) 84,906

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOMEChanges in asset revaluation surplus 10,919,926 -

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 10,919,926 -

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE RESULT FOR THE YEAR 10,908,259 84,906


2017 2016$ $

ASSETSCURRENT ASSETSCash and cash equivalents 13,012,036 10,150,658Trade and other receivables 2,465,455 1,623,916Financial assets 13,636,498 12,522,810Other assets 180,319 271,765TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 29,294,308 24,569,149

NON CURRENT ASSETSProperty, plant and equipment 52,966,767 43,263,380Intangible assets 3,847,057 3,847,057TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS 56,813,824 47,110,437TOTAL ASSETS 86,108,132 71,679,586

LIABILITIESCURRENT LIABILITIESTrade and other payables 5,978,470 4,700,415Financial liabilities 16,826,940 14,512,002Employee benefits 4,029,609 3,976,122Borrowings - 1,000TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 26,835,019 23,189,539

NON CURRENT LIABILITIESEmployee benefits 350,862 476,055

TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 350,862 476,055TOTAL LIABILITIES 27,185,881 23,665,594NET ASSETS 58,922,251 48,013,992

EQUITYReserves 31,608,795 20,688,869Retained earnings 27,313,456 27,325,123TOTAL EQUITY 58,922,251 48,013,992

Statement of Financial Position


Corporate Partnerships, Sponsors and Donors

Community Partners

Our Partners

J&J Stone

B&D Harris

J McIlvena

Estate of M Fear

Estate of HG Fagg

C&J Barry

L Foster

Craft Group Costa House

B&J Wood


Service Awards5 YEARSMerryn Brown

Therse D’Helin

Rowena Escobedo

Claire Farrell

Bronwyn Ingram

Andrew Knight

MA. Cristina Lladoc

Nicole Mallon

Peggy Mihelcic

Jake Nicholson

Simon Novak

Carly O’Dowd

Brian Quigley

Carolyn Rowlands

Kathryn Smith

Gayle Stott

Peter Wardrope

10 YEARSSarah Baud

Julie Bond

Lynette Hovey

Alyson Pardoe

Katrina Porter

Jane Shanahan

15 YEARSMelanie Fisk

John Hannah

20 YEARSJolanta Czajkowski

30 YEARSElizabeth Gayner

35 YEARSJeanette Angus

Lynette Unthank


Head Office

90 Station Lake Rd,Lara 3212P.O. Box 110 Lara 3212Ph: (03) 5282 1405Fx: (03) 5282 2606


P: (03) 5282 1405F: (03) 5282 260690 Station Lake RdPO Box 110 LARA VIC 3212

www.stlaurence.org.auSt Laurence Community Services Inc. Reg No. A0033023X

achieving full potential - genu · st laurence volunteers by serving them a three-course hot lunch....

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