Annual Review 2016VisAbility

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Contents

Our Vision

Our Purpose...................................................................5

Our Values......................................................................5

Opportunity.....................................................................6

Visible.............................................................................6

Message from the Chair.................................................7

Message from the CEO................................................10

Our Organisation

Strategic Directions......................................................12

The Board Members.....................................................14

Board Audit and Risk Committee.................................15

Consumer Advisory Committee....................................16

Consumer Advisory Committee members:...............17

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Life Members............................................................18

Our Story

Who We Are.................................................................19

Our Services.................................................................22

Our Impact in Numbers................................................24

Eight Ways We Have made a difference......................28

Our Year in Review......................................................31

Stories of Independence............................................46

Liam Fights Personal Battle on the Home Front.......46

Justin and Sue; the Powerful Duo Seeking Life’s Full

Potential....................................................................49

Little Mariah Living Life to the Fullest........................53

NDIS Support for Noah.............................................56

Guide Dogs WA..........................................................59

Therapy Dog Harry Steals Hearts.............................593

Jayne Rediscovers Life with Guide Dog Cali............60

Guide Dog Sponsorships..........................................62

Our Volunteers..........................................................64

Little Andy to Begin His Training...............................64

Bequests and Trusts.................................................65

Our Supporters.........................................................68

Guide Dogs Australia................................................70

What We Have Achieved in 2015/2016....................71

Government & Non-Government Funding & Grants......................................................................................79

Treasurer’s Report.....................................................81

Contact Details...........................................................91

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"You must do the things which you think you cannot do.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Our Purpose

We have a vision for independence.

Our Values

Empathy

We walk this journey with you. We are brave, and

vulnerable. We want to step inside your shoes. To see

things from your perspective. To see things differently.

Belonging

We welcome everyone. We see a world where everyone

is equal, everyone is included.

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Greatness

We are giants in our domain; the best at what we do.

We lead, we achieve, we break new ground. We have a

depth of knowledge that is unparalleled.

Opportunity

We believe in abundance and diversity. In a world where

everyone can achieve their dreams and goals. In a world

that continues to evolve, forever discovering new ways

for people to grow.

Visible

We communicate transparently. We trust, and can be

trusted. We connect and participate. We are open, and

true. We have a voice.

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Message from the Chair

This year saw VisAbility thrive in a time of great change.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

enables people with disability, their families and carers

to design, plan and implement their own supports and

services. It includes relationship-based support, local

decision-making and early engagement in good planning

processes. It is a profound shift from previous federal

government funding models.

We have been preparing ourselves for this. We have

reshaped our traditional service delivery approach, and

we have embraced business practices to grow and

diversify our services. And now, having prepared

ourselves, we are delivering.

This year we have seen significant growth in plans

across the Perth Hills and Cockburn-Kwinana / Lower

South West trial sites, with a healthy and growing

number of people participating in the schemes. We have

received frequent positive feedback that we are a

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reliable and reputable provider and a great organisation

to do business with.

VisAbility has provided consumers with a streamlined,

cohesive, comprehensive and individualised service

experience that continues to improve as we seek and

respond to feedback. We have created a client

experience that is unparalleled because it is led by our

system of beliefs. Steeped in empathy, cherishing

connection, driven by opportunity and committed to

greatness.

Through our long standing alliance with Guide Dogs

Australia, we continue to play a vital role in providing

quality, nationwide Guide Dog Services. This strong

collaboration with other Guide Dog schools across

Australia has seen Guide Dogs voted as the ‘Most

Trusted Brand’ for Charities for the third consecutive

year. Guide Dogs WA is a meaningful and well-loved

brand.

The contributions from the West Australian community

have been strong and, as always, are highly valued. The

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donations, volunteering and gifts in wills combined with

the generous contributions from our supporters and

funders have helped us deliver life-changing services.

Helped us transform lives. Helped us deliver on our

vision for independence.

We have been laying the foundations for this moment in

time. This moment where we are stepping up to the

challenges before us. This moment where our vision is

making an impact. Where we are learning new things

about the people we exist for. Where we are growing,

innovating and connecting more deeply than ever

before.

This is the moment we have been waiting for. We are

ready.

Debbie Schaffer OAM

Chair

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Message from the CEO

This year we have been brave.

As an organisation, we have chosen to champion what

we believe in. Our values. Our purpose. Why we exist.

We have a vision for independence. We are here to

empower. To enable. To engage.

We said we would be a prepared and dynamic

organisation in the world of choice and control. And so

we are.

Underpinned by the standards of the Australian

Business Excellence Framework, we are confidently

discovering new ways to be relevant. New ways to be

sustainable. New ways to build strong partnerships.

Sharing our stories as we go. Sharing our vision for

independence.

We are realising what it means to our clients to now

have the right to make their own everyday choices. To

choose to be exactly who they want to be. To firstly

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imagine and dream, and then live out their hopes and

goals. We are understanding what this new world

means, not just for service providers, but for people.

We are helping to shape a world where people with

disability have the same right to participate, same range

of options, same level of freedom and same control over

their day to day life and decisions as any other person.

It’s an exciting world to be part of. To be leading.

Our skilled and multi-disciplinary team of allied health

professionals is also empowered by choice. A choice to

be individuals, and to be leaders. A choice to belong to

something that deeply values opportunity and greatness,

but not without empathy and connection. We are seeing

this bring out the best in our people as they also choose

to be brave and step up in a new and changing world.

We see this new world as liberating. It is not a known

world. Nor is it easy. But it is an empowering world and

the transformations we are starting to see in our

leadership team, employees, clients and our

communities are inspiring.

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We welcome you to join us on our journey.

Dr Clare Allen

Chief Executive Officer

Strategic Directions

VisAbility’s strategic plan, Strategic Directions 2014 –

2017, guides our operations as we provide professional,

quality, allied health therapy and support services.

Endorsed by the Board of Directors, Strategic Directions

2014 – 2017 focuses on seven strategic priority themes

that will impact on our programs and services. With a

strong vision for the future, VisAbility is ready for the

next 100 years of transforming the lives of people living

with disabilities.

Partnerships

Strengthen and build strategic partnerships that promote

better outcomes for our consumers.

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Innovation

Work in the spirit of creativity, innovation and

entrepreneurialism.

Consumer Centred Practices

Provide consumers with choice and control through

consumer centred practice.

Technology

Invest in appropriate technologies that will support the

organisation’s transformation.

Unique Defining Brand

Develop a unique and defining brand that embraces our

past, present and plans for a sustainable future.

Regulatory Standards

Provide assurance and confidence to our stakeholders

of our service excellence.

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Economic Viability

Support and maintain economic viability through

securing our current revenue base and creating new

revenue streams for sustainable outcomes.

The Board Members

Debbie Schaffer, OAM Chair

David Craig

David Bevan

Ian Blackburn - Term Expired 22/10/15

Jenny Dawson

Lorraine Driscoll

Kym Georgiou - Joined 22/10/15

David Ligovich

Prof. Iain Murray AM

Helen Smith OAM

Lana Thompson

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Board Audit and Risk Committee

VisAbility takes a proactive approach to identify and

mitigate risk to ensure the consistency of service quality

to consumers.

VisAbility’s Management and Governance teams work

collaboratively to develop Treatment Plans for the top 10

risks on the risk register. Treatment Plans are

periodically reviewed and revised as needed.

Together with the Treatment Plans, each top 10 risk is

audited every year and the outcome reported to the

Board Audit and Risk Committee. Risk controls are

modified if necessary in order to strengthen risk

mitigation/prevention.

The Board Audit and Risk Committee members are

elected by the Board of Directors to monitor and advise

on compliance with standards, including the Australian

Business Excellence Framework.

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Board, Audit and Risk Committee members:

• David Ligovich (Chair)

• David Craig

• Debbie Schaffer OAM

• Hayden White

• David Bevan

Consumer Advisory Committee

The Consumer Advisory Committee is an important part

of VisAbility’s commitment to providing people-centred

services. The Consumer Advisory Committee is a group

of non-paid consumers who provide feedback, comment

and advice on service issues referred by VisAbility

Management, bring to the attention of the management

any issues which affect the quality of life of people living

with disability, recommend to the management any

changes to consumer complaint procedures that may

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improve their effectiveness and act as a resource in

advising on the introduction of new services.

The Committee consists of a Chair and up to 12 other

members, who are current and valid members and non-

paid employees of VisAbility. Meetings are held at least

four times a year via teleconference. Nominations for

membership are called for in November each year via

the Visionary and eViews Newsletters.

This year, the Consumer Advisory Committee provided

consultation and perspective on many organisational

matters, most notably VisAbility’s consumer complaints

procedures, VisAbility’s ongoing transition into providing

services under the NDIS, as well as client feedback on

service improvements and fees, policies and

procedures.

Consumer Advisory Committee members:

• Jenny Dawson (Chair)

• Fiona Payne

• Marie Bedford

• David Forsyth

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• Barbara Brucciani

• Evette Wilson

• Debra Barnes (VisAbility Representative)

Life Members

• Ron Anderson OAM

• Cam Ansell

• Michael Barton

• Dr Gordon Bougher (1983-2016)

• Connie Craig OAM

• Professor Geoff Gallop AC

• Clifford Gooch

• Dixie Gunning OAM

• Tony Hagan

• Peter Hickson

• Lester James

• Dorothy Judd

• Kim Laurence

• Tina Mackay

• Ross McLean OAM

• Steve Moore

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• Elizabeth Needham

• Jean Perron

• Dr L.S. (Stan) Perron AM

• Peter Potter MBE

• Ruth Reid AM Cit. WA

• John Rodgers

• Roma Shilling

• John Thompson

Who We Are

We are a team of passionate and driven professionals

dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to live

the life they choose.

Our people are encouraged to pursue their areas of

passion and are given a voice in their areas of expertise,

both within our organisation and the broader community.

We encourage learning, collaboration and knowledge

sharing – and support a culture where meaningful

connections are made between different roles and

responsibilities. Connection, empathy and opportunity

being key drivers of innovation and excellence. 20

Our organisational structure is divided across four broad

areas: Governance, Corporate Services, Operations and

Engagement and Development.

The Operations division is the largest and engages 70%

of our staff who provide services in the areas of

Gateway Services, Independent Living, Accessible

Information, Children and Youth and Guide Dogs.

Governance

• Board of Directors

• Chief Executive Officer

• Executive Management

• Board Audit and Risk Committee

Corporate Services

• Financial Services

• Quality, Audit and Compliance

• Business Excellence

• Property Management

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• Human Resources

• Information Technology

Operations

• Dr Geoff Gallop Resource centre

• Grants

• Government Relations

• Gateway Services

• Therapy & Professional Services

• Guide Dog Services

Engagement & Development

• Marketing

• Fundraising

• Philanthropy

• Telemarketing

• Guide Dog Products

• Conference Centre and Café

• Social Enterprise

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Our Services

Independent Living Services

• Low Vision Assessment

• Orthoptists

• Acquired Brain Injury

• Occupational Therapy

• Social Work

• Orientation and Mobility

• Specialised Aids and Equipment

• Employment Support

• Leisure, Sports and Recreation

Children and Youth Services

• Early and School-Age Intervention

• Speech Pathology

• Physiotherapy

• Psychology

• Orientation and Mobility

• Specialised Aids and Equipment

• Holiday Programs

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Accessible Information Services

• Library Services

• Audio Production

• Braille Production

• Training and Education

Guide Dog Services

• Guide Dogs

• Companion Dogs

• Therapy Dogs

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Our Impact in Numbers

Therapy for Adults

33,936

hours of therapy services supported West Australians in

remaining active and independent

1,197

West Australians over 65 years of age

accessed services

1,483

low vision clinics helped people to understand their

vision better, and learn tools and techniques that will

maximise their remaining vision

1,074

hours of social work supported West Australians coping

with changes or loss in vision

1,409 25

hours of assessment and training held to prescribe and

assist people in using assistive technology

Therapy for Children

16,720

hours of early and school-aged therapy services helped

children learn vital independence and life skills

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children attended holiday programs

to develop social and life skills

Leisure, Sport and Recreation

2,208

activities delivered in the Community Activity Centre

including mosaics and language classes

82,579

books borrowed by library users

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62,030

accessible format books posted to people living with

vision impairment or print disability via VisAbility’s postal

lending service

1,946

International loans

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people enrolled in VisAbility’s CISCO Academy for the

Vision Impaired training Courses

Guide Dogs WA

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working Guide Dogs matched

6

Companion and Therapy Dogs matched

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27

new puppies entered the

Guide Dog program

Employment

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people secured employment

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Eight Ways We Have made a difference

We help people discover new things.

Being vision impaired is not the end of the world. Since

attending VisAbility a new world has opened for us.

EVERYONE is so kind and helpful all the way along the

line. I thought I had given up knitting but VisAbility has

brought it out again… It’s a miracle. – From a client.

We allow people to travel in their armchairs.

Thank you so much for the box of audio books – it felt

like Christmas morning when Cheryl and I opened the

parcel. We will definitely be making good use of your

kind donation which is very much appreciated.

– From a community partner.

We build confidence, and grit.

Since becoming more low vision and making contact

with VisAbility I have nothing but praise for them.

Everyone I have met has been so helpful in rebuilding

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my self-confidence so that I now feel that I can

contribute to life again. – From a client.

We enable independence.

I really enjoy working in my industry, and I love

interacting with people. I definitely feel more

independent now that I’ve secured employment through

the On 2 Employment Program. – From a client.

We change perspectives.

Meeting colleagues, clients and volunteers who are

living with disabilities made me realise that every single

one of us, no matter what our abilities or disabilities, can

make a meaningful contribution to our community.’

– From an employee.

We give people tools to build relationships.

Annabelle used to hang around with adults more than

with her peers. With improvements in her speech and

language she is now more confident communicating with

people her own age. – From a client’s mother.

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We create space for compassion, and empathy.

I remember meeting a lady at a picnic when my son was

about 18 months old. She could see I was wasn’t able to

join the group as my son was distressed by all the

unfamiliar voices. She took him for a walk so I could

meet the other parents, and told me her daughter used

to be the same. She assured me things would get better,

and she was right. I still remember her kindness and

how much those words of encouragement meant to me.

– From a client’s mother.

We inspire. And are inspired.

What inspires me most in life are the acts of people

rather than the people themselves. Acts of bravery,

courage and resilience are the foundations of all the

stories I loved as a child and I find great inspiration in

those real life stories that display these qualities. – From

a client/volunteer.

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Our Year in Review

New Ways of Working

Our staff are our greatest asset and we have been

working tirelessly to build the foundations for our future

with new ways of working. We are streamlining our

management and building our frontline. Empowering our

staff with decision-making power for the future, and

improving the way we communicate.

The introduction of Yammer across the organisation has

provided a virtual team environment for staff who do not

have the time or ability to get face to face very often.It

has been an overwhelming success as a further way of

engaging with our staff.

This year we have seen our allied health workforce

increase by over 25%. We have undertaken a

comprehensive review of our service delivery model and

have introduced innovative new approaches. We have

invested in a new fleet strategy and provided our staff

with new mobile devices so that they can work more

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efficiently, no longer needing to come to the office as

frequently, meaning we can provide more services in a

more timely manner.

Reform Readiness

We continue to learn, engage and adapt as we

implement the NDIS and Aged Care Reforms across the

organisation. We are working on building a culture of

engagement and collaboration working in partnership

with our external and internal stakeholders, most

importantly clients and staff. We continue to invest in our

Gateway team with the establishment of a dedicated

NDIS team working to support clients and liaising

directly with the National Disability Insurance Agency

(NDIA) and WA NDIS staff to improve planning

outcomes for our clients. Completion and re-evaluation

of our NDIS readiness has demonstrated that we are

implementing advanced practices in managing our

business. Investment in a new Client Management

System, IT infrastructure and our financial systems has

built strong foundations for our continued growth as we

navigate ongoing reform challenges.

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VisAbility launches in Tasmania

Over the last 12 months VisAbility has been working

closely with Guide Dogs Tasmania in supporting the

delivery of new services in Tasmania. As a result we

were excited to formally announce our partnership

following a Special General Meeting of Guide Dogs

Tasmania on Friday 24 June 2016 where members

voted to merge with VisAbility Ltd. VisAbility will work

with the Tasmanian team to introduce new and expand

existing services such as Occupational Therapy and

Orientation and Mobility for adults and children,

Assistive Technology and Counselling services. We will

continue to retain strong local fundraising and Guide

Dog Services in each state, and look forward to the

synergies of a close collaboration. This is an exciting

time for VisAbility. Mergers such as these enable us to

continue to deliver on our vision for independence.

On 2 Employment

The On 2 Employment program, funded exclusively

through continuing financial and strategic support from

the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of WA, has

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continued to deliver sustainable employment outcomes

for people who are blind or vision impaired in WA.

During the 2015/16 financial year, the efforts of the On 2

Employment program continued to add to the total of 44

people who have achieved sustainable employment

since the program began in 2013.

On 12 February 2016, VisAbility hosted a special event

that provided an insight into the uniqueness of the

program and highlighted how progressive venture

philanthropy by the Scottish Masonic Charitable

Foundation continues to be a catalyst for providing

meaningful employment opportunities for people who

are blind or vision impaired. Representatives of all

stakeholder groups, including the Department of Social

Services and the Disability Services Commission, joined

the international guest of honour, the Grand Master

Mason Charles Iain Robert Wolrige Gordon of

Esslemont, and Mrs Angela Wolrige Gordon, at the

event.

The Foundation is continuing its financial support into

the immediate future, with an expectation that the lives

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of many more West Australians who are blind or vision

impaired will be positively impacted from meaningful

employment.

Quality Assurance

We were pleased to have undergone our routine,

triennium service quality reviews with our major funders

during this year. All service standards were met and

many areas exceeded requirements. Reviewers

commented on the knowledge of our staff, commitment

to our clients, overall positive satisfaction rates and

heart-warming comments from our clients in regard to

the quality of service they received. Reviews were

conducted by the WA Disability Services Commission

(DSC), WA Department of Health, Home and

Community Care Services (HACC) and the Department

of Social Services (DSS).

Client Satisfaction

VisAbility clients have provided positive feedback,

returning an overall 94% satisfaction rating in the

2015/16 Consumer Satisfaction Survey. 90% of clients

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rated VisAbility’s workforce as professional,

knowledgeable and helpful. Regarding the convenience,

location and accessibility of VisAbility, 85% of

respondents agreed that VisAbility is moderately to very

to extremely convenient, compared to 76% in 2014/15.

The results are a positive reflection of changes in

VisAbility’s service delivery model over the past two

years.

Improvement is still needed towards increasing

accessibility of services, particularly for regional areas. It

is pleasing however to see the increase in the

percentage of clients who believe that VisAbility

provided a better service than its competitors.

Family Picnic

Families enjoyed the opportunity to come together at

VisAbility’s Children and Youth Services Annual Family

Picnic on Saturday 24 October. More than 40 people

including parents, children and team members gathered

at the Perron Centre’s nature play space to breathe the

fresh air and to get to know one another better.

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Community Inclusion and Participation Grants

VisAbility, in partnership with the Disability Services

Commission, has administered the second round of the

WA State Government’s Community Inclusion and

Participation Grants and will begin administering the

third round in October 2016. The grants support projects

that create more inclusive, welcoming communities for

people with disability, their families and carers.

Workplace Gender Equality Act

VisAbility is a diverse organisation with a range of

careers and occupations, ranging from therapists and

professional staff to skilled support staff. Our

organisation provides a supportive team environment

and family-friendly working conditions for all staff.

Last year we opted to register and report to the

Workplace Gender Equality Act, proving to have a

successful track record of gender equality employment,

and equal opportunity in the workplace. The Workplace

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Gender Equality Agency is an Australian Government

statutory agency created by the Workplace Gender

Equality Act 2012. The Government body is responsible

for promoting and improving gender equality in

Australian workplaces.

SALSA Camp

In April 2016, 19 young people aged between 10 and 17

headed to Nanga Bush Camp in Dwellingup for the 11th

annual Social and Life Skills Activities (SALSA) camp.

The group enjoyed a range of new challenges, including

a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, some even

including fun role-playing scenarios, encouraging the

use of creativity and imagination to solve day to day

problems.

“Emilie came back a changed child! With a new-found

confidence and many new friends she loves chatting to

on email. We were so surprised she seemed to have

grown up heaps overnight.” Emilie’s Grandmother.

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International Albinism Awareness Day

People with Albinism are often at risk of social isolation

due to the lack of understanding of the condition. At

VisAbility we recognise and value the contribution

people with Albinism have made to our community

through our annual Albinism Awareness Day event,

where we connect with people across the globe to

celebrate the uniqueness of Albinism and raise

awareness of the condition.

International White Cane Day

“Could you get to work with your eyes closed?”

Accompanied by a smile and a white promotional candy

cane, Perth commuters were asked this question by

VisAbility staff as they made their way to work on the

morning of International White Cane Day. The candy

canes – shaped like white canes, which are used by

people who are blind or vision impaired – were part of

the celebrations for International White Cane Day, a day

of celebration that promotes the white cane as a positive

means of independence and mobility for people who are

blind or have low vision.

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DADAA Access all Arts

We are pleased to announce DADAA will be bringing

you greater access to selected live arts and cultural

activities in Perth during 2016. DADAA is a not-for-profit

community arts and cultural development organisation

who focus on providing inclusive access to arts and

culture for people with disability.

We are thrilled to partner with DADAA in providing

VisAbility’s audio description equipment so people with

vision impairment can gain access to these popular and

diverse events.

Junior Fun Club Exclusive Backstage Experience

Children from our Junior Fun Club recently experienced

the joys of a puppet show, The Little Prince, at Spare

Parts Puppet Theatre. This show was extra special as

the children were allowed onto the stage beforehand to

understand the layout and how the props would be used

throughout the show. This exclusive backstage

experience gave the children the context for the story

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they would soon watch, meaning they enjoyed an even

richer experience with their peers.

Me Myself Eye

This year VisAbility developed and launched a new

website designed to help people empathise with what

life is like for children living with vision impairment and

blindness.

It encourages people to step into the shoes of these

children and their families and allows them to

understand on a deeper, more emotional level, what it

actually means to live with childhood vision impairment.

The website involves a wide range of games, books,

videos and activities for students, teachers and parents.

It uses storytelling to connect people with the

experiences of these children, and it does so to promote

their inclusion, independence and participation in

everyday life.

The Me Myself Eye project was made possible through

the Australian Government - Literacy, Numeracy and

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Special Learning Needs Non-Government Centre

Support (NGCS).

Visit Me Myself Eye website: memyselfeye.com.au

ROAM – Exploring New Frontiers

We are changing the way we deliver services to make it

easier for people to receive them. In late 2014, VisAbility

participated in a pilot project, Remote Orientation and

Mobility (ROAM). The project’s focus was to determine

whether video conferencing is a viable method of

providing Orientation & Mobility training. Following the

encouraging outcomes of the initial pilot, VisAbility was

successful in securing further funding to extend the trial

period until August 2017. This funding was made

possible through the support of the Disability Services

Commission.

Youth Advisory Council

Throughout 2015, the Sensory VisAbility Youth Advisory

Committee (SVYAC) has been working on a project

researching the impact of social media on the health and

wellbeing of young people with sensory impairment. This 43

is the first time research of this kind has been done in

Western Australia.

SVYAC members sent a survey to all sensory impaired

high school students across Western Australia. The

results were presented to the Commissioner for Children

and Young People, Mr Colin Pettit, at an event in

November 2015.

VisAbility Library

Our Library continues to revolutionise the world of

accessible audio digital media, giving people with vision

impairment or print disability a new ‘world of reading’.

This year, we have introduced the latest accessible

format, ePub3. This format provides many features that

you mostly find on a webpage (listening to audio,

watching video, animation) and is opening the door for

people to experience rich multimedia content in a more

interactive and accessible manner. We have embraced

ePub3 to move to an era of “Inclusive Publication” where

users can access material regardless of their degree of

disability.

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The VisAbility Library is one of the largest digital libraries

in the southern hemisphere. You can find a variety of

fiction, non-fiction and other resources in a range of

formats including DAISY, ePUB3 and Braille. VisAbility

Library and the State Library of WA have also

collaborated to promote our Library Services to the

community at Melville Library.

Careers Night

In August 2015 a Careers Night for teenagers with vision

impairment was held at VisAbility, attended by over 30

people. This was an insightful opportunity for parents

and young people dealing with similar experiences to

meet and share their stories. Employment Agencies,

Universities, TAFE, Colleges and five outstanding

people with vision impairment in employment came

together for an informative and thought- provoking

evening where opportunities were limitless and futures

re-imagined.

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On 2 Employment Breaks Barriers

On Thursday 16 July, the Hon Scott Morrison MP

Minister for Social Services and Steve Irons MP from

our local state government visited VisAbility to learn

more about the successes of the On 2 Employment

program. The VIPs toured the building and discussed

ways to improve the current Disability Employment

Sector, as VisAbility has submitted recommended

changes to the current system. VisAbility’s On 2

Employment program works with employers and

employees to create meaningful workplace opportunities

for people who are blind or vision impaired.

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Stories of Independence

Liam Fights Personal Battle on the Home Front

It is Iraq. The 17th of May 2008. A world away from

ours. A world filled with the physical and mental

extremes of war. A world in which Liam Haven wakes to

hurl himself into yet another day of danger, fighting for

his country. Except this day is different. Because the

17th of May 2008 is the day that Liam was blown up by

a roadside bomb whilst returning from a routine patrol.

He was only 19.

Liam is now totally blind, and describes his journey since

then as “painful yet amazing.”

Life has been dramatically different. He has had to

reassess his dreams and aspirations, which forced him

to grow and change as a person. Learning to trust

people when he needed help has been particularly

challenging. However, as a testament to the man he is,

Liam hasn’t sat by as the world moved on around him.

He is fearless in the tasks he pursues. Friends remark

that he will take on anything he thinks he mightn’t be

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able to do due to his lack of sight. This is a true test of

independence; something that Liam cherishes above all.

As Liam remarks, the journey for anyone suddenly

losing their sight is long and challenging but he reminds

us to remain true to ourselves. “When you come through

the other side with your independence in one hand and

your white cane in the other, you may find that your

previous life is still your life.” He goes on to say, “any

change that you make can be as small or large as you

want. You will still be in control of your own destiny.” To

make this journey more bearable, Liam has surrounded

himself with the things he loves; the things that inspire

him. His family and friends offer vital emotional support.

He credits them with how far he has come. “Without

these people in my life, I would not be the person that I

am. Without them, there would be no chance I would

have achieved the things that I have.”

Music is also an important part of Liam’s life; it’s his

escape and outlet. For him, it’s part of his everyday life.

He grew up listening to musical influences like Jimmy

Hendrix, Steve Vai and John Mayer with his father as a

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child. He feels music makes him who he is. Liam

teaches music regularly at VisAbility, participating in the

band and teaching those with vision impairments. He

thoroughly enjoys following the progress of his students,

watching them gain both skill and confidence as they

master their instrument. For Liam personally, VisAbility

is not just a support service. He remarks: “it is a place

where people with visual impairment can socialise and

discover new ways to make their lives just that little bit

easier.”

The future for Liam is bright, bold and busy. He is

currently writing a book about his experiences since his

accident in Iraq and hopes to set up a charity for the

holistic support of all frontline personnel no matter what

their serving status is. Remaining fit, healthy and with a

good mental outlook on life is paramount for Liam. He

hopes to continue to spend time with his family and

those close to him, living in the present and keeping life

as rich and meaningful as it can be. As Liam says, “you

never know when you will go, and with that in mind, I try

to flood my life with good memories and moments.”

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Justin and Sue; the Powerful Duo Seeking Life’s Full Potential

For Justin and his mother Sue, life holds so much

potential. The West Australian young adult is a go-getter

and together the pair are a powerful duo. They share the

vision that life should be tussled with. With

perseverance, boundaries eventually give way. Every

day has the opportunity to be rewarding.

Justin lives with less than 10% vision, and has an

intellectual disability. His mother Sue has always been

by his side. Along with Justin, she has faced her own set

of unique challenges. Being a sole parent was very hard

at times. She remembers the struggles of socialising

when Justin was young. Before he was three, he found

the world a very frightening place. Unfamiliar noises like

new voices, cash registers or vacuum cleaners

distressed him.

Spending time with friends, playing at the park, or for

Sue, managing to work was tough. Often Sue would

drive around looking for a playground with no children;

somewhere that Justin could feel safe and comfortable.

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This became very socially isolating. Sue recalls how

once a mother at a playground turned to her and said

“I’ve never seen a blind baby before.” This was

devastating. She was lost for words. Not long after, Sue

was introduced to VisAbility. This was a lifeline during

Justin’s childhood.

With no family in Western Australia, VisAbility therapists

were often the only people that Sue spoke to all week.

She feels grateful for VisAbility and the support it offered

her as a single mother. She recalls attending a picnic

when Justin was 18 months old. Another mother noticed

Sue struggling to join in with the group as Justin was

very distressed. She took Justin for a walk so Sue could

mingle with the other parents. This mother empathised

with Sue, having been through a similar situation. Sue

was assured things would get better. That act of

kindness and encouragement still means a lot to her

today.

For Justin, VisAbility’s services were enormously

beneficial. VisAbility’s Occupational Therapists and

Physiotherapists improved Justin’s social skills,

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independence and self-confidence. Over the years, he

has attended Saturday club, school holiday programs

and several camps. Sue recounts how great this was for

Justin. At VisAbility he could feel comfortable and his

white cane was not an object of curiosity. It was a place

where things were adapted for him, rather than him

trying to fit into the sighted world. He could be positively

challenged at VisAbility, and engage with role models

who inspired him. VisAbility also helped Justin achieve

his independence.

After lots of hard work, Justin now navigates public

transport all by himself. Working with VisAbility’s

Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Sue was sure Justin

could do it. She trusted their guidance and over the

years, this had given the duo the confidence to try new

things. VisAbility were her safety net when times were

tough, they extended Justin’s abilities and were never

judgemental if things didn’t work out.

Justin is now a very happy and sociable young man. He

enjoys swimming, playing basketball with Special

Olympics, bowling and hanging out with friends. He

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used to ride quad bikes with the Quad Dreamers, and

now volunteers and rides horses at Riding for the

Disabled. Justin has an immense passion for music, and

has seen many live shows over the years including

AC/DC, Billy Idol, Bruce Springsteen, Roxette, Ricky

Martin and Bon Jovi twice. Justin also started his own

micro-business to overcome limited meaningful work

opportunities. It is a local hand towel laundry service

where Justin washes, presses and delivers them back to

businesses.

Justin finds the social interaction rewarding. He likes

that he can provide a useful service. The future holds

the exciting opportunity of expansion. For both Sue and

Justin, this is a wonderful example of how life can be as

rewarding as you make it.

Together they have overcome their own challenges and

continue to strive for Justin’s independence. Sue is

reminded of how far she has come as a parent. When

asked what would she say to others in similar

situations? “Do not be afraid to ask for help, no one can

do it all on their own. Please talk to other parents, it

helps to know you’re not the only one. Finally, put things 53

in perspective. If you don’t look after yourself, how can

you expect to look after anyone else?”

Little Mariah Living Life to the Fullest

Mariah is a bright, funny and lovable four-year-old. She

is wonderfully unique, and adored by all who meet her.

Recognisable by her beautiful snow white hair and fair

complexion, Mariah lives with Albinism. A determined

young girl, she doesn’t let it get in the way of exploring

the world. Each day she shows life can be enriched with

fun and laughter.

Mariah’s biggest challenge at the moment is the vision

impairment associated with her Albinism. Until now,

Mariah’s parents helped guide and support her. Now

she is older, they are keen to encourage her

independence and are teaching their young daughter

strategies to help herself. They explain, “Mariah has no

depth perception, and can’t see curbs, steps, slopes,

ditches, bumps, and edges. This means we have to be

her eyes for her, and advise her of these tripping/falling

hazards. We are teaching Mariah strategies to help her

become more independent, for example looking for 54

colour contrasts in the environment. Mariah will often

bend down to feel the ground with her hands, to

ascertain whether there is a change in depth.” Soon the

family will to introduce Mariah to the use of a cane,

which they hope will enable her to become even more

independent.

Living in Western Australia’s sunny climate presents

Mariah with another challenge come summer. Sunburn

is a big concern for those with Albinism. “Summer can

be a very difficult time, because Mariah’s outdoor play is

limited to the mornings and evenings, when the UV

levels are low. If she is exposed to any sun, we must

always ensure she is completely covered in clothing and

sunscreen, top to tail.” Often a bright, sunny day will

cause Mariah to struggle with glare. While the winter

days are cold and wet, Mariah’s family admit they are

her favourite times for outdoor play. It is during this

season that they spend much more time outside playing

and having fun.

While Mariah has a vision impairment, she has readily

adapted to relying on her other senses. This makes

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navigating the world that bit easier. She often uses her

hearing to identify voices and can ‘smell Daddy’ when

he comes home by the scent of his cologne.

At Kindy, the teachers and kids are a welcome support

for Mariah. They love to help her out if she needs.

As her family found, “Her teachers and friends are very

good at verbalising ‘Hello Mariah, it is Mrs Hunt here’, or

‘Mariah, your friend Hannah is playing in the home

corner’ to allow her to find her friends. Mariah’s friends

love to grab her hand and help her find toys and tell her

how certain things feel.”

VisAbility has been a great support for Mariah and her

family. They have been able to get in touch with other

families and children living in a similar situation. This

gives Mariah the opportunity to play with other children

who are just like her.

Mariah’s parents look forward to seeing their young

daughter develop and grow in the future. They are

warmed and encouraged by the wonderful role models

who are out and about living with Albinism. These role

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models have proved it’s possible to achieve their

dreams. To them, this is a fantastic reminder that

Albinism won’t hold back Mariah’s blossoming potential.

NDIS Support for Noah

Noah is an energetic young boy with a big personality.

An enthusiastic eight-year-old, he loves Lego creations,

swimming, jumping on the trampoline and his newest

discovery, Dubstep music!

Recently moving from Kalgoorlie to Kalamunda has

meant a big change for Noah and his family. Moving

suburbs, let alone towns, can be a bit daunting. This

was also particularly challenging as Noah lives with

autism and vision impairment.

For Noah’s family, this meant a big change in the way

Noah accessed his services. Having previously

accessed services with VisAbility via the Vidkids

initiative, Occupational Therapists had been able to link

to Noah in Kalgoorlie, through a computer in Perth.

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Moving closer to Perth, Noah has had the opportunity to

access face to face therapy sessions in his home and

even join in VisAbility’s Junior Sleepover. In the family’s

move to Kalamunda, they are now part of a National

Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) area and were able

to apply for support for Noah through an NDIS plan.

Noah’s mum Cally remarked that the new process with

the NDIS seemed a bit daunting a first. “The staff from

VisAbility gave me non-biased advice and support.

When it was time for our planning meeting, Michelle

from VisAbility came along as a support to advise on the

vision-specific services that Noah may need. This was

great as it meant I didn’t leave anything important out

from Noah’s plan.”

Peace of mind was really important to Noah’s family.

With the move to an NDIS plan, it was important that

Noah’s complex needs were met. VisAbility helped in

reassuring all was well. Cally explained, “VisAbility made

sure I understood what the process was, what it all

meant and were very supportive.” VisAbility has assisted

Noah with developing his motor skills and Cally has

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noticed that particularly his ball skills have improved

dramatically. Noah is now more willing to engage with

these types of tasks. He is brave and willing to choose

tasks that pose a bit of a challenge for him.

Face to face therapy sessions with Noah have also

allowed for the development of his emotional regulation

skills and the communication of his feelings. This has

been very beneficial as it often underpins other

challenges he faces.

Much to Noah’s delight, there is also the fun addition of

Lego in therapy sessions to build his social and

communication skills. Working on Noah’s motivation for

self-care skills has also been crucial to Noah’s

progression to independence. Together with Cally,

VisAbility motivates Noah to practice his eating and

dressing skills.

Noah’s future is bright. With the support from VisAbility,

Cally is positive Noah can fulfil his aspirations and be a

valuable individual in society. As Cally remarks, “the

reassuring and non-judgemental advice from VisAbility

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means I feel confident in helping Noah to continue to

achieve his goals. I get such a sense of pride to see

Noah happy that he can do something that he never

thought he could!”

Guide Dogs WA

Therapy Dog Harry Steals Hearts

Early in 2016, staff and students at the Catholic

Agricultural College in Bindoon welcomed the

appointment of their newest staff member—Therapy

Dog Harry.

Throughout their training, each dog is assessed for their

suitability as a Guide, and in Harry’s case, it was

decided that his skills were of a different kind. His

thoughtful and intuitive soul has been helping the staff at

the College reach out to the students, and providing a

non-judgemental pillar of support for each of the 160

students when they’ve needed him most.

“Harry can detect when the kids are upset. He just

knows. He’ll go and sit with them and put his head on

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their lap. He can get through to them in a way that

nothing else can.” – Kylie Worth, P.A. & Registrar.

It’s been an exciting year for the school, thanks to Harry.

“We can’t imagine not having Harry around. The kids

really respect him as a staff member. And they adore

him.”

Jayne Rediscovers Life with Guide Dog Cali

At just 20, Jayne found herself in an unthinkable

situation.

She was assaulted so severely by the father of her

young children, it left her blind. The horror of this attack

from someone she trusted so deeply made her very

fearful. Because of her blindness, she had no choice but

to place her trust in the hands of others—but after

everything she’d been through, Jayne found this

especially difficult.

It would be decades before she found that deep trust

again. Only through the arrival of her Guide Dog Cali,

has Jayne been able to rediscover her ability to trust

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another. And through Cali, she’s regained so much

more.

But training with Cali was not easy for Jayne. “It was

very hard to trust Cali at first. Because of my past, trust

is a big thing for me with a person, let alone a dog.”

Slowly, Jayne was able to let go of her fears, and every

time Cali protected her, her confidence in Cali grew.

“The trust is there now, and it’s getting stronger every

day!”

Cali has transformed Jayne’s life and means everything

to her. “I love Cali; she is my black pearl. I groom her

every day and pamper her—she deserves it!”

It’s been a long journey, but at 50, Jayne has her life

back. She has found love once more, and her children

now have children of their own. With Cali by her side,

Jayne has the confidence to explore her new home in

Mandurah; to get out into nature knowing she has a

companion she can trust.

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“Cali has made a huge difference to my life—it’s

unbelievable.”

Guide Dog Sponsorships

16 puppies joined Guide Dogs WA to embark on their

journey to become a Guide Dog. 16 very special

puppies, who thanks to our generous sponsors, have

made their pledge to give the gift of independence.

Thank you to the following organisations and individuals

for their generous donations towards the sponsorship of

a Guide Dog.

Puppies sponsored as a syndicate are:

Molly - Isabell & Emily Fleay, Peter & Sue Sumner,

Gilmac Pty Ltd

Cleo - Linton family, Rosalind Lilley, Brian & Gisela

Heibner, Wendy Logue,

Wheatley Family Foundation,

Community Resource Centres Guide Dog

Challenge

Fundraising

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Jaxx - Think Fragile X Foundation

Hilda - St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls

Bailey - Coles

Bella and Cody - Coles

Sole Sponsored

Sunny - Fae & Bryce Burrows

Mitchell - In memory of the late Frank Mitchell

Fletcher - Fletcher Family

Ernie - John Hughan

Murphy - Burswood Seafood

Nina - Major Holdings Pty Ltd

Ally - Wheatley Family Foundation

Gully - Ian & Jillian Green

Comet - M Watts Legal

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Our Volunteers

This year, more than 260 West Australians dedicated

their time and expertise to assist VisAbility and Guide

Dogs WA’s operations, events and fundraising activities.

We enjoy engaging our local community to help us

deliver quality services, and volunteers are invaluable to

our programs including the Community Activity Centre,

the Guide Dog program, Accessible Information

Services and fundraising programs. Thank you to our

generous volunteers for contributing their passion and

skills to help achieve our vision for independence.

Little Andy to Begin His Training

Ms Doreen Bolts had supported Guide Dogs WA in

various ways for almost 10 years. She sponsored her

first Guide Dog Birdie in 2011, and was delighted

whenever she received Birdie’s quarterly ‘Pupdate’

school reports. When Birdie graduated and became the

eyes for a young woman, Doreen was thrilled. Sadly,

Doreen passed away mid-2015. In her will, she left a

very generous gift to Guide Dogs WA and it was her

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wish to sponsor a second life-changing Guide Dog with

part of this bequest. In honour of her memory, a very

special puppy will soon enter the Guide Dog program—

named after ‘the son she never had’. Because of her

heart-warming generosity, the legacy of Ms Bolts will be

carried on for years to come. Now, little Andy will begin

his training to one day change a life, thanks to Doreen.

Bequests and Trusts

This year we are thankful for the generosity of the West

Australians below who left a gift in their will to VisAbility

and/or Guide Dogs WA.

Anthony Lightfoot

Robert Kittelty

Maureen Mezger

Judith Smart

Louise Beer

John Pennington

Allan Webb

Frank Mitchell

Gustaf Ringstrom

Doreen Bolts66

Priscilla Stephens

Wally McCabe

Lilian Wilson

Heather Kelly

Doris Mills

Gwenyth Ettles

Verna Rowbotham

Dorothy Knight

Dorothy Aley

Angela Bernardi

Edith Treloar

Coral Ballantyne

Elizabeth Budge

Joi Brecher

Nancy Young

Dulcie Ellery

Janet McCracken

We are grateful for the ongoing support from Trusts and

Foundations of generous Australians.

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Managed by Perpetual

The Alan and Lilian Cameron Trust

The Francis John Longhurst Trust

The Harry Frederick Carter Trust

The Hansen and Kean Trust

The Jean Marion Isobel Trust

The Jeanne Krajanich Trust

The John W R Trust

The Lindsay and Nan Wilkinson Trust

The Margaret Harper Trust

Managed by Public Trustee

The Alan Dexter Strawbridge Trust

The Francis Joseph Ryan Trust

Managed by Other

The Jack Family Trust

The Lin Huddleston Trust

The Valma June Cook

The Zylrain Stanley Jemielita Trust

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Our Supporters

The generous support of organisations, foundations and

community groups across Western Australia allow us to

provide the gift of independence to West Australians

living with disabilities.

Thank you to the following organisations that provided

financial, in-kind, advisory, and material support to make

our vision a reality.

Allens Linklaters

Araluen Botanic Park

Bankwest

Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Cottesloe Vet

Deloitte

Hawaiian

Holiday Inn Perth City Centre

Hollywood Private Hospital

Houndstooth Studio

Jackson McDonald

King & Wood Mallesons

Laing O’Rourke69

Maylands Street Festival

NAB

New Town Toyota

Precision Art

Rio Tinto

Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation

Serco

Think Fragile X Foundation

Westpac

Worldwide Printing Solutions East Perth

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Guide Dogs Australia

VisAbility and Guide Dogs WA belongs to the Guide Dog

Australia alliance, and works collaboratively with the five

other Guide Dogs schools across Australia.

Our collaboration ensures a high standard of service

delivery across the nation. Thank you to the national

partners who support this alliance and allow us to

provide life-changing services to people across

Australia.

Advance

Coles

Frontline Plus

Heartgard Plus

Indexx Laboratories

Joseph Lyddy Pet Indulgence

QBE

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What We Have Achieved in 2015/2016

Most Trusted Brand

In July 2015, Guide Dogs Australia was voted Australia’s

‘Most Trusted Brand’ for the third consecutive year.

2,400 Australians cast their vote in the Annual Reader’s

Digest Most Trusted Brand Poll. Guide Dogs Australia

was recognised for its industry-leading services,

including providing Guide Dogs to Australians who are

blind or vision impaired for over 60 years.

Mini Dog Program

Over 1,300 businesses throughout Western Australia

proudly display Guide Dogs WA’s Mini Dog coin

collection containers on their shop counters. This year,

generous West Australians donated over $351,000 into

Mini Dog containers. Guide Dogs WA relies on the

support of dedicated volunteers to collect and count the

funds, and maintain and replace the collected Mini

Dogs. With the ongoing support of volunteers, the Mini

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Dog program continues to grow and contribute vital

funds to support the Guide Dog program.

International Guide Dog Day Street Appeal

The 2016 Annual International Guide Dog Day Street

Appeal was a PAW-esome success, raising $27,153.20

for the Guide Dog program. 227 enthusiastic volunteers

took to the (cold and windy) streets of the Perth Central

Business District and Claremont Quarter to connect

people to the Guide Dogs WA story and collect

donations from generous members of the public.

Amongst our team of volunteers were corporate

volunteers from Allens Linklaters, Corrs Chambers

Westgarth, Deloitte, Hollywood Private Hospital,

Jackson McDonald, King & Wood Mallesons, NAB, Rio

Tinto, and Serco. Jackson McDonald were the winners

of the Guide Dog Corporate Challenge for the fifth

consecutive year!

We are so thankful to all those who got involved and

advocated for our life-changing Guide Dog program as

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well as those who gave generously to this meaningful

cause.

Guide Dog Trainer Cadet Program

Guide Dogs WA launched its Guide Dog Trainer Cadet

program—a first for Western Australia. The program will

increase our capacity of Guide Dog Trainers, ensuring

that we can continue to train suitably qualified Guide

Dogs, now and into the future. The Cadet Program runs

for approximately 12-16 months. Cadets who are

selected for this program will be trained in new and

innovative ways. We are committed to attracting and

retaining individuals with talent, unique skills, and a work

ethic that aligns with our mission to deliver quality

services to West Australians who are blind or vision

impaired.

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New Guide Dogs WA Website

Launched in June 2016, the new Guide Dogs WA

website was designed to put our stories at the forefront.

To inspire, through the heart-warming tales of

Community Fundraisers, Volunteers, Donors and

Clients. To share the life-changing impact of each and

every dog—including not only our Guide Dogs, but also

our Companion and Therapy Dogs. To create a

community of like-minded individuals, and connect

everyone with a common goal. And to show that the

crazy shared experience we call life can be just as rich

for everyone, regardless of ability.

Not Your Ordinary Minister Visit

Hon Tony Simpson MLA had a particularly fun afternoon

in June —the Minister for Youth was treated to a Guide

Dog Puppy Class! He watched Guide Dogs in training

Obie and Izzy during their regular routine and working

with Trainers on a challenging new obstacle course. The

obstacle course is a huge part of the Puppy Enrichment

Area, which was generously donated by Laing O’Rourke

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and suppliers over the past several months, and is

proving invaluable for training our pups of all ages. The

Minister also earned a surprise visit from Gully, one of

our youngest and most charming puppies! “It is great to

be here today at Guide Dogs WA and VisAbility,” Hon

Tony Simpson said. “Both [are] doing fantastic work

supporting West Australians living with vision

impairment.”

Puppy Pals

Our playful Guide Dog puppies may be small (and

cute!), but they have a big job ahead. One day they’ll be

a life-changing addition to the home of a West Australian

who is blind or vision impaired. Our amazing Puppy Pals

contributed over $100,000 to help fund our puppies’

specialised breeding, vet care, food, training and

ongoing assessment. Puppy Pals receive a welcome

pack with a personalised certificate, as well as quarterly

‘Pupdates’ and invitations to events.

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Coles Band Together for Guide Dogs

Did you see Guide Dog puppies visiting shoppers at a

Coles store near you in March? Select Coles stores

across WA, SA, NT and TAS held a fundraising drive to

support Guide Dog schools around Australia, aiming to

raise a huge $90,000.

The results are in: across the four states, Coles raised a

whopping $102,112.87! Extremely generous West

Australians raised over $73,100 of this total, so well

done to everyone involved, and a huge thank you to

Coles for supporting our Guide Dog program so

incredibly!

Prairie Dunes Take the Lead at Christmas

There’s a street in Connolly that knows how to attract a

Christmas crowd – and each year a Guide Dogs WA

Model Dog stands at the centre of it all.

The street has raised an amazing $167,115 and

sponsored seven Guide Dog puppies so far. The latest

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fundraising total of $8,825.75 has put them on track to

sponsor puppy number eight!

Alex Cearns of Houndstooth Studio Partners with Guide

Dogs WA

Alex Cearns has always enjoyed photoshoots with

Guide Dogs in training in her North Perth studio – so

much so, that she has come on board as our Campaign

Ambassador and Official Studio Photography Partner.

“With each Guide Dog costing more than $35,000 to

train, it’s important for me to lend my voice and support

to Guide Dogs WA’s fundraising campaigns and to raise

awareness about the valuable work they do,” said Alex.

The Guide Dog Team

This year we welcomed a number of new staff, growing

our team by over 60%. Three new Guide Dog Trainers,

one new Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, three Guide Dog

Trainer Cadets and a new Puppy Program Supervisor,

as well as the recruitment of additional administration

staff to support our puppy program. Their combined 40

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years of experience in dog handling, care and

specialised training is already making a marked

difference to the program.

Buddy Dogs for Kids

The establishment of the Buddy Dogs for Kids program

was made possible this year with the overwhelming

support of the Think Fragile X Foundation. Fragile X

Syndrome (FXS) is a condition causing intellectual

disability, behavioural and learning challenges. The

Buddy Dogs for Kids Program will create a lasting

difference in the lives of WA children with disability and

other special needs

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Government & Non-Government Funding & Grants

VisAbility wishes to sincerely acknowledge and thank all

of our funders and supporters, without them VisAbility

could not deliver life-changing services to West

Australians living with vision impairment and other

disabilities. This year we received funding from the

following government sources:

Australian Government – Literacy, Numeracy and

Special Learning Needs Non-Government Centre

Support (NGCS)

Department of Education – School for Special

Education Needs: Sensory

Department of Social Services

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Lotterywest

National Disability Insurance Agency

State Library of WA

WA Department of Health – Home and Community

Care Services

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Disability Services Commission

WA NDIS

Our non-government funders and supporters work in

close partnership with VisAbility helping to support the

gaps in funding, enabling growth and innovation in

service delivery. VisAbility wishes to thank the following

non-government agencies for their support:

Angus Stewart Trust Account

Bowen Foundation

Channel 7 Telethon Trust

Eye Surgery Foundation

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

Fred and Lorna Craggs Trust Account

Fundi Software

Guide Dog Foundation

Ida Lloyd Fellowship Trust Account

Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation

The Stan Perron Charitable Trust

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Treasurer’s Report

It is my honour to present to members VisAbility’s

audited Financial Report for the 2015-2016 financial

year.

Last year was a difficult year for the organisation both

financially and operationally. We are in the midst of

significant industry reform as the NDIS is rolled out

across Western Australia. This has created uncertainty

for both clients and providers alike and has been

magnified in Western Australia because of the inevitable

economic downturn following the cessation of the mining

boom.

However, both the Board and Management have

prepared for these conditions through a series of

restructuring of services and programs, which has been

supported by the investment in both systems and

people. A new Client Management System has been

purchased and implemented at a cost of $604k which

now provides us with the flexibility and capability to

respond to client needs in light of the NDIS operating 82

model. The associated IT infrastructure was also

upgraded at a cost of $649k.

Further, in July this year VisAbility merged with Royal

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Tasmania

(Guide Dogs Tasmania), which will deliver a multi-state

service under the VisAbility brand, reduce support and

administration costs and increase VisAbility’s group

reserves by $4.7m from $18.2m to almost $23m.

However, such investment in a difficult trading year

comes with costs that have resulted in VisAbility

recording a Net Deficit for the 2015/16 financial year of

$623k. This includes an increased depreciation charge

of $924k reflecting the new IT system ($423k) and the

Perron Centre head office ($502k).

For the future, Management will continue to effectively

deal with ongoing funding uncertainty and contain costs

whilst implementing cost savings from the merger with

Guide Dogs Tasmania. VisAbility will continue to

maintain our high standard of service to our clients

balanced against the needs of clients and funding

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received. A more detailed analysis of the 2015/16

financial performance follows.

The Operating Result

Grants and subsidies from Federal and State

Government represent 54% of VisAbility’s total revenue

for the year compared to 46% in 2014-2015. This

includes an increase in funding for the Community

Inclusion Program worth $788k (2015: $500k) as well as

ongoing support of ROAM project by the WA Disability

Services Commission.

Accordingly, I would like to acknowledge our partnering

funders for their funding of essential programs and

invaluable client services:

Disability Services Commission

Department of Social Services

WA Department of Health – Home and Community

Care Services

State Library of Western Australia

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

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Australian Government – Literacy, Numeracy and

Special Learning Needs Non-Government Centre

Support (NGCS)

Department of Education – School Special

Education Needs: Sensory

Donations, bequests, telemarketing and fundraising

appeals contributed $3.6m (2015: $4.6m) in funds to

support our client service delivery work and to pay for

the support costs that underpin the activities of our

philanthropic arm, Guide Dogs WA.

Despite WA’s tough economic conditions and the

consequential decline in donation and fundraising

income, the ongoing support to VisAbility by West

Australians is extremely encouraging.

Bequest income is always critical to our ongoing work

because it enables us to provide services additional to

those funded by government. I am very grateful to those

who leave a legacy to VisAbility.

Additionally, in 2015-2016 with the support of

Lotterywest through the Independent Living Centre WA,

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VisAbility was able to provide essential assistive

technology worth $500k to low-income West Australians

who are blind and vision impaired.

Balance Sheet

VisAbility’s Balance Sheet remains healthy and

sustainable. As of 30 June 2016, the organisation had

$6.25m in cash and funds on deposit. There were no

bank or external borrowings during the financial year;

the organisation remains debt free with Net Assets of

$18.2m, which is primarily represented by our premises

and adjacent buildings in Victoria Park.

Financial Management

VisAbility effectively manages its financial resources by

the use of detailed budgeting, forecasting, variance

analysis, key performance indicators (KPIs) and ongoing

reporting to the Board, including the Board Audit and

Risk Committee (BARC). Areas of activity that are

unviable or do not fit with the core mission are

periodically reviewed with operational adjustments made

to ensure that we can sustain professional quality

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services to West Australians with a disability. The BARC

Committee discusses issues that have the most

potential to impact on VisAbility’s ability to create value,

not only for the short and medium term, but especially

for the longterm. VisAbility is committed to the long haul;

ensuring that sustainability is one of its core objectives.

Future

The environment in which VisAbility operates continues

to evolve at a rapid pace. Significant changes arose

from the initial roll out of the NDIS, changes to aged

care funding and the regulation of charities and non-

profit organisations. The NDIS trials have expanded

their eligible sites in 2016/17 and from 1 July 2017,

phased roll out of the NDIS will begin across Western

Australia.

VisAbility’s investment into new consumer and financial

management systems, underpinned by a major IT

infrastructure upgrade means that we are ready for the

challenges that arise in the current dynamic service

delivery environment.

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Another significant strategy that VisAbility adopted in

2015-2016 was to merge with Royal Guide Dogs for the

Blind Association of Tasmania (Guide Dogs Tasmania).

The merger is a win-win proposition; it will deliver cost

savings for VisAbility and Guide Dogs Tasmania,

through the centralisation of back office and

administrative tasks. Further, Tasmanians with a

disability will benefit from VisAbility’s expertise as we

expand the current service offerings of Guide Dog

Tasmania. The merger took effect from 1st July 2016

and $4.7m Net Assets were transferred to VisAbility.

The Board and Management will continue to monitor

emerging trends and impacts to ensure that VisAbility

remains well positioned for the future.

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Appreciation

I would like to thank my Board colleagues, particularly

those on the Board Audit and Risk Committee, for

donating their time, skills and experience. I express my

appreciation to the staff and volunteers for the great

work they do every day, and to VisAbility Members for

their support.

It is also my pleasure to acknowledge the in-kind

support we receive from many worthy organisations and

from our dedicated volunteers. Thank you.\

David Ligovich

FCA

Honorary Treasurer

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Abridged Financial Statements for the Year

Ended 30 June 2016

Statement of Comprehensive Income 2016 2015

Government and Other

Subsidies 6,739,043 6,077,447

Fundraising 3,650,819 4,583,137

Telephone & Technology

Sales 989,720 1,283,189

Other Operating Income 1,118,683 1,366,482

Total Income 12,498,265 13,310,255

Total Expenditure(13,122,223)

(11,303,425)

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Net Surplus for the Year (623,958) 2,006,830

Statement of Financial Position 2016 2015

Current Assets 6,735,268 7,414,776

Non-Current Assets 15,194,516 15,280,436

Total Assets 21,929,784 22,695,212

Current Liabilities 3,296,877 3,291,443

Non-Current Liabilities 436,857 583,761

Total Liabilities 3,733,734 3,875,204

Net Assets 18,196,050 18,820,008

Retained Surpluses 18,196,050 18,820,008 91

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

- Nelson Mandela

Contact Details

VisAbility

Our vision for independence

The Perron Centre

61 Kitchener Avenue

Victoria Park 6100

PO Box 101 Victoria Park 6979

Tel: 1800 VISION (847 466)

Email: info@visability.com.au

VisAbility website: visability.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visabilityAU/

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LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-

the-blind-of-wa---guide-dogs-wa

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