05Recognising and RewaRding ouR employees

07Tasmania’s agfesT in may 2014

12ouR noRTheRn TeRRiToRy pRogRams

10ouR pRofessional caRe seRvices

a new chapTeR Begins TodayouR JouRney and The way foRwaRd

The newsleTTeR foR life wiThouT BaRRieRs

It’s our 20th anniversary! I’d like to share with you the journey our organisation has taken and celebrate the extraordinary people we have supported and the talented staff who have helped build this organisation.

celeBRaTing 20 yeaRs of achievemenT

Since Life Without Barriers began in the 1990s our services have grown from delivering disability services to the full scope of community services from family support and out-of-home care to home and community care for older Australians, and support to refugees and asylum seekers.

Our work in the areas of mental health, homelessness and youth justice has also improved the lives of the hundreds of the people we support. We’ve come a long way and we will continue to grow.

We’ve helped thousands of people to live the best life possible and we will continue to deliver services wherever they’re needed.

In 2012–13 we supported nearly 2000 people with disability. Through endorsing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2013, we will continue to ensure people with disability get more personalised, coordinated and responsive care than ever before.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2013, we also provided family support and out-of-home care services, to help more than 1800 children, young people and their families stay safely together or when this was not possible, have somewhere safe to live.

In that same period we delivered services to support more than 800 older

Welcome to We Live Life, our new regular newsletter.We have launched this newsletter as part of our 20th anniversary coinciding with a refresh of our brand and values.

In this special edition we shine the spotlight on some of our achievements. We hope you enjoy reading about those who through their passion and commitment partner with others to change their lives for the better.

Each edition we’ll publish articles about how we’re working with clients, improving the way we do business and share inspirational stories. We will also profile teams, innovations and successes.

Did you know, Life Without Barriers is also on Facebook and Twitter@LWBAustralia? Please ‘like us’ to join the conversation and support the organisation.

Australians to remain living in their home; and helped more than 300 refugees and asylum seekers to settle in Australia.

It’s the services we provide and the people we support, across Australia and New Zealand that sets us apart from other community service agencies.

Over the past few years we’ve also entered a new era for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives. Our commitment to Reconciliation is one example of how we are strengthening our support, and listening to first Australians, across Life Without Barriers and in the community.

We’re changing with the times and we’re committed to continuous improvement.

It’s one of the many reasons why we’ve unveiled a fresh new look. Our brand and values refresh marks a new chapter in our story and leads us to a bright future.

We’re proud of who we are today, where we have come from and where we are going.

In recent months we have been recognised at award ceremonies, sporting events and through new partnerships which we showcase in We Live Life.

We are proud to confirm we are now partners with the People’s Choice Credit Union.

welcome To we live life

Young people who are leaving foster care to live independently now have some extra support, thanks to our recent sponsorship agreement with the People’s Choice Credit Union.

In April we were proud to announce our selection as the community partner for the Penrith Panthers during their 2014 NRL season and we were also named as the ‘Best First Time Entrant’ in the 2013 Price Waterhouse Coopers Transparency Awards held in Sydney.

The awards recognise not-for-profit organisations with the most rigorous and transparent reporting on strategy, services, financials and governance and we were honoured to win such an award.

As we continue to work together to help our great organisation grow from strength to strength, we have much to celebrate, and even more to do.

We thank you, our supporters, for helping us to grow into the organisation we are today. We will continue to evolve. Come on the journey with us!

who we aRe is defined noT JusT By how we look and Talk BuT moRe impoRTanTly, By whaT we do. we woRk TogeTheR To deliveR ouR seRvices.

we Build RelaTionships

we aRe imaginaTive

we aRe RespecTful

we aRe Responsive

we aRe couRageous

We are people people. Relationships come first. Listening helps us understand.

We are imaginative in our thinking and open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

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

We are responsive to needs, determined to get things done and do them well.

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

Terry Lawler, Chair of the Life Without Barriers’ Board, recently participated in a panel discussion at the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ (AICD) conference in Queensland.

The topic for the panel discussion was ‘Business, government and not-for-profits – strategies for a better collaboration’ and looked at ways of bringing the knowledge and experience of these sectors together to foster a relationship of creativity, productivity and innovation.

Terry reminded participants that the growth of Life Without Barriers had

Life Without Barriers recently welcomed our newest Board member, Graeme Innes AM.

Graeme is a lawyer, mediator, company director and brings to the position 30 years of experience as a human rights practitioner.

In 1995 Graeme was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), in 2003, he was a finalist for Australian of the Year and in 2005 he was appointed as Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

As Commissioner, Graeme has contributed to the success of initiatives such as the Same Sex: Same Entitlements

ouR chaiR aT The ausTRalian insTiTuTe of company diRecToRs confeRence

gRaeme innes am Joins life wiThouT BaRRieRs

been driven by its values, a willingness to take business risks and implement new solutions while never compromising client safety and wellbeing, and a strong focus on relationships and sustainability.

Terry discussed the unprecedented changes in the not-for-profit sector and the impact of government reforms including the shift to individualised funding. He added that the not-for-profit sector had to work collectively to review and rationalise service delivery while demonstrating innovation and leadership to respond to an increased demand for services.

inquiry, which has resulted in removal of discrimination across federal law; and the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Graeme was also crucial to the development of the National Disability Strategy and the Disability (Access to Premises – buildings) Standards 2010; as well as the establishment of Livable Housing Australia. Graeme has been a high profile advocate for the implementation of cinema captioning and audio descriptions.

We welcome Graeme to our organisation and look forward to his outstanding contribution.

A naming and smoking ceremony will be held at the Life Without Barriers’ Cooktown Women’s Shelter on Friday 1 August 2014 to celebrate its first anniversary.

Since the shelter opened in August 2013, it has provided somewhere safe to stay for women and children escaping domestic violence and those at risk of homelessness in far north Queensland.

During the anniversary ceremony, the Cooktown Women’s Shelter will be officially named Ngathnu-Wi Bayan, which was chosen by the local Traditional Owners and translates to ‘women’s house’ in Aboriginal language, Gugu Yimithirr.

A smoking ceremony will also be held and will involve smoking out negativity, ushering in the future and encouraging wellness and healing.

Amy Williamson, Acting Area Operations Manager, Life Without Barriers, far north Queensland said, “Life Without Barriers is absolutely committed to tackling domestic and family violence, and through the management of this shelter we have stepped up our efforts to reduce it.

“Speaking out about the issue and raising awareness in our communities is a powerful way of standing up and saying that domestic and family violence is not acceptable.

“Every year in May, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held in Queensland to raise community awareness of the social and personal impacts of domestic and family violence and the support available to those affected.”

cookTown women’s shelTeR celeBRaTes iTs fiRsT anniveRsaRy

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Our foster carers are our community champions who provide safe, stable and supportive homes for children and young people who are not able to live with their families.

ouR communiTy champion

Is it any wonder then that a foster carer with Life Without Barriers, Kay Veitch, appeared in the Community Hero section of The Katherine Times, Northern Territory, in April 2014.

Since 1985, Kay, 71 has cared for more than 100 children for respite or short and long term periods and is locally known as Nanna Kay.

“I love working with kids, and like to make sure they are looked after properly, it’s my passion,” Kay said.

“You become a carer for the enjoyment, to see the smile on the kids’ faces for what you do for them, whether they are with you long or short-term it gives you great pleasure to make a difference to their lives.”

Kay was delighted to receive a letter from Adam Giles, the Northern Territory Chief Minister who commended Kay for her services as a foster carer.

In the letter, Adam thanked Kay on behalf of the Northern Territory government for her amazing work as a dedicated foster carer and acknowledged her kindness, generosity and compassion.

Life Without Barriers Operations Manager, Tabitha Rossi said Kay is kind, compassionate and committed to caring for children.

“Kay helps children in her care build their lives, find stability, gain hope and determination for a brighter future,” Ms Rossi said.

“Kay displays an exceptional commitment to meeting the needs of children in her care, from getting them dressed and fed and to school every day to helping them access the same opportunities as their friends.

“ i love woRking wiTh kids, and like To make suRe They aRe looked afTeR pRopeRly, iT’s my passion ”

“As we continue to work together to help our great organisation grow from strength to strength, we need more carers like Kay.”

We thank our foster and kinship carers for providing these safe and supportive homes.

Our foster and kinship carers are the reason we were able to deliver family support and out-of-home care to more than 1800 children and young people in 2012–13.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or kinship carer or know someone who is, please call 1300 592 227 to talk to a Life Without Barriers Carer Services representative, or email our Carer Services team directly via carers@lwb.org.au

In July 2014 Life Without Barriers plans to host its inaugural Employee Recognition Awards to recognise and reward staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to demonstrate our values in action.

Recognising and RewaRding ouR employees

These awards will provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge our Life Without Barriers team who have demonstrated an outstanding dedication to the lives of the people we support.

Throughout the organisation, staff members are striving to improve the way they do their jobs and coming up with creative and innovative approaches to working with their clients.

Our awards will capture their achievements and more information including a call for nominations will be provided soon.

We are also planning to launch our new employee recognition pad to encourage staff to provide their colleagues with written positive feedback.

Young people who are leaving foster care to live independently now have some extra support, thanks to a sponsorship agreement between Life Without Barriers and People’s Choice Credit Union.

Tracy Mackey, Executive Director, Strategy and Engagement Life Without Barriers, recently confirmed the sponsorship over two years 2014-16 to deliver the LWB New Horizons program.

“This sponsorship agreement has enabled the appointment of a full-time coordinator to run our New Horizons program in Adelaide,” Tracy said.

ouR invaluaBle paRTneRshipsouR paRTneRship wiTh people’s choice cRediT union To help moRe young people

“Already our coordinator is helping young people to develop plans for their future and develop the confidence and skills to help them make important decisions such as where they will live, study and work.

“ As part of the sponsorship we also plan to expand our New Horizons program to the Northern Territory.”

Following on from our selection as the community partner for the Penrith Panthers during their 2014 NRL season, our Life Without Barriers supporters enjoyed a Panthers game on Friday 11 April 2014.

Based in western Sydney, through fundraising and donations the Panthers can ensure Life Without Barriers

ouR suppoRTeRs enJoy a panTheRs game

continues its great work well into the future; and for the people we support it’s all about the love of the game.

Many of the children, young people and adults we support in the region are huge NRL fans, though more than 80 percent would never have had the chance to experience a live game at Sportingbet Stadium. By offering them the chance

to be part of the fan base, it will be an experience they’ll never forget.

Please contact Cassandra Newell at LWB Rockdale for more information about our bay, comprising 300 seats,

One of our supporters, John Boutros was the grateful recipient of Jamie Soward’s protective head gear.

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life wiThouT BaRRieRs shines as ‘official chaRiTy’ aT Tasmania’s agfesTLife Without Barriers hosted an information display at Tasmania’s Agfest in early May following on from our selection as the inaugural Official Charity of Agfest.

The agricultural field day attracts up to 70,000 visitors in May each year at a 200 acre site in rural Carrick (near Launceston), and has the highest attendance of all Australian agricultural field days.

Our information stand provided an opportunity to raise awareness of our services, to showcase art and pottery items produced in our disability

program, recruit foster carers and share information on our youth mental health services commencing this year.

Media showed interest in our information display and our services, with local Life Without Barriers staff interviewed for Southern Cross and ABC television news, which were broadcast across Tasmania. The story about Life Without Barriers

being chosen as the Charity of Agfest also appeared in more than 45 publications after staff were interviewed by the Launceston newspaper.

First held in 1983, Agfest is run by the Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania.

Life Without Barriers also held an information stand at Agfest in 2013.

From left: Life Without Barriers staff members Melinda Ferrier and Gaylene Connell with a young person they support, Sidonie, and LWB staff member Colleen Wood and Sidonie’s dad Dominique Vittori.

Life Without Barriers staff from left, Tony Crothers, Heidi Tucker, Steve Owen and Sarah Pyka.

David Edwards demonstrated his new surfing skills under the guidance of the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia.

ouR disaBiliTy pRogRams eXpand To give clienTs moRe oppoRTuniTy

Life Without Barriers is dedicated to ensuring the people we support enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else in our community.

That’s why our southern New South Wales region has this year added surfing, speeding and greyhound racing to their social calendar.

On Saturday 5 April 2014, Life Without Barriers arranged for adults with disabilities to learn how to surf at Seven Mile Beach, near Nowra.

In partnership with the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia, participants were given an opportunity to learn the basics of riding the waves before the winter chill sets in.

Adding to their knowledge about water safety, Wollongong City Council Life Guards also recently held an information session for the people we support at southern region.

The fun activities will continue on Saturday 14 June 2014, when motoring enthusiasts at Life Without Barriers have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of The Formula Company’s race cars and do a lap or two of the Nowra Speedway.

To prepare the people we support for this dynamic experience, Life Without Barriers southern region went to the Nowra Speedway in March to observe a day of action.

It seems their enthusiasm for racing, as spectators or participants, knows no limits with Life Without Barriers’ clients, carers and families also attending the Dapto Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday 27 March 2014 for their regular race events.

John Wood, Program Manager, Life Without Barriers, Wollongong thanked the local community and organisations for providing a fun filled calendar of activities for Life Without Barriers’ clients, their carers and families.

“Through initiatives such as these, the people we support can enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else and we are thankful to the community for their support,” John said.“In particular we would like to acknowledge The Formula Company, Nowra Speedway, the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia and Wollongong City Council Life Guards.”

suRfing, speeding and Racing in souTheRn new souTh wales

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cake decoRaTing skills honed aT day pRogRamOn Wednesday 30 April 2014, Life Without Barriers’ southern region day program at Warrawong, New South Wales, showcased their cake decorating skills with an afternoon tea, attended by the people they support, families and service providers.

“I have to say a huge thank you to our staff member, Janelle Duffy, for facilitating the cake decorating programs and sharing her expertise in cake icing with the clients,” John Wood, Program Manager, Life Without Barriers, Wollongong said.

“The presentation of the cakes and food was so impressive they looked as though they were from bakeries.”

five minuTes wiTh yola sZyBiakArea Carer Services, Rockdale, Sydney

When and why did you join Life Without Barriers? I came to Life Without Barriers in 2010 after working in the Department of Community Services for a number of years in child protection. At the time, Life Without Barriers provided me with an opportunity to have a better work and life balance and still continue to work with children and families. Working at Life Without Barriers has also provided me with the means to build on my skills and diversify across a number of roles. These have included Case Manager, Intake Case Manager and currently in Area Carer Services in the recruitment, training and assessment of new foster carers.

What do you most enjoy about your work? The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in out-of-home care at the ground level by ensuring that Life Without Barriers has quality carers prepared to provide safe and healing homes.

I work with amazing people and in an environment where passion, respect and integrity are valued. It’s a joy to come to work each day knowing that we ARE making a difference. My most treasured possession is...Sitting on my desk at work is a mug that I received from a child I worked with at Community Services. Bought as a thank you present it says ‘Simply the Best’.

The word that best describes me is... Two words… passionate and neurotic.

My first job was...Working in the manchester department of a store called Venture, today’s equivalent of Best and Less.

My favourite food is...Yum Cha

What sound do you love and why...Sometimes the best sound is silence!

What could you change about your life or the world if you could? For every person to have access to high quality and affordable mental health care.

The question I’m most often asked is...Where is your accent from, and the answer is, it is a mixture of Aussie and Polish.

I relax by... Having coffee…coffee...coffee

My greatest achievement has been...Raising my four beautiful children, going to university, taking care of my ill father all at the same time.

The person I most admire is... Anyone who lives their passion and is true to themselves.

The next challenge is to... Continue to elevate the standard of foster care to ensure amazing outcomes for children in care.

What inspires you? The courage and resilience of children who have experienced trauma and the carers who choose to always make it about the kids.

helping oldeR ausTRalians

ouR pRofessional caRe seRvices

At Life Without Barriers we understand that continuing to live at home is a very important life choice.

With this in mind, we have developed a flexible range of services to assist the people we support in living a fulfilling, independent life.

Our professional care team delivers the highest level of support aimed at maintaining independence and quality of life.

Depending on the services available locally, the people we support may also be eligible for our professional care services if they have a disability or condition which affects their ability to carry out activities of daily living or believe that they are at risk of premature or inappropriate admission to long-term residential care.

Life Without Barriers has recently expanded its aged care services to now offer Home and Community Care

(HACC) in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.

This follows the introduction of the Life Without Barriers’ Home Care Packages Program in regional New South Wales, Victoria and Alice Springs earlier this year.

Through delivering aged care services, Life Without Barriers is assisting more people to live in their own home and participate more fully in community life.

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home and communiTy caRe seRvicesWe currently offer a range of home and community care services through these programs:

• OurHome and Community Care program is available in Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It provides services for people aged 65 years and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are at risk of admission to residential care, and eligible carers of older Australians.

• OurQueensland Community Care Services provides basic support for Queenslanders under the age of 65 years who have difficulties living in their own home.

• OurDay Activity Linking Initiative is delivered in partnership with Greenacres and the Wollongong City Council to provide support for people with a disability aged over 55 years, or over 45 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

home caRe packagesOur Home Care Packages Program, funded by the Australian Government, offers eligible Australians an opportunity to live at home with the assistance of services to maintain independent living.

Our support can range from light daily tasks through to intensive therapies and clinical care services for those who have special requirements. We offer personal assistance ranging from attention to day-to-day activities such as getting out of bed, showering, dressing to meal preparation.

Our Life Without Barriers’ Home Care Packages Program is currently available at regional New South Wales, Gippsland, Victoria and Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

In Queensland, the Life Without Barriers Home and Community Care (HACC) program is now improving the lives of many older Australians from Brisbane to Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

Thanks to the Life Without Barriers HACC program many of the people they support can continue to live independently at home and in their local community.

At the end of April 2014, the Life Without Barriers HACC program at Mackay, Queensland, arranged for participants in their centre-based day care to enjoy an overnight trip to Airlie Beach.

Life Without Barriers HACC program coordinator at Mackay, Mandy Eberhardt said the feedback she received from the participants who travelled to Airlie Beach was inspirational.

One of the participants said:

“Life Without Barriers has given me a great outlook on life. Before I found Life Without Barriers, I was depressed and now I have not got time to be.”

From left standing: Kim Briggs, Life Without Barriers support worker, Lorraine Wall, program participant, Pamela Bellingham, Life Without Barriers team leader with participants, Ruth Brown, Ann (Georgia) Large and from left seated, Francis Ebner and Elaine Taylor.

veTeRans’ home caReOur Veterans’ Home Care program, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Veteran Affairs, is available for eligible veterans or widows or widowers.

The service provides a range of personal care, domestic assistance, safety-related home and garden maintenance, respite and social assistance support.

Veterans’ Home Care is available through Life Without Barriers at selected regional areas at New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

oveRnighT aTaiRlie Beach

Mandy and her team are now planning another overnight trip in June for centre-based day care participants at the Life Without Barriers HACC program at Mackay.

The trip was made possible through Liz Lewry, Life Without Barriers Operations Manager, and staff, Pamela Bellingham and Kim Briggs.

“ Our professional care team delivers the highest level of support aimed at maintaining independence and quality of life”

From left: Deepa, Jainita, Rosy, Program Coordinator Dannielle Kruse, Jane, Binod (blue top), Rajendra, Rabindra and Chirag.

ouR communiTy paThways pRogRam aT daRwin and dRiveROur passionate and energetic team at the Life Without Barriers Community Pathways Program at Rapid Creek in Darwin and at Driver deliver innovative and creative activities providing the people we support with disability with rewarding and stimulating days.

ouRnoRTheRn TeRRiToRy

leaRning aBouT The gReaT ouTdooRsOur Life Without Barriers team at Northern Territory are learning a thing or two about the great outdoors from the young people they support during day programs, according to Tabitha Rossi, Operations Manager.

“On Sunday 6 April 2014, one of our Disability Support Workers, Trish, headed out to find some art and dye materials among nature,” Tabitha said.

“Trish brought with her a young person we support, Tasha Paddy, her mum Margaret, a well-known Aboriginal artist, and a couple of their friends.

“Having packed food, water, a shovel and an axe for good measure they began the 90km drive from Katherine to Pine Creek.

“Just before they reached Katherine, some of the older Aboriginal friends insisted on stopping the bus to dig around a tree, in 39 degree heat, in search of tree roots used for dyeing material.

“They dug and chopped the roots of this tree until they had a bucket full, which took two hours, and they were dripping in sweat and covered in cuts and scratches for their efforts.

“Meanwhile Tasha stayed in the air-conditioning as others sat in the shade of a tree; before cooling off with a quick dip at Edith Falls.

“As they began the drive back to Katherine, the group insisted on stopping the bus again this time searching for flowers with a dark purple dye even if it meant bravely walking through shoulder height grass until they came across the black flower and collected a bag full.

“Our staff member Trish said that it was amazing to learn from locals how they use different roots and flowers to dye material for basket weaving,” Tabitha said.

Tasha Paddy with puppy, Archie, enjoyed a day outdoors.

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naTional ReconciliaTion week 27 may – 3 June 2014

Every year the week acknowledges and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. The week-long celebration is an ideal opportunity for all of us to explore ways to join the national reconciliation effort.

We celebrated with the launch of our Life Without Barriers Reconciliation Book. The blank sign-in book enables everyone to collect comments and note experiences about our reconciliation journey, which we hope to add to every year. The book was distributed at Reconciliation Week activities across Life Without Barriers.

pRogRamsnoRTheRn TeRRiToRy

During National Reconciliation Week from 27 May – 3 June the theme of ‘Walk The Talk’ was celebrated.

paRTy Time aT aliceOn Wednesday 9 April 2014, Life Without Barriers in Alice Springs hosted an 18th birthday party for one of the young Aboriginal women they support, Tiffany*.

Surrounded by 25 friends and family, Tiffany opened gifts and served a Scooby Doo themed cake during the movie party, followed by an after party disco. Tiffany also gave a speech to thank everyone for their support, especially her brother.

Originally from the remote Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg in the MacDonnell Shire, Northern Territory, Tiffany has been a part of the Life Without Barriers’ community since she was young. Her 18th birthday represents a transition to independence and she is currently training in retail work. *surname withheld for privacy

pRacTice and QualiTy in eveRyThing we do

The key elements and activities for Practice and Quality include: • Practiceleadership• Clientoutcomesmonitoring• Programdesignandclassification

framework• Practicesupportandadvice• QualityandRiskManagement

framework• InternalAudit• RegulatoryCompliance• PolicySystem• DelegationsofAuthority• ContinuousImprovement.

The Practice and Quality portfolio will also lead several Life Without Barriers Communities of Practice to bring together functional specialists and operations managers in partnership to innovate and improve outcomes for clients and Life Without Barriers. These include Clinical Services, Disability Services, Family Support and Out-of-home Care, and Quality and Risk.

how changes To The pRivacy acT affecT usChanges to the Privacy Act commenced in March 2014. The Act contains 13 Privacy Principles to guide the way Life Without Barriers must protect the personal and health information of our clients, carers and staff.

Under the legislation, individuals have the right to control how their personal and health information is collected and disclosed. The updated Privacy Policy applies to all services offered by Life Without Barriers.

A key feature of the Act is that Life Without Barriers can only disclose personal or health information with a person’s consent, except for an emergency, or to lessen a serious threat to a person’s health and safety, or if permitted by law. We may also collect personal information without consent under special conditions, such as when providing a health or related service or to undertake certain research or management activities.

People do not have to supply Life Without Barriers with their personal or health information however we may be unable to provide the service required or engage the individual. People are also entitled to anonymity or pseudonymity when transacting with Life Without Barriers. We must also allow people to access and amend the personal and health information held by Life Without Barriers.

Further information is available in the Life Without Barriers Privacy Factsheet, or for specific questions or advice please contact privacyofficer@lwb.org.au

As part of the recent changes to the Life Without Barriers senior management, a new portfolio has been established called Practice and Quality led by Mary McKinnon.The purpose of this work to manage client services within a best practice framework.

This new arrangement will allow for a more targeted, cohesive and responsive approach to service improvement activities.

The new team will work together to provide leadership, critical practice support and compliance with standards, legislation and contract requirements.

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We celebrate the ability, strengths and diversity of people with disability.

That’s why every year we’re proud to host our National Disability Services Achievement Awards to coincide with the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December.

Our sixth annual awards showcased the achievements of people from across Australia, and we were delighted to share their incredible stories of resilience, courage and perseverance.

Last year The Veggie Box Delivery Group from Rocherlea, Tasmania won our Community Builder Award.

Through the Veggie Box program, six men – Leigh Barnes, Lee Carver, Stephen

Clark, Nigel Duerden, Jeffrey Goodluck and Michael Ling – are making the most of a valuable opportunity to gain new skills, increase their social interaction and contribute to the community.

As they go through their day and deliver their veggie box to people who can’t get to the grocery store, the men have established wonderful relationships with community members, developed new friendships, and contributed to the capacity of the community to be able to address food security issues.

Tony Crothers, Program Coordinator, Rocherlea, Tasmania said the program provides customers with easy access to

The veggie BoX BRings people TogeTheR

Allan Barton, Disability Support Coordinator, Life Without Barriers Rocherlea, Tasmania with a participant in The Veggie Box program, Stephen Clark.

Our Life Without Barriers’ team at Alice Springs held a smoking ceremony at the office on Monday 3 March 2014.

With our Chief Executive, Claire Robbs in attendance, four women from the Alice Springs Akeyulerre Healing Centre – Margaret Kemarre(MK) Turner, Bessie Liddle, Ava Wallace and Pam Lynch – visited the office to conduct the ceremony.

Having gathered fresh emu bush leaves in the morning, it began with MK Turner indicating the ceremony would focus on ‘wellness and healing so everyone can move from strength to strength’.

Staff and the people we support then walked through the smoke, from leaves being set alight, and were brushed with emu bush. Pam Lynch walked from room to room, smoking out negativity and ushering in the future.

Claire Robbs thanked participants adding: “We’re always keen to deliver services to help local people live the best life possible and, our whole Life Without Barriers team is striving to do more for local people, especially children, young people and their families.”

Lorraine Liddle, Operations Manager, also thanked the healing centre for the ceremony – which had a personal touch thanks to the participation of her mother Bessie.

eveRyone loves alice

Chief Executive Claire Robbs was brushed with emu bush from Bessie Liddle as part of a smoking ceremony at Life Without Barriers, Alice Springs.

locally grown produce, while reminding local farmers that their produce is valued.

“One of our regular customers is an elderly gentleman with disability who relies on us for the delivery of fresh vegetables every fortnight as he doesn’t have easy access to transport to go shopping,” Tony said.

The Veggie Box program is another reminder that Life Without Barriers is committed to assisting people with a disability to develop skills, build community connections and access key services to sustain the best living arrangements possible.

Lorraine is an Arrernte Luritja woman who is proud of her Aboriginal culture. She was born and raised in Alice Springs and has a strong connection to her country and people of the region.

“Locally we deliver disability services, family support and out-of-home care, and for older Australians, we provide home care packages,” Lorraine said.

we honouR ouR JouRneyIn this 20th anniversary year, we pay tribute to our Life Without Barriers journey.

Life Without Barriers was established through the shared determination of local community members in Newcastle who wanted to improve the lives of people with disability.

Motivated by their own personal experiences and in response to demand for local disability support services, they decided to act.

Generating interest in the community, proposing to create a new non-government organisation for supporting people living with disability, a Board was formed and Life Without Barriers was established.

Since those days in the early 1990s, of supporting and delivering services, initially for people with disabilities, we have held to the fundamental ethos that

Terry Lawler, Chair of the Board

Urthboy and Josh Pyke, two of Australia’s hottest musicians joined forces with some of our young people in foster and residential care to create a music track and animated video clip which talks directly about their experiences in care.

On Thursday 6 February 2014 Australia’s national youth music station Triple J launched Someone Else’s House and it then reached third place on the Australian

giving a voice To ouR kids in caRe

Josh and Urthboy at Triple J for the launch of Someone Else’s House.

Urthboy joined forces with young people in care.

people achieve better outcomes when their natural supports and relationships are strengthened within their community.

Through our dedicated, well-qualified professionals delivering locally responsive, coordinated and integrated services to our most vulnerable community members, we’ve come a long way.

With relationships at the foundation of everything we do, we have forged our own path.

Our model of support and approach to identifying and recruiting the best person for the job across the service sectors has allowed us to reach into some of Australia’s most remote communities. State and regional offices have been established as we’ve grown, ensuring we remain close to the local communities that we support.

Now Life Without Barriers is one of the most significant providers of community-based services in Australia – and we employ local people.

Our services are now delivered across more than 250 communities with a ‘never say no’ innovative approach coupled with a responsive problem solving attitude. We are also trusted by government, the community and clients in both the conduct of our organisation internally and publicly.

We’ve got many achievements to celebrate.

Though still a relatively young organisation, we are able to draw upon learnings from the past to shape our future direction. We have our leaders, past and present, to thank for who we are today.

Let’s all be proud to be part of this great organisation.

Hip-Hop iTunes’ charts. The track now regularly features on Triple J and ABC TV’s Rage and has reached more than 22,000 hits on YouTube.

Two of the young people consulted for the track, Josh and Anthony also talked on Triple J about their experience in foster and residential care.

www.lwb.org.au