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Contents
Message from the Chair & Chief Executive Officer.....................................................3
Treasurer’s Report......................................................................................................6
Board Members...........................................................................................................8
Our Supporters............................................................................................................8
Contact Details..........................................................................................................14
VisAbility Story 2018 Poster Description...................................................................15
Guide Dogs Tasmania Our Story 2018 Poster Description.......................................18
Guide Dogs Western Australia Our Story 2018 Poster Description..........................20
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Message from the Chair & Chief Executive Officer
Recognition. Transformation. People. As we reach the halfway mark of 2018, and we
reflect on the months that have past, these three key themes define the
extraordinary progress we’ve experienced on this year’s journey.
At VisAbility, we never stop discovering new ways to be relevant. New ways to be
sustainable. New ways to build strong partnerships. We stand up, front up and are
willing to put in the hard work; to take a bold new direction. This year we have grown
in ways we never knew we could.
This year VisAbility gained significant recognition from Government, winning notable
grants across a number of sectors. We were recognised with a five-year contract to
deliver Disability Employment Services for people with a sensory disability in
Western Australia and Tasmania. Our new employment service is delivered in
partnership with CoAct, the fourth largest national provider of employment services
in Australia.
We were one of only two service providers recognised through the Federal
Government’s Print Disability Services Program, a crucial project providing $5.7
million to produce alternative formats to meet the needs of people living with a print
disability.
The Australian Electoral Commission recognised VisAbility as the preferred supplier
of accessible material to people who are blind or have low vision. We were also
appointed to the National Panel of Assessors under Job Access for the next five
years.
Every stride we take is towards our vision of independence for people with disability.
We are here to empower. To enable. To engage.
And we have continued to effect transformational change. Earlier this year, VisAbility
was selected as the only Western Australian organisation to take part in the NOUS
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Community Partnership Scheme. We’re transforming our social media presence
through work with ground-breaking social media experts Hancock Creative through
the Bankwest Foundation Gain and Retain Program.
Through VisAbility’s Strategic Directions 2018-2021, seven priority themes define our
strategic direction over the next three years. Our actions are shaped around the
Australian Business Excellence Framework (ABEF).
We’ve undergone a transformation in the way we operate. VisAbility’s NDIS funded
services continue to grow strongly, with 94% of funding previously provided through
block grants successfully replaced with individualised funding under the NDIS. This
will ensure the continuity of services for clients now and into the future.
Guide Dogs WA and Guide Dogs Tasmania are meaningful, well-loved brands.
Through the Guide Dogs Australia alliance, we play a vital role in providing people in
Australia with quality, nation-wide Guide Dog services. In a coup for our brands, this
year Guide Dogs was again recognised as Australia’s Most Trusted Charity, for the
sixth consecutive year.
In a first for our organisation, two Autism Assistance Dogs graduated in Western
Australia. These dogs have truly transformed the lives of their new families -
providing safety, independence, inclusion and companionship.
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 people of different roles and
responsibilities.
We are proud of the strong bank of expertise we have built over many years. Our
culture is one of trust, freedom and responsibility. Our ethos on managing
performance? We let the results speak for themselves. At VisAbility, we believe that
trust is always more powerful than control.
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The contributions from the Western Australian and Tasmanian communities are
generous, inspiring and sincerely appreciated. Donations, volunteering, gifts in wills
and generous contributions from our supporters and funders have helped us
transform the lives of people with disability for over 100 years, and ensured this into
the future.
Thank you to our talented Board and our deeply knowledgeable staff. The path we
tread isn’t always easy, but we move forward with strength of conviction and a clear
purpose. Our inspiration is the transformations we have seen in our people: our
clients and their families, our leadership team, our employees and our communities.
We will continue to strive to achieve this and much more. To have a clear vision; to
be ever prepared; to break new ground; to be unafraid of whom we need to be.
This is our vision for independence. We’re proud to be leading the way.
Debbie Schaffer OAMChair
Dr Clare AllenChief Executive Officer
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Treasurer’s Report
“Your grant funding and donations matter: every single dollar of it.”
Throughout the 2017-18 financial year, VisAbility, now a multi-state service provider,
mobilised 98.9% of its total revenue of which $11.85m is from your grant funding and
donations. This was used to positively impact upon the lives of Western Australians
and Tasmanians who are blind or vision impaired and who have other disabilities,
through a combination of programs and services.
VisAbility has performed well during the financial year. Total revenue and income
increased by 4.2%, ($555k) while total expenses decreased by 7.5% ($1.10m).
Grants and subsidies from federal and state government and other local funders
represent 45% (2017: 51%) of VisAbility’s total revenue. Accordingly, I would like to
acknowledge our partnering funders for their financial contribution towards essential
programs and invaluable client services.
Donations, bequests and fundraising appeals contributed 40% (2017: 31%) to the
total revenue to support our client service delivery work and to pay support costs that
underpin the activities of our philanthropic arms, Guide Dogs WA and Guide Dogs
Tasmania.
Bequests and legacies are always critical to our ongoing work because they enable
us to provide services additional to those funded by government. I am very grateful
to those who leave their legacy to VisAbility.
Despite the decline in government grants, NDIS income and other fee for service
almost doubled compared to the previous year. Total expenses (excluding
depreciation and amortization) decreased by $970k.
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I would like to commend VisAbility’s management for working tirelessly to ensure the
organisation’s sustainability so we can continue delivering life-changing services to
Western Australians and Tasmanians who have a disability.
I would like to thank my Board colleagues for donating their time, skills and
experience. I also express my appreciation to the staff for the great work they do
every day and for their dedication to our mission and vision, to VisAbility members
for their support, to the many worthy organisations and to our dedicated volunteers
for the in-kind support we received. Thank you.
Financial Summary
Statement of Financial Position
Total Assets $25,948,647
Total Liabilities $4,467,917
Total Net Assets $21,480,730
Total Equity* $21,480,730
*The Total Equity includes $4.8m contribution from the merger with Guide Dogs
Tasmania last financial year.
The financial summary should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes
set out on Annual Audited Financial Statements. For a complete copy, visit
www.visability.com.au or contact our office.
Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income
Total Revenue and Income $13,860,780
Total Expenses $13,708,933
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Board MembersDebbie Schaffer OAM Chair
David Bevan
Jenny Dawson
Lorraine Driscoll
Kym Georgiou
David Ligovich
Scott Marston
Prof. Iain Murray AM
Sue Shoobridge
Helen Smith OAM
Hayden White
Our Supporters
Gifts in Wills and Major Supporters
AdvanceAlexander Edwin Poad
Alice Jean Tremlett
Anthony John PorterAntonio Panaia
ASGATCOAtholie Gwen HoughtonBankwestBatteryworldBourke Memorial Trust
Brian Cowan
Bruce Wall TrustCatherine May Hardy
Cecilia Lee Che Veal
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Cecily Sinclair Smith
Chung Wah Association Inc.City Of BelmontCity Of GosnellsCity Of PerthCorrs Chambers WestgarthCottesloe VetCyril Maitland Brown
Department Of Mines, Industry, Regulation & SafetyDoreen Letcher
Dorothy Joy Jones
Edward Bruce WickingsEvelyn Mary Oates
Fairbrother FoundationFrank Heinz Ebell
Friends of the Community - TasmaniaGeoffrey Charles Draper
Gerty Ewen
Gloria Mary Moyse
GreenstoneGrill’d Brookfield PlaceGuide Dogs Australia - The late Valma June Cook
Gustaf Ringstrom
HawaiianHoliday Inn Perth City CentreHoundstooth Studio by Alex CearnsIdexxIsobel James Thurza
Jackson McDonaldJanet Lucy Shaw
Jean Freda Hanlon
Kathleen Patricia Ellen Young
Kevin and Edna Appleton
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King and Wood MallesonsLesley JohnstoneMadge Herma Meadows
Marjorie Gladys WolfeMary Louise JonesMelvie Mary BennettMerial (Nexgard, Paragard, Heartgard)
Metro TasmaniaMishak Turner
Mosmans RestaurantNeil Thomas
New Town ToyotaNorma Joan Tyler
Norman Gordon BradfordOlive Ruth Atherton BonnyParticia E Dorlandt
Perpetual - Alan and Lilian Cameron TrustPerpetual - Francis John Longhurst TrustPerpetual - Hansen and Kean TrustPerpetual - Harry Frederick Carter TrustPerpetual - Jean Marion Isobel TrustPerpetual - Jeanne Krajanich TrustPerpetual - John W R TrustPerpetual - Lindsay and Nan Wilkinson TrustPerpetual - Margaret Harper TrustPerpetual - Maud CreaseyPerpetual - Mildred TonksPerpetual - William H SchuetzPerpetual - Henry AbbottPerth UpmarketPETstockPrecision ArtPublic Trustee - The Alan Dexter Strawbridge Trust
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Rappaw PrintsRF and RE Cane Charitable TrustRio TintoRiverton LeisureplexRobert John Russell
Sally Tracey
SpecsaversSwan TaxisThelma Joyce ElmerThink Fragile X FoundationTony Wood
Town of Victoria ParkTrixie Franklin
Valma E Davenport
Vetcentre MontroseVerna Rowbotham
William Eastcott Higgs
William Garrod
Puppy Sponsors
Barbara SelfBridget StottBryce and Fae BurrowColes - Western AustraliaFremantle Ports AuthorityGuide Dog Day 2018Henry and Malita RonchiIvan HalbertJean ArkleyJo Wheatley John HughanLiz and Lucas WilkMcCusker Charitable Foundation
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Prairie Dunes PlaceSwan Taxis Team Jog for a Dog Teoh FamilyTerry KrysynaThe late Mr Brian CowanThe late Mr StrawbridgeThe late Mr Tony WoodThelma StewartThink Fragile X FoundationTony and Felicity WalchWheatley Family Foundation
Guide Dogs Australia
Guide Dogs Tasmania and Guide Dogs WA belong to the Guide Dogs Australia
alliance, and work collaboratively with the four 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.
Life Members
Ron Anderson OAM
Cam Ansell
Michael Barton
Connie Craig OAM
Professor Geoff Gallop AC
Dixie Gunning OAM
Tony Hagan
Peter Hickson
Lester James
Dorothy Judd
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Kim Laurence
Tina Mackay
Ross McLean OAM
Steve Moore
Elizabeth Needham
Jean Perron
Dr L.S. (Stan) Perron AM
Peter Potter MBE
Ruth Reid AM Cit. WA
John Rodgers
Roma Shilling
John Thompson
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Contact Details
Western Australia
The Perron Centre
61 Kitchener Avenue
Victoria Park WA 6100
PO Box 101 Victoria Park 6979
Tel: 1800 VISION (847 466)
Tasmania
164 Elizabeth Street
North Hobart TAS 7002
PO Box 82 North Hobart TAS 7002
Tel: 1800 484 333
Email: [email protected]
VisAbility website: visability.com.au
Connect with us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visabilityAU/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-the-blind-of-wa---
guide-dogs-wa
ACN 604 293 209
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VisAbility Story 2018 Poster Description
Visible
We communicate transparently. We trust, and can be trusted. We connect and
participate. We are open, and true. We have a voice.
At VisAbility we live and breathe our values. We have focused on becoming more
accessible and visible, connecting with our clients and fostering our relevance to our
communities. An impressive 34% of our services have been provided in the
community, and 66% at our hubs. Our service delivery breakdown was 6%
Accessible Information, 26% Therapy for Children and Youth, 28% Leisure, Sport
and Recreation, and 40% Therapy for Adults.
Belonging
We welcome everyone. We see a world where everyone is equal, everyone is
included. Our vision for independence is strong. We're continually striving to connect
with our far-reaching community, and this year we established two new community
hubs, in addition to our five regional hubs.
Talking books make the world of difference to a person with vision impairment,
connecting them to the world around them. This impact can't be understated when
you learn that 72,449 digital talking books were listened to from our library over the
past year!
We value everyone who works with us and are proud to say we have 432 volunteers
contributing 20,300 hours to VisAbility. Astonishingly, the total employment duration
of all our employees is 637 years!
Opportunity
We believe in abundance and diversity. In a world where everyone can achieve their
goals. In a world that continues to evolve, discovering new ways for people to grow.
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We are proud to deliver services to clients of all ages and over the past year we
have connected with 4,185 people in Western Australia and 858 people in Tasmania.
Our employment program is exceptional and life-changing. Twenty-four job seekers
are now employed thanks to this remarkable program.
We value the drive and enthusiasm of young people entering the workforce. Last
year we hosted 36 student placements at VisAbility and employed three new
graduates.
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.
Stepping into one another's shoes gives us a better opportunity to meet our
community's needs. We partnered with the State Library of Western Australia to
include Braille in Babyways Touch and Feel Backpacks, so that parents of children
with vision impairment don’t miss out on this important new parent resource.
We added 1,102 new titles to our online library collection and had 23 organisation
attend our free access workshops. We’re thrilled to have received an impressive
$92,000 in funding for our How I Learn project: an important new project empowering
young people with a disability to share their unique learning and accessibility needs
with their teachers.
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.
We are proud that in delivering 83,600 service hours, we have achieved an
outstanding 93% customer service ranking of good to excellent. We are also a
National Disability Services Award finalist in Western Australia for our ground-
breaking ROAM program.
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Acknowledging our work in accessibility, we have been awarded funding through the
Print Disability Services Program, amounting to $1,653,300 over three years (2018-
2021).
We are transforming our Social Media Strategy through grants received from
TasCOSS NDIS Providers Development Fund (TAS) and Bankwest Foundation
Handcock Creative Gain and Retain Program (WA).
We will continue to strive for excellence in everything we do, and to always have a
clear vision for transforming the future for people with a disability. This is our vision
for independence. We’re proud to be leading the way.
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Guide Dogs Tasmania Our Story 2018 Poster Description
Guide Dog Program
2017-18 was a big year for Guide Dogs Tasmania, with new puppies, new staff
members and new events all resulting in an exciting year for the organisation.
In the Guide Dog Services department, the addition of a Cadet Guide Dog Mobility
Instructor resulted in more dogs being trained during the year, quicker services to
clients, and the expansion of services with our Companion and Therapy Dog
Program.
During the year we welcomed 11 new pups into our program; almost double the
number we took on the year before. Thanks to the Blind Foundation New Zealand,
we were able to source a more continuous supply of pups that will help ensure we
keep up with the demand of Guide Dogs in Tasmania well into the future.
The new additions to our puppy program, took the total number of dogs in training to
14. All of those little legs walked a combined total of 9,000 kilometres this year! The
organisation also held 24 group puppy classes, visited the vet 98 times, and fed the
hungry puppies a total of 2,730 kilograms of kibble!
To support the additional puppies joining the program, we had an increase in Puppy
Development volunteers with 23 new families coming on board. We also saw a high
retention rate of current volunteers at 86% - a great achievement!
During the year we placed four Guide Dogs with clients across Tasmania, along with
one Companion Dog, and carried out 59 aftercare visits. Our total number of working
Guide Dogs at the end of 2017 – 18 was 21, an increase of three from the previous
year. We’re excited to see this number steadily grow over the next few years to
reflect the recent growth in puppy numbers.
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Due to the growth in the Guide Dog department, we were able to hold our first Test
Drive a Guide Dog Day for young Tasmanians living with vision impairment. This full-
day, hands-on workshop was a huge success, generating several Guide Dog
referrals and promoting our services through the extensive media coverage on the
day. Out of the six participants, aged 14 – 21 years, 66% have gone on to pursue a
Guide Dog as a mobility option – a fantastic outcome!
Fundraising
Supporting our Guide Dog services was the Engagement and Fundraising
Department, which brought in $973,217 of donations across the year. Part of this
revenue came from our iconic Collection Dog program, which continued to perform
outstandingly thanks to the steady stream of donations coming in from the 1,983
sites hosting Collection Dogs.
A restructure of our Engagement and Fundraising Department occurred at the
beginning of the 2017-18 year. This saw the creation of three new roles, and the
appointment of one, full time staff member. With a refreshed team, our Street Appeal
was a great success, raising over $13,000 from generous Tasmanians.
Across the year, we held a total of 130 fundraising events and our Ambassador Dog
Dexter visited 85 sites – talk about busy!
Along with our dedicated staff, our fundraising volunteers were vital to the success of
these events, helping with the organisation and running of many. We also had great
support from our corporate volunteers, who contributed a total of 80 hours during the
year. In fact, across the whole organisation, volunteers contributed around 139,776
hours during 2017-18!
That concludes the highlights from 2017 – 18 – a year of growth and new
opportunities in many areas of the organisation. For us, what this really means is that
we can provide more services to even more Tasmanians who need our assistance.
Let’s bring on an even better 2018 – 19!
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Guide Dogs Western Australia Our Story 2018 Poster Description
Guide Dog Program
2017-2018 was a busy and successful year for Guide Dogs WA. During the year we
welcomed 21 new puppies to the pack. The puppies were sourced from Guide Dog
Schools across Australia and the Blind Foundation in New Zealand. The new arrivals
took the total number of puppies in training to 39.
We were able to match 10 trained Guide Dogs with Western Australians during the
year, bringing the total number of working dogs we support across the state to 51. A
total of 111 aftercare visits were made to our working dogs and clients in the
community.
Our Buddy Dogs for Kids program achieved an important milestone this year with the
placement of the first two trained Autism Assistance Dogs with Perth families. With
the objective of improving quality of life for a child living with autism and their family,
these first two dogs have had a profound and positive effect on the safety,
independence and inclusion of the children and their families. In addition, another 10
Therapy and Companion Dogs were placed with individuals and families living with
disability in Western Australia.
To support the increased number of puppies and diversified training program, we
welcomed to our team a Guide Dog Services Coordinator to oversee all aspects of
the Guide Dog Services department. In addition, our first two Cadet Guide Dog
Trainers both successfully completed their 18 month traineeship in April and joined
the team as qualified Guide Dog Trainers.
The increase in the number of puppies and dogs also resulted in an increase in the
number of veterinary visits, which totalled 136 during the year. There were 39 group
puppy classes held during the year. The puppies and dogs in training chewed on 630
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toys and nylabones and consumed 8,190 kilograms of kibble during the year. That is
a lot of kibble – 8.19 metric tons!
The dogs and puppies in training clocked up a total of 23,100 kilometres of training
walks, which is the equivalent of walking from Perth to Sydney, seven times!
Fundraising
The Engagement and Development department provide the fundraising and
marketing services for Guide Dogs WA. The fundraising income was $4,606,045,
which was derived from a number of programs, including bequests, donations,
Puppy Pals, community fundraising events such as the HBF Run for a Reason and
the annual Guide Dog Day Street appeal plus the 1,325 full size and mini dog
collection containers located in businesses, offices and venues across Western
Australia.
Ambassador Dogs Annie, Maddy and Eva made 280 public relations appearances
during the year, attending supporter fundraising events across the metropolitan area.
A total of 118 community fundraising events were held, making a valuable
contribution to the fundraising income.
None of this would have been achieved without the invaluable support from a
dedicated team of volunteers who supported all aspects of the fundraising and
training program. A huge 145,600 volunteer hours contributed to the work of the
organisation. Corporate volunteers contributed another 110 hours.
We look forward to continued growth and development in the new financial year and
achieving our vision for independence.
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