December 2015 (PDF Version)

Issue #7
December 2015
#7
WE’RE FOR
WORKING
TOGETHER
05
JIMMY’S
NDIS
STORY
07
TAS THINKING
OUT OF
THE BOX
LWB Executive Team and Northern Territory staff gathered in Darwin
to celebrate 10 years of LWB in the Top End (story on page 8).
16
WE PUT
CHILDREN
FIRST
20
INTRODUCING
LIVE LIFE,
LIVE WELL
www.lwb.org.au
WELCOME TO WE LIVE LIFE
Wishing you a safe and happy festive season.
As we celebrate, we thank you – our valued carers, partners and staff for brightening
the lives of the people we support, especially children and young people in our care.
All year round we aim to achieve a fairer and more inclusive community through
partnering with people and supporting them to change their lives for the better.
This edition of We Live Life shines the spotlight on our volunteers and staff, who
through their passion and commitment, are making a true difference.
We will continue to deliver our important care and support services during the festive season, with
our offices closed only during the public holidays. You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram to join the conversation with us at any time at @LWBAustralia
A MESSAGE FROM OUR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
CLAIRE ROBBS
With 2015 coming to a close, I’d like to take this
opportunity to reflect on our achievements of the
past 12 months.
This has been another full year for
Life Without Barriers’ staff and carers
and we were pleased to honour their
achievements, their service and
commitment to making a true difference,
through a number of awards programs
this year.
This is our second year in celebrating
Australia’s wonderful carers through the
National Carer Awards and as we go to
print, the State and Territory Winners for
2015 are all being announced (see page 12).
We also celebrated our staff through
our Employee Recognition Awards,
recognising their commitment to our
Values, quality service delivery and their
years with LWB.
Both awards are a small way of saying
‘thank you’, and a way to showcase the
extraordinary work of volunteers and staff.
We put the safety of our clients and
employees first in everything we do, and
we recently launched We Put Children
First, publicly sharing our stance on child
safety and wellbeing.
We have also audited the findings of our
‘happiness’ survey and I encourage you to
read our summary (see page 17).
Over the past 12 months, we’ve been able
to support over 14,600 children, young
people and adults across Australia in ways
that have been important and vital to
each person. We expanded our Aged Care
services in NT, SA and QLD; opened a new
mental health service in Victoria; launched
NEXT STEP Aftercare for those leaving
out of home care; and established new
supported-living sites for people
with disability.
These highlights and more are found in
our 2015 Annual Report which I invite
you to read on our website.
Thank you to our partners, community,
carers and everyone who, through their
engagement with LWB, has helped others
live their life without barriers.
I wish you a safe and happy holiday season
and look forward to sharing LWBs stories
with you in 2016.
2|3
NEW AND
IMPROVED:
FRESH
SPACES
FOR CLIENTS
From one office in
Newcastle 20 years ago,
we now have locations
across Australia.
Dandenong Service Centre, Victoria
Alice Springs Office, Northern Territory
We now work in more
than 300 communities
across Australia, delivering
a portfolio of successful
community-based programs
to nearly 12,000 people.
In Victoria our service centre in
Dandenong is now open with colourful
spaces for our staff and clients supported
in Aged Care, Out of Home Care and
National Immigration Service (NISS).
Our service centres are safe and
vibrant spaces for our clients and local
communities to come together and enjoy
the Life Without Barriers support and
services, companionship and sense of
belonging.
Also in Victoria, our Epping centre,
provides NISS and disability services, and
recently hosted a family afternoon with
food, games and live music to celebrate
its opening. A rare Manna Gum tree was
planted in the grounds, to symbolise a new
beginning for the centre, and our aspiration
to grow and thrive together with our
community.
Our new centre in Rapid Creek, Darwin
is another large, bright space offering our
programs across disability and aged care.
At our National Office in Newcastle, we
recognised Biraban, an Aboriginal leader
from the Awabakal Nation, with the
renaming of our meeting room. Biraban
was a skilful artist and linguist who helped
interpret for fellow Aboriginals in court in
the early 1800s.
Elder, Aunty Zelma led the ceremony
to rename our National Office rooms in
recognition of the traditional custodians of
the area and around Newcastle: Awabakal
Nation, Biripi Nation, Worimi Nation,
Wonnarua Nation and Darkinjung Nation.
Our Alice Springs regional office
underwent a facelift, with the outside of
the building now reflecting the LWB team’s
energy and ongoing commitment to the
area. It also provides a clear and colourful
landmark for the local community; a space
where they know they can go to receive
the support and services they require to
achieve their life goals.
For more information on where
we’re located across the country,
visit www.lwb.org.au
A LITTLE IMAGINATION
LIGHTS THE WAY
A client-centred, clientdriven program which
has continually evolved
and expanded through
the creative thinking,
unwavering energy and
generous spirits of the
Life Without Barriers
staff and clients, who have
formed an amazing team.
When LWBs WA Aboriginal State Lead,
Tony Sibosado learned of an unused
building in Hamilton Hill, the team in
Bibra Lake came up with an imaginative
way to make the most of it.
Megan Dadley, LWB Disability Care
Coordinator decided to convert the
space, known as the Burdiya Centre, into
a working art studio for the Life Without
Barriers “Art Without Barriers” program.
Megan used a little imagination and a
lot of passion to create a self-sustaining,
rewarding experience for the local
community as well as our clients.
“The main objective at the centre was
initially just to be creative and use
recyclable things to make the program
self-sustainable,” says Megan.
“In 2014 we engaged a local artist to
assist clients in our Out Of Home Care,
Disability and Mental Health support
programs, to operate the workshop as
an outlet for students to express their
creativity.”
These students have become masters in
their own right, and in another display of
our values, have developed a relationship
with local boutique Cinque Candle Co
LIGHT UP
YOUR HOME
You can support the continued success
of this program while enjoying the
beautiful artwork of our clients. The 2016
calendars are available to purchase for
$22.95 and candles are $32.95 each.
Visit www.facebook.com/
artwithoutbarriers for more information
or contact megan.dadley@lwb.org.au to
place your order ASAP. Prices include
postage and the proceeds of all items go
to our clients who made them.
One of the artworks featured in the 2016 calendar
NDIS:
REAL LIFE,
REAL STORIES
A candle from the collection.
4|5
which now features their art on a collection
of luxury soy candles as well as a 2016
calendar.
“After seeking left-over furniture to paint,
we had soon filled our centre” says Megan.
“So we decided to sell the pieces to create
room for our next projects”.
Word of the refurbished furniture spread,
and donations of pre-loved furniture as
well as clothes began to come into the
centre from LWB staff and all over town.
A NEW IDEA IS BORN
Vesile, a local resident from
Coolbellup, new Hamilton Hill
said “I wish there were more places
like this around. The people are
so lovely, the shop’s organised, the
clothes are high quality and at such
good old fashioned prices!
“In February this year, we decided to hold a
flea market,” says Megan. “And it really just
took off! It was such a success that the idea
to create a regular Op Shop for our clients
– and the entire community to enjoy – was
officially born.”
In late August, the LWB Op Shop officially
opened and operates every Monday,
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. It’s run by
LWB clients and already has some regular
customers.
“I come here every week (being the
shopaholic that I am) and have
told all my friends about it! Please
just don’t tell my husband I’m back,
ok?” Vesile said.
Erin, one of the clients working at
the LWB Op Shop, says it’s a must
see in Hamilton Hill.
Megan Dadley, LWBs Disability Care Coordinator
holds one of the calendars.
The Art Without Barriers working studio at the LWB Burdiya Centre.
There’s a lot to look forward to with
the roll out of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which ensures
people with disabilities make the choices
affecting their care.
hard to settle in by getting his Learner
Driver’s permit, furnishing his flat, getting
along to community events, and of course
catching up with friends and family at
the footy.
Jimmy, a Life Without Barriers client, is
a Northern Queensland Cowboys fan in
Townsville and loves nothing better than
watching his team storm to victory at
their home-ground games. Although not
originally from the area, he’s been working
Jimmy is a Kowanyama person but says
he is now a “city murri”. He lives in one
of Life Without Barriers’ independent
assisted living units in Townsville. He’s
been having professional driving lessons
and has supervised practice by using Life
Without Barriers fleet vehicles to build up
his required number of driving hours.
Jimmy has a great sense of humour, and
loves a chat with his LWB ‘family’ over
a cuppa.
The NDIS aims to ensure that Australians
with disability – just like Jimmy – enjoy
far greater choice and control over their
services and supports.
CONTINUING OUR
RECONCILIATION JOURNEY
Reconciliation is part of the fabric of Life Without Barriers.
Our ten year reconciliation journey and Reconciliation Action
Plans have ensured the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples are heard throughout our organisation and that
our work supports the cultural, spiritual and emotional wellbeing
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As we go to print, we are launching our 2016-2019 Stretch RAP,
an extension of our previous RAPs which seeks to develop
relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
and communities and implement programs for cultural learning.
Through our Stretch RAP we will extend our work in reconciliation
and challenge ourselves. We will set and monitor our achievement
of clear and measurable targets to deepen our impact.
Here are some recent milestones in our Reconciliation Journey.
Take a look at the complete journey poster on our website
www.lwb.org.au
2014
2015
189 staff identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Life Without Barriers became the Facilitating Partner for the
Stronger Community for Children (SCFC) in Lajamanu, NT.
138 carers identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
In 2014, more than 950 Life Without Barriers employees
undertook cultural awareness training.
Regional committees have been established to arrange and
support local Aboriginal cultural events and activities.
In October, Life Without Barriers signed the ‘Principles for
a partnership centred approach for NGOs working with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and
communities’.
Hosted cultural awareness camps and introductory sessions
for 195 staff and 22 carers.
Life Without Barriers was recommended to Family and
Community Services (FACS) to develop a podcast about
our RAP implementation plan.
Awarded a Commonwealth contract to provide Home
Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters services in
several locations across Australia.
Established partnership with three local Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander corporations to support us to engage
new carers and support workers who work with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander clients.
This year, Servena McIntyre, LWBs Executive Partner Organisational and Cultural Development commenced an in-depth
review of our current structure, strategies and systems relating to the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander staff and carers across LWB.
Over a six month period, Servena spent time and spoke with staff, carers and stakeholders across the country. This extensive
consultation process was undertaken with the intent to recognise, through qualitative discussions, the improvements we can
make across our organisation..
Servena has since presented her research to senior leaders across the country, and the findings of this consultation process will
directly contribute towards key recommendations as part of our ongoing workforce and reconciliation strategies.
6|7
OUT OF
THE BOX
THINKING
IN
TASMANIA
Debbie Haines LWBs Senior Disability Support Worker with client, Simon
The Rocherlea Disability Services team in Northern Tasmania was selected as
semi-finalists in the Prime Super Community Group of the Year award, part of the
Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards.
“These awards recognise groups and
organisations that make a significant
contribution to their community” says
LWB Northern Tasmania Operations
Manager, Melinda Ferrier. “The
community groups share a strong sense
of community spirit, which plays a vital
role in enhancing the social, economic,
commercial and environmental prosperity
of their region.”
Life Without Barriers in partnership
with the Northern Suburbs Community
Centre has been nominated for their work
LUNCHEON
LEADS TO
VALUABLE
RESEARCH
The Honourable Susan Close, SA Minister
for Education and Child Development,
attended the Life Without Barriers Annual
Carer Luncheon in South Australia,
meeting and mingling with carers and
staff from the Adelaide Out of Home
Care program.
The event celebrated the great work of all
our volunteer carers, but a special mention
went to Leah Potter who has been a carer
with Life Without Barriers for 10 years.
through the Veggie Box Program, which
delivers fresh fruit and vegetables to the
local community.
Clients in our Rocherlea Disability
program have been involved in collecting
and delivering vegetables to community
members since March 2011. The Veggie
Box aims to grow healthy communities
through a culture of fresh produce,
healthy food, shared stories and inclusion.
“The program has demonstrated a
range of benefits for the community,”
says Melinda. “Community education
regarding people with a disability; fresh
fruit and vegetables delivered to those
unable to leave their home due to mobility
and health issues; as well as the inclusion
of isolated community members, with
opportunities for social engagement.
“Overall, the project demonstrates a
community working together,” she said.
Although we didn’t win the award, we were
proud to be selected as semi-finalists.
LWB Area Operations Manager Out of Home Care,
Sheena Gray and Dr Sara McLean
(L-R) LWB Carer Leah Potter, The Honourable Susan Close,
LWB SA State Director, Jane Longbottom
“The key to enabling our children to
reach their full potential is for them to
feel safe and stable in a predictable care
environment,” said Leah. “They need to
know they have a ‘family for life’.”
Behaviours. She discussed current
evidence on brain development as well as
a range of relevant, useful and accessible
carer resources currently being developed.
Guests were also privy to some
entertainment by Catherine, one of
our young clients, performing an
original song.
Dr Sara McLean, psychologist and
researcher with the Australian Centre
for Child Protection presented her work
on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Related
The resources will be co-designed and codeveloped in conjunction with foster carers,
in a process of consultation with children’s
specialists, foster carers and researchers.
This initial presentation will pave the
way for a continuing partnership with
Dr McLean, through additional informal
meetings and the potential involvement of
our carers as research partners.
(L-R): LWB Carer Christine Dohnt; LWB Chief Executive Claire Robbs; LWB client, Gerarda; LWB General Manager NT
Carlie McWilliams, LWB client, Rosita; LWB Day Program client, Fairan; LWB Program Coordinator Dannielle Kruse;
LifeStyle Solutions Disability Support Worker, Edwin
TEN
YEARS
IN THE
TOP
END
Cutting the cake with (L-R) LWB General Manager NT
Carlie McWilliams; LWB client, Rosita; LWB Carer,
Christine; LWB Chief Executive Claire Robbs; LWB client,
Gerarda; Hon Minister John Elferink
Life Without Barriers proudly celebrated 10 years of
operation in the Northern Territory, with a ‘get together’ in
Darwin in September. Chief Executive, Claire Robbs took
the opportunity to reflect on our NT journey– from humble
beginnings to a footprint that supports more than 225
clients across disability services, aged care, and refugee
and asylum seeker programs.
Ten years ago the Northern Territory government approached Life Without Barriers to
consider delivering services in the NT. At the time, our operations were in New South
Wales, Queensland and South Australia. NT was looking for an organisation that had
experience in other areas and environments to bring in their broader learnings.
“We were very honest with ourselves,” said Claire. “We knew our work was different to
the other providers, and initially we struggled to set up services in this proud community.
Organisations within NT that were delivering services and doing a good job didn’t
welcome interstate novices coming in.”
We’ve worked to develop programs in partnership with the community, elders, government
and private sector to improve the lives of the people we support. Key to this was identifying
members of the community who had the skills, experience and capability, and shared our
values, to work with us to deliver these services.
“We knew it was important to get it right,” said Claire. “We have spent time reviewing
our practices, listening to our clients and working on improving the quality of our service
by building our relationships.
“We are still on this journey. However, our anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate
our achievements, and reflect on our learnings. There is always more work to be done,”
Claire said.
5
8|9
MINUTES WITH
NIKITA CHARLTON
Nikita Charlton, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counsellor based in Whyalla and
Port Augusta, South Australia, was recently chosen to appear in an advertisement for
the University of South Australia. In it, Nikita talks about studying a Bachelor of Social
Work, as well as her work with Life Without Barriers.
We took the opportunity to get to know Nikita a little better.
Tell us about your career journey so far:
I joined Life Without Barriers in 2014
as a Community Rehabilitation Support
Worker. I enjoyed facilitating clients’
coping capacities and found myself
interested in working with individuals
with self-destructive behaviour patterns.
This led me to apply for the AOD
Counsellor role, which I’ve been in since
July 2015.
What do you enjoy most about
your work?
I love working with people from all walks
of life and having the opportunity to share
in people’s recovery journeys.
I chose social work as my career because
I wanted to work in an area that would be
challenging and provide opportunities for
professional and personal growth. And I
have always enjoyed helping people and
making a difference.
How do you manage study with work?
I receive amazing support from my
supervisors at Life Without Barriers, who
often encouraged me to remain involved
in university activities. Having a daily
schedule is necessary to ensure that I am
on-task and on-track with both work and
university requirements.
While it can be overwhelming and
stressful at times, my family, friends,
work colleagues, lecturers and fellow
students are all supportive, celebrate my
achievements, and keep me motivated.
Watching clients succeed and seeing the
strengths they display (even in times
of extreme hardship) inspires me to
further develop my knowledge and skills.
Knowing that I have made a difference
and knowing that the more I educate
myself the more I can give my clients (and
the more I can teach my children) makes
me determined to work hard and achieve
my personal and my professional goals.
You can watch the video of Nikita
through UniSA’s Study at Whyalla page,
unisa.edu.au/Study-at-UniSA/RegionalStudents
HAVING A BALL IN DARWIN
Our Aged Care Services team in Darwin has enjoyed
a really active and busy couple of months.
Clients and staff recently got their dancing shoes on for the
annual Aged Care Services Ball. The evening was full of
lively conversation, music, dancing (and laughter!) followed
by dinner and dessert.
Others enjoyed a few days away from the daily grind, with
a few days’ getaway trip to Cicada Lodge in Katherine.
The group enjoyed the fantastic food, accommodation
and company as well as a spectacular dinner cruise on the
Katherine Gorge. Our clients were thrilled with the trip,
describing it as an ‘unforgettable experience’.
Aged Care Program Manager, Kellie Streeter (on the right) with client Alice.
HIPPY
NEW
SERVICE
Life Without Barriers
will soon deliver a
pioneering childhood
education program, with
a focus on Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander communities,
in Whittlesea, Victoria
and, Deception Bay,
Queensland.
HIPPY, which stands for Home
Interaction Program for Parents
and Youngsters, is a home tutoring
program for parents and their 4-5
year olds to promote early literacy and
preparedness for formal schooling.
“This is an exciting time for us,”
says Brad Swan, LWBs Director of
Operations for Queensland, Northern
Territory and Western Australia.
“While we already have some fantastic
early childhood focused services in
Northern Territory, this program is
quite unique.”
HIPPY has been subject to rigorous
independent research evaluation,
which has shown that children who
took part in HIPPY generally begin the
program with numeracy and literacy
skills well behind the Australian
average. After two years they had
caught up, and their cognitive skills
equalled those of other children.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence
created the Australian program
based on an international model
originating in Israel in the 1960s. Life
Without Barriers is delivering the
services under the license to them in
Whittlesea and Deception Bay.
Enrolments are being taken now for
the 2016 school year.
Pictured from left: Jamie Newman, CEO OAMS; Paul Griffiths, LWB Area Operations Manager Western Region;
Les Ahoy LWB Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander State Lead NSW & ACT; and Dr Steve Perterson.
A NEW MOU
IN ACT AND NSW
Life Without Barriers
is proud to have signed
a memorandum of
understanding (MoU)
with the Orange
Aboriginal Medical
Service (OAMS).
This was an important occasion for our
NSW and ACT team as it is the first formal
partnership with a NSW Aboriginal agency.
This MoU allows for all our children and
young people, their carers and carers’
children (both Aboriginal and NonAboriginal) in our Out of Home Care
programs to receive a complete health care
plan, developed in close consultations with
the child, carers and case managers. The
OAMS will also send medical teams to our
residential services on a regular basis.
It’s a significant outcome for our clients
in this region, as the OAMS will provide
Confirmation of Aboriginality to
Aboriginal children who use the service
and are leaving foster care.
We look forward to building on this
positive relationship through shared
cultural events and open days.
10|11
THE VALUE OF
UNDERSTANDING
At Life Without Barriers we’re people
people and our motivation is to champion
opportunity for all. We respect and value
the diversity of everyone we work with and
we strive to remove barriers preventing
clients from achieving their goals. This
means being open to new ideas, listening to
the needs of our clients and always looking
for better ways to work with each other –
ways that make lives better.
Our five values of; Relationships,
Imaginative, Respectful, Responsive and
Courageous are at the core of all our
actions and decision making. And as an
organisation we know that talking about
our values openly will mean we will attract
the right people.
In September, our team in Goldfields,
Western Australia, took the initiative to
translate our five values into Wangkatja,
the local Aboriginal language, to invite the
local community to share in our values and
create better understanding.
We’ve also created a one page summary
of our five values that you can download
from http://www.lwb.org.au/who-we-are/
our-values/
Our values translated to local Aboriginal language of the Goldfields
WANGKATJA
WE ARE
RESPONSIVE
Kulira palyalpayi
(Listen and do)
WHAT IT MEANS
Being responsive to the needs of people,
and being determined to get things done
the right way, quickly, every time.
WE ARE
IMAGINATIVE
Pina nintingku
(Knowledgeable ears)
WHAT IT MEANS
We are open to new ideas and to finding new
and better ways to work with people
– ways that make lives better.
WE ARE
COURAGEOUS
Rapangku palyalpayi
(Do things boldly)
WHAT IT MEANS
We stand by our convictions and
encourage open and transparent reviews
of everything we do.
WE ARE
RESPECTFUL
Pina palyangku
(Think well, good)
WHAT IT MEANS
We value the diversity, opinion and privacy
of all people, and seek to reflect this in
everything we do and say.
WE BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS
Ngaparr-ngaparrtu
kulira tjungurringkupayi.
(Meet to think things out together)
WHAT IT MEANS
It means working with individuals
to build open, confident and trusting
relationships.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We are delighted to announce the
following State and Territory winners
in the following award categories.
Family Carer Award
NT Noor Wright
QLD William Sheehan
NSW Georgie Bennett
ACT Marilyn Nowlan
SA
Maureen Brown
SA
Pat and Keith Sutton
TAS Terese Milhouse
WA Andrea Green
WA Sue Weston
VIC Mulu Mihreteab
NATIONAL CARER
AWARDS 2015
State and Territory Winners Announced!
The 2015 National Carer Awards are held in partnership between Life Without Barriers
and Carers Australia to publicly recognise and celebrate volunteer carers and foster
carers across Australia. The awards have attracted strong support from the community,
community organisations, State, Territory and the Australian Governments.
To learn more about the National Carer Awards 2015 including a full list of finalists
please visit the website at www.carerawards.com.au
Foster/Kinship Carer Award
NT Sylvia Shorty
QLD Pam and Darryl Kennett
NSW Allan Skippen
ACT Elizabeth Stanuga
SA
Leah Potter and Kevin Rewell
TAS Eleanor and John Kramer
WA Angela Haligan
WA Marcia and Trevor Brownley
VIC Shayna Henry-Camilleri
Young Carer
NT Bethany O’Shea
QLD Felipe Dos Santos Martins De Jesus
NSW Cooper Riley
SA
Laryssa King
TAS Anita Glover
VIC Auraria Steele
WA Ellie Moir
These winners will attend a ceremony
in February 2016, as finalists in the
National Awards.
RECOGNISING OUR PEOPLE
Our 2015 Employee Recognition
awards celebrated our Values
Champions, Practice Leaders and
People’s Choice winners, as well as our
many long serving staff. The winners
and nominees represented an amazing
showcase of our extraordinary people
we work with across the country and
their commitment to deliver the best
possible outcomes for our clients.
Values Champions at the National Office with LWB Chief Executive, Claire Robbs (third from left)
12|13
THE PILLOW
PROJECT
One of the handmade pillows presented to the children.
Leanne McClure (on the right) and Miss Aisling O’Sullivan,
the teacher who organised the project.
In May, students from Warnbro High School, Western
Australia, took a ‘soft’ approach to a school project and
helped bring a little comfort to children and young people
with Life Without Barriers.
As part of their Family and Community
course, the students spoke to LWBs Out
of Home Care co-ordinator at Bibra Lakes,
Leanne McClure, about making pillows
for children and young people.
in foster care. Carolyn Cook, Warnbro
High School’s Acting Principal said she
felt that the students had put more effort
into this project than others because it
was meaningful to them.
To help the students understand what it’s
like to be a child in care, one of our older
clients, aged 17, offered to talk about her
experiences in care.
Students presented their handmade
pillows to the children in September.
The children, their carers, and support
staff enjoyed meeting each other, and
the children were thrilled to have a
wonderful pillow made just for them.
The students created a pillow for all of the
children, to comfort them in their journey
The team in Coffs Harbour recognised staff with a celebration in
their office.
2015
ANNUAL REPORT
NOW AVAILABLE
You can now flip through our
Annual Report to see the many
highlights of the 2014-2015
financial year for LWB, including
the remarkable personal stories
of our clients and our work to
support them.
It’s available through our website
as a digital flip book with videos;
and a PDF summary for you to
see our achievements at a glance.
www.lwb.org.au/annualreport
The team in Queensland celebrated with a Kup Murri, a traditional underground oven.
HEALTHY
HOME
DELIVERIES
Relationships are key to us
at Life Without Barriers,
as working closely with
our communities and
stakeholders helps us to
deliver the best possible
outcomes for our clients.
Chloe Valleri, LWBs NISS Intern and Teegan Samuels, LWBs NISS NSW Cultural Liaison Officer
In NSW, our National Immigration Support Services (NISS) team has partnered
with The Ansaar Project, a halal foodbank organised by the Al-Ghazzali Centre
for Islamic Sciences and Human Development.
“We are lucky enough to have a partnership with The Ansaar Project,” says Teegan
Samuels, LWBs Cultural Liaison Officer, NSW. “Every month they provide us with
boxes of non-perishable halal approved food for us to deliver to clients in need.”
Each box contains an item from each food group, which means clients can create
healthy, well-balanced meals. Since March 2015, The Ansaar Project has delivered
20 boxes each month, and the NISS team has been able to share these with 180 clients
and families.
SPRINGING INTO THE NEW YEAR
In September, the Life Without Barriers’ Sunshine team
and clients in Victoria celebrated Ethiopian New Year
with clients, with ceremonial coffee making and bread
cutting ceremonies, and the lighting of the Chibbo
lantern to welcome their New Year.
The reception area of the LWB centre
was decorated with yellow flowers (Adey
Abeba) which signals the advent of Spring
and the end of the rainy season.
“It was great to be a part of the Ethiopian
traditions and customs,” said Yonas Dare,
LWB Case Coordinator. “There was an
amazing sense of joy among the clients
and our team.”
The local Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Group also attended and provided live
music and entertainment.
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INTRODUCING
MILA –
OUR NEW APP
Our National Immigration Support Service (NISS)
clients are now using an app – our first LWB branded
one – through iPad kiosks at our centres to streamline
registration in programs.
The app called MILA (Mapping Interactions Locations and Attendances) reduces
administrative time for staff and importantly, helps clients become familiar with this
form of technology which is used across other Australian services such as Centrelink.
The kiosks also include a user guide which is translated into 12 languages to help
clients use the system easily.
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
FOR UNACCOMPANIED
MINORS
In 2013, Life Without Barriers and Health
Outcomes International began a research
initiative to look at the services provided
to children and young people through the
Community Detention and Settlement
Programs. These children arrived in Australia
as asylum seekers unaccompanied by adult
family members.
The research shows a significant improvement
in these young clients’ life-skills and ability to
live independently within the community and
also provided a valuable opportunity to hear
directly from our clients.
Overall, the research showed that the
programs are in line with the central
purpose of Life Without Barriers: to provide
a nurturing and culturally supportive
environment for clients and will be crucial
to further improvements in the services we
deliver in the future.
The full report is available on our
website http://www.lwb.org.au/
refugees-and-asylum-seekers/
WE PUT
CHILDREN FIRST
Life Without Barriers works with children across
many of our programs, and ensuring every child is
protected, well-cared for and feels safe, is an absolute
non-negotiable priority.
OUR STANCE ON CHILD SAFETY
Every staff member, carer and volunteer
working with Life Without Barriers shares
the responsibility for child safety, and we
made our expectations crystal clear with
our document, We Put Children First:
Our stance on child safety and wellbeing,
which outlines the boundaries, behaviours
and accountabilities when it comes to
working with children.
One of the ways to guard against child
sexual abuse is to talk about it openly.
So while we know it’s a difficult topic,
we’re committed to confront it head
on, to help everyone understand what
constitutes as concerning, unacceptable
or illegal behaviour, and the consequences
associated with them.
In support of National Child Protection
Week this September, we also shared this
document with other agencies at events
in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
These events talked about Taking Action
to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and were
an opportunity to discuss learnings from
the Royal Commission into Institutional
Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, hear
from researchers and other experts in the
field, and share ideas about the prevention
of child abuse.
Gillian Calvert, LWB Board Director and Chair of the
Practice Committee; Mary McKinnon, LWB Director,
Practice and Quality; Associate Professor Daryl Higgins,
Deputy Director, Research Australian Institute of Family
Studies; Keryn Bolan, NSW Children’s Guardian
“Sharing information between researchers,
industry experts and service providers
about the prevention of child abuse means
that we can more effectively work to close
the gap between what we know and what
we do,” says Belinda Mayfield, Acting
Director Practice and Quality.
We Put Children First is now part of our
staff and carer induction processes, so that
everyone who works with us, or is thinking
of working with us, understands the
importance we place on protecting children.
Read our stance, We Put Children First
and watch our video message at
www.lwb.org.au/childrenfirst
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LISTENING TO THE
VOICES OF CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Having the right people working with
us, and ensuring we are all aware of
our responsibilities is an important
step towards protecting and promoting
the rights of children. Hearing directly
from them about their safety and
happiness is just as important.
During November 2014, we visited
1884 children and young people in
out-of-home care with Life Without
Barriers across Australia, as part of our
Children’s Voices initiative. We asked
them if they felt safe, and whether
they felt part of the family where
they lived. We also asked their Life
Without Barriers caseworker to rate
the child’s or young person’s safety
and well-being.
Where children and young people stated
that they did not feel safe where they lived,
or where the caseworker thought that
the child or young person had significant
safety or wellbeing issues, cases were
escalated to management.
Over 1,100 children and young people
aged over seven also completed a
Children’s Happiness Scale, recording
their views about whether 20 statements
about happiness and unhappiness are true
for them.
Find out more about this initiative and
the insights from the participants on our
website: www.lwb.org.au/childrenfirst
WHAT CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE TOLD US
I FEEL SAFE
WHERE I LIVE
Yes (93%)
Sort of (6%)
No (1%)
WHAT CASEWORKERS TOLD US
HIGHEST RATED
HAPPINESS STATEMENTS
• I have lots of fun (87%)
• Life is good for me at the moment (85%)
• I am treated fairly (85%)
• I am good at learning new things (80%)
• I have lots of friends (78%)
CASEWORKER RATINGS OF
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S
SAFETY AND WELLBEING
No issues (81%)
Minor issues (15%)
Significant issues (4%)
FOSTER
CARE WEEK
BRINGS FOCUS ON
COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT
Ballina, New South Wales
LWBs ICT team in Newcastle,
New South Wales
Minister for Human Services,
Jacquie Petrusma with Melinda Ferrier
LWBs Operations Manager,
Northern Tasmania
Elizabeth Town, Tasmania
While Coffs Harbour residents Melanie and Michael were unable
to have a natural family of their own, they are thrilled to be foster
carers and have a positive impact on the lives of children.
“People tell us the children are lucky to have us, but we feel even
luckier to have them in our lives as they bring us so much joy and
seeing them really blossom and grow is a wonderful experience.”
“It has brought new perspective and focus to our lives.”
After becoming interested in foster caring, Melanie said meeting
Kym, their LWB Supporter of Carers, was a godsend,
The combination of having some life experience and a strong
interest in children was enough to motivate the couple to enquire
about foster caring as together they felt they had a lot to give
to others.
“It may sound a little like a cliché, but it is actually so rewarding
to see the children happy, and feeling safe and secure and settled,”
Melanie said. “To be able to make such a big difference to their
lives is an incredible thing.
“She was such a great help when we first made contact. Kym sent
us out the information on the same day, encouraged us from the
very start and helped us get through the training process. There
was a lot of personal reflection and this was hard, but together
we have grown from the whole experience.”
With all the rich rewards in caring and in seeing the children
grow and develop, Melanie has a realistic view and says there are
also difficult days for foster carers.
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Adelaide, South Australia
Sydney, New South Wales
“It was such a steep learning curve when we became carers,
but we have learned to work within the network of support that’s
available to us through LWB and this makes such a difference,”
Melanie said.
“Kym is so supportive and easy to talk to, and continues to be
there when we need a shoulder to lean on or when situations
arise which we haven’t experienced before.
“The children also have a case worker who visits them regularly
to see how they are going. He also has been outstanding in
supporting us to manage the children during times of illness for
us, and lending a hand or giving advice generally to ensure the
children have access to what they need,” said Melanie.
Melanie and Michael are both committed for the long term and
have described the changes they have seen among children they
care for as being a great source of pride for them.
Perth, Western Australia
“We’re also happy that we’ve been able to inspire other people
we know to consider foster caring. To be able to make such a
difference in the lives of children in need of a care is one of
the most rewarding things you can do in the community,”
Melanie added.
In September in NSW, VIC, TAS and SA, Foster Care Week
celebrations were held to thank the wonderful and dedicated
foster, kinship and relative carers who work tirelessly to keep
children safe and help them fulfil their dreams, and staff and
communities around the country proudly united to show their
encouragement and support for foster carers in September.
Foster carers are an inspiration to many people and the work they
do is truly life changing. If you are interested in becoming a foster
carer, or would like more information on what is involved please
call 1800 721 226 or visit www.lwb.org.au
INTRODUCING
LIVE LIFE, LIVE WELL
Live Life, Live Well is part of the personal support activity offered by Life Without
Barriers within our range of aged care services, and extends our service support of
wellness, wellbeing and reablement, in line with the Commonwealth principles for
ageing-well.
We’ve ‘kicked’ this program off with a simple-to-follow, easy-to-do fitness video
featuring clients from Cairns. Over the coming months we will be expanding our
suite of materials and information available on our website to include the do’s and
don’ts of healthy eating, and general hints and tips.
You can watch and follow our Live Life, Live Well 30-minutes of
movement at www.lwb.org.au/agedcare or directly from our
YouTube site www.youtube.com/lwbAustralia
On 3 December, we celebrated International Day of People with Disability,
celebrating the progress made in breaking down barriers, opening doors and
realising an inclusive society for all. Our clients, carers and staff across the country
participated in events to mark the occasion and celebrate the achievements of
people with disability.
Visit our website for more information www.lwb.org.au
CONNECT, WATCH, LIKE AND FOLLOW LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS. PLEASE ‘LIKE US’ ON
FACEBOOK TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION AND SUPPORT THE ORGANISATION OR FOLLOW
US ON TWITTER @LWBAustralia, WWW.LWB.ORG.AU, LINKEDIN, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM.
www.lwb.org.au
LWB10607
In October, we piloted
our new aged care activeparticipation approach,
titled Life Live, Live Well, in
Far North Queensland, in
Cairns, Townsville, Mackay
and Rockhampton, working
in partnership with local
fitness and health providers.