Annual Review 2018VisAbility

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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: info@visability.com.au

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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