Download Visions November 2009 in PDF - Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

NEWS AND
EVENTS
Here are some important
happenings in the Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT calendar.
To stay even more up-todate,
visit our website:
www.guidedogs.com.au.
Wednesday
4 November 2009
Centre for Eye Health
officially opened by Professor
Marie R Bashir AC, CVO
Governor of New South Wales
Monday 16 November to
Thursday 3 December 2009
Access All Areas Film Festival:
free screenings of Australian
films made accessible to people
who have a disability. Visit
www.accessallareasfilmfestival.
com.au for more information.
Sunday 28 February 2010
Dragon Boat Races, Chinese
New Year Festival, Sydney
Chief Executive Officer’s message
You might be surprised to see a new face and name in
this section.
After nearly 19 years leading Guide Dogs NSW/ACT,
Joe Finucane stepped down from this role at the end of
September. During Joe’s tenure, the number of services
delivered to clients increased more than six-fold, and the
number of working Guide Dogs almost tripled.
Joe’s strategic insight has led to numerous worthwhile
initiatives that have enhanced and enriched the range of
services offered to the community. Certainly, under Joe’s
leadership, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has grown into an
extremely strong organisation with excellent positioning
within the sector. It also has the potential and resources to continue to grow to meet the
expanding needs of those people in our region who have impaired vision or are blind.
The Board has appointed me Chief Executive Officer of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, effective
October 1. I will also be continuing in my current position as Chief Executive Officer of
Guide Dogs Victoria, a role I have held since 2005.
The strategy behind having a single CEO for the two organisations is to encourage
them to collaborate and work together; to learn from each other; to find efficiencies and
improvements; to exchange ideas; and to increase our buying power and influence. And this
is being totally driven by the two organisations’ shared mission to improve the quality of life
of those living with impaired vision.
My plan is to meet everyone over the first few months, and to communicate openly the
Boards’ and my thoughts regarding opportunities, objectives and results. I look forward to
learning more about the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT operation and the communities it serves.
Graeme White
Chief Executive Officer
VISIONS ...
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Dogs NSW/ACT.
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Guide Dogs message sticks in taxis
Unfortunately, we still hear
of Guide Dog users
being refused entry into taxis
because of their Guide Dogs.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has
been working with the NSW
Taxi Council to reduce this
form of discrimination. In
response, the council has
recently amended its Taxi User
Charter of Rights.
The charter is displayed on a red and white sticker in all taxis. The new version includes
the phrase “A driver is not allowed to refuse to carry any assistance animal including Guide
Dogs”. Under the text, there’s an image of a Guide Dog in harness.
The new stickers will be gradually rolled out over the next two years.
2 GUIDE DOGS NSW/ACT