SDN Children's Services Inc. Annual Report 2010

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Message from the President and the CEO SDN is setting the standard for early childhood education and care, and operates well above government requirements ‘ 2010 is the 75 th anniversary of the graduation of the first seven trainees from the original SDN Nursery School Training Centre (as it was then called). This milestone reminds us of the significant role SDN has played in ensuring that education as well as quality care is provided for our community’s youngest children. From 1932 to 1974, 786 predominantly young women were trained in Nursery School methods and approaches at our College. (See page 18 for more about the College.) This commitment to the learning and education of adults who will work with children, as well as to the learning and education of the children themselves, is still a strong element of SDN’s culture and character. The motto of the College from 1946, ‘For the little ones, the best’, continues to inspire us as we commit as many resources as possible to upgrading buildings and playgrounds and providing the best quality staff possible. For many decades, the Executive Committee (as the Board was then known) made regular visits to the Branch Committees who ran the centres. This tradition continues today, with Directors keeping in touch with the inspiring dayto-day realities of our business by visiting each centre and program annually. On a recent visit to a Sydney centre, I was told how the fouryear-old children’s passion for art had been stimulated by a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW to see an exhibition of abstract art. The children had taken with them their drawing books to record their impressions. One little girl in particular had understood absolutely what abstract art was: her drawings were extraordinary, leaping off the page and staying in my mind for ages. Such visits are so rewarding. Susan Salter ‘ Leadership For 50 years SDN’s teachers’ college shaped early childhood teaching; today, SDN is still helping define our sector with ‘ considerable thought and practice leadership. For example, our Strategic Plan for 2010–2012, Realising the Potential of Children, has as one of its goals ‘being known, recognised and listened to as leaders in the sectors in which we operate’. During this past year senior management participated in the Federal Government’s discussions that are shaping the new Early Years Learning Framework — a practice guide for Australia-wide early learning and child care. I was delighted that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and ARACY (the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth) invited me to address a dinner hosted by the Governor-General at Government House, Canberra, on some of SDN’s initiatives in reaching out to children facing challenges. Ginie Udy This national advocacy also helps us progress another aspect of our mission, that is to address inequalities that children face by getting issues of marginalisation included in national policy and practice debates. Leadership has been critical to all our achievements, and as we reflect on SDN’s history even more than usual this past year, we are struck again by the fact that it is as much a story of women’s histories as anything else. Our past leaders displayed the key values we still consider important today: being trustworthy, reliable, inclusive, respectful, creative and innovative. It is no surprise that we continue to attract strong, competent and caring women to leadership roles. Profiles of our Senior Management Team are on pages 22 to 23. Growth The photo opposite was taken at our Glebe Children’s Education and Care Centre while we celebrated the first anniversary of SDN assuming management. We were ‘ fortunate that The Hon Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Education and Training and our local Member, could join us. SDN Glebe epitomises the importance we place on developing links with the communities in which we operate, employing talented early childhood teachers and educators, and integrating the different components of our service. With the opening of our newest child care centre in Canberra, our strategy of developing more child care hubs is taking shape. Acacia, in the Attorney-General’s new building in Barton, joins Bluebell in Belconnen, Lady McKell at Goulburn and our preschool at Crookwell to offer SDN’s model of long day care, coupled with university trained teachers. In NSW, we successfully applied for a Federal Government grant of $1.6 million to build a new child care centre at Milperra in Western Sydney. Work is proceeding quickly, with an expected opening date in early calendar 2011. We are very gratified to see we are on track with our goal of growing from areas where we already have a presence. Business outlook The business outlook for SDN is positive. We have a solid financial base and a balanced risk exposure. Our new Enterprise Agreement and extensive professional development have strengthened our position as an Employer of Choice. There is a strong demand for our work, as shown by the historically high attendance rates at our centres. The State and Federal Governments are increasingly looking to fund the kind of service delivery models we have developed. We have been consistently successful in about 50% of our tender applications and are confident in our capacity to meet demand and grow. We are also confident that our current goals of providing more scholarships for young Aboriginal children, employing more Aboriginal staff and working 8 SDN Annual Report 2010
Ginie Udy, Susan Salter, the Hon Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Education and Training, and SDN Glebe Centre Director Laura Yench at the first birthday celebration of SDN Glebe more closely with Aboriginal communities will be achieved through the creation of an Aboriginal Unit and the increased public and private support we are attracting for this work. Board changes The Governance report on page 44 outlines some of the changes the Board has initiated this year. With the steady growth of the organisation and our involvement in programs with a greater risk profile, we are mindful of the need to stay focused on governance and compliance — ultimately for the benefit of the children whose wellbeing we foster. This year we sadly said farewell to Directors Ann Mitchell, Genevieve (Gennie) Kirton and Kerry Bennett. All gave gladly of their time, energy and knowledge over many years to the governance of SDN. While Ann and Gennie joined the SDN Board in 1988 and 1989 respectively, both were on Branch Committees before that. Gennie was also President from 1999 to 2002. Kerry brought us his legal expertise, was instrumental in the formation of our subsidiary company and led the work on our new Constitution. Their good humour, strong work ethic and wise counsel were treasured. We are fortunate to have Kirsty Albert and Trevor Robinson join the Board this year. Both bring new energy, enthusiasm and specific skills — and in Kirsty’s case a strong family history with SDN. Thank you It is significant to remember that we regard SDN as a community of learners which includes our members, the families and children we work with, our funders — corporate, government and private — and other organisations and institutions with whom we collaborate and to which we belong. It is the strength of this collective community that we draw upon to make any advances: so thank you all. Finally we would both like to extend a very big thank you to all the dedicated and committed staff members of SDN. Without you, none of the achievements discussed in this report would have been possible. Susan Salter, President Ginie Udy, Chief Executive Officer ‘ I extend to Ginie Udy the Board’s great appreciation and thanks for continuing to steer the organisation with such confidence, skill, foresight and dedication. I would also like to thank all the Directors for their time and valuable contributions to discussion and committee work, and especially Susan Braham and Darren Mitchell for their counsel. Susan Salter ‘ Our President, Susan Salter, and the SDN Board provide immense support and guidance to me, and to the whole organisation. They exemplify the special SDN culture that marries professionalism with warm interest and care, contributing to a strong and resilient organisation. Ginie Udy ‘ ‘ SDN Annual Report 2010 9
Page 1 and 2: SDN Children’s Services Inc. Annu
Page 3 and 4: SDN SDN Annual Annual Report Report
Page 5 and 6: What we do SDN was established in 1
Page 7: Our purpose We aim to provide the h
Page 11 and 12: Our performance: The year in review
Page 13 and 14: Goal 4 Being financially strong Our
Page 15 and 16: Encouraging a sense of community: H
Page 17 and 18: Early Learning Program is for child
Page 19 and 20: organisation, putting children firs
Page 21 and 22: 1951 Bathurst; Double Bay (closed 1
Page 23 and 24: We are constantly trying to improve
Page 25 and 26: People and Culture Unit Marketing a
Page 27 and 28: 2009-10 annual staff survey results
Page 29 and 30: Congratulations to all of our schol
Page 31 and 32: The voices of children and families
Page 33 and 34: Media coverage In 2009-10 we issued
Page 35 and 36: In 2009 -10 SDN awarded Aboriginal
Page 37 and 38: ‘ We’ve been helping families t
Page 39 and 40: The voices of families in our progr
Page 41 and 42: Effie Bland Chair of the History Co
Page 43 and 44: SDN Child and Family Services’ Bo
Page 45 and 46: Our financial performance The conso
Page 47 and 48: We thank everyone who gave permissi

SDN Children's Services Inc. Annual Report 2010

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