Life Education Australia annual review 2O1O - Hunter Life Education

Life Education Australiaannual review2O1O

From Our PatronMessage from Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, ACGovernor-General of the Commonwealth of AustraliaAs Patron-in-Chief of Life EducationAustralia, I congratulate you on anotheryear of dedicated effort towardsenhancing the lives and futures of ouryouth, developing their confidence andwellbeing, and teaching them healthylife choices.Your contribution continues to makea significant difference in classroomsand families across our nation. Whatan outstanding result your OCSOBERcampaign produced, raising over$500,000 through the support ofindividuals and organisations inspired byyour commitment to young people andyour compassion and care in helpingthem to overcome alcohol relatedproblems.Life Education’s work sends a lifeaffirming message to all Australians.I praise your high standards andachievements maintained year in,year out; and wish you every successfor 2011.Ms Quentin Bryce, ACGovernor-General of theCommonwealth of AustraliaLife Education’s worksends a life affirmingmessage to allAustralians.2

Life Education, in partnership with Bupa Australia, has launched the latestdevelopment in its suite of primary school health education modules.All Systems Go is a science fiction take on the human body and its workings.”The Venture” and its crew take the class on an exciting and dramatic journeytravelling in the blood stream through the human body and its systems. Acombination of live action and 3D animation informs and entertains screen-savvychildren along the journey of discovery of the workings of the human bodyfrom the inside out. Key learnings include body parts and functions, and issuesrelated to the effects of healthy eating, peer pressure, second-hand smoking andmedicines.All Systems Go is delivered in schools by trained educators in our unique MobileLearning Centres, where children are engaged with hands-on interactive activitiesthat enhance and support issues arising in the DVD.These messages are reinforced with Life Education’s teacher and studentresources which are linked to state and territory curriculum and other external,complementary health resources.All Systems Go ensures Life Education’s continued success in engaging childrenwith its unique health education program that assists them to make safe healthand lifestyle choices.“Bupa is proud to partner with Life Education - a leader in children’s educationabout life and health. All Systems Go is a fun and interactive way for primaryschool children to learn about their bodies so they better understand what to doto be healthy. This knowledge will provide a vital foundation for healthy livingthroughout their lives.”Dr Christine BennettChief Medical Officer, Bupa AustraliaLife Education gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Omnilab Media andAmbience Entertainment for their technical support, digital content and mediatechnology in the development of this module.6

What we doWe build the capability of young people bychallenging their values and attitudes, expandingtheir knowledge and developing their skills.We motivate, encourage and empowerthem to exercise informed, healthy,lifestyle choices.Our program assists children andyoung people to achieve the followingoutcomes:• acquire age appropriate knowledgesupporting informed health choices• develop and practice skills andstrategies to act upon their decisions• recognise values and attitudes thatmay influence lifestyle choices andbehaviour.We have developed a unique andinnovative program - a combinationof our skilled Educators, our MobileLearning Centres and our suite ofstudent and teacher resources, as wellas our iconic mascot, Healthy Harold theGiraffe - which is used to complementlearning in the early years.We work at scale - employing 100specialist Educators and maintaining 90Mobile Learning Centres.We work with and through schools - in2010 we partnered with 3,224 schools,worked directly with approximately24,000 teachers and delivered ourprogram to 610,000 students all ofwhom visited our Mobile LearningCentres and worked interactively withour Educators.Our sessions are designed to be agespecific and sequential. Ideally sessionswould be delivered year-on-year,consistent with the partnership we seekto foster with schools.Ten modules make up the primaryschool program, focusing on personalsafety, body knowledge, self-assertionskills, healthy lifestyles, relationships,friendships and bullying, responding topeer pressure, the safe use of medicines,the effects of smoking, and alcohol andrelated social issues.The sessions for primary school childrenand their teachers are delivered on theschool grounds in specially equippedMobile Learning Centres by specialistEducators.Our secondary school program,delivered in the schools, offers alcohol,tobacco and illicit drugs modules.Schools are provided with teacher andstudent manuals and access to otherresources to reinforce and extendsessions taught by our Educators.Parents and guardians are encouragedto get involved by visiting theMobile Learning Centre and also byparticipating in family forums andinformation sessions, which providethe opportunity to share views withother parents and children, increaseknowledge and develop more strategiesto support the healthy development oftheir children.7

Why we do itLife Education was founded in the late1970s because of heightened concernsabout the misuse of illicit drugs amongstyoung people, and the immediate,sometimes tragic consequences of suchpoor health behaviours.We focused on a preventive strategy toreduce the demand for drugs, throughthe education of children and youngpeople.We recognised that an individual’sknowledge, attitudes and beliefsabout their health influence theirhealth behaviours, and consequentlytheir present and future health status.The likelihood of an individual beingmotivated to adopt health-enhancingbehaviours – rather than behaviourswhich are not conducive to health– is in part a function of the level ofknowledge, attitudes and skills which theperson has in relation to health risks.³The short term risks associated with themisuse of drugs, in particular alcohol,are still prevalent today. Not only area large number of teenagers drinkingregularly – but they are drinkingexcessively when they do drink -• 25% of 16-17 year olds drink atlevels that risked harm in the shortterm at least once a month.• 45% of 18-19 year olds drink atlevels that risked harm in the shortterm at least once a month. 4What has also emerged over the last 30years is a better understanding of thelong term risks to personal health andsafety 5 associated with a broader rangeof poor, potentially modifiable healthbehaviours – particularly smoking aswell as alcohol misuse.• While having fallen from its levelof 30% in 1999, in 2005 17% ofstudents aged 16-17 years hadsmoked in the past week.6The focus of the work of Life Educationin the Primary and Secondary schoolyears is on issues to do with drugrelated issues. While motivated by alonger term Vision of life free from theeffects of drug misuse, we recognisethe importance of intervening earlyin life and promoting in children astrong and sustainable appreciationof the importance of positive healthbehaviours such as a balanced diet andregular exercise. Hence the focus of ourearly work with younger children onissues of first principle – developing anappreciation of their body, how it works,and how to best look after it and keepit safe.Beyond an understanding of theirphysical development, we also recognisethe importance of individual social andemotional factors and the significantinfluence they have on risky healthbehaviours. A consistent focus of ourwork across the primary school years isin assisting students to understand andbetter manage relationship dynamics,including responding to peer pressure aswell as bullying.While an initiative focused on educatingand empowering individuals – childrenand young people – enabling them tomake the healthiest choices they can,Life Education also recognises that forits work to be truly effective, it needsto form part of the comprehensiveand integrated ‘whole-of-community’approach necessary to generate thesustained behavioural change it isseeking.We recognised that anindividual’s knowledge,attitudes and beliefsabout their healthinfluence their healthbehaviours, andconsequently theirpresent and futurehealth status.3See Australia’s Health 2008. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra. Chapter 4. Health Determinants : the Keys to Prevention.42007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. What makes these figures even more concerning is that since this survey, the National Health and Medical ResearchCouncil has reset its guidelines for alcohol consumption. Applying these revised guidelines, the above indicated mentioned statistics would have been worse still.5The emergence of many chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, which today account for most of the disease burden in Australia, is influencedby potentially modifiable risky behaviours such as tobacco use, alcohol misuse and the use of illicit drugs as well as poor diet, physical inactivity and excess weight.These diseases not only result in death and incapacity, they are also a massive economic burden on the community and the health system.6Drug Strategy Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. 2006.8

How well it worksIn 2010 Life Education worked in 3,224schools. Each of these schoolsself-selected to partner with LifeEducation, purchase its services andmake available its program to 610,000students in their care.It would be reasonable to conclude thatschools so select because our programis relevant and appropriate to theirstudents and is delivered consistent withcontemporary curriculum and pedagogicalpractices. This conclusion is certainlysupported in the results of the annualschool/teacher satisfaction survey.In 2009, of the 5,421 respondents (28%response rate) to our program evaluationsurvey completed by teachers:• 94% rated the program as good toexcellent in supporting their school’sdrug education policy.• 99% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’that the Life Education curriculumresources were valuable.• 93% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’that Life Education has helpedinclude drug education intoclassroom practice.98% indicated theywould recommend thattheir school rebookLife Education thefollowing year• 98% indicated they wouldrecommend that their school rebookLife Education the following year.Beyond measures of program quantityand quality, Life Education understandsthe importance of evaluating programimpact, consistent with its sought afterprogram outcomes. A priority in 2011 isto complete a project that will, amongstother things, define for Life Educationthe approach it should take to programevaluation that would see it regularlyand reliably measure change in studentknowledge, skill and attitude as a resultof their participation in our program.9

Our School feedbackNEW SOUTH WALESLife Education partnered with 1,775 schools andsupported a total of 296,995 studentsNewtown High School of the Performing Arts, SydneyWe first found out about Life Education via Royal Prince Alfred Hospital whenwe were looking for possible speakers. They have now been coming to NPA fortwo years. Their program offers advantages and benefits such as knowledge andinformation on how things impact directly on our students, and it supports ourPastoral Care and Welfare programs. It engages the students with current, relevantstatistics and information. I would welcome any opportunity to have Life Educationpresent to our Junior and Senior students.Stephen Gray, PrincipalAlma Public School, Broken HillLife Education has been coming to our school for one year, since I saw them atanother school. Their program reinforces the outcomes in our PDHPE curriculum. Thestudents are highly engaged in all the lessons they have in the Life Education van andthis enhances our school’s focus on healthy, drug free children. The van is a fantasticconcept and the students got so excited when it was in our school. It also reinforcesthe healthy eating and life style message that we try to instil in the students.Larry Micevski, PrincipalNewtown Performing ArtsSenior students showing theirenthusiasm after a visit from LifeEducation and Healthy Harold!NORTHERN TERRITORYLife Education partnered with 26 schools andsupported a total of 6,897 studentsSt Francis of Assisi Primary School, Humpty DooI heard about Life Education from a colleague. I like the choices and units availableand find that it is scaffolded throughout the year levels and brings a focus to whatwe are teaching and learning. Once we know what the topic is from Life Education,we go from there. Also in Term 3 after the LE visit, we begin a forum in which eachclass participates. We value the program and the presenter.Melanie Bolwell, Deputy PrincipalAnd from studentsWe really like Healthy Harold, the Mobile Learning Centre, learning about a healthylife and body and playing games on the website. We love Harold’s caravan, he’s funto play with and we like playing his games – he’s funny and really nice. He teachespeople not to touch drugs, and about drinking responsibly. Harold’s messages are:be careful around drugs, always eat healthy, be safe, be healthy, look after yourself,be responsible and live a healthy life, don’t smoke, don’t get drunk, do lots ofhealthy stuff.Harold with fans fromSt Francis of Assisi SchoolI’m your biggest fan, I’ll always be there for you. I like it when we get to see you andcome into your van, it’s cool. I try to be healthy all the time. I like to eat vegetablesand lots of healthy foods. Suzi came to visit today and she brought Healthy Harold,the real one, not the one on Suzi’s hand.10

QUEENSLANDLife Education partnered with 411 schools andsupported a total of 110,627 studentsBlackwater North State SchoolOur school really values the work of Life Education. Their key messages are tailoredin such a way that there is a strong alignment between a student’s social andemotional needs and the information delivered. On that note, it’s a true credit to LifeEducation that they are able to recruit such high performing educators to deliver theprogram. Their commitment and passion significantly enhances its value.I’m also impressed with the teacher resources provided by Life Education, whichprovide teachers with the opportunity to align their teaching practices in theclassroom to maximise student learning outcomes.I also think that the mobile learning centre is so important, especially to schools inremote areas. It provides our students with the same opportunity to participate inthis important program as children in more highly populated areas of the state.Landon Dare, PrincipalSOUTH AUSTRALIALife Education partnered with 314 schools andsupported a total of 50,023 studentsParacombe Primary SchoolI’ve been at this school for eight years and Life Education had been visiting since1990. The teachers choose to invite Life Education back every year. Life Educationbrings important, life long learning for the kids. It also brings a different perspectiveto drug and health education. It is the catalyst and the school follows up. It fitswithin the school curriculum; the school does work before and after the visit. It is apositive experience and includes issues like peer pressure and how to deal with it.The role plays conducted by the Life Education educator enhance the experience forthe students as they can relate to them.Healthy Harold is great for the younger kids and the sophisticated use of Haroldwith the upper primary students is appreciated. Life Education’s curriculum gives usa starting point. It’s good to get the message across while the students are young,and having Healthy Harold as a mascot makes the students look forward to seeinghim and the mobile van. The Life Education mobile classroom provides variety, it’sdifferent and special - it’s like an excursion without going anywhere.Bill Lewis, PrincipalAnd from students Carlie & Cameron - We thought Harold was fun, especiallywhen he tried to ‘eat us’ and we like how Life Ed talks differently to us about thesubjects we cover. When the van came to our school, our module was about Drugsand Alcohol and we really enjoyed hearing, Richard, our teacher. We learnt about ahealthy life and body in Year 6 and Harold also gave us advice about eating the rightfoods and about body hygiene. Every time Harold comes to our school he gives usmore information about things that we shouldn’t do when we are young. Haroldwants us to be responsible in regards to taking drugs, drinking alcohol and smoking.After the Life Education visit we went home and spoke to our parents about whatwe had learnt from Harold.Educator Casey Adams withstudents at Woorabinda PrimarySchool near BlackwaterPrincipal Bill Lewis, teacher Janineand Year 7 students Carlie &Cameron from Paracombe11

VICTORIALife Education partnered with 619 schools andsupported a total of 126,780 studentsSt Albans Heights Primary School, BrimbankI attended a forum in 1988 and became involved with Life Education. I have beenat three schools and Harold has visited all of them. Life Education brings a differentperspective to drug and health education that my staff cannot, due to lack oftraining and professional learning. It gives them a starting point to continue thesenecessary lessons which provide students with the knowledge to make sounddecisions and lead a healthy life. My students receive quality, contemporary drug andhealth education from a professional. Healthy Harold gives the kids “someone” torelate to, who’s fun and instils in them the knowledge to make healthy choices.It provides our staff with a starting point in focusing on healthy children - who areenthralled by the Mobile Learning Centre. Someone needs to impart the knowledgeand the message that illicit drugs are not good for us and that we can and shouldlead fruitful, healthy lives and not be dependent on damaging substances - LifeEducation fills that criteria.George Kalandadse, PrincipalAnd from studentsWe love Healthy Harold, the Mobile Learning Centre and learning about a healthylife and body. Harold teaches us things in an easy way to understand. He gives usinformation about things that we shouldn’t do. He’s healthy and a caring friend.Harold is cute! We want to know - How tall are you? Do you like to work at LifeEducation? Can we learn more things about how drugs and smoking are reallybad for your lungs and body parts? Since I’ve been in primary, you’ve always beenteaching us how to follow the right path of life so thanks. Are you healthy? Thanksfor all those sessions from Prep to now. You’re also very cute!Principal, George Kalandadse(top) with some of St Albans’Healthy Harold fans!TASMANIA Life Education is relaunching in Tasmania in 2011Star of the Sea College, George TownHealth and well-being take centre-stage at Star of the Sea and we include relatedaspects in all our teaching. For Term 1, students from Kinder-Year 10 are enjoying a Unitof Study that builds values, attitudes and skills for healthy choices and positive living.The Life Education re-launch is a perfect fit for us! Here we have a wonderful way ofenriching this unit and confirming a central message. Harold speaks our language!Tricia Phillips, Principal12

WEST AUSTRALIALife Education partnered with 79 schools andsupported a total of 17,072 studentsSanta Maria College, AttadaleLife Education visited a previous school I was at and I found that the studentsresponded well to the programs. Santa Maria’s Junior School was only founded in2009, and Life Education visited in its first year. Through its program, our studentsare exposed to a number of healthy living choices and options in a very interactiveand non-threatening way. The information is well-founded and easy for the studentsto understand and internalise. The programs work in conjunction with thosepresently in use in the Junior School and their booklets are easy to use and visuallyappealing. The Life Education van and Healthy Harold offer a program which fitsneatly into our plan of maintaining a healthy life style, be it for physical, emotionalor mental health.Ian Elder, PrincipalAnd from studentsWe love the Mobile Learning Centre and learning about a healthy life and body.We like Healthy Harold’s sense of humour and his tips on a healthy life style. Haroldwants us to know about the problems of smoking or drug taking and about keepinga healthy life style, staying fit and loving giraffes! We learnt a lot about keeping fitand staying away from drugs and smoking.Santa Maria students enjoying avisit from Healthy Harold13

Our FundraisingOcsoberOcsober is a national, online fundraisinginitiative that encourages people to giveup alcohol for the month of October.Legends that accept the challenge areencouraged to seek sponsorship fromwithin their personal networks, inrecognition of their efforts.Ocsober is also an importantopportunity to highlight the growingdanger of binge drinking and alcoholabuse, particularly among youngAustralians. Participants can also enjoyother potential benefits from a monthfree of alcohol, including feelinghealthier and fitter, weight loss andthe chance to enjoy Sunday morningsagain!In 2010, individuals, teams andwork groups combined to raise anoutstanding total of $500,000.The Gold Harold AwardsEach year, Life Education hosts anAwards night to recognise thoseindividuals and organisations that makea concerted effort to improve the healthand wellbeing of children and youngpeople. In 2010, the event was held atStar City Hotel in Sydney, with sponsors,nominees and guests from around thecountry. The award categories includeCorporate, Education, Entertainment,Health & Medicine, Humanitarian,Media, Sport and a special award for anLEA staff member and an LEA volunteer.The Life Education GalaThis annual dinner was held at theSebel Albert Park in Melbourne withnearly 600 supporters of Life Educationin attendance. It raised over $200,000to support the delivery of the LifeEducation program throughout Victoria.The Mango AuctionClayfield Markets Fresh again crownedCarlo Lorenti as Brisbane’s Mango Kingafter he placed the winning bid of$50,000 on 2010’s symbolic first trayof mangoes at the annual BrisbaneMarkets Mango Auction.Now in its 13th year, this iconicfundraising event raised over $65,000to be shared between Life Educationand Redkite.Trek to the ‘End of the World’Life Education’s Tasmanian Chairman,Stuart Bryce ventured on a trek of theFinisterre Range in PNG, including theWWII battle sites of Shaggy Ridge andCrater Hill, in order to raise funds forLife Education. It was a gruelling trip,with a variety of vegetation, insectlife, 500m drops and wading throughwaist high water, but Stuart and histeam survived to share their exceptionalexperiences. He rraised over $5,000towards Life Education’s programdevelopment and delivery.Our sponsors provide the financialbasis for Life Education to run thisworthy event and we would liketo acknowledge and thank ourmajor Award sponsors – Johnson &Johnson Pacific, Air Canada, Budget,AdvancedLife Photographers, PaylessShoes, BDO, Omnilab Media Group,Educational Experience, Print Nationaland Markey Insurance Brokers.In 2010, this Awards night raised over$110,000.15

Our Major SupportersAllens Arthur Robinson has kindlyoffered its pro bono legal services toLife Education for many years.Australian Self Medication Industrycontinues to support the delivery ofour Mind Your Medicine programmodule.BDO has kindly offered its pro bonoaccounting and auditing services toLife Education for many years.BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal hassupported the Life Educationprogram in the Upper Hunter regionfor over five years.BP has supported studentparticipation in the Life Educationprogram in the Le Fevre Peninsulafor the past decade.Budget has been a valued partnerof Life Education in Victoria for over12 years. We also welcome thepartnership with Budget Tasmaniawhich has pledged its support inexpanding our programs there.BUPA provided funding andpartnered with us in thedevelopment of All Systems Go –see P6.Educational Experience continues togenerously support Life Education bydonating a percentage of sales fromtheir Fundraising Toys and Morewebsite and catalogue. In addition,Educational Experience partner withLife Education by providing qualityeducational resources that help oureducators deliver our primary andpreschool modules.The Fay Fuller Foundation isproviding financial support enablingthe maintenance and upgrading ofour Mobile Learning Centres in SA.Kia Motors Australia has generouslyprovided two Sorrento vehicles, tosupport our work in NSW, for use bystaff involved in extensive travel torural areas.Lifebuoy, in partnership withLife Education, developed aneducational, hand-washing DVD foryoung children featuring HealthyHarold the Giraffe.Newcastle Permanent CharitableFoundation is a foundationsupporter of our program in theHunter and has recently fundedthe refurbishment of the centre atEdgeworth.Nissan has been a proud partnerof Life Education in Victoria forover 10 years, donating vehiclesand supporting various fundraisinginitiatives.Omnilab Media Group has beena long time supporter of LifeEducation, its programs, and its GoldHarold Awards evening.Variety, the Children’s Charitydonated financial support for afully equipped Harold Expresscar in Geraldton, WA. Variety, inpartnership with Financial ServicesFoundation, has funded therefurbishment of 20 Mobile LearningCentres in Victoria. Variety hasalso provided funds to refurbish 40Mobile Learning Centres in NSW.Wesfarmers Resources hascommitted generous financialresources over three years to supportthe delivery of the Life Educationprogram to around 9,000 childrena year in Central Queensland, aswell as enabling Life Education tocommence programs in Collie, WA.Johnson & Johnson has been a longtime supporter of our Gold HaroldAwards.16

Other Notable SupportersAdvancedlife PhotographersAER Foundation LtdAHA (NSW)Air CanadaAmies Carpet CleaningANZ Staff FoundationAusdrillAustereo – KOFM / NXFMBain & AssociatesBanana BoatBarry Maney GroupBeauty WarehouseBeemart EnterprisesBendigo BankBMA & BHP BillitonBlackmoresBlueScope Steel AustraliaBob ThorpeBraecoBrisbane Produce MarketBundaberg Fruit & Vegetable GrowersBundaberg TowingCannington TowingCaptain Cook CruisesCentennial CoalChapman Animal HospitalChatsworth ConstructionsChubb Fire SafetyCoal & AlliedCobb & Co LuggageCommerce PressCommonwealth Bank of AustraliaCWAADaily Telegraph/Sunday TelegraphDarnum Nominees Pty LtdDermalogicaDiageoDick Smith AOEnergizerEnsemble TheatreErwin Sperl & CompanyEstate of the late Heather SteerEstate of the late Fredrick Roland CarrFoundation for Rural & Regional RenewalFreemasons of SA & NTGabee HandbagsGambling Community Benefit FundGlimpse Intuitive Skin CareHaigh’s ChocolatesHarvey NormanHealth & FitnessHobbycoHoepners TransportHoliday Coast Credit UnionIan Potter FoundationIllawarra CoalIMAXJanssen CosmeceuticalJohn Williamson AMJupiters Casino Community Benefit FundKeith O’Donnell & AssociatesKingston Park RacewayLions Clubs International AustraliaLions Youth Emergency AccommodationCentre (Pine Rivers) Inc.Little AudreyLindt & SprüngliLogitechLord Mayor’s Community TrustMacquarie RadioMania NationalMarkey Insurance BrokersMcWilliam WinesMichael ClarkeMinerals & Metals GroupMoonbeam Children’s FoundationMt Arthur CoalMVO ServicesMyer Community FundNBN CaresNewcastle HeraldNorthern Territory Police, Fire & EmergencyServicesOracle GroupOur Council PartnershipsArmidale Dumaresq CouncilBallarat City CouncilBallina Shire CouncilBalranald Shire CouncilBega Valley Shire CouncilBellingen Shire CouncilBland Shire CouncilBlayney CouncilBlue Mountains CouncilBogan Shire CouncilBombala CouncilBourke CouncilBrisbane City CouncilBroken Hill City CouncilBundaberg Regional CouncilCabonne Orange CouncilCamden CouncilCarrathool Shire CouncilCentral Darling Shire CouncilCity of Geraldton-GreenoughCity of HumeCity of MelvilleCity of Mount GambierCity of NewcastleCity of SalisburyClarence Valley CouncilCobar CouncilCoffs Harbour City CouncilCooma-Monaro Shire CouncilDeniliquin CouncilDistrict Council of GrantDistrict Council of YankalillaDungog Shire CouncilFairfield City CouncilGlen Innes Severn CouncilGloucester Shire CouncilGold Coast City CouncilGuyra Shire CouncilGwydir Shire CouncilHay Shire CouncilHolroyd City CouncilInverell Shire CouncilKempsey CouncilKogarah CouncilKyogle Shire CouncilLismore City CouncilLogan City CouncilLoxton Waikerie CouncilMelton Shire CouncilMid Murray CouncilMildura Rural City CouncilMoree Plains CouncilMoreton Bay Regional CouncilMornington Peninsula ShireMurray Shire CouncilMuswellbrook Shire CouncilNambucca Shire CouncilNorth Sydney CouncilOrange City CouncilParkes Shire CouncilPenrith City CouncilPort Macquarie Hastings CouncilRedland Shire CouncilRichmond Valley Shire CouncilRockdale CouncilSnowy River Shire CouncilPanthers NewcastlePayless ShoesPCYC GeraldtonPeter Doyle @ the QuayPratt FoundationPremier Motors & DirectorsPrime TelevisionPrint NationalRaymond E Purves FoundationRoyal Australian NavyRaptis Group LimitedRedback SolutionsRedland Shire CouncilRenaultRetravisionROCRotary InternationalRoyal RandwickRugby League’s One Community7 MelbourneSchickSinosteel Midwest CorporationSkydive the BeachSony Pictures & Sony MusicSouthern Cross Credit UnionSouths CaresStan Perron FoundationStewart & Sons CoachesThe ForumThe Legends ClubThe Pine Rivers Show SocietyThe Tea Room, QVBThurnham TeeceTourism Training AustraliaVale PlasticsWestpac BankWorldwide Production ManagementXstrata CoalYarradale StudZed ‘n Zed JewellersSunshine Coast CouncilTaree City CouncilTemora Shire CouncilTenterfield CouncilThe Hills Shire CouncilTweed Shire CouncilUpper Hunter Shire CouncilUralla Shire CouncilWakefield Regional CouncilWakool Shire CouncilWalcha Shire CouncilWalgett Shire CouncilWarren Shire CouncilWattle Range CouncilWaverley CouncilWeddin Shire CouncilWellington Shire CouncilWentworth CouncilWilloughby City CouncilWingecarribee Shire CouncilWyong CouncilYoung Shire Council17

Our Government SupportersDepartment of Education, Employmentand Workplace Relations (Australia)Department of Health (NSW)Department of Education andTraining (NT)Department of Health (SA)Department of Education and EarlyChildhood Development (VIC)Our Volunteers and CommitteesWe appreciate the support given to us bythose individuals around the nation whodonate their time voluntarily to assistLife Education with its commitment toAustralian children’s wellbeing.They are made up of ordinary citizenswho want to make a difference in ourchildren’s lives and who freely give muchof their time to fundraise for specificneeds in their areas and to profile LifeEducation’s programs.In some cases, these are groupsof individuals who are responsiblefor employing our Educator andmaintaining the Mobile Learning Centrein that area.We acknowledge the work, time andcommitment of those individuals involvedin these committees and thank andcommend them for their achievementsand commitment to our program.National Management TeamDavid BallhausenCEO Life Education AustraliaWith Bachelor degrees in Accounting& Finance, and Law, David worked forlocal and international investment banksfor fifteen years in corporate advisoryroles before joining the non-profitsector in 2000. He worked with a majorAustralian social enterprise for over nineyears in a variety of senior managementroles, supporting the education offinancially disadvantaged children. Hejoined Life Education in March 2010 andbecame CEO in September.Jay Bacik, CEO Life Education NSWJay has been involved with LifeEducation for ten years, previously asCEO of Life Education Australia, andcurrently as CEO of Life Education inNSW. Jay has a background in ministry,radio media and is a regular radio talkbackhost. He has worked for a numberof non-profit organisations includingAustcare, Diabetes Australia and wasCEO of Sydney City Mission Foundation.Conchita Casteigt,National Partnership ManagerConchita has a Bachelor Degree inBusiness Studies from London andReims She has worked locally andinternationally in Brand Marketing formultinational companies includingHasbro, Uncle Tobys, Nutricia andJohnson & Johnson. Throughout hercareer she has acquired extensiveexperience and a keen interest in theareas of child related industries andnutrition. She joined Life Education in2010.Michael FawsittCEO Life Education QLDBefore becoming CEO in 2006,Michael worked in many leadershippositions at World Vision, includingNational Operations Manager and QLDState Manager, creating their GlobalLeadership Conventions, engagingyoung Australians in poverty alleviation.In 2006, he was one of four finalists forthe QLD Australian of the Year Award’for his commitment to reducing globalpoverty.Bernie Foley, EO Life Education WABernie accepted the position of CEO inJanuary 2010 after serving on the Boardand Committee of Life Education inWA for five years. Previously, he spentfive years managing his own mortgagebroker’s business and eleven yearsworking in the non-profit sector withthe Muscular Dystrophy Association, MSSociety and Wheelchair Sports WA.Ann Hudson, CEO Life Education VICAnn joined Life Education in 1995after fifteen years as a PE and Scienceteacher. She spent seven years as aneducator, then moved to the Melbourneoffice as Education & Training Manager.Heavily involved in CurriculumDevelopment, Life Education enticedher to Sydney for three years as NationalCurriculum and Training Manager. Annbecame CEO of Victoria in early 2008.Robyn Richardson,National Manager,Program Development and TrainingRobyn joined Life Education in 2008and is responsible for the coordination,development and evaluation of the LifeEducation Program as well as resourcesto support its delivery. Previously ateacher and manager in the educationsector, she brings over 20 years’ primaryand secondary teaching experience tothis role.Michael Vitullo, General Manager -Finance & AdministrationMichael joined Life Education in 2006taking on a similar role for both LifeEducation nationally and the NSW stateoffice. He is also Company Secretary forboth organisations. He has a Bachelorof Business (Accounting) degree andis a CPA member. He has held seniormanagement roles in international andlocal IT, retailing and SME consultingorganisations.18

National Board of DirectorsTony Hasham AM (Chairman)Tony first met Ted Noffs, founder of LifeEducation, in 1975. He was chair of LifeEducation in NSW for two years and adirector since 1992. He became NationalChairman in 2005, before which he wasCEO - Asia Pacific India Division of amajor international company. Tony hasbeen involved in Variety, the Children’sCharity for 30 years and held thehonorary positions of National ChairmanAustralia and Vice President of theWorld Body, Variety International.Rear Admiral (Rtd) AL Hunt AOTony joined the Board in 1996 as DeputyChairman. He is a Councillor of the RoyalHumane Society of NSW, President of theSydney Maritime Museum, Vice-Presidentof the Royal United Services Institutionof NSW, a Councillor for the AustralianSociety of Defence Engineering and theParish of St Canice.The Hon Alan G Cadman OAMAlan held the seat of Mitchell for 33years until 2007. He became ChiefGovernment Whip and ParliamentarySecretary for Workplace Relations andSmall Business. He was ParliamentarySecretary and Shadow Minister forImmigration & Ethnic Affairs. He is nowa chairman and member of severalbusiness and charitable boards.The Hon Robert J Ellicott QCBob was admitted to the NSW Bar in1950. He held a number of FederalMinisterial portfolios including AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Home Affairs &Capital Territory. He is a member of theCourt of Arbitration for Sport for theOlympic Games. He worked closely withTed Noffs and has been involved withLife Education since its beginning.Dr Mary FoleyMary is the National Health PracticeLeader for PricewaterhouseCoopers.Prior to this, she was Chief Executiveof St Vincent’s & Mater Health Sydney,held senior corporate positions withMayne Nickless Limited; has been asenior public servant with the FederalPublic Service and NSW Department ofHealth; and the Deputy Chancellor ofthe University of Western Sydney. Maryjoined the board this year.Stephen KeltonSteve became Chairman of LifeEducation in SA in 2007. He has been adirector of TAFEs and Executive Directorof Human Resources for DEET SA. Hiscommunity involvement is extensive,including volunteer work for St Vincentde Paul.Charles KingCharlie has been a sport broadcasterwith the ABC since 1994. Based inDarwin, he commentates on localsports. He coaches Australian Rules andis also the coach of the NT Women’sAustralian Rules team. He joined LEA’sboard in 2008.Mike McAuliffeMike holds a BA (Psych) and is ownerand manager of Braeco Sales. He hasbeen a member of Rotary for 25 years,Chair of all Service Committees, ison the District Drug Abuse task forceand is Chair of the Wheelchairs forKids Management Committee. He hasserved on the WA board for 12 years,becoming Chairman in 2010.Chris MortonChris is Deputy Chairman of ASX listedproperty company, Trinity Limited, havingoriginally started his career as a solicitorand becoming a partner of internationallegal firm Phillips Fox. He currentlyholds positions as a trustee of BrisbaneGrammar School and a director of RowingQueensland. Chris was a past presidentof the Property Council of Australia(Qld). He is Chairman of Life Education inQueensland.Clare PayneClare joined the board in 2005. Shehas a degree in Communications andLaw, manages the Integrity Office ofan Australian investment bank, is aConsulting Fellow at St James EthicsCentre, a Vincent Fairfax Fellow forEthics in Leadership and a Davos FutureSummit Leadership Awardee. Clare hasraised much money for Life Educationthrough marathon swimming and is aHealthy Harold graduate!Professor Alan Rice AMAlan joined the Board in 2004. He hasextensive experience in curriculum andmanagement in both the school andhigher education sectors and was theformer Dean of the Australian Centrefor Educational Studies at MacquarieUniversity. He is a member of severaleducational and charitable boards.Paul SiviourPaul is a senior executive in the PrivateBank of Investec Bank Australia.Formerly a partner of Ernst & Young,a Director of their Corporate Financepractice for 11 years and a member ofthe Board of Partners of Ernst & YoungAustralia, Paul holds a BEc, Accountingand Finance, ACA and GraduateDiploma from FINSIA. He joined LifeEducation’s board in 2009.Lynette Thurnham AIMMLyn is managing partner of ThurnhamTeece Advertising. In 1984 she wasinstigational in setting up Life Educationin the Hunter. In 1987, Life Educationin the Hunter received NBN Telethonfunds which were used to build a fourclassroom centre on land from theState Government. Lyn was on the LifeEducation state board in NSW from1997-2001 and joined the NationalBoard in 2005.John WaterhouseRetired Chairman & Managing Directorof Fabergé Australia Pty Ltd, Max FactorAustralia Pty Ltd and Yves RocherAustralia Pty Ltd, John was a foundingmember of Variety Tent 56 and is aretired Variety board member. Hehas been involved in many charitableassociations including the SpasticCentre.Paul Wheelton OAM,BComm, CPA, FAIMPaul joined Life Education in Victoriaboard in 2001 and is Chairman of LifeEducation Victoria. He is involved inmany charities and is committed tohelping people in third world countries,including three orphanages in Bali. Heis Chairman of the Budget Rent a CarLicensee Advisory Council and MD andowner of the largest Budget Rent a Carfranchise group in Australia.19

GovernanceLife Education Australia (LEA) is acompany limited by guarantee. Itowns and continues to develop theLife Education program. Its membersinclude its affiliated, incorporated State/Territory members – Life Education NewSouth Wales, Life Education Victoria, LifeEducation Queensland, Life EducationSouth Australia, Life Education WesternAustralia and Life Education NorthernTerritory. The program is implementedacross Australia by these affiliatedmember organisations which have theexclusive right, as well as the obligation,to implement the program, plus a rangeof associated activities, in their respectivejurisdictions consistent with guidelinesspecified by LEA.LEA has an independent Board. Theaffiliated State/Territory membersare represented on this Board. Theremaining positions are held by nonaffiliatedDirectors, including theposition of Chairperson. The LEA Boardsets the strategic priorities which informthe organisation–wide approach tothe development of annual plans andbudgets.Comprised of senior executives fromacross the organisation, including StateCEOs, the National Management Teamprovides the forum through which,amongst other things, the strategicpriorities are considered and plansformulated to give effect to them.An organisation-wide planning andbudgeting process is coordinatedthrough this forum.Each State CEO is responsible forthe preparation of their State annualoperating plan and budget thatreflects the organisation-wide strategicpriorities, whilst also responding toissues specific to their State. The LEACEO is responsible for the preparationof a plan and budget for the NationalOffice as well as an aggregatedoverview of the individual plans andbudgets of each State.The Board of each State organisationwill approve the annual operating planand budget specific to its State. Therole of the State organisation involvesit working consistent with nationalguidelines in relation to programimplementation, branding, fundraising,direct marketing, communications,advocacy and public relations.LEA develops these national guidelines.The role of LEA involves it supporting,guiding and coordinating theseorganisation-wide activities, consistentwith guidelines.As a result, and to support thisarrangement, a reporting relationship isnecessary between each State CEO andthe LEA CEO as shown in the followingorganisational chart:LEA BoardLE State BoardLEA CEO*Local CommunityCommitteesLEA State CEO*National FunctionalManagers**Members of the National Management Team21

Summary of Financial ActivityINCOMEGrantsSchool FeesDonations & FundraisingInterest & MiscellaneousTOTALS2009-10 2008-09$3,027,380 $2,910,970$4,790,160 $4,206,039$2,762,831 $2,436,573$885,880 $1,494,636$11,466,251 $11,048,218EXPENDITURE 2009-10 2008-09Program Delivery $7,870,670 $7,004,424(employee costs)Other Delivery costs $2,493,017 $1,898,664Administration & $2,064,786 $2,516,746MiscellaneousTOTALS $12,428,473 $11,419,834BALANCE SHEET 2009-10 2008-09Current Assets $6,253,410 $6,355,230Non-Current Assets $2,952,273 $3,058,321Current Liabilities -$2,593,212 -$1,809,597Non-Current Liabilities -$201,813 -$249,565Net Assets $6,410,658 $7,354,389INCOME 2009-10 2008-09NATIONAL $971,340 $1,288,437NSW/ACT $5,291,079 $5,626,030QLD $1,251,707 $1,260,785NT $124,859 $124,859WA $286,943 $291,949SA $934,391 $928,836VIC/TAS $2,605,932 $1,527,322TOTAL $11,466,251 $11,048,218EXPENDITURE 2009-10 2008-09NATIONAL $1,265,201 $1,527,825NSW/ACT $5,798,201 $5,800,218QLD $1,440,367 $1,221,575NT $123,364 $123,364WA $344,450 $289,232SA $933,853 $1,059,993VIC/TAS $2,523,037 $1,397,627TOTAL $12,428,473 $11,419,834• Revenue in 2009/10 of $11.4 million was sourced, across the organisation, from school fees (42%), grants (26%), fundraising(24%) and other sources (8%).• Collectively, across the organisation in 2009/10, we spent approximately $12.4 million, 83% of which is incurred in directprogram delivery costs – primarily associated with the Educator and the Mobile Learning Centre.• In 2009/10 these direct program delivery costs – approximately $10.3 million - were the equivalent of approximately $16.90per student participating in the program.• The remaining 17% – approximately $2.1 million or $3.40 per participating student - was spent on ongoing programdevelopment, program evaluation and the provision of support for program delivery as well as fundraising.• A notional consolidated operating loss was incurred in 2009/10 of approximately $962,000. This compares with a loss of$372,000 in 2008/09.DISCLAIMER: Life Education Australia and its Affiliated Members, Life Education NSW, Life Education VIC, Life Education Qld, Life Education SA,Life Education WA and Life Education NT, are separately incorporated. The consolidated figures presented above have been compiled from thefinancial statements of these entities as well as a small number of independent fundraising committees. The major entities contributing to theconsolidated figures are independently audited. The consolidated figures presented above have not been audited. This information is provided asa guide only.22

Life Education AustraliaNATIONAL OFFICE:Level 7, 280 Pitt Street,Sydney NSW 2000Tel: (02) 8262 4300Fax: (02) 8262 4333national@lifeeducation.org.auwww.lifeeducation.org.auwww.healthyharold.org.auLife Education Internationaloffices in:BarbadosCyprusFinlandHong KongHungaryIrelandMacauNew ZealandPapua New GuineaThailandUnited KingdomUnited States of America