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N A D O 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1<br />
ANNUAL REPORT
Front Cover Image - Tomasi Taulahi
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 1<br />
TABLE OF<br />
contents<br />
reports<br />
President’s <strong>Report</strong>.........................................................................................4 - 5<br />
Chief Executive Officer’s <strong>Report</strong>.................................................................6 - 7<br />
Treasurer’s <strong>Report</strong>.........................................................................................8 - 9<br />
Governance Board....................................................................................10 - 11<br />
Service Delivery <strong>Report</strong>........................................................................... 12 - 13<br />
Human Resources <strong>Report</strong>...................................................................... 14 - 15<br />
Accommodation <strong>Report</strong>......................................................................... 16 - 17<br />
Marketing <strong>Report</strong>...................................................................................... 18 - 19<br />
Community Engagement and Sponsorship <strong>Report</strong>.......................... 20 - 21<br />
Quality Assurance and Compliance <strong>Report</strong>................................................22<br />
Clinical <strong>Report</strong>...................................................................................................23<br />
programs and stories<br />
Painting Awareness across the Blue Mountains....................................... 26<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> Sensory Store - Giving Back to the Community............................. 27<br />
Broadcasting Inclusion on the Air Waves....................................................28<br />
Sensory Store....................................................................................................29<br />
Opening of Short Term Accommodation at Winmalee.................... 30 - 31<br />
financial<br />
Extract Financial <strong>Report</strong>......................................................................... 35 - 37<br />
community<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf Day........................................................40 - 43<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong>....................................................................................... 44 - 45<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> VIP Partners................................................................................ 46 - 47
2
eports<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 3
4<br />
president's<br />
REPORT<br />
Percy Madon<br />
President<br />
“If you are facing a new<br />
challenge or being asked to<br />
do something that you have<br />
never done before don’t be<br />
afraid to step out. You have<br />
more capability than you<br />
think you do but you will<br />
never see it unless you place a<br />
demand on yourself for more.”<br />
Joyce Meyer
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 5<br />
Societies in Australia and the world<br />
have begun to look forward to life<br />
and hope beyond the last 18 months<br />
of the pandemic. The previous 12<br />
months have been challenging for<br />
most, but our participants have<br />
been some of the most vulnerable<br />
people and seeing them respond<br />
positively has provided our people<br />
in <strong>NADO</strong> with the inspiration to<br />
continue providing services of the<br />
highest quality and integrity.<br />
As I reflect on the past year, the<br />
most heartening things have been to<br />
see the growth of our organisation,<br />
our ability to adapt through<br />
innovation and the relentless intent<br />
to ensure the safety and comfort<br />
of our participants under changing<br />
circumstances and protocols. Our<br />
people are our greatest asset and<br />
creating an environment for them<br />
to thrive in is immensely humbling.<br />
As we go into print it is with great<br />
pride that we announce that <strong>NADO</strong><br />
has been recognised as a Winner<br />
for “Employer of Choice” in the<br />
Australian Business Awards <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Our CEO Denise Heath and her<br />
extended Executive team are largely<br />
instrumental in achieving this and<br />
have demonstrated great leadership<br />
in ensuring the organisation has<br />
emerged from the core of the<br />
Pandemic more strengthened and<br />
resourceful.<br />
We have prided ourselves as being<br />
an organisation that always looks<br />
forward and we are very excited<br />
with the contribution we will make<br />
to our communities through the<br />
introduction of “Share My Ability”<br />
which is a purpose built facility for<br />
everyone with all abilities to enjoy.<br />
We continue to look at strategic<br />
opportunities in the accommodation<br />
space, recognising that the<br />
government continues to encourage<br />
organisations to invest in creating<br />
more special needs accomodation.<br />
Regeneration and evolution of the<br />
Board remains a constant and I am<br />
delighted to welcome Sue Fryer<br />
to the board. Sue brings with her<br />
many years of experience with<br />
community organisations and will<br />
be an asset to the <strong>NADO</strong> family. I<br />
would also like to acknowledge and<br />
thank my fellow board members in<br />
Ray Dyer, Anil Puri, Vanessa Griffin<br />
and Sam Arnold for their continued<br />
investment in <strong>NADO</strong>.<br />
In conclusion I am reminded of what<br />
Helen Keller said “Optimism is the<br />
faith that leads to achievement.<br />
Nothing can be done without hope<br />
and confidence.”
6<br />
chief<br />
executive<br />
officer's<br />
REPORT<br />
Denise Heath<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Resilience is often discovered<br />
when we find ourselves able to<br />
handle the unexpected and more<br />
often the unwanted situations that<br />
come our way.<br />
When organisations show their<br />
capacity to rebound from adversity<br />
as a strengthened and more<br />
resourceful body, as <strong>NADO</strong> does,<br />
we can feel confident in our ability<br />
to support people with a disability<br />
and their families safely in the<br />
context of a COVID world.<br />
The team effort has been<br />
extraordinary, as has the leadership,<br />
completing major projects and<br />
commencing new projects, at the<br />
same time as delivering the<br />
high-quality customer service<br />
we pride ourselves on in a very<br />
challenging landscape. Our end of<br />
year position, with a total income<br />
increase of 9.5% is a clear indication<br />
of our continued steady and<br />
managed growth as we strive to<br />
meet the needs of our community.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 7<br />
My team has grown with the<br />
introduction of an executive Quality<br />
Assurance and Compliance role<br />
filled by Ellen McFarlane who brings<br />
a wealth of skills and experience<br />
to ensure a solid framework<br />
of reporting data and systems<br />
required of our regulatory bodies as<br />
well as satisfying our continuous<br />
improvement programs.<br />
We introduced a Project Manager<br />
to the team, Andrew Cleary,<br />
to project manage our new<br />
Sensory Activity Centre initiative,<br />
undertaking a body of work to<br />
ensure our facility provides a safe,<br />
fun and supportive environment<br />
for the enjoyment of children and<br />
adults of all abilities which is due to<br />
open late <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
The third change to the team<br />
was due to the retirement of our<br />
CFO, Narendra Charan. Narendra<br />
brought commercial accounting<br />
skills and experience to <strong>NADO</strong><br />
when our business model was<br />
changed due to the introduction<br />
of the NDIS. He implemented<br />
important systems that will place<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> in a sound position for many<br />
years to come. His successor,<br />
Mark Heinz, commenced in March<br />
<strong>2021</strong>. Mark is an accountant with<br />
both commercial and not for profit<br />
experience, well versed in the<br />
processes of NDIS and familiar<br />
with most aspects of NDIS service<br />
delivery. He is an experienced<br />
executive and rounds out our team<br />
going forward, together with Brooke<br />
Wilkie, Julia Tierney, Deborah<br />
Ferreira, Linda Wilson, Ellen<br />
McFarlane, and Andrew Cleary all of<br />
whom I thank for their considerable<br />
efforts that have contributed to<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>’s successful achievement of<br />
all set goals.<br />
Some major milestones achieved<br />
this year included two major<br />
accommodation projects. Firstly,<br />
the commencement of our shortterm<br />
accommodation facility<br />
in Winmalee, where guests are<br />
supported in the comfort of a<br />
beautifully appointed property. We<br />
are extremely proud of the outcome<br />
and know it will help many people<br />
in our community now and for<br />
many years ahead (see page 30-31).<br />
We also purchased a group home<br />
in Penrith, which also has many<br />
features that offer residents a<br />
comfortable and modern amenity,<br />
perfect for the young women who<br />
reside there.<br />
Last year, <strong>NADO</strong> became eligible for<br />
Jobkeeper with the downturn in our<br />
services due to COVID-19, with the<br />
income supporting staff wages and<br />
business costs during the initial<br />
outbreak. The Jobkeeper program<br />
of support finished in September<br />
<strong>2020</strong>, with remaining funds<br />
quarantined to provide a buffer<br />
against new outbreaks, such as the<br />
one experienced at the end of this<br />
financial year. We thank the Federal<br />
Government for the resources that<br />
are helping to maintain our staffing<br />
and services into the future.<br />
On a national scale, The Royal<br />
Commission into Violence, Abuse,<br />
Neglect and Exploitation of People<br />
with Disability exposed some<br />
heartbreaking stories that will give<br />
cause for important changes to the<br />
sector’s governance, leadership,<br />
and supervision of disability<br />
services. The Commission still<br />
has more work to complete,<br />
and we look forward to their<br />
recommendations and findings.<br />
The <strong>NADO</strong> Board have been a great<br />
support through testing times, and<br />
I’d like to thank Percy Madon, Ray<br />
Dyer, Anil Puri, Vanessa Griffin,<br />
Sam Arnold, Rhonda Burke and<br />
Sue Fryer for their commitment,<br />
experience, insights, and expertise -<br />
altogether a fantastic contribution<br />
to a valuable community<br />
organisation.
8<br />
treasurer's<br />
REPORT<br />
Anil Puri<br />
Treasurer<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> experienced another good<br />
year with continued growth in<br />
income, being 9.5% higher than<br />
FY<strong>2020</strong>, to achieve Total Income<br />
of $18,254,557 for FY<strong>2021</strong>, plus<br />
a healthy surplus of $1,287,199<br />
(down from $2,193,551 in FY<strong>2020</strong>).<br />
Despite the lingering effects of<br />
COVID on our operations, it is<br />
extremely pleasing to see another<br />
year of solid growth. The results<br />
include a modest amount of the<br />
Federal Government’s JobKeeper<br />
support payments which helped<br />
to offset the continuing impact<br />
of COVID on the various services<br />
provided by <strong>NADO</strong>. This support<br />
helped <strong>NADO</strong> to maintain a healthy<br />
financial position which meant we<br />
were better able to support our staff,<br />
our participants, and their families<br />
during this challenging time.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 9<br />
COVID restrictions and participant<br />
safety concerns continued to<br />
impact our Day Program service<br />
for most of the year. This area<br />
performed significantly worse than<br />
prior to COVID and did not show<br />
significant improvement until the<br />
last quarter of the financial year.<br />
The Connect service, while not<br />
impacted as much in terms of<br />
revenue, had a significantly lower<br />
overall result because of higher<br />
costs relating to higher staff-toparticipant<br />
ratios and associated<br />
costs. However, the decision in<br />
recent years to diversify <strong>NADO</strong>’s<br />
range of services and income<br />
streams has allowed <strong>NADO</strong> to be<br />
less impacted from the COVID<br />
challenge than otherwise would<br />
have been the case.<br />
Our operating revenue growth was<br />
mainly a result of growth in our<br />
accommodation service which was<br />
largely unaffected by COVID. In<br />
fact, the accommodation service<br />
benefited as participants were more<br />
home bound and required additional<br />
in-home support. During the year,<br />
we also launched our respite centre<br />
in Winmalee and purchased a group<br />
home in Penrith, both of which have<br />
contributed to our accommodation<br />
service income during the year. Our<br />
allied health services also showed<br />
some growth but was hampered<br />
by difficulties retaining and finding<br />
appropriately qualified staff in a<br />
very competitive labour market.<br />
Our expenses during the year<br />
climbed relative to our income<br />
because of COVID-related expenses<br />
(such as PPE) but also because<br />
of investments into training our<br />
team and improving our IT systems<br />
and related processes. These<br />
investments will continue to equip<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> with the ability to offer a high<br />
level of service to our participants.<br />
Otherwise, our expenses remain<br />
well controlled and continue to be<br />
reviewed regularly and managed<br />
closely.<br />
The surplus of $1.3m that we have<br />
delivered this year, while down from<br />
$2.2m in FY<strong>2020</strong>, is still very healthy<br />
with an operating margin of 7.0%.<br />
The ongoing impact of COVID on our<br />
Day Program and Connect services<br />
have been substantial but this<br />
has been offset by the JobKeeper<br />
payments received during the year.<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> has also quarantined some<br />
of those payments to help protect<br />
us from further impacts, such as the<br />
lockdown experienced at the end of<br />
the financial year, and to aid in the<br />
recovery of the services affected by<br />
COVID.<br />
Our cash holdings have remained<br />
stable throughout the year as<br />
a result of the surplus and the<br />
JobKeeper support. This has<br />
allowed us to invest in additional<br />
infrastructure and resources<br />
to expand our services to the<br />
community and to continue<br />
providing the level of service and<br />
support that we are proud of.<br />
We continue to have an active<br />
strategy in place to review further<br />
opportunities to invest funds to<br />
provide quality, innovative services<br />
to our community of participants<br />
and their carers.<br />
It has certainly been another<br />
challenging year, but the entire<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> team has persevered and<br />
remained positive and focused<br />
on helping our clients and their<br />
families through these challenging<br />
times. They have ensured that<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> remains very well-regarded<br />
in the region and we continue to<br />
be strongly placed to invest further<br />
in expanding our range of services<br />
and provide quality, genuine care<br />
to participants and the community<br />
that we serve.<br />
Mark Heinz<br />
Chief Financial Officer<br />
As the new CFO, commencing<br />
in March <strong>2021</strong>, I’ve enjoyed the<br />
opportunities and challenges<br />
of joining such a well-regarded<br />
organisation.<br />
Narendra Charan, previous CFO<br />
has since retired, after providing<br />
me with an extensive hand over<br />
and leaving the organisation with<br />
processes and systems in very<br />
good shape. I would like to express<br />
my thanks and gratitude for the<br />
support that I have since received<br />
from my team of Brigitte Sirocic,<br />
Lisa Devery, Bhaumika Patel and<br />
Stephen Rose. It is evident to me<br />
that my team work extremely hard<br />
and are very focused and dedicated.<br />
I would also like to thank Denise<br />
Heath for her guidance and support<br />
along with the Management Team<br />
and Board who have all made me<br />
feel very welcome.<br />
In my opinion, <strong>NADO</strong> has<br />
performed well over the financial<br />
year especially considering the<br />
ever-changing landscape in which<br />
we operate. I look forward to the<br />
year ahead.
10<br />
Percy Madon<br />
President<br />
governance<br />
BOARD<br />
Percy Madon commenced on<br />
the Board of <strong>NADO</strong> in 2013 and<br />
specialises in business leadership<br />
and management. Percy has<br />
worked with multinationals<br />
including SAP, IBM, PWC and E&Y<br />
and holds a Masters in Business<br />
Administration (MBA). He brings<br />
commercial experience and a<br />
passion for supporting people with<br />
disabilities. Percy’s commercial<br />
experience assists <strong>NADO</strong>’s<br />
transformation into a market-driven<br />
model under the NDIS.<br />
Anil Puri<br />
Treasurer<br />
Anil Puri commenced on the Board<br />
of <strong>NADO</strong> in 2014 and specialises<br />
in business development, financial<br />
management, organisational<br />
systems and team development.<br />
He is a trained accountant with<br />
a Masters of Management and<br />
has many years of experience<br />
working in corporate businesses.<br />
Anil is passionate about helping<br />
individuals and is committed to<br />
assisting <strong>NADO</strong> adapt and grow in<br />
a changing environment.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 11<br />
Vanessa Griffin<br />
Vice President<br />
Vanessa Griffin commenced on the<br />
Board of <strong>NADO</strong> in 2019. Vanessa<br />
practised as a Registered Building<br />
Surveyor for over 20 years prior to<br />
specialising in the field of access,<br />
which was her passion and interest<br />
and is now a registered Access<br />
Consultant with AACA. She brings<br />
a skill set and knowledge to ensure<br />
the built environment is accessible<br />
for all and inclusive. Vanessa is<br />
a parent to a child with a genetic<br />
disability.<br />
Ray Dyer<br />
Secretary<br />
Ray Dyer commenced on the Board<br />
of <strong>NADO</strong> in 2010 and became<br />
President in 2014. Ray has been a<br />
long-time <strong>NADO</strong> supporter, bringing<br />
a well-rounded background of<br />
relevant professional experience in<br />
human resources, management,<br />
worker's compensation and training<br />
together with a personal interest in<br />
supporting people with disabilities<br />
to be included as valued members<br />
of our community.<br />
Samuel Arnold<br />
Director<br />
Dr Samuel Arnold commenced<br />
on the Board of <strong>NADO</strong> in 2017.<br />
He is a registered psychologist<br />
and works as a lecturer in the<br />
Department of Developmental<br />
Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN)<br />
UNSW Sydney. He is currently<br />
the convenor of the Australian<br />
Psychological Society Psychology<br />
of Intellectual Disability and Autism<br />
Interest Group. Sam is passionate<br />
about the empowerment of people<br />
with disability to pursue a chosen<br />
valued life.<br />
Sue Fryer<br />
Director<br />
Sue Fryer commenced as a<br />
Director on the <strong>NADO</strong> Board in<br />
<strong>2020</strong>. Sue has more than 30 years’<br />
experience in office administration<br />
and management roles primarily in<br />
the not-for-profit sector promoting<br />
community programs. Sue brings<br />
this experience to <strong>NADO</strong> where<br />
she hopes she can further offer her<br />
knowledge and expertise and fulfill<br />
her desire of helping others.
12<br />
service<br />
delivery<br />
REPORT<br />
Brooke Wilkie<br />
General Manager<br />
This year passed very quickly as<br />
we kept pivoting our programs and<br />
services to ensure our participants<br />
were supported in the best way<br />
possible during all the COVID-19<br />
changes. Our wonderful staff were<br />
extremely supportive of changes<br />
that enabled us to continue to<br />
resume full operations, as soon as<br />
we were permitted.<br />
We had a busy time expanding<br />
our teams and services to meet<br />
emerging demands. We created a<br />
new position of Practice Manager<br />
and welcomed Tracy Smith to<br />
oversee the growing Behaviour<br />
Support Specialist Team, Support<br />
Coordination Team, and commence<br />
recruitment for a speech therapist.<br />
Sharon Morrison was promoted into<br />
the Team Leader role for Support<br />
Coordination and in addition to this,<br />
we welcomed Alex Stevens to the<br />
Support Coordination team and<br />
Hai Truong – Psychologist.<br />
1:1 services now known as “Team<br />
You” has also expanded and<br />
Anabelle Wells joined Jacki Long<br />
and Megan Hayes to assist the<br />
participants in kicking goals and<br />
changing lives.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 13<br />
Lead by Vanessa Vella-Adams as<br />
Accommodation Manager, both<br />
our accommodation and shortterm<br />
accommodation continue<br />
to grow strong with 11 group<br />
homes and 2 drop in support<br />
homes now being supported by<br />
our support staff, while our shortterm<br />
accommodation services are<br />
also expanding with an additional<br />
fully accessible house in Winmalee,<br />
Blue Mountains. The extensive<br />
renovations have provided a high<br />
level of safety, style, and comfort –<br />
some say it’s like a 5-star hotel!<br />
Day Programs had a slow start to<br />
the year with participants returning<br />
gradually after COVID. Suzanne<br />
Giordano and Tina Khalifeh<br />
supporting additional centres<br />
during this year, with Gity Shariati<br />
on extended leave. We welcomed<br />
Carey Tidyman to the team who<br />
as Acting Coordinator has been<br />
overseeing both Penrith Central and<br />
St Marys Centres.<br />
Like our other programs, our<br />
Kidszone and School Holiday<br />
programs have also had<br />
interruptions due to COVID-19.<br />
With Amy Hudson moving on to<br />
pursue other opportunities, Jessica<br />
Spiteri was successful in her<br />
application of the Coordination role<br />
looking after both programs and is<br />
bringing new and innovative ideas<br />
for our participants to enjoy, which<br />
is evident due to the increased<br />
number of kids and young people<br />
joining our programs.<br />
Vanessa Santucci, Customer<br />
Engagement Coordinator as<br />
always, played a pivotal role,<br />
coordinating our Plan Management<br />
services, supporting administration,<br />
as well as being the point of<br />
contact for <strong>NADO</strong> Sensory Store. I<br />
would also like to congratulate her<br />
on achieving Employee of the Year<br />
quarterly award.<br />
We continue our commitment to<br />
extending the depth and breadth<br />
of support worker professional<br />
training, leading to the enrolment<br />
of all members of the Leadership<br />
Team into the TAFE Leadership<br />
and Management Certificate<br />
IV. In response to the increasing<br />
numbers of participants with<br />
mental health needs, key support<br />
staff and leaders were enrolled into<br />
the TAFE training, Mental Health<br />
Certificate IV, to improve our staff<br />
skills and assist our participants<br />
more effectively.<br />
Our annual participant survey<br />
is always eagerly reviewed for<br />
opportunities to improve our<br />
services and acknowledge<br />
any contributions that make<br />
a difference. This year our<br />
satisfaction rating was high with<br />
some amazing feedback, including:<br />
“Thank you so much. I feel so<br />
blessed that Charlie has access to<br />
such an amazing facility. Please<br />
pass on our thanks to Tracey and<br />
Bella who greeted us on arrival<br />
and Bella for looking after him for<br />
the day.”<br />
“I just wanted to reach out and say<br />
how incredible the team at <strong>NADO</strong><br />
has been.”<br />
“The support coordination team<br />
and psychologists go above and<br />
beyond with such a passion for<br />
helping people. The level of work<br />
ethic and communication has<br />
been exemplary, and I wouldn't<br />
want this to go unnoticed.”<br />
“I just want to convey my sincere<br />
appreciation and thanks to the<br />
team at <strong>NADO</strong>. The people are<br />
outstanding.”<br />
The Touch Footy Team were proud<br />
to participate again in the All-<br />
Abilities Nationals at Coffs Harbour<br />
earlier this year. We fielded two<br />
teams of 10 players and although<br />
we came away with a few injuries<br />
and didn’t bring home the win, it<br />
was an inclusive event and another<br />
amazing experience for the vault.<br />
I would also like to thank the<br />
dedicated staff who attended this<br />
trip and ensured the experience<br />
was positive and safe for everyone<br />
involved.<br />
It has been a turbulent year, but<br />
there have been many highlights<br />
due to our amazing participants<br />
and generous staff on our teams.<br />
To them all, I say ‘thank you’.<br />
Finally, thank you to my colleagues<br />
in the Management team in<br />
particular Denise Heath for her<br />
guidance and support throughout<br />
the year.
14<br />
human<br />
resources<br />
REPORT<br />
Julia Tierney<br />
Human Resources Manager<br />
What a great year we have had.<br />
We continued to implement<br />
initiatives to support <strong>NADO</strong>’s<br />
strategic plan through our<br />
continued commitment to training<br />
and development, investing and<br />
implementing tools and initiatives<br />
to create a mentally healthy<br />
workplace whilst maintaining a<br />
safe workplace, namely around<br />
COVID-19.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 15<br />
Mental Health training was a key<br />
project for the year, due to the<br />
ongoing complexity of dealing<br />
with COVID-19. We listened to<br />
our employees and measured<br />
satisfaction as well as pressure<br />
points through our Employee<br />
Engagement and Mentally Healthy<br />
Workplace Surveys.<br />
Pleasingly, <strong>NADO</strong> has been<br />
recognised by Assured Programs<br />
for the work invested to create a<br />
mentally healthy workplace. How<br />
did we do this?<br />
• The introduction of the Altius<br />
Life, Health and Wellbeing app<br />
giving access to all employees<br />
• Enrolling Supervisors and key<br />
employees into the Cert IV<br />
Mental Health<br />
• The roll out of the Mental Health<br />
Awareness course for people<br />
leaders and employees through<br />
the Black Dog Institute<br />
• The implementation of the<br />
#actionforhappiness monthly<br />
calendar<br />
• The introduction of psychological<br />
job demands within position<br />
descriptions as full disclosure<br />
and transparency upfront<br />
• The introduction of mental<br />
health education awareness<br />
uploaded onto our on-line<br />
training platform, Sentrient,<br />
in particular:<br />
• Anxiety and Its Disorders<br />
• Depressive Disorders; and<br />
• Schizophrenia<br />
Whilst working on implementing<br />
initiatives to support a mentally<br />
healthy workplace, we continued<br />
to upskill <strong>NADO</strong>’s workforce<br />
by implementing new training<br />
modules to:<br />
• Better understand intellectual<br />
disability<br />
• Support a person with<br />
Dysphasia<br />
• Improve knowledge of behaviour<br />
support strategies and<br />
delivered;<br />
• Trauma Informed Training<br />
Additionally, as part of our<br />
continued commitment we<br />
were successful in obtaining the<br />
wage boost subsidy allowing<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> to place our team through<br />
many of these training courses<br />
and achieving key areas of our<br />
employee feedback around training<br />
and development.<br />
Recruitment, retention and<br />
selection strategy has been an<br />
ongoing focus of our workforce<br />
planning with key roles successfully<br />
recruited including the Chief<br />
Financial Officer, Quality Assurance<br />
and Compliance Manager and<br />
Practice Manager along with the<br />
ongoing recruitment of quality<br />
Disability Support Workers. We<br />
further focussed on a recruitment<br />
strategy in preparation for new and<br />
ongoing services.<br />
Before I close off, I wanted to<br />
take the opportunity to thank the<br />
Leadership team for their ongoing<br />
support and a special mention to<br />
Brooke Forde, HR/Payroll Officer<br />
and Ann Schmitz, Customer<br />
Service/HR Administration Support<br />
who continue to deliver a positive<br />
contribution to the HR function and<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>’s customer experience.
16<br />
accommodation<br />
REPORT<br />
Vanessa Vella-Adams<br />
Accommodation Manager<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> offers a wide range of<br />
flexible accommodation support<br />
services that allow people with a<br />
disability to build independence,<br />
participate in the community and<br />
maintain good communication<br />
with families, friends and their<br />
circle of supports.<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> currently provides Supported<br />
Independent Living (SIL) housing<br />
accommodation to ten sites across<br />
the Penrith region and we are excited<br />
to announce that we will be opening<br />
our eleventh SIL house in Glenmore<br />
Park early September <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
September <strong>2020</strong> we opened a<br />
SIL home in St Clair – two of the<br />
residents of the new home had<br />
been residing in <strong>NADO</strong>’s shortterm<br />
accommodation waiting for<br />
a suitable long term option. The<br />
residents had the opportunity to<br />
get to know each other and decided<br />
they were compatible for living<br />
together long-term with another<br />
two men who were already living in<br />
a shared house together.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 17<br />
To ensure compatibility <strong>NADO</strong> staff<br />
supported all four participants<br />
through a comprehensive<br />
transitioning process, facilitating<br />
get-togethers to have the<br />
opportunity of spending time<br />
together prior to moving<br />
in. The transition to the new<br />
accommodation went smoothly,<br />
with tailored support to meet each<br />
person’s needs.<br />
It has been great to see how Peter,<br />
Allan (Stuart), Ronald and Robert<br />
adapted to their new home and<br />
each other, the banter and rapport<br />
the gentleman have with each other<br />
is wonderful to see. Friendships<br />
have been forged and they each<br />
enjoy support and good company<br />
from each other.<br />
Supported Independent Living<br />
ensures that residents learn skills<br />
of independence, for instance, how<br />
to cook, general household tasks,<br />
purchasing groceries, budgeting<br />
and finances, and making decisions<br />
involving the daily running of their<br />
home. <strong>NADO</strong> staff support each<br />
resident to live a fulfilled life through<br />
community involvement, sustaining<br />
work placements, and learning<br />
programs and welcomes family<br />
support and involvement, ensuring<br />
family identity remains paramount.<br />
Over the past 12 months, our<br />
Short-term Accommodation (STA)<br />
located at St Mary’s (the Cottage)<br />
has supported a number of guests<br />
with a steady stream of enquiries<br />
and bookings, as well as returned<br />
guests seeking short-term support,<br />
emergency care and medium term<br />
support as they seek their forever<br />
home.<br />
In June <strong>2021</strong>, we expanded our<br />
STA in St Mary’s by an additional<br />
3 bedrooms with an additional<br />
kitchen, bathroom and living areas.<br />
We’re pleased to be able to offer<br />
more support options to our guests<br />
and a place that families can rely<br />
on for their respite needs.<br />
Finally! We were excited to<br />
announce the opening of our STA<br />
home located in Winmalee earlier<br />
this year - a project that was two<br />
years in the making. The wait was<br />
worth it with the final fit out stylish<br />
and functional.<br />
The community support has been<br />
overwhelming, with bookings taken<br />
well in advance of our opening<br />
date. Like our St Marys STA, the<br />
live-in support is there to suit a<br />
number of needs and it’s great to<br />
see the friendships forming and the<br />
independence growing.<br />
Throughout COVID-19, STA has<br />
continued to support guests and<br />
give respite to families that is much<br />
needed to see them through these<br />
difficult times.<br />
All of this is not without the support<br />
of the Accommodation Leadership<br />
team that I am so grateful to<br />
be a part of. Their passion and<br />
dedication to each resident<br />
especially through these difficult<br />
times has been something that I<br />
am personally appreciative of.<br />
Thank you to our Accommodation<br />
Coordinators; Kylie Loadsman,<br />
Aga Rogoz, Limcy Sunil, Jeremy<br />
Voorn, Yusdi Maksum and Lesley<br />
Johnson. Working together as a<br />
team we have been able to help<br />
more people, provide quality<br />
supports and celebrate the<br />
achievements.<br />
To the Accommodation Team<br />
Leaders; Victor Santos, Christie<br />
McGrath, Narelle Henderson, Carey<br />
Tidyman, Lynelle Rafter, Wendy<br />
Scott, Karen Daly, Donna Newton,<br />
Taliah Fuimaono, Michelle Felstead,<br />
Danielle Privett, Kate Agius and<br />
Annette Hofmeier - thank you for<br />
ensuring residents are supported<br />
to work towards their goals<br />
and to continue to develop their<br />
independence. To see some of the<br />
success stories and achievements<br />
is a reflection of your hard work and<br />
dedication.<br />
I would also like to thank all our<br />
support staff who work across<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>’s accommodation sites.<br />
You are the front line supports<br />
that ensures our residents<br />
experience new opportunities, are<br />
provided with the right support<br />
and encouragement to achieve<br />
their goals, but you’re also there<br />
reassuring them when things are<br />
not going so well.<br />
Your dedication and hard work are<br />
truly appreciated. Thank you for all<br />
that you do.
18<br />
marketing<br />
REPORT<br />
Deborah Ferreira<br />
Marketing Manager<br />
In a vast and ever-changing world,<br />
the challenges within a marketing<br />
landscape continue to evolve at<br />
a rapid pace. With the current<br />
pandemic impacting the lives<br />
of everyone, digital and virtual<br />
options for the way we live, work,<br />
learn and communicate have never<br />
been so important.<br />
Online video was a relatively new<br />
channel that <strong>NADO</strong> explored in the<br />
past year, with the view to promote<br />
specific services in a new and<br />
engaging manner. Four promotional<br />
videos were filmed and developed,<br />
which included our Community Day<br />
Program, Allied Health Services,<br />
Short-term Accommodation, and<br />
the Sensory Store.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 19<br />
These promotional videos were<br />
featured on the relevant advertising<br />
channels with the purpose to<br />
showcase our services and<br />
portray the professionalism of<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> in alignment with our<br />
Mission and Vision.<br />
Unfortunately, due to COVID and<br />
the inability to host our <strong>Annual</strong> Staff<br />
Conference, Marketing developed<br />
the “Year in Reflection” Video that<br />
showcased and highlighted all the<br />
amazing achievements from our<br />
participants and their support staff,<br />
which was well received among the<br />
workforce and wider community.<br />
But it didn’t stop there, an awareness<br />
video in support of International Day<br />
of People with Disability (IDPwD)<br />
was also created in additional to<br />
the Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf<br />
Day event. All of these videos are<br />
available to view on our <strong>NADO</strong><br />
Disability Services YouTube channel.<br />
From a design and print perspective,<br />
several publications were updated<br />
and refreshed including our<br />
KidsZone, NSC and a range of<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> service flyers to ensure brand<br />
professionalism and consistency.<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> also featured in the Disability<br />
Outlook magazine <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Software efficiency programs<br />
were also achieved by Marketing,<br />
with a new online booking system<br />
being built and implemented<br />
onto the <strong>NADO</strong> website. This new<br />
system focused on streamlining<br />
the booking process, enabling<br />
a smooth, simple and easy<br />
functionality when booking<br />
children’s activities and adult social<br />
events by our participants and/or<br />
their families and carers.<br />
Social media continues to be at<br />
the forefront of the organisation,<br />
allowing visual insights into the<br />
interactions with our participants<br />
and the support they receive to<br />
achieve their goals. Our numbers<br />
are growing across the major social<br />
channels, particularly Facebook<br />
and Instagram.<br />
These social channels have never<br />
proved so valuable, especially in<br />
current times as they provide us<br />
with the ability to connect with<br />
our wider community to stay<br />
positive, share our achievements<br />
and showcase the abilities of our<br />
participants on a regular basis.<br />
Our connection to the community<br />
and media were portrayed this year<br />
in the Western Weekender, Nepean<br />
News and the Blue Mountains<br />
Gazette which covered stories<br />
including an inspiring participant<br />
achievement, our Friends of <strong>NADO</strong><br />
Charity Golf Day, our first ever Art<br />
Exhibition and the opening of our<br />
new short-term accommodation<br />
in which both local and federal<br />
representatives in the office of<br />
Susan Templeman MP, Trish<br />
Doyle MP and Blue Mountains City<br />
Council Clr Mick Fell attended the<br />
official opening.<br />
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)<br />
was another successful marketing<br />
attribute to the organisation this<br />
year, with web traffic increasing 11%<br />
in comparison to the previous year.<br />
There are several contributors to this<br />
increase, including strategic content<br />
writing, backlinks, keys words and<br />
website architecture that support an<br />
overall success. Further monitoring<br />
of the website will continue as<br />
additional inclusion and accessibility<br />
features become available.<br />
E-marketing continues to be a<br />
main communication point for<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>, with community newsletters<br />
developed bi-monthly. The purpose<br />
of these newsletters is to regularly<br />
update the local community with<br />
both participant achievements and<br />
organisational news in a fresh and<br />
engaging manner.<br />
Moving forward into the next<br />
financial year, the focus will be on<br />
developing strategic marketing<br />
plans and obtaining substantial<br />
brand awareness in regards to<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>’s upcoming new business –<br />
Share My Ability, a sensory activity<br />
centre that caters for all ages and<br />
abilities which will be located in<br />
the Penrith region. This is a new<br />
and exciting project that has<br />
received positive support from the<br />
local community, and one which<br />
Marketing is thrilled to contribute to.<br />
Marketing is slowly expanding its<br />
resources in alignment to the growth<br />
of the organisation and will continue<br />
to support all three subsets of the<br />
business (<strong>NADO</strong>, Sensory Store and<br />
Share My Ability) to ensure positive<br />
growth and brand awareness is<br />
consistently maintained.
20<br />
community<br />
engagement<br />
and<br />
sponsorship<br />
REPORT<br />
Linda Wilson<br />
Community Engagement and<br />
Sponsorship Manager<br />
Despite the ongoing restrictions<br />
and how we are able to operate<br />
and host fundraising events to<br />
raise funds, I am thrilled to report<br />
with the overwhelming support<br />
particularly through our Friends of<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf Day, <strong>2020</strong>/21<br />
has been one of our best years to<br />
date raising funds.<br />
<strong>2020</strong>/21 has been a mixed bag for<br />
us all. Major events including the St<br />
Marys Spring Festival and Penrith<br />
Festival did not go ahead again<br />
due to continued restrictions with<br />
COVID-19. Networking events slowly<br />
started to come back towards the<br />
end of <strong>2020</strong>, however, not all were<br />
back to full face to face capacity.<br />
Numbers were limited at events, and<br />
everyone had to think outside of the<br />
box in how we move forward.<br />
The Sydney and Nepean Disability<br />
Expo’s both went on-line and joined<br />
Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane<br />
and Gold Coast as one big Virtual<br />
Disability Expo which still gave<br />
people living with a disability<br />
and their family and/or carers<br />
the opportunity to reach out to<br />
hundreds of NDIS service providers<br />
across the Australian East Coast.<br />
Our staff were able to speak with<br />
attendees via our online chat<br />
system, as well as via phone calls
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 21<br />
and emails and help them navigate<br />
their services.<br />
May saw us attend the <strong>Annual</strong> Great<br />
Western Sydney Careers Market<br />
held at Nepean Valley Regional<br />
Sports Centre attracting over<br />
2000 Year 10 and 12 High School<br />
students and over 100 exhibitors<br />
over a 2-day period in a COVID safe<br />
environment. This event offers<br />
students the chance to explore and<br />
speak with a variety of educational<br />
professionals and employers about<br />
further education and/or careers<br />
options available to them. Julia and<br />
her team were thrilled to have met<br />
some young inspiring students who<br />
expressed genuine interest in what<br />
we do and how they could also help<br />
people living with disability achieve<br />
their goals.<br />
Reozone continues to be our<br />
sponsor for our Employee Quarterly<br />
Awards, as well as our Employee<br />
of the Year Award. Reozone have<br />
sponsored these Award for the<br />
last few years now and we truly<br />
appreciate the support of Aaron<br />
Hadfield and his team.<br />
The <strong>Annual</strong> FishFest was held in<br />
February and again this year, <strong>NADO</strong><br />
was the proud recipient of the<br />
money raised through their ongoing<br />
charity initiative through their<br />
registration. FishFest is an annual<br />
event run by Penrith Panthers<br />
Fishing Club (PPFC). We thank the<br />
PPFC Committee for their ongoing<br />
support and value our continued<br />
partnership over the past years.<br />
We held our much-anticipated<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf Day<br />
in April and had an overwhelming<br />
sponsorships take-up, as well as<br />
additional teams which resulted<br />
in over 120 players. Thank you to<br />
everyone who attended and helping<br />
to make it such a successful day<br />
and raising much needed funds<br />
toward our new Sensory Activity<br />
Centre due to open late <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
I would like to thank our Supporting<br />
Partner Jason Roberts and his<br />
team, in particular Zach Roberts<br />
and Tom Parker at Elite Sand & Soil<br />
for their ongoing support towards<br />
this event. Each year this event<br />
keeps getting bigger, and this is<br />
largely due to Jason's support and<br />
introductions to organisations and<br />
individuals we would normally not<br />
have the opportunity to meet. I’m<br />
so proud of this event and that it is<br />
fast becoming an annual event for<br />
many to attend each year.<br />
On top of our Sponsors on the day,<br />
we also welcomed several local<br />
businesses who kindly donated<br />
towards our raffle which enabled<br />
us to raise even more money on the<br />
day.<br />
A special thank you to Vanessa<br />
Santucci (Customer Engagement<br />
Coordinator), your support on<br />
the day is greatly appreciated.<br />
Thank you also to the staff and<br />
participants; Michelle Felstead,<br />
Cameron Cook and Nicole Wort, as<br />
well as Victor Santos and Romeo<br />
Chua who also helped raise funds<br />
on the day and had fun interacting<br />
with our supporters.<br />
For more information about the<br />
day, our sponsors and donors –<br />
go to pages 40-43.<br />
Our Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> and <strong>NADO</strong><br />
VIP Business Partners continue to<br />
remain steady, and we understand<br />
the past 18 months have not been<br />
easy for a lot of businesses, but<br />
we are grateful for their continued<br />
support (go to pages 44-45 for<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> and pages 46-47<br />
for <strong>NADO</strong> VIP Business Partners).<br />
I would like to thank staff who<br />
volunteered their time at the Virtual<br />
Disability Expo in September last<br />
year and the staff who helped Julia<br />
at the Greater Western Sydney<br />
Careers Market in May this year.<br />
Lastly, although it has been a trying<br />
time over the past 12 months due<br />
to COVID, it is an honour to work<br />
with such a dedicated Executive<br />
Team, Leadership Team and Board.<br />
The guidance from our CEO Denise<br />
Heath, as well as our HR Manager<br />
Julia Tierney through these difficult<br />
times has been second to none, as<br />
they keep all staff up to date with<br />
the most relevant information as it<br />
becomes available, while keeping<br />
our participants and staff welfare<br />
and safety at front of mind.
22<br />
quality<br />
assurance<br />
and<br />
compliance<br />
REPORT<br />
Ellen McFarlane<br />
Quality Assurance<br />
and Compliance Manager<br />
The working life of a quality<br />
manager is often seen as<br />
uneventful, but not at <strong>NADO</strong>!<br />
From the moment I commenced<br />
in November as the first official<br />
Quality Manager, it was clear<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> holds a firm commitment to<br />
quality, compliance and continuous<br />
improvement. We launched straight<br />
into the new format NDIS quality<br />
and safeguards mid-term audit and<br />
demonstrated capable systems with<br />
no non-compliances but had room<br />
for some improvements. Measuring<br />
the safety and effectiveness of our<br />
services is demonstrated at these<br />
audits and a successful result is<br />
required for NDIS registration.<br />
Demonstrating a focus on<br />
participant safety, we developed<br />
new processes for documenting<br />
participant risk information,<br />
investigating critical incidents, and<br />
reviewing incidents at the new<br />
Clinical Incident Review Panel.<br />
Introduction of these new processes<br />
included broad consultation, new<br />
forms, team trainings, audit of<br />
progress and ongoing support<br />
to ensure key staff gain a full<br />
understanding of the processes.<br />
A number of exciting new projects<br />
are under development: updating<br />
policy formats, moving policies<br />
to a web-based platform for all<br />
staff to access, implementing an<br />
audit framework, investigating<br />
use of electronic signatures on<br />
documentation, and providing<br />
secure off-site access to key<br />
participant risk documentation for<br />
programs conducted in community<br />
settings.<br />
We continue to provide monthly<br />
reviews of key governance<br />
information such as complaints/<br />
compliments, conflicts of interest,<br />
risk register and incidents analysis<br />
for the Board and Management.<br />
During the year, a total of eleven<br />
policies were reviewed, and future<br />
reviews will be conducted in line<br />
with the Policy Register schedule or<br />
as required.<br />
Compliance with NDIS, NSW<br />
Health, ASIC, ACNC and other<br />
reporting requirements is ongoing.<br />
We receive regular updates from<br />
industry bodies, associations and<br />
disability services that enable<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> to keep up to date with risk<br />
management, requirements and<br />
emerging issues.<br />
It has been my privilege to<br />
join and work with a cohesive,<br />
communicative and caring team<br />
who respect the people we serve –<br />
participants – at every step of every<br />
process, as well as their colleagues,<br />
community and other stakeholders.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 23<br />
clinical<br />
REPORT<br />
Tracy Smith<br />
Practice Manager<br />
<strong>2021</strong> has been a year for change<br />
and expansion within the allied<br />
health space.<br />
The demand for mental health<br />
services within the Blue Mountains -<br />
Nepean area has increased,<br />
identifying the need to expand our<br />
services in behavioural support<br />
and psychology.<br />
By the end of June <strong>2021</strong>, our team<br />
comprised of Hai Truong, a full time<br />
Registered Psychologist, Alyssa<br />
Willis-Fink and Komal Ahmed our<br />
qualified Behavioural Support<br />
Specialists, with more recruitment<br />
in the pipeline.<br />
Commencing in early <strong>2021</strong> as<br />
Practice Manager, I joined the<br />
allied health team to manage<br />
and support our clinicians and<br />
the support coordination team,<br />
along with Trudy Smith who<br />
facilitates our administrative and<br />
reception services at our site based<br />
in Lemongrove.<br />
Sharon Morrison became the<br />
Team Leader for the Support<br />
Coordination services in July <strong>2020</strong>,<br />
and has led a growing team of<br />
five, with Alex Stevens joining the<br />
team in February <strong>2021</strong>. The team<br />
has exceeded all their goals and<br />
continues to grow and build a solid,<br />
positive reputation in the area with<br />
over 175 participants.<br />
COVID-19 restrictions have seen<br />
many changes with how we<br />
delivered our services throughout<br />
the last year, with all allied health<br />
and support coordination team<br />
members now adapted to working<br />
remotely, and by providing telehealth<br />
successfully to continue to provide<br />
these services to our participants.<br />
I continually receive feedback from<br />
participants and reports from my<br />
team about the positive impact in<br />
people’s lives as a result of the care<br />
and dedication of my team.<br />
I look forward to another year of<br />
helping people with a disability and<br />
their families through the services<br />
of the allied health team.
24
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 25<br />
program<br />
and stories
26<br />
Painting Awareness<br />
across the<br />
Blue Mountains<br />
It’s no secret that having the<br />
opportunity to be creative, whether<br />
it be painting, sculpting or using<br />
a range of different mediums<br />
can be a fulfilling activity –<br />
one which can also provide a<br />
range of positive outcomes.<br />
However, for people with disability<br />
the opportunity to participate in art<br />
therapy programs can give a visual<br />
voice to both expression and feeling.<br />
On Thursday 13 May, our multitalented<br />
participants from the<br />
Katoomba and Lawson day<br />
programs attended their very<br />
own Art Exhibition at the historic<br />
Braemar Art Gallery in Springwood.<br />
Titled “Shifting Perspectives” the<br />
collection of artworks, all of which<br />
were created by the talented group<br />
of participants, tell a story of<br />
extreme contrasts and images of<br />
living in the Blue Mountains.<br />
Suzanne Giordano, <strong>NADO</strong> Day<br />
Program Coordinator quoted<br />
“People with disability are often<br />
invisible in our community and they,<br />
like the rest of us have a story to<br />
tell and experiences to share. To<br />
have the opportunity to showcase<br />
these artworks is a goal that all<br />
our participants and their family<br />
members are extremely proud of<br />
and will be a cherished memory.<br />
This exhibition provides a great<br />
platform for our creative artists<br />
to showcase their work, as well<br />
as breaking down barriers and<br />
creating a more inclusive society<br />
for people with disability."<br />
The “Shifting Perspectives” art<br />
exhibition has received bountiful<br />
support from the local Blue<br />
Mountains community. It was a<br />
must see for lovers of local art and<br />
a fantastic opportunity to view a<br />
collection of creative pieces.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 27<br />
<strong>NADO</strong><br />
Sensory Store –<br />
Giving Back<br />
to the Community<br />
The Sensory Store is a<br />
predominately online retail centre<br />
that provides quality sensory toys,<br />
educational tools, and therapy<br />
items to assist people of all ages<br />
and abilities.<br />
It is owned and operated by<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> (Nepean Area Disabilities<br />
Organisation), a registered NDIS<br />
Provider that has over 40 years’<br />
experience within the disability<br />
sector.<br />
Being a not-for-profit organisation,<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> have recently established<br />
a “Helping Hand Program” where<br />
funds raised through their Sensory<br />
Store retail outlet can help the<br />
local community. The Helping<br />
Hand Program provides <strong>NADO</strong><br />
participants an opportunity to<br />
purchase a service or product that<br />
is not available under Medicare or<br />
their current NDIS plan.<br />
These items can range from things<br />
that help to support and improve<br />
the participant’s skills and learning,<br />
accessing the community, day to<br />
day living or health and well-being.<br />
Examples are assistive technology<br />
and support products that help to<br />
assist in general living.<br />
Earlier this year, our two successful<br />
applications who received items<br />
from the <strong>NADO</strong> Sensory Store<br />
“Helping Hand Program” were<br />
Vanessa and Vishnu.<br />
Vanessa, (pictured) requested a<br />
hands-free standing mixer that<br />
helps her day-to-day actions in the<br />
kitchen regarding food preparation<br />
and supports her love of baking.<br />
Vishnu, a young man who has a<br />
moderate to severe Intellectual<br />
disability received a Lifespan<br />
Fitness Spin Exercise Bike. This<br />
exercise bike will help Vishnu keep<br />
fit and healthy, whilst supporting his<br />
gross motor, cognitive, compression<br />
and communication skills.<br />
In addition to these items, <strong>NADO</strong><br />
also works with its relevant<br />
community partners to help support<br />
and assist all applications to its<br />
Helping Hand Program where viable.<br />
Support products that are available<br />
for purchase can also be found at<br />
the <strong>NADO</strong> Sensory Store, check out<br />
our website today for the full range<br />
of products. Sensory items are<br />
particularly beneficial to people who<br />
have a disability, are on the Autism<br />
Spectrum, have developmental<br />
delays, intellectual disabilities,<br />
sensory processing disorder,<br />
ASD, Asperger’s or whom have<br />
sensitivities to light and sound.
28<br />
Broadcasting<br />
Inclusion<br />
on the Air Waves<br />
Located in the well-known<br />
Katoomba region of NSW, Radio<br />
Blue Mountains 89.1 FM is a not<br />
for profit organisation that is<br />
based on a volunteer community.<br />
The popular local radio station<br />
has been in action since 1993 and<br />
broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days<br />
a week to an audience of around<br />
75,000 people. It is funded through<br />
listener support, grants and<br />
sponsorship.<br />
The key focus for this radio<br />
station is community inclusion,<br />
and features a live feature show<br />
called “The Ability Show with the<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> Team” which is aired each<br />
Wednesday from 10am to 12pm.<br />
‘The Ability Show’ is hosted by<br />
participants from <strong>NADO</strong> with the<br />
help of their support staff. The<br />
show is designed to provide a voice<br />
for people with disability through<br />
a creative, inclusive and fulfilling<br />
outlet, whilst delivering a high<br />
quality engaging radio program.<br />
In 2016, Joshua Abbott started out<br />
as a guest presenter on “The Ability<br />
Hour” program. Showing much<br />
interest and enthusiasm in the new<br />
opportunity, Josh continued onto<br />
train as a panel operator presenter.<br />
Josh was also working as part of<br />
the Tech Team and assisted in<br />
maintaining tech equipment as<br />
well as taking shows to an outdoor<br />
broadcast. He also worked on fund<br />
raising for the radio station which<br />
involved taking and receiving phone<br />
calls and learning about computer<br />
communications.<br />
After training with Jenny O’Brien<br />
(support worker and radio<br />
presenter), Josh felt confident and<br />
excited about presenting his own<br />
show and named it “Blast from<br />
the Past and Back to the Future”.<br />
The new program was music<br />
based, with chats and comments<br />
from various speakers and studio<br />
guests. Its key points were to<br />
emphasise topics such as social<br />
justice, community supports,<br />
inclusion, empowerment and<br />
relevant information that may be of<br />
interest to service providers, people<br />
with disability, their families, friends<br />
and carers.<br />
Josh is now on the management<br />
committee, in which he attends<br />
meetings and is involved in the<br />
decision making processes. He<br />
quoted “This opportunity and<br />
experience has changed my life.<br />
Before I wasn’t doing anything and<br />
just at home, I was a little bored.”<br />
Josh says he has learnt so much<br />
and has built his technical abilities,<br />
his confidence in presenting and<br />
public speaking. He has also learnt<br />
how to organise a team and to<br />
motivate others in fund raising.<br />
Josh is supported by <strong>NADO</strong><br />
staff member Jennifer O’Brien.<br />
In late 2019, Josh was nominated<br />
and accepted to be on the<br />
committee for the Blue Mountains<br />
Community Radio.<br />
“Blast from the Past” airs each<br />
Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm.<br />
You can help to support Josh by<br />
following his Facebook page.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 29<br />
Sensory Store<br />
The Sensory Store is owned and<br />
operated by <strong>NADO</strong>. It provides<br />
sensory toys, support tools and<br />
therapy products for all ages and<br />
abilities both online and in-store.<br />
It was another successful and<br />
exciting year for the Sensory Store<br />
with the expansion of the product<br />
range and an overall sales figure<br />
200% higher than the previous year.<br />
This allowed <strong>NADO</strong> to provide a<br />
“Giving back to the Community”<br />
program which saw the funds<br />
raised returned to those in need<br />
by providing items that helped to<br />
support learning, improve skills<br />
or assist in general living.<br />
(go to page 27 for more details)<br />
Content marketing continued<br />
throughout the year, with the focus<br />
on blog writing to improve SEO and<br />
increase web traffic. The strategy<br />
proved successful with a 280%<br />
increase in users of the website.<br />
In-store sales also increased,<br />
however due the pandemic, instore<br />
sales were impacted by lock downs<br />
throughout the year.<br />
Social media continues to<br />
show growth in followers and<br />
engagement, from organic and<br />
paid adverts across both Facebook<br />
and Instagram. Video content was<br />
also a new tool used to promote<br />
the Sensory Store with a short<br />
promotional video being developed<br />
to showcase the range of therapy,<br />
educational and sensory support<br />
products.<br />
Print media this year included the<br />
feature within the Penrith Western<br />
Weekender in support of Autism<br />
Awareness week, in addition to the<br />
Outlook Disability magazine.<br />
Due to the substantial growth, a<br />
new POS (point of sale) system<br />
was implemented for the Sensory<br />
Store which allowed a much<br />
smoother and streamlined process<br />
in relation to the selling of products<br />
and the control of stock. Another<br />
tool which was implemented to<br />
the website was the introduction<br />
of After Pay, which provides<br />
customers with a “buy now, pay<br />
later’ option.<br />
An additional highlight of the year<br />
was becoming a registered NSW<br />
Creative Kids provider, with the<br />
Sensory Exploration Kit becoming<br />
a popular product that provides<br />
sensory output via a range of<br />
textured paints, paper, chalk and<br />
crafting items that is suitable from<br />
the age of 2 and up.<br />
Moving into next year, some<br />
primary strategies will be to<br />
implement an AI chat bot onto<br />
the website to improve customer<br />
service, as well as expand the<br />
instore buying experience both<br />
at St Marys and within <strong>NADO</strong>’s<br />
new sensory activity centre ‘Share<br />
My Ability’, due to open in late<br />
<strong>2021</strong>. However, the focus on the<br />
e-commerce platform will continue<br />
to evolve and grow on a national<br />
level via direct e-marketing and<br />
online channels.
30<br />
Opening of<br />
Short Term<br />
Accommodation<br />
in Winmalee<br />
“This home provides a<br />
modern, accessible, relaxing<br />
and welcoming space for<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>’s clients and their<br />
carers. It also provides an<br />
avenue for a transition to<br />
greater independence for<br />
those living with a disability.<br />
I know this can be an<br />
incredibly significant step<br />
for many local families and I<br />
imagine the opportunities this<br />
new accommodation provides<br />
will be very welcomed.<br />
This accommodation<br />
symbolises so much more<br />
than a roof over the heads<br />
of those who stay there –<br />
independent living is a<br />
particularly empowering<br />
prospect for people with<br />
disability and this new home<br />
is an integral part of that<br />
process.”<br />
State MP Trish Doyle<br />
April saw the official “Cutting of<br />
the Ribbon Opening” where we<br />
welcomed Trish Doyle MP,<br />
Cr Mick Fell and representing<br />
Susan Templeman’s office Kim<br />
Cowper at our much-anticipated<br />
short-term accommodation located<br />
in Winmalee.<br />
This modern, spacious property<br />
located in a popular scenic suburb<br />
within the Blue Mountains, and<br />
it’s with much excitement we<br />
announce that our short-term<br />
accommodation for people with<br />
disability is now available.<br />
Upgrades and renovations were<br />
invested into this single level home<br />
that is located within a quiet culde-sac<br />
to ensure that Guests are<br />
comfortable, relaxed, safe and that<br />
they enjoy their time at this property<br />
whilst having 24/7 support.<br />
There’s lots of things to appreciate<br />
with this property; featuring 5<br />
bedrooms, air conditioning, pay TV<br />
and wifi, multiple living areas, fully<br />
accessible bathrooms, open plan<br />
living, outdoor relaxing spaces, a<br />
television in each bedroom – all<br />
whilst being close to transport and<br />
amenities, it’s definitely a home<br />
away from home.<br />
Short-term accommodation, also<br />
known as respite care, can be a<br />
much-needed support for people<br />
with disability and their support<br />
network. It can be a fantastic<br />
opportunity to meet new friends<br />
and develop new skills, whilst giving<br />
full time carers an opportunity<br />
to recharge their batteries. It can<br />
be used for when a usual carer<br />
becomes unwell, is temporarily<br />
away, or has other commitments.<br />
Both short term accommodation<br />
located at St Marys and now<br />
Winmalee allows people with<br />
disability to experience time away<br />
from home in a safe, engaging, and<br />
supported environment that takes<br />
into account the usual routines of<br />
work, training and programs. whilst<br />
offering social and recreational<br />
opportunities, continuity for usual<br />
work or day programs, support to<br />
attend appointments, accessible<br />
vehicles, life development skills,<br />
meal assistance, personal care and<br />
24/7 experienced support staff.<br />
Supporting specific needs including<br />
behavioural support, epilepsy,<br />
diabetes, or other health / lifestyle<br />
needs within our capacity can be<br />
discussed at the time of booking.<br />
You can stay for the day, overnight,<br />
a weekend, a holiday, or longer<br />
depending on your needs and<br />
funding available in your NDIS plan.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 31
32
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 33<br />
financials
34<br />
financial<br />
REPORT
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 35<br />
Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation Limited<br />
ABN: 83 188 045 596<br />
STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME<br />
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
Notes <strong>2021</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
INCOME<br />
Sales Revenue 18,254,557 16,674,357<br />
Profit/(Loss) from Sale of Asset 7,600 7,273<br />
Miscellaneous Income 8,674 2,567<br />
TOTAL INCOME 18,270,831 16,684,197<br />
LESS: EXPENSES<br />
Employee Expenses 14,193,939 12,408,023<br />
Client-Activities 261,158 321,085<br />
Occupancy 490,234 602,492<br />
Communication and IT Expenses 241,734 230,947<br />
Depreciation Expenses 620,764 162,317<br />
Other Administrative Expenses 1,175,803 765,782<br />
TOTAL EXPENSES 16,983,632 14,490,646<br />
OPERATING SURPLUS 1,287,199 2,193,551<br />
Other Comprehensive Income:<br />
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 1,287,199 2,193,551<br />
-
36<br />
Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation Limited<br />
ABN: 83 188 045 596<br />
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION<br />
AS AT 30 JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
Notes <strong>2021</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
ASSETS<br />
CURRENT<br />
Cash and Cash Equivalents 5,958,944 5,724,745<br />
Accounts and Other receivables 985,298 1,092,827<br />
Prepayments 77,216 83,077<br />
Other Assets 11,764 3,933<br />
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 7,033,222 6,904,582<br />
NON-CURRENT<br />
Property, Plant and Equipment 4,563,704 1,460,433<br />
Other Financial Asset 33,324 29,295<br />
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 4,597,028 1,489,728<br />
TOTAL ASSETS 11,630,250 8,394,310<br />
LIABILITIES<br />
CURRENT<br />
Trade Creditors and Other Payables 2,094,156 1,706,843<br />
Other Bank Loan - 33,999<br />
Employee Benefits 958,674 705,338<br />
Other Provisions 30,579 49,504<br />
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 3,083,409 2,495,684<br />
NON CURRENT<br />
Other Provisions 1,779,793 103,200<br />
Other Bank Loan - 340,124<br />
Employee Benefits 179,676 155,129<br />
TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,959,469 598,453<br />
TOTAL LIABILITIES 5,042,878 3,094,137<br />
NET ASSETS 6,587,372 5,300,173<br />
EQUITY<br />
Accumulated Funds Prior Year 5,300,173 3,106,622<br />
Surplus for the Year 1,287,199 2,193,551<br />
TOTAL EQUITY 6,587,372 5,300,173
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 37<br />
Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation Limited<br />
ABN: 83 188 045 596<br />
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS<br />
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
Notes <strong>2021</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES<br />
Funding from Commonwealth and State 18,943,058 16,672,333<br />
Funding from others 2,042,019 3,406,428<br />
Payments for supplies and employees (18,603,482) (16,616,753)<br />
Donations and Fundraising 57,334 22,201<br />
Interest received 13,589 35,014<br />
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,452,518 3,519,223<br />
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES<br />
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 5,129 7,273<br />
Right of use asset amortisation (239,454)<br />
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,609,871) (321,215)<br />
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (1,844,196) (313,942)<br />
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES<br />
Proceeds from Loan<br />
Payment of Loan (374,123) (37,002)<br />
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (374,123) (37,002)<br />
Net increase in cash held 234,199 3,168,279<br />
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of financial year 5,724,745 2,556,466<br />
Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial year 5,958,944 5,724,745
38
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 39<br />
community
40<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong><br />
Charity Golf Day<br />
On Friday 16 April <strong>2021</strong>,<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> held its third annual<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf Day<br />
at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club<br />
with supporting partner<br />
Elite Sand & Soil.<br />
The day commenced with a<br />
glorious sunny 7am breakfast and<br />
all 31 teams heading out to the<br />
rolling greens to start the fun-filled<br />
competition.<br />
With 37 game, auction and raffle<br />
sponsors, the support from<br />
this years’ event exceeded all<br />
expectations on the day. Since our<br />
first event in 2018, several local<br />
businesses have been amazing<br />
long-time supporters of this<br />
event including; Elite Sand & Soil,<br />
Reozone, ABCOE and Mitronics,<br />
along with other businesses<br />
including Merrick Property Group,<br />
Complete Recruitment Solutions,<br />
Terry White Chemmart Penrith,<br />
Holiday Inn Sydney St Marys and<br />
Platinum Roofing Specialist who<br />
have partnered with <strong>NADO</strong> since<br />
2019 as well a number of various<br />
other businesses outside of the<br />
Penrith LGA.<br />
The funds raised from previous<br />
events have made a huge impact<br />
on <strong>NADO</strong>’s ability to develop<br />
new services for people with a<br />
disability, including an extensive<br />
refurbishment of a much-needed<br />
respite property located in<br />
Winmalee (see pages 30-31).<br />
This year <strong>NADO</strong>’s goal of raising<br />
$40,000 at the Friends of <strong>NADO</strong><br />
Golf Charity Day, to support the<br />
purchase of all ability sensory<br />
equipment was quickly exceeded,<br />
with sponsorships and donations<br />
reaching over $58,000.<br />
“After a difficult year dealing with<br />
COVID, and the cancellation of all<br />
events, our goal this year was to<br />
reunite our supporters, have a fun<br />
day and raise funds for our new<br />
initiative, Share My Ability – an<br />
all-abilities sensory activity centre”<br />
said Denise Heath, CEO of <strong>NADO</strong>.<br />
“To our delight, money raised on<br />
the day from the generosity of local<br />
businesses and players exceeded<br />
our expectations raising nearly<br />
$20,000 more than we hoped for.”
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 41<br />
Thank you to everyone who<br />
sponsored, attended and donated<br />
items to make our day the success<br />
that it was. See page 42 for our<br />
Sponsors and page 43 for our<br />
Raffle Donors.<br />
We look forward to seeing you next<br />
year for a bigger and better event.<br />
“Well done on such a successful day<br />
and thanks for the opportunity to be<br />
involved.”<br />
- Paul Merrick,<br />
Merrick Property Group.<br />
“We were so grateful to once again be<br />
part of the <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf Day<br />
last Friday. We have been a proud<br />
sponsor of this event for several<br />
years and are thrilled to see the<br />
funds raised for the Sensory Activity<br />
Centre”.<br />
- Liz Smith,<br />
Complete Recruitment Solutions<br />
“Well done, you have once<br />
again done a tremendous job on<br />
organising and running a very<br />
successful day.”<br />
- Aaron Hadfield,<br />
Reozone
42
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 43
44<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong><br />
It was pleasing to have our Friends<br />
of <strong>NADO</strong> donation program<br />
remaining consistent over the<br />
past 12 months, but it has been<br />
difficult to attract new supporters.<br />
As COVID continues to be a big part<br />
of our lives and our businesses,<br />
building partnerships face to face<br />
has been put on hold.<br />
Some of our partners were<br />
unable to commit to supporting<br />
us last financial year due to the<br />
impacts of COVID, which is totally<br />
understandable. We are, as ever,<br />
grateful to the past and present<br />
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> for helping us<br />
achieve more for our participants<br />
and we say thank you.<br />
Along with the funds raised through<br />
our Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> Charity Golf<br />
Day in April, funds raised through<br />
our Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> donation<br />
initiative for <strong>2020</strong>/21 will also<br />
go towards an exciting new<br />
project Share My Ability which we<br />
endeavour to open later this year.<br />
Share My Ability is an interactive<br />
activity centre for all abilities and<br />
will be opening in Penrith later<br />
this year, and we look forward to<br />
sharing this with you in next year’s<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>.<br />
We would like to thank our<br />
<strong>2020</strong>/21FY Friends of <strong>NADO</strong> for<br />
your continued support.
Friends of <strong>NADO</strong><br />
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 45
46<br />
<strong>NADO</strong><br />
VIP Business Partners<br />
With the launch of our <strong>NADO</strong><br />
VIP App last year, we have been<br />
encouraging our 1000+ <strong>NADO</strong> VIP<br />
members which consists of our<br />
participants, their families/carers,<br />
staff and volunteers to download<br />
the App through both Apple and<br />
Android.<br />
When businesses become a <strong>NADO</strong><br />
VIP Business Partner, they provide<br />
people with disability their families/<br />
carers, <strong>NADO</strong> staff and volunteers<br />
the opportunity to access local<br />
promotions and discounts and<br />
offer “a little extra” to our growing<br />
community.<br />
We continue to attract businesses<br />
that want to support <strong>NADO</strong>’s<br />
community, by providing<br />
discounted services and products<br />
to our VIP Members<br />
<strong>2020</strong>/21 saw us welcome the<br />
following businesses: Iconic Signs,<br />
RocknBob Media, Stepz Fitness<br />
Penrith, Willows’ Wag ‘n’ Wash<br />
Mobile Dog Wash and Big Boss<br />
Cleaning – Glenmore Park.<br />
With over 20 businesses now<br />
partnering with us, we have array of<br />
services and products for our VIP<br />
Members to choose from some of<br />
the categories, which includes: Arts,<br />
Sports and Attractions, Beauty and<br />
Lifestyle, Dining, Retail and Trade<br />
and Services.<br />
We are always looking for<br />
reputable companies to come on<br />
board and partner with us. Thank<br />
you to the following businesses<br />
who continue to partner with<br />
<strong>NADO</strong>.
<strong>NADO</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2020</strong>-21 47<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> VIP Business Partners<br />
Our <strong>NADO</strong> VIP Business Partners include:
Helping people with disability to achieve their goals and live a more independent life<br />
1300 738 229 | info@nado.org.au | www.nado.org.au