TASMANIAN DEAF SOCIETY

Transcription

1 TASMANIAN DEAF SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2009 / 2010

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3 OUR VISION MISSION An equitable and inclusive Tasmanian community. To be the leading provider of services and education to those impacted by hearing loss. OBJECTIVE A highly satisfied client base that is empowered through accessing our services. GROWTH A brand that is widely recognised and associated with innovation, quality and value. FINANCIAL OUTLOOK A proactive and sustainable service organisation with diversified funding sources leveraging off value adding partnerships. TASDEAF

4 vision An equitable and inclusive Tasmanian community. mission To be the leading provider of services and education to those impacted by hearing loss. CONTENTS objective A highly satisfied client base that is empowered through accessing our services. P.1 President s Report P.3 Board of Directors growth P.4 Staff A brand that is widely recognised and associated P.5 Gala Ball with innovation, quality and value. P.6 Smoke Alarms P. 7 Hearing Link Tasmania financial outlook P.8 Auslan Courses & Deaf Awareness P.9 A Donations proactive and & Grants sustainable service organisation with diversified funding P. services 10 Treasurer s leveraging Report off value adding P. 11 Financial Statements partnerships. Page 1

5 President s report It has been a dynamic year as we set the groundwork for positioning Tasdeaf to deliver quality services to Deaf and hard of hearing Tasmanians into the future. We started the year renewing our contract with SLC Vic interpreter booking service to provide continuity of interpreter provision in Tasmania and to provide the opportunity to focus on improving Deaf and hard of hearing services and building stability within the organisation. As the year moved to an end we were able to turn our focus to reviewing how interpreter services are operating and opportunities for continuing improvement in both financial performance and quality service provision. After many years lobbying the state government to subsidise visual smoke alarms, Tasdeaf has been successful in securing funding. Working with the Tasmanian Fire Service the alarms are being installed to 80 homes across the state. Interpreters are provided as required to ensure the explanation of how the visual alarm works is clear. The Gala Ball held in February was a social Page 1 and fundraising highlight for 2010, which attracted many sponsors from the local community and was a great success thanks to the hard work and efforts of staff. Throughout the year we have had two long serving Directors resign for personal reasons including Dean Tabor (November) and Vice President Stephen Miller (April). As Directors they both contributed a substantial amount of time, energy and expertise to the Society over the years and the Board thanks Alex Newton, President them and wishes them well in the future. To address these vacancies, with a focus on professional skill building to enable strong

6 governance and leadership, the Board has welcomed David Anning and Tricia Sharples who collectively bring a wealth of experience in business management, finance, Deaf education and hearing health. This year has been one of change on an operational level with the Board having to make hard decisions to ensure the financial viability and sustainability of the Society. With change comes many challenges, but also with it many positive outcomes. I would like to acknowledge the support through this period of the Deaf Society of New South Wales, Vicdeaf and Deaf Services Queensland which demonstrates the potential of how Deaf Societies can work together to support Deaf services nationally. My sincere appreciation is also extended to the other Board Directors and the staff who have made this year successful. The contribution of the Board Directors, which is made on an honorary basis, has been remarkable in a year of significant challenge. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Grant Roberts, Tasdeaf s CEO for five years. He and his wife Mel worked tirelessly on behalf of the Deaf community and were an integral part of it. Our thanks also go to Colin Allen who stepped into the CEO role prior to Gordon Melsom s commencement in July 2010 and ensured that Tasdeaf kept its focus on our clients and the services we provide. Lastly to our Deaf community and hard of hearing Tasmanians, be reassured that we start 2010/11 as a stronger, more focused and viable organisation committed to meeting your current and future needs. Alex Newton President Page 2

7 Board of Directors Directors (as at the end of 2009 / 2010) Alex Newton Steven Hodgetts 1 Mark Donnelly Brendon Cornelius Naomi Rogers President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Director David Anning Director (from January 2010) Tricia Sharples Director (from April 2010) / Peter Bailey Director (until November 2009) Dean Tabor Director (until November 2009) Stephen Miller Director (until April 2010) Philip Malm Director (until November 2009) Stephen Harrison Director (until January 2010) Catherine Viney Director (until January 2010) 6 7 Public officer Grant Roberts Resigned May 2009 Page 3

8 Staff at Tasdeaf Grant Roberts ~ CEO (resigned May 2010) Vicki Choraziak ~ Office & HR manager Melanie Roberts ~ Project officer (resigned May 2010) Brooke Campbell ~ Reception, Launceston (12 months leave January 2010) Rachel Kelly ~ Administration Officer, Launceston (February 2010) Joyce Clifford ~ Interpreter Priscilla Young ~ Interpreter John Bartley ~ Interpreter Jeanette Symonds ~ Community Support Officer David Closs ~ Hearing Link Tasmania and National Relay Service Catherine Goodluck ~ Hearing Link Tasmania (May 2010) Pam Harrison ~ Cleaner Talisa Reed ~ Community Support Officer (resigned December 2009) Simone Blanch ~ Emergency booking Officer Tamla Cox ~ Community Support Officer Colin Allen ~ Acting CEO (May 2010 seconded from Deaf Society of NSW) Page 4

9 Activities & events during 2009 / 2010 Black and White The inaugural Ball was held in February and was a Gala Ball major success. Whilst not a significant fundraiser, the ball was well supported by many individuals and businesses from the Tasmanian community and it was an important event for raising awareness of the work of the Tasmanian Deaf Society. Thanks to the hard work of Mel and Vicki in particular and our sponsors who donated their fantastic services and products for the silent auction. The Gala Ball was held at Wrest Point Casino, Hobart Major sponsors: There was lots of live entertainment, including Japanese drumming Page 5

10 Smoke alarms Specialised visual smoke alarms are now subsidised for Fo llowing Tasdeaf s protracted lobbying campaign, in December 2009 the Tasmanian government announced its commitment to subsidising the distribution of visual smoke alarms for Deaf and hard of hearing Tasmanians. By supporting this initiative, the government has recognised the need for all Deaf Image (right): The Bellman Visit Flash Smoke Alarm package includes all the necessary components to give a person a visual and vibrating alert when smoke is detected in the house. Deaf and hard of hearing Tasmanians and hard of hearing people in the community to have access to this important equipment that ensures fire safety in the home. The distribution of the visual smoke alarm units will be a priority for staff early in the new financial year. The Tasmanian Fire Service will install the alarms and where required they will be accompanied by an interpreter. It is expected that over 80 alarms will be installed across Tasmania. Page 6

11 Activities & future direction This division of the Tasmanian Deaf Society will develop its strategic goals to address the needs of hard of hearing Tasmanians through support programs and the provision of assistive listening devices. Importantly, Hearing Link will also continue to work to promote the prevention of hearing loss. David Closs has been joined by Catherine Goodluck (May) in conducting hearing tests throughout the state. Cath was a former staff member and was instrumental along with Anne Blanch in the formation of Hearing Link some 10 years ago. Over 90 people lined up at Agfest in May to have their hearing tested and there has been consistent demand throughout the year at the Hobart and Launceston premises for people wanting their hearing tested. It is expected that the Test and Protect program will be resurrected during next year to assist students and young people to understand and reduce the risk of severe hearing loss in their later years due to the excessive volume of devices such as ipods. Above: The Tasdeaf and Hearing Link stall at Agfest on May 6th-8th. Tasdeaf continues to operate the National Relay Service on behalf of the Federation of Deaf Societies under contract to Westwood Spice, the holders of the government contract for this service. David Closs provides installation and instruction services two days per week. Left: Hearing Link Tasmania promotes hearing safety in the workplace and provides industrial hearing screening services. Page 7

12 Auslan courses & Deaf awareness programs Auslan courses were held throughout the year, with Mel facilitating in Hobart and Jeanette in Launceston, Burnie and Penguin. A number of after school programs were also run for school-aged children to learn some basic Auslan skills and to have lots of fun interacting with others using Auslan. Tasdeaf also provided lunchtime Auslan classes for people who were keen to continue practicing their Auslan skills after finishing the Auslan Beginners and Level 1 courses. The Tasdeaf youth club, Energetic, travelled across Tasmania during National Youth Week in April to promote issues around hearing loss prevention to Grade 10 students and to teach about Deaf cultural awareness. The youth road show was jointly funded by National Youth Week and the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC). Auslan teacher, Jeanette Symonds, teaching Level 1 Auslan at Tasdeaf, Launceston. Page 8

13 As a Tasdeaf receives donations and grants from individuals community. non-profit charity organisation, and groups in the East Dorset Blind and Deaf Auxiliary Club have once again raised money for Tasdeaf. Tasdeaf is delighted to acknowledge the generous and ongoing support from this group. Our thanks also go to the Myer Hobart store for their generous donation, which was raised over a 12 month period by the Myer staff and their families who held numerous fundraising events for Tasdeaf. Tasdeaf also applied for funding from organisations and businesses that provide grants to the non-profit sector. Grant funds were received from the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) s Community Capacity Grants Building Program 2009/10 for the Supporting men with a hearing loss in rural Tasmania program, which was run by Hearing Link Tasmania. This program will conclude in 2010/11. Further grant funds were received from the Community Capacity Grants Building Program 2009/10 program for the National Youth Week Energetic Youth Club Roadshow, which took place in April. Donations & grants received Page 9

14 Th is year has seen the Tasmanian Deaf Society lose a further $120,000. This is despite a tightening of the operating budgets and a vigilant month by month review by the CEO and Board. While some of the loss can be attributed to the costs associated with a change in the senior management of Tasdeaf the majority, over $100,000, directly stems from our operations. By far the biggest expense is in the operation of the interpreting services. We receive no support from any source to undertake this vital function. Our ongoing loss from this area is in excess of $60,000 a year. During the year we renegotiated our contract with SLC Victoria for the provision of booking services. We expected this to result in an improved financial outcome in the operations of the service; however increased costs in wages, travel expenses and reduced demand have negated the expected improvement. The Board and CEO have started to plan for the year ahead and have identified savings in a Treasurer s report number number of areas. However unless we are able to find a solution to the losses incurred by the interpreting services it is expected that a further loss will be incurred in the coming year. The loss of $120,000 this year, while less than the previous financial year, is still too high for Tasdeaf to provide a range of services for the community in the medium to long term. We must continue to work on reducing our operating costs and find ways to improve our income to ensure the sustainable future for Tasdeaf to continue to provide the services we do for the Deaf, hard of hearing and the wider community. Mark Donnelly Treasurer Page 10

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