We Live Life September 2014

Issue #3
September 2014
#3
WE’RE
IN
YOUR
CORNER
RECOGNISING AND RE WAR DING
OUR VALUED PEOPLE
03
NATIONAL
CARER
AWARDS
04
EMPLOYEE
RECOGNITION
AWARDS
07
NDIS
FIRST
ANNIVERSARY
11
LOOKING
TO NEW
HORIZONS
WELCOME TO
WE LIVE LIFE
In this edition of We Live Life we shine the spotlight on
some of our recent achievements.
We hope you enjoy reading about those who through their passion and commitment
partner with others to change their lives for the better.
Each edition we’ll publish articles about how we’re working with clients, improving
the way we do business and share inspirational stories. We will also profile our
Life Without Barriers teams, innovations and successes.
Did you know, Life Without Barriers is also on Facebook and Twitter @LWB Australia?
Please ‘like us’ to join in the conversation and support the organisation.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
CLAIRE ROBBS
Our 20th anniversary year is shaping up to be
the most dynamic year ever at Life Without Barriers.
It is most certainly a year of new
beginnings with a new awards program,
emerging partnerships and resounding
achievements.
Of particular note was the inaugural
Employee Recognition Awards, held
in July to recognise and celebrate
outstanding employees.
The awards were an important milestone
in Life Without Barriers journey.
Our new National Carers Awards in
November will be another.
These are an important complement to
our annual National Disability Services
Achievements Awards in December.
Our awards ceremonies reflect the
importance we place on our values at Life
Without Barriers; and our focus on the
importance of people and relationships
to achieve the effective delivery of our
community services in more than 250
communities across Australia.
In this edition of We Live Life we
celebrate the many activities taking place
under the Life Without Barriers umbrella
across Australia every day.
Many of these activities have been
made possible through our close
working partnerships with community,
government and private organisations
who recognise our work to improve the
lives of all people.
In July we also hosted the first year
anniversary celebrations of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme in the
Hunter region. Life Without Barriers has
undertaken a significant role in the NDIS
pilot programs.
We were also proud to celebrate the
launch of our New Horizons program,
made possible through our partnership
with the People’s Choice Credit Union
and the launch of our Youth Advocate
Program pilot; and we officially opened
our new supported accommodation at
Labrador, the Gold Coast, Queensland
and Whittlesea, north of Melbourne,
Victoria.
These fantastic new facilities will improve
the lives of people with a disability by
offering more opportunities to fully
participate in their community.
Before closing, I’d like to thank all
Life Without Barriers staff and carers
for the outstanding work they do in
communities across Australia.
NEW NATIONAL
CARER AWARDS
CELEBRATE
QUIET ACHIEVERS
On Sunday 17 August 2014,
Life Without Barriers, in
partnership with Carers
Australia and Families
Australia, launched the new
National Carer Awards.
The National Carer Awards 2014
recognise and reward the contribution of
young carers, foster and kinship carers as
well as those caring for older Australians
and people living with a disability.
The establishment of these Australia-wide
awards has been supported through
funding from the Federal Government
and generous contributions from our
corporate partners.
There are more than 2.7 million carers in
Australia, of which 770,000 are primary
carers, often looking after someone in
need around the clock. These carers are
unpaid, and the people they are caring
for often have complex needs.
The contribution is both socially and
economically significant with an
estimated 1.2 billion hours of care
provided each year equating to $30.5
billion in services provided annually.
Claire Robbs, Chief Executive, said,
“Carers are a vital part of Australian
society providing physical, social, cultural
and emotional support to the people in
their care, even when confronted with
quite difficult circumstances.
“Carers provide a level of independence
and quality of life that many people living
in our community simply could not
achieve on their own.”
Ara Creswell, Chief Executive Officer,
Carers Australia said, “The significant
role that carers perform in the
community often goes unrecognised and
undervalued, yet for many Australians
who need support, those carers often
prevent early or unnecessary entry into
institutional care.”
Brian Babington, Chief Executive Officer,
Families Australia said, “Through the
awards, we hope to shine a light on
these quiet achievers in community care
and provide hope and inspiration to all
Australians.”
Australians are being encouraged to
show their appreciation for the significant
contribution that carers make to the
Australian community by nominating
a carer who they believe is making an
exceptional contribution to the person
or people they support.
Winners will be chosen from each of the
four categories: foster and kinship carer;
carer of an older Australian; carer of a
person with disability; and young carer
aged 25 years and under.
Carers eligible for these awards should
be full-time carers in an unpaid
capacity (but may be receiving carerrelated government payment or a
reimbursement), looking after a person
who requires long-term support in one
of the categories.
Nominations are now open and will close
on Sunday 21 September, with national
winners being announced on Sunday
16 November 2014. To nominate a carer
please visit the National Carer Awards
website www.carerawards.com.au
WE WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT FOR
THE NATIONAL CARER AWARDS
– WE’RE PROUD TO CHAMPION
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL!
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
AWARDS RECOGNISE
OUR CHAMPIONS
Our inaugural Employee
Recognition Awards,
held on Tuesday 22 July
2014, saw 12 exceptional
individuals and work
groups step up and receive
accolades from their peers.
Representatives of our Board and
executive were honoured to present
awards to many of our quiet achievers,
who are key to delivering vital services
to supporting the improvement of
lives all over the country and who
demonstrate our values in action.
Life Without Barriers now supports
more than 5500 clients in more than
250 communities across Australia
and it is thanks to the dedicated
efforts of individuals and work
groups that these people are getting
the support they need and want.
The awards celebrated our pride in
our people and reflected the full scope
of community services we now provide
at Life Without Barriers.
Our Employee Recognition Awards
provided a timely opportunity to
recognise and reward professionals
on the frontline and the driving
force behind the hundreds of success
stories being created every day.
THE EMPLOYEE
RECOGNITION AWARDS
2014 HONOURS LIST
Elizabeth (Libby) Richardson of
Life Without Barriers Tasmania
won the Breakthrough Award for
establishing Tasmania’s School
and Family Disability Liaison and
Mediation Service in 2010. The focus
of the service is delivering sustainable
educational outcomes for children with
disability, through problem solving
between parties. Over 12 months
Libby supported 39 cases involving 35
families, 32 schools, and collaborated
with 23 community agencies and
services across all major Tasmanian
cities as well as rural, regional and
isolated areas. An additional 147
advisory services were also delivered
throughout the year.
4|5
Our Life Without Barriers supported
accommodation team at Hyde Street, Hadfield,
Victoria won the Excellence in Service Award
for their delivery of compassionate services.
The Connect 4 and Payroll team won the
Excellence in Service Award for their work
in streamlining payroll, human resources,
timesheet, roster and labour management
processes through the implementation of
technology.
Rebecca Sanciolo, South West, Western
Australia won the Community Connect Award
for her key role in setting up community
vegetable gardens across Bunbury.
THE EMPLOYEE
RECOGNITION AWARDS
CELEBRATED OUR PRIDE
IN OUR PEOPLE AND
REFLECTED THE FULL
SCOPE OF COMMUNITY
SERVICES WE NOW
PROVIDE
Sarah Galbraith, acting Operations Manager at
Life Without Barriers, Beenleigh, Queensland,
won the Excellence in Service Award for
demonstrating stability and leadership
during times of change.
Team Kowanyama won the Reconciliation
Award for their outstanding ability to connect
the people we support with their biological and
extended families and remote communities as
part of the Coming Home project.
Our Life Without Barriers early child care
centres at Minjilang on Croker Island and
Lajamanu on the edge of Tanami Desert won
the Reconciliation Award for the delivery of
high quality, culturally sensitive early learning
and development programs.
The Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
team, Sydney, won the Breakthrough Award
for their consolidation of refugee and asylum
seekers services.
Our Clinical Team at Western Australia led by
Eimear Quigley won the Excellence in Service
Award for their delivery of specialised and
professional services.
Life Without Barriers, Wollongong, Street
Soccer Program won the Community Connect
Award for the soccer program which was
developed by Martin Levy, residential support
worker and Alicia Pearson, program manager
in partnership with The Big Issue and the local
Police Citizens Youth Club.
Kyp Boucher, Area Operations Manager at
Mental Health, Immigration and Country
Services, South Australia won the Chief
Executive Award for High Achievement for her
significant contributions to the development of
Life Without Barriers mental health programs.
Life Without Barriers National Disability
Insurance Scheme Transition Team for the
Hunter region including Barbara Dow and
Leanne Webber won the Chief Executive
Award for High Achievement for their work in
establishing the NDIS in the Hunter region.
MENTORS
FOR CARERS
OF CHILDREN
AND YOUNG
PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITY
Carers of children and young
people with disability in Sydney
will soon enjoy extra support
through a Life Without Barriers
mentoring program, being
funded by the New South Wales
Government’s Department of
Family and Community Services.
Our Carer Mentor Support
Network will connect more
experienced carers of children or
young people with disability with
less experienced carers to achieve
their goals.
The mentoring program has been
developed to provide training and
skills development to up to 19 carers
at any given time, to support them
in their mentoring role.
The program will focus on building
resilience and increasing carer
confidence to access information
and resources. It will also identify,
create and maintain natural
and community-based support
opportunities.
Mentors will work individually
with their partner carer and
adopt a person-centred approach
to providing support. Through
training carers to mentor their
peers, the Carer Mentor Support
Network is ensuring the cycle of
support continues.
SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH
At Whittlesea, north of Melbourne,
a new partnership between Life Without
Barriers and Active Community Housing
Ltd is providing more opportunities
for young people with disability to
live independently.
On Friday 18 July 2014 we opened a new
five-person supported accommodation
service thanks to $1 million in
capital funding from the Australian
Government’s Supported Accommodation
Innovative Fund (SAIF) to Active
Community Housing to develop the
property, and $3 million over three years
from the Victorian Government for Life
Without Barriers to manage the house.
Life Without Barriers Chief Executive,
Claire Robbs, highlighted how
this form of tailored housing and
support model is in line with the
National Disability Insurance Scheme
aspirations for young people to have
every opportunity to leave their family
homes and be supported to have an
independent life in the community.
“This is a fantastic new
facility that will improve
the lives of people with
a disability by offering
more opportunities to
fully participate in
their community ”
“This project is the evidence of what can
be achieved for the community when we
work together. These young people will
rent their own permanent, affordable unit
as they transition to adulthood, with 24
hours support staff available on site.”
Senator Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister
for Social Services, said “I congratulate
Life Without Barriers and Active
Community Housing for the important
work they do in helping to break down
the barriers to independence that people
with disability often face.
“It is projects like these that help to ensure
people with disability can receive the
support they need to more fully participate
in economic and community life.”
Chris Glennen, Chief Executive Officer,
Active Community Housing said,
“The funding we received for this
project provided a great opportunity
to design and build homes for people
with disabilities to live with maximum
independence in the community.
“Five young people with complex needs
will call this place home, living in brand
new one or two bedroom units,” Chris said.
“We look forward to working on more
projects like this that support people to
live independently in the community as
the National Disability Insurance Scheme
continues to roll out.”
Victoria’s Minister for Disability Services
and Reform, Mary Wooldridge, said the
new homes were delivered as part of a $30
million investment from the Victorian
and Commonwealth Governments.
“This is fantastic for the residents of the
new homes, who will receive 24 hour
support in an environment that promotes
their independence and participation in
their local community.
“Planning for these homes commenced
as part of the Victorian Government’s
commitment to deliver better and more
innovative supported accommodation
options for people with a disability,”
she said.
6|7
Theo Gruschka, Disability Practice and Program Specialist, Life Without Barriers hosted a Question and Answer
panel with NDIS and Life Without Barriers clients, Christine Conway and Robert Westgarth.
Jim Longley, Chief Executive, Ageing, Disability and
Home Care at NDIS first year anniversary celebrations.
FIRST YEAR
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS OF
THE NATIONAL
DISABILITY
INSURANCE SCHEME
On Wednesday 16 July 2014 Life Without Barriers hosted
the first year anniversary celebrations of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
A morning tea at Lake Macquarie, in
the New South Wales Hunter region,
marked a year since the scheme was
rolled out at the initial pilot sites.
At Life Without Barriers we are
excited about the opportunities this
brings for our operations to deliver
person-centred services and selfdirected packages for people with
a disability.
Lauren Murray, New South Wales
Director, was host of the celebration,
attended by more than 50 people
with disability who have firsthand
experience of the NDIS.
Christine Conway talked about how her
life had been transformed by her new Life
Without Barriers service arrangements,
thanks to the NDIS. Robert Westgarth was
also on hand to take part in Questions and
Answers panel with Theo Gruschka, from
Life Without Barriers, Hunter Area.
The morning tea was attended by John
Ajaka, New South Wales Disability Services
Minister, Jim Longley, Chief Executive,
Ageing, Disability and Home Care, David
Bowen, Chief Executive Officer, National
Disability Insurance Agency, Nick Gleeson,
Ability Links Ambassador, Garry Edwards,
Swansea MP and representatives from
Ability Links NSW and St Vincent de Paul.
Life Without Barriers is currently
participating in pilot sites of the
program at Hunter, New South Wales,
Perth Hills, Western Australia, the
Australian Capital Territory and
Tasmania.
The NDIS will be fully implemented
across Australia by 2018.
The scheme provides for people up
to 65 years old who have a significant
permanent disability with direct
access to a pool of funds. Each
person’s budget for services and
support is based on an assessment
of their needs, for now and for their
future development and wellbeing.
LIFE WITHOUT
BARRIERS
DELIVERS
FOR WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
Fiona Moriarty, Project Coordinator, Aboriginal Driver
Training and Education Program, Kimberley.
YOUNG PEOPLE AT NGATTI
HOUSE ENJOY TOUR OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
In July ten young people from Ngatti
House took to the road for a five day
camping trip.
Ngatti House is a Life Without Barriers
residential accommodation at Fremantle
for young people with mental health
issues.
The house has been open since
2010, and provides safe and friendly
accommodation and support for 16
young people aged from 17 to 22 years
for up a year.
As part of the Ngatti House commitment
to providing daily living support to young
people within a framework of recovery,
the Life Without Barriers support team
also provides recreational opportunities.
“Setting out from Fremantle on Saturday
5 July 2014 the group enjoyed a range
of experiences from overnight bush
camps to luxury resort accommodation
while they travelled south west to
Albany, Pemberton and Brusselton,”
Natasha Campbell, Team Leader.
“Every year a sightseeing excursion of
Western Australia is organised by Life
Without Barriers staff and carers, and
this year highlights included a treetop
tourist walk and visit to farm chalets at
Pemberton, and tour of the Ngilgi Caves.”
WORKING WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE DOING IT TOUGH
At Life Without Barriers our youth justice
services support young people to break
the offending cycle and become valued
members of the community.
In the Kimberley region of Western
Australia, the Life Without Barriers team
members deliver individualised support
to young people at risk of entering prison
and helps those leaving custody to return
to living more independently in their
community.
Fiona Moriarty, Project Coordinator,
Kimberley recalls the assistance she gave
to a young woman who had left prison
at Derby to more fully engage with the
community.
“It was very rewarding to support this
young woman, who had begun to develop
agoraphobia, to integrate more fully into
her local community,” Fiona said.
“That she is now looking
for job opportunities and
has made future plans
is an indication that the
support Life Without
Barriers has given is
making a difference.”
DRIVER TRAINING AND
EDUCATION AT BROOME,
KALGOORLIE AND THE
DAMPIER REGION
Since early 2013 Life Without Barriers has
been coordinating an Aboriginal Driver
Training and Education Program for
people in Western Australia at Broome,
Kalgoorlie and the Dampier Peninsula.
The program targets people with a
history of driving offences and is part
of a diversionary program to support
participants to become valued members
of the community.
Tony Sibosado, Aboriginal Program
Manager, and Fiona Moriarty, Project
Officer, held community barbecues in
June 2014 as part of their recruitment
and engagement with participants in
the program.
“Delivering an Aboriginal Driver
Training and Education Program in
Western Australia is part of our services
to improve and enhance the lives of the
people we support,” Tony said.
“Obtaining a driver’s licence goes a long
way towards improving the ability of the
people we support to participate in the
workforce and engage more fully in their
local community.
“All people need the basics – transport,
housing, education and training – to
enjoy life’s opportunities and to reach
their potential.”
8|9
OBTAIN YOUR NEXT QUALIFICATION
THROUGH OUR REGISTERED
TRAINING ORGANISATION
As a registered training organisation
(RTO), Life Without Barriers is accredited
to deliver nationally recognised
qualifications and skill sets to staff,
clients and others.
We offer a flexible delivery model to
support individual’s learning styles
and work commitments, including
classroom-based, online, and
correspondence delivery.
Each learner is supported by both a
supervisor in their workplace and an
industry experienced trainer and assessor
to guide and assess their results.
For aged care workers, a Certificate III
and Certificate IV Home and Community
Care can be studied with a number of
specialised Aged Care electives chosen
in areas such as dementia, palliative care
and supporting older people to maintain
independence.
Employees are encouraged to discuss
their qualification selections with their
supervisor and clients are advised to
discuss their study with the program
that is supporting you.
For more information please email or
call the RTO Training Coordinator,
Life Without Barriers at
[email protected] or
phone (02) 4033 4576.
SUPPORT TO OBTAIN
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
New and existing employees
of Life Without Barriers may
be eligible to study for an
accredited qualification through
a traineeship or other state
funds which can be accessed
through the RTO should you be
eligible.
As a Life Without Barriers
employee, if you are not eligible
for a traineeship or other funded
training your Operations
Manager may decide to fund
your study and it is also possible
for you to self-fund your study.
If you receive the services of Life
Without Barriers, a program
may be able to fund you or it is
also possible for you to self-fund
to study with us.
The Australian Government’s
Australian Apprenticeships
Incentives Program also has a
range of incentives that may help
you study if you are eligible.
QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE NOW
AVAILABLE THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT
BARRIERS ARE:
• Certificate I Work Preparation –
Community Services
• Certificate II Community Services
• Certificate II Aboriginal and, or, Torres
Strait Islander Primary Health Care
• Certificate III Community
Service Work
• Certificate III Home and
Community Care
• Certificate III Disability
• Certificate III Health Support Services
• Certificate IV Frontline Management
• Certificate IV Home and
Community Care
• Certificate IV Disability
• Certificate IV Mental Health
• Certificate IV Community Services
Work
• Certificate IV Child, Youth and
Family Intervention
• Certificate IV Youth Work
• Diploma Disability
• Diploma Community Services Work.
FIVE MINUTES WITH EDWARD (ED) BIRT
Area Operations Manager, Southern New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
When and why did you join Life Without
Barriers? June 2006, I liked the energy,
values and diversity of the organisation
so I jumped at the opportunity and the
rest is history.
What do you enjoy about your work with
Life Without Barriers the most? Working
with an awesome team and the great
privilege of working with the people we
support who are amazing and inspiring
every day.
What profession other than your own
would you consider? Photojournalism.
I am a photographer and writer and I
studied journalism for a time.
What is your favourite food? I love
Mexican and good Thai though anything
delicious without animals in it is good
(I’m vegetarian).
Do you have a favourite word or phrase?
It’s called work for a reason.
What do you like to do outside of
work? Spend time with my amazing and
hilarious son Albert (four years old).
Do you have any hidden talents we
should know about? I can juggle (badly).
What inspires you? Life; and people’s
potential, resilience and capacity to adapt
and overcome challenges.
What sound do you love and why?
My son Albert’s infectious laugh.
SUPPORT FOR
CARERS AND
CLIENTS IN
TOWNSVILLE
Providing the right care, in the right way at the
right time underpins Life Without Barriers approach
which is why we are so pleased to be participating in
the Queensland Government’s Elderly Parent Carer
Innovation Trial 2013–2014.
Through the trial, Life Without Barriers
has obtained funds to purchase a
block of units in Townsville, north
Queensland, to support people with a
disability to transition from receiving
care from their elderly parent to living
more independently in the community.
Manager, Business Development and
Innovation, Anne Wemyss, said the
units would provide accommodation for
four people with a disability, carers and
four private tenants to support greater
integrated community-living as well as
24 hour support.
“Life Without Barriers will ensure
that two of the ground floor units are
wheelchair accessible to broaden the
mix of people in the accommodation,”
Anne said.
Queensland Disability Services
Minister Tracy Davis said the Life
Without Barriers partnership with the
Queensland Government was welcome
news for Townsville families.
“Our government has a strong plan for
a brighter future and we are preparing
Queenslanders with a disability, their
families, and their carers to transition
to the National Disability Insurance
Scheme,” Ms Davis said.
“We are delivering on our promise to
revitalise frontline services for families
and this trial aims to provide a wider
range of accommodation options for
adults with disability who have parents
aged over 60 years.
“It’s reassuring news for elderly parent
carers, knowing projects like these will
help provide accommodation solutions
to their loved ones, so they can live the
life they choose,” she added.
The project aims to support people
with a disability to transition to an
environment which promotes individual
decision making and active community
participation.
The units will be connected to high
speed broadband to enable a range of
assistive technologies to be delivered,
as required.
Electronic equipment will also be
installed in the property to monitor
movement so that service users can get
assistance when they need it and to keep
them safe; and a caretaker will look after
gardening and maintenance at the units,
as well as assisting residents in the event
of an emergency.
“It’s reassuring news for elderly parent
carers, knowing projects like these will
help provide accommodation solutions
to their loved ones, so they can live the
life they choose,” said Anne.
The Elderly Parent Carer Innovation
Trial 2013–2014 aims to support
people with a disability to participate
more fully in their community while
continuing to ensure existing supports
and services are delivered.
This includes daily assistance for
household duties, recreation, supported
employment and training, shopping,
appointments and visiting friends.
Life Without Barriers will fully assess
how people participating in the project
can receive support as needed for
mobility, sensory requirements and
other aids for daily living.
10|11
LOOKING
TO NEW
HORIZONS
The New Horizons program was launched at Life Without Barriers, Netley, Adelaide, on Tuesday 15 July 2014 from left:
Tracy Mackey, National Executive, Life Without Barriers, Jane Longbottom, South Australian Director, Life Without Barriers,
and Peter Evers, Managing Director of People’s Choice Credit Union.
Young people in Adelaide
leaving foster care now
have extra support to live
independently thanks to
Life Without Barriers
New Horizons program
and People’s Choice
Credit Union.
“As part of the sponsorship we also plan
to expand our New Horizons program
further across South Australia and into
the Northern Territory,” Tracy said.
New Horizons, launched in the Adelaide
suburb of Netley in South Australia on
Tuesday 15 July, supports young people
from 15 to 25 years of age transition from
out of home care.
“Our members and staff have told us
that they want us to help young people
achieve a brighter future, and Life
Without Barriers has an impressive
record of achieving just that,” Peter
Evers said.
It has been made possible through a
sponsorship agreement between Life
Without Barriers and People’s Choice
Credit Union.
Life Without Barriers National Executive,
Tracy Mackey, thanked People’s Choice
Credit Union for undertaking a two
year sponsorship of the New Horizons
program.
“This sponsorship agreement has enabled
the appointment of a full-time Leaving
Care Coordinator to run our New
Horizons program at Adelaide,”
Tracy said.
“Already our Coordinator is helping
young people to develop plans for their
future and develop the confidence and
skills to help them make important
decisions such as where they will live,
study and work.
Peter Evers, Managing Director of
People’s Choice Credit Union, also
addressed the launch saying that
the credit union takes great pride in
supporting the economic and social
wellbeing of our members and the
community.
“I’m very proud that People’s Choice
is embarking on this innovative
community partnership with Life
Without Barriers in South Australia,
and look forward to seeing its expansion
into the Northern Territory in the
future.”
Life Without Barriers Chief Executive,
Claire Robbs said, “Young people
leaving foster care are at a high
risk of social exclusion and can
experience significantly higher rates of
homelessness, contact with the criminal
justice system, unemployment, mental
illness and drug and alcohol misuse.
“New Horizons creates a unique
opportunity to extend service supports
and ensure continuity of care for Life
Without Barriers clients. The full-
time employment of the Leaving Care
Coordinator was only possible through
the generous backing of People’s Choice.”
Funding from People’s Choice will
support young people, with the guidance
of the Leaving Care Coordinator, to
develop and build practical independent
living skills and assist them to locate
and engage with relevant community
groups and services to make a successful
transition to independence.
The Leaving Care Coordinator will be
working with both Families SA and
Life Without Barriers Out of Home
Care program team to facilitate the best
outcome for these young people.
“Other relevant services within Life
Without Barriers, such as foster care
and their support workers, as well as
departmental case workers, need to work
in partnership to ensure the success of an
out of home care placement, and continue
working together to plan and transition
a young person to independence,”
Claire said.
Life Without Barriers South Australian
State Director, Jane Longbottom, Area
Operations Manager, Sheena Gray,
and representatives of community
and government agencies attended the
launch; and Helen Jeffreys, Operations
Manager, and Anne Ziegeler, Leaving
Care Coordinator of the New Horizons
program, delivered a presentation to
explain the aims of the program to
connect young people with community
services and supports.
Reaching out at Riverland, Life Without Barriers staff,
from left, Trudi Smith, Aaron McArthur, Deb McManus
and Reggie Black.
HOMELESS
PERSONS
WEEK
4 TO 10 AUGUST 2014
National Homeless Persons
Week 4 to 10 August is
an annual event to raise
awareness of people
experiencing and or
at risk of homelessness.
Life Without Barriers acknowledges
the week as part of its commitment to
helping those experiencing and at risk of
homelessness to find somewhere safe and
long term to live.
In South Australia Life Without
Barriers continues to support those
currently experiencing or who are at
risk of homelessness through the Metro
Homelessness Service at Netley and
the Riverland Specialist Homelessness
Service, Assertive Outreach Program.
During Homeless Persons Week, Life
Without Barriers Riverland Assertive
Outreach joined local community
services to host a Homelessness
Information Expo at Berri, South
Australia, on Thursday 7 August 2014.
The event included family entertainment
and a barbecue.
As part of their commitment to helping
people experiencing homelessness, the
Life Without Barriers teams at Berri,
including the Riverland Assertive
Outreach and the Personal Helpers and
Mentors Targeted Service, moved to a
new premises on Monday 7 July 2014.
The new premises at 12 Crawford
Terrace, Berri will be officially opened
in late September and feature a kitchen,
bathroom and laundry facilities for
clients and these facilities are already
being used by up to 40 people a week who
are experiencing homelessness.
Christy Kitto, Operations Manager,
Riverland, said the new premises was
custom fitted to increase access and
availability of basic activities of daily
living services to individuals and families
living homeless in the region.
Christy said the assertive outreach
programs differed from traditional street
outreach programs because it was a
deliberate and strategic attempt to end
homelessness
“The Riverland Assertive Outreach
program is an assertive outreach and
intensive case management support
service designed to engage with clients
experiencing homelessness such as
inappropriate and/or inadequate housing
and has a focus on rough sleeping in the
Riverland,” Christy said.
“The program along with the Personal
Helpers and Mentors Targeted Service
provides an individualised while
collaborative approach to engage and
develop rapport with clients experiencing
the varying forms of homelessness.
“This program recognises that many
clients will not have stand-alone
homelessness issues, but contributing
factors including co-morbidity that will
require support to enable them to move
forward.”
During Homeless Persons Week, Life
Without Barriers Metro Homelessness
Service at Netley, outside of Adelaide,
participated in a ‘Walk a mile in their
boots’ community event on Friday 8
August 2014.
More than 1000 people walked a mile
in support of people experiencing
homelessness and to raise awareness of
the devastating impact of homelessness.
Ray Johnson, acting Team Leader, Metro
Homelessness Service, Life Without
Barriers said his team was committed
to delivering assertive case management
to bring about positive outcomes,
build capacity and reconnect people
experiencing homelessness to their
community.
In far north Queensland, in the lead up
to Homeless Persons Week, Life Without
Barriers officially opened the Ngathnu-Wi
Bayan Women’s Shelter at Cooktown on
1 August 2014, coinciding with the
facility’s first anniversary.
Since the Ngathnu-Wi Bayan Women’s
Shelter opened it has provided emergency
and short-term accommodation for
women and children escaping domestic
and family violence and those at risk of
homelessness in far north Queensland.
12|13
Life Without Barriers was represented at Garma 2014 by,
from left: Claire Robbs, Chief Executive, Loretta Perry,
Director, Values, Design and Innovation, Terry Lawler,
Chair of the Board and Andrew Kilgour, acting Director
of Operations south-east. Gary Oliver, Executive Lead,
National Reconciliation portfolio also attended.
LIFE WITHOUT
BARRIERS ATTENDS
GARMA FESTIVAL
2014
Garma is a colourful annual festival
enabling Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Australians to experience a spectacular
and informative display of cultural
practice and learning, and this year Life
Without Barriers was invited along.
Claire Robbs, Chief Executive, Loretta
Perry, Director, Values, Design and
Innovation, Terry Lawler, Chair of the
Board, Andrew Kilgour, acting Director of
Operations south-east, and Gary Oliver,
Executive Lead, National Reconciliation
portfolio attended the festival held from
1 to 4 August 2014 in northeast Arnhem
Land, Northern Territory.
The attendance of these key representatives
of Life Without Barriers at the festival
was made possible through the generous
sponsorship of Qantas – a Reconciliation
partner.
Gary Oliver, Executive Lead, National
Reconciliation portfolio also paid tribute
to Corporate Culcha for their support of
the event.
The official opening of the new Garma
Knowledge Centre in Gulkula was a
highlight of this year’s festival as was the
opening performance by the Gumatj clan.
Held on Yolngu ceremonial ground, the
festival was celebrated through the theme
of Responsibility, Reform and Recognition.
Organised by the Yothu Yindi Foundation
the festival, a highly significant policy
event, is held each year in August and
is the largest and most vibrant annual
celebration of the Yolngu culture.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE RECONCILIATION
FORUM STARTS A NEW CHAPTER
The National Executive Reconciliation
Forum held its inaugural meeting on
Thursday 26 June 2014, marking yet
another new chapter in the Life Without
Barriers National Reconciliation Agenda.
milestones of the inaugural forum, the
responsibilities and accountabilities of
forum members and the requirements
of members to partner to achieve the
significant program of events.
It was co-chaired by Claire Robbs,
Chief Executive, and Terri Donovan,
Operations Manager Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Team, Sydney,
and attended by Directors of Operations,
Corporate and State Directors, State
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Policy and Program Managers and our
newly developed National Reconciliation
Team, including Executive Lead, Gary
Oliver, and senior advisors Donna Smith
and Wade Mahoney.
The forum also acknowledged the
achievements of the former National
Cultural Respect Steering Committee
that allowed us as an organisation to look
forward to the refreshed reconciliation
agenda with great confidence.
During the forum, the discussion
opened by acknowledging important
The forum will be held three times a
year and be the key accountability forum
for all Directors on their performance
against the Life Without Barriers
Reconciliation Action Plan objectives.
It will also provide members with a
stronger voice in relation to operations,
governance and reporting.
The Life Without Barriers South Australian team
joined more than 200 people to participate in the
annual NAIDOC Week closing procession to
Port Augusta on Friday 11 July 2014, from left:
Sonja Tilbrook, Dale Carn and Daniel Biggs.
CELEBRATING
NAIDOC 6 TO
13 JULY 2014
NAIDOC Week, 6
to 13 July 2014, was
celebrated nationally
through the theme
Serving Country:
Centenary and
Beyond.
The theme provided reflection
on and acknowledgement of the
past, and honoured all Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander men
and women who have fought in
defence of country.
Across Life Without Barriers,
NAIDOC Week activities are
an opportunity for Indigenous
and non-Indigenous staff,
and the people we support, to
come together to celebrate the
uniqueness of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander cultures.
It is also a reminder of the
importance Life Without Barriers
places on working in partnership
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities to create a
better future and raise awareness
of Reconciliation initiatives.
LEADERSHIP
ADVANCE
As part of our focus on
employees, 130 senior
leaders from across Life
Without Barriers came
together for a two day
Leadership Advance in
July 2014 at Broadbeach,
Queensland.
In opening the conference, Chief
Executive Claire Robbs said, “Sitting back
and being comfortable is not in our DNA.
“We challenge ourselves and our
processes to seek ongoing improvement
in the care and support we provide.
“The social services industry and
Australia as a whole is facing
unprecedented changes and it will take
more than sound management to steer
Life Without Barriers through these
changes – it will take courage and
innovation.”
Over the two days, the facilitators,
Jason Clarke, Gauri Bhalla and Katharine
McLennan, shared with participants, the
tools, ideas and concepts to encourage
collaboration, innovation and leadership.
The design thinking session, with groups
learning how to use this approach as a
discovery tool, and the IDEA (Imagine,
Develop, Evaluate, Act) model was well
received with stories already emerging
of how people were able to use these
approaches in practical problem solving
following the conference.
But, really the highlight of the event
was the opportunity to spend time
networking and making connections
with others who share the Life Without
Barriers values and passion.
The Leadership Advance was the first
step in putting in place a clear learning,
development and support structure
for Life Without Barriers’ current
and future leaders.
RECOGNISING AND
REWARDING OUR PEOPLE
In 2014 Life Without Barriers is
celebrating our carers and workers
through three distinct award programs
to contribute to the development of our
culture of promoting innovation, learning
and continuous improvement.
On 22 July we recognised and celebrated
outstanding employees through our
inaugural Employee Recognition Awards.
On 16 November we will showcase the
outstanding compassion, generosity and
support provided by individuals and
families through our new National
Carers Awards.
On 3 December we will celebrate the
dedication and commitment of our Life
Without Barriers staff and volunteers
through our 7th annual National
Disability Services Achievement Awards
coinciding with International Day for
People with Disability.
Recognition, of course, should not be
an annual or event specific formality.
All of these awards are a measure of
the value Life Without Barriers places
on supporting employees and carers
to carry out their important duties
throughout Australia.
Across all of the nominations for our
awards there is one consistent theme –
the outstanding dedication of nominees
by supporting others to achieve their
potential or providing support to feel
safe and protected.
We would also like to thank everyone
who has nominated a person for an
award and congratulate all nominees.
Every person can make a world of
difference to a child, young person,
individual or a family in need of help.
We have this year received a number of
excellent nominations across our awards
programs and they are a reflection of
the outstanding work being undertaken
across the community services sector.
14|15
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS
NATIONAL DISABILITY
SERVICES ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Now in their 7th year, our 2014 National Disability
Service Achievement Awards are expected to be the
biggest and best yet.
Everyone can make a nomination or self-nominate,
whether you are a member of staff, a person with a
disability who uses our services, a client’s family,
friends or an extended community member.
Life Without Barriers disability services focus on
the individual, by empowering each person to reach
their goals, and we celebrate our high achievers
through these awards each year.
Nominations close at 5pm, Friday 26 September
2014, and winners will be announced at a ceremony
on 3 December, in Sydney, coinciding with
International Day for People with Disability.
To obtain a nomination form, or for more
information, please visit our intranet
or email [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support. We look
forward to receiving your nominations as we
celebrate our staff, people and communities.
Tyson Turner-Thomas won a 2013 National Disability Services Achievement Award for his work
as a scoreboard attendant at the Ipswich Jets Rugby League Club
Here are the three
categories of awards to
nominate a person with
disabilities, a member of
the Life Without Barriers
support staff and also
members and partners in
your community who do
great work with people
with disabilities.
AWARDS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
•The Community Builder Award recognises an individual or group who has contributed
to the community.
•The Breakthrough Award recognises an individual or group who has taken on a new
personal challenge and achieved their personal goals.
•The Voice Award recognises the efforts of an individual or group who has advocated for
people with disabilities in the community.
•The Young Achiever Award recognises a young person or group, aged between 15 and
24 years, with disability who has made an outstanding contribution to the community.
AWARDS FOR DISABILITY SUPPORT STAFF
•The Community Connection Award recognises an individual’s or group’s commitment
to enhance the inclusion of people with disability in the community.
•The Innovation Award recognises an individual’s or group’s creative approach to
work at Life Without Barriers.
•The Personalisation Award recognises an individual’s or group’s excellence in
providing person-centred support to people with disability accessing Life Without
Barriers services.
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AWARD
•The Accessible Community Award recognises an individual’s or organisation’s
commitment to the engagement and inclusion of people with disability in
the community.
MORE MENTAL
HEALTH
RECOVERY
SERVICES
IN MACKAY
People living with mental
health issues in and around
Mackay will now receive
more support from Life
Without Barriers on their
journey to recovery.
Life Without Barriers, Aftercare and
the Mental Illness Fellowship North
Queensland are working together to
provide transitional housing support for
people exiting Mackay Base Hospital.
Aftercare holds the contract with
Queensland Health and provides overall
management of this new short term
transitional accommodation initiative.
Under the initiative, which is due to
become operational later this year, Life
Without Barriers will provide supported
accommodation in a four bedroom house
at Mackay for people who have left hospital
and are at risk of relapse.
It’s expected that after six months of
around-the-clock support, residents will
be able to transition to semi-supported
care in a unit complex managed by
Aftercare.
From there they will have the opportunity
to move into independent accommodation
FOSTER CARE
WEEK 2014
CELEBRATED
Across Life Without Barriers, Foster Care
Week activities provide an opportunity for
staff and the people we support to come
together to celebrate the dedication of
foster, kinship and relative carers.
State based celebrations of Foster
Care Week are held each year in New
South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in
September, in South Australia in August,
and in Queensland in March.
How the week is known varies from
state to state, in addition to events such
delivered through an outreach model
provided by the Mental Illness Fellowship
North Queensland.
The initiative will also focus on providing
daily living support to people with mental
health issues in a safe, friendly and helpful
environment within a framework of
recovery.
Individuals will also be encouraged to
be actively engaged in decision-making
and in planning their care and recovery
process with respect to sourcing income
support, work and training opportunities,
social connections, family reunifications,
and other supports consistent with
working in a recovery based approach.
The initiative has been made possible
through Queensland Health funding
to Aftercare to deliver the services in
collaboration with the QHealth, Life
Without Barriers and Mental Illness
Fellowship North Queensland.
as a National Foster and Kinship Care
Conference on 13–14 November 2014 at
Hobart, Tasmania.
Registrations have opened for the National
Foster and Kinship Care Conference
themed ‘Together we can only get better’.
During the conference delegates will hear
from leaders in the field of children and
family services.
We also celebrated National Child
Protection Week 7 to 13 September 2014
through the themes ‘Protecting Children is
Everyone’s Business’ and ‘Play Your Part’.
16|17
CONTEMPORARY
PURPOSE BUILT
ACCOMMODATION
FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITY
The opportunity for five
adults to move to new
purpose built self-contained
villas at Frenchs Forest, a
northern suburb of Sydney
is underway.
The villas have been long-term in the
planning with Ageing, Disability and
Home Care (ADHC) and Life Without
Barriers.
The villas follow the ADHC Design
Guidelines for Group Accommodation
and are contemporary, functional and
attractive in their design. The villa-style
model offers residents full independence
with 24/7 support and access to all
common areas.
“Of the three self-contained villa units,
two have two bedrooms and the third
has one bedroom. It is an exciting
time for the people moving to the new
accommodation,” Mark Woolven,
Operations Manager, Rockdale said.
In addition each villa has an accessible
bathroom, a living/dining area and
a kitchen or kitchenette. There is an
individual outdoor area directly accessed
from each villa and space outside for
private entertaining.
The accommodation will provide
permanent accommodation for a
maximum of five adults when it opens
in September 2014.
MORE PLACES TO LIVE FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITY AT GOLD COAST
More Queenslanders with a disability will
now have somewhere to stay following
the opening of Life Without Barriers
accommodation at Labrador, Gold Coast,
on Wednesday 2 July 2014.
The unit complex in Usher Avenue is now
providing transitional accommodation
for a maximum of eight people with a
disability for up to 12 months at a time.
During that period tenants will be
supported to secure long-term living
arrangements and to more fully
participate in their local community.
The opening was also attended by
local community representatives and
government partners including Gold
Coast councillor Margaret Grummitt.
The property was officially opened by
Queensland’s Minister for Communities,
Child Safety and Disability Services,
Tracy Davis, and Brad Swan, Director
Operations, North and West Australia,
Life Without Barriers.
This new service is in line with
Queensland’s Your Life Your Choice
policy and the National Disability
Insurance Scheme aspirations for
people with a disability to live more
independently in their communities.
MST WORKSHOP
PROMOTES
CONTINUAL
IMPROVEMENT
Life Without Barriers
hosted a Multisystemic
Therapy (MST) strategic
planning workshop on 31
July and 1 August in Sydney
to support the continuous
improvement of the services
we deliver to young people
and their families.
Suellen Lembke, Senior Advisor,
Evidence Based Programs said the
workshop brought together MST program
managers, practitioners and consultants
from government and community
agencies in New South Wales, Western
Australia and New Zealand.
“MST is an effective, evidence-based
intensive family and community-based
program that seeks to reduce juvenile
offending or other anti-social behaviours
and to keep young people at home and in
school,” Suellen Lembke said.
“Life Without Barriers plays a practice
support and quality assurance role for
agencies in Australia and New Zealand
who are delivering the program.
“Our recent MST strategic planning
workshop was designed to develop
strategies to increase awareness of the
effectiveness of MST and the use of this
highly successful intervention.
LAUNCH OF OUR NEW WEBSITE
AND WE LIVE HOTLINE
Our 20th anniversary communication activities
took another leap forward with the launch of our new
website on 22 August 2014 and the listing of a smart
contact number – 1800 WE LIVE.
The workshop also reviewed how
we could increase the level of effective
support and quality assurance that
Life Without Barriers provides its
partner agencies.
“Through the workshop we were able to
share ideas and issues, provide support
and influence current debate around
youth justice policies and programs,”
Suellen said.
This portfolio brings together the
practice, programs, and quality and risk
functions to oversee Life Without Barriers
systems and practice improvement in a
sustainable way.
For more information please
visit www.lwb.org.au
Our website has been redesigned to
incorporate Life Without Barriers strong
new people focussed look and brand,
with information organised and arranged
around areas of visitor interest to make
their navigation through the site clear and
simple.
It appears that our new brand, achieved
in partnership with Principals Graphic
Design, is making the creative design
industry take notice too.
We were the proud winners of the
Corporate Identity and Branding award
at the prestigious 2014 Sydney Design
Awards on Wednesday 20 August 2014.
To further improve communication with
our community Life Without Barriers also
has a new toll free number 1800 WE LIVE.
This word prompted number reinforces
our commitment to enabling people to live
their lives.
Calls to 1800 WE LIVE or 1800 93 5483
will be answered at our national office
at Newcastle, and is in addition to the
existing reception number (02) 4033 4500
and Client Information Feedback Service
number 1800 721 226.
Please visit our new website at
www.lwb.org.au
18|19
FAMILY
CHALLENGES A
FOCUS AT ACWA
CONFERENCE
OUR YOUTH
ADVOCATE
PROGRAM
CHANGES
THE LIVES OF
YOUNG PEOPLE
Life Without Barriers is committed to
working closely with young people in care
to help them develop their plans to live
independently.
Our Australian trial of the USA Youth
Advocate Program (YAP), started in
June this year, and has been specifically
designed to achieve this goal by matching
young people leaving care with paid
community advocates, chosen from the
young person’s community.
Young people living at Life Without
Barriers residential services in Sydney
were nominated to participate in the YAP
pilot, and staff and community advocates
were trained to provide advocacy for
young people.
Advocates work with the young person to
help them achieve their future plans and
identify volunteers, supports and mentors.
Life Without Barriers Program Manager,
Eugene Wilson, worked with the
American developers of the YAP to deliver
the training.
TIME CAPSULE
COMMEMORATES
OUR JOURNEY
Life Without Barriers was proud
to be a major sponsor of the 2014
Association of Children’s Welfare
Agencies (ACWA) Conference,
Children in a changing world:
Challenges for families and
communities.
“The involvement of Life Without
Barriers in the YAP began when our
Chief Executive Claire Robbs attained a
Churchill scholarship to learn about the
program firsthand at the United States
and Ireland,” Eugene said.
“The primary difference between how
Life Without Barriers is approaching YAP
compared with the American program is
our focus on young people with an out of
home care experience rather than those
living in youth justice institutions.
“Life Without Barriers endorses the
program, based on YAP’s Safely Home
study which aims to achieve positive
outcomes for high and complex needs
young people through community-based
programs, the promotion of employment,
and wrap-around models of support.”
Eugene was assisted by Life Without
Barriers National Advisor, Denis Myers,
who wrote the procedures manual to
implement the program.
Held from 18 to 20 August in Sydney,
the conference was attended by 700
child protection practitioners, policy
makers and advocates who shared the
latest research impacting children,
their immediate and extended
families, and the communities in
which they live.
Coordinated by the ACWA
New South Wales, the conference
included presentations by
international guest speakers as
well as Life Without Barriers
national executive.
Mary McKinnon, National
Director, Practice and Quality,
and Lauren Murray, New South
Wales Director, jointly hosted
a breakfast symposium and addressed
the topic of ‘The Ying and Yang
of Implementation of Therapeutic
Residential Care’.
Our Life Without Barriers’ Sydney
Out of Home Care team ran an
information booth providing
information about our services
to conference participants.
As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations Life Without
Barriers is gathering messages from our employees,
volunteers and stakeholders for a 2034-and-beyond
time capsule to capture our past, present and future.
We have distributed a suite of postcards for people to use in writing their messages
relating to our past 20 years, the current support and care work we are undertake
today, and their ideas on what the future light look like for Life Without Barriers
and the community.
In December 2014, as this dynamic 20th anniversary year draws to a close, these
messages will be enclosed in a time capsule and buried for re-opening in 2034
during the 40th anniversary of Life Without Barriers.
PROMOTING EMPLOYEE
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Delivering a safe, healthy and supportive workplace
for employees is a priority for Life Without Barriers.
To achieve this Life Without Barriers
recently launched its new National
Health, Safety and Wellness Policy as
part of a range of initiatives supported
by the National Workplace Health and
Safety Team and State Safety Officers.
The policy, available on the Safety@
LWB health and safety intranet
site, focuses on building a strong
organisational safety culture while
enhancing an individual employee’s
awareness of their personal obligations
in creating a safe workplace.
Claire Robbs, Chief Executive, Life
Without Barriers, said the policy aims
to provide safe systems and places of
work that allow employees to work free
from the risk of harm and injury, and
to support the development of healthy
and supportive relationships.
“The policy reinforces our commitment
to enhancing the health and wellness
of our workforce, clients and visitors
in accordance with Work Health and
Safety legislation and our aim to be
responsive to our employees’ health
and safety needs,” Claire said.
“As part of this commitment, we
actively encourage everyone to report
any risks to clients, employees or
the public to their supervisor or our
Workplace Health and Safety team.”
Employees should report any health
and safety concerns as soon as they
arise and must:
In July 2014 Life Without Barriers proudly
confirmed its three year partnership with
Volkswagen.
EXCITING TIMES...
VOLKSWAGEN FLEET
LAUNCHED
The new fleet arrangement means our
Life Without Barriers team members will
soon be driving a new Volkswagen.
Peter Armour, National Fleet Manager,
Life Without Barriers, said as part of this
partnership fleet cars were in the process
of being changed to Volkswagen vehicles
over the next three years.
• make the area or situation safe and
report the issue to your supervisor,
it if is safe to do so
• complete a hazard report form and
give it to your supervisor or email
to [email protected], and
• enter details of the hazard in the
site communications book.
Life Without Barriers also encourages
employees to volunteer as Health
and Safety representatives for their
individual workplaces.
For more information about the new
policy please visit the Safety@LWB
page on the Life Without Barrier
intranet or email [email protected]
“Volkswagen is an outstanding, awardwinning car manufacturer and we are
proud and excited to drive such refined
motor vehicles,” Peter said.
“By 31 December 2014 we are scheduled
to have introduced 500 Volkswagen cars
into our Life Without Barriers fleet.”
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US ON TWITTER @LWBAustralia, WWW.LWB.ORG.AU AND YOUTUBE.