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INSIDE• My Program Choices• Employment Solutions• Supported Employment• International Day of People with Disability

DATE: 03/07/2012

DESIGNER: ET

COLOURS:

Darling Brands

Suite 2/ 314 Norton Street Leichhardt

Sydney NSW 2040 Australia

T: +612 9569 2461 F: +612 9569 2462

darlingbrands.com

FILE NAME: 7090DSA_ART_DSAlogo+Byline1_Stacked_PMS.ai

CLIENT: Disability Services Australia

VERSION: ART PMS STACKED

FINAL SIZE: ART 1

ART % AT: N/A

SolutionsISSUE 27

The past year has been a very successful one for DSA, particularly in terms of customer satisfaction, staff culture, growth and financial sustainability as we continue to navigate the challenging environment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) transition.

We were pleased to sign an agreement with the NSW Government in October which saw Family and Community Services’ CJP and ISP services transfer to DSA at the end of 2018. DSA has developed leading capability with these complex programs as a service provider and the transfer complements our existing activities in this specialist area.

We were also delighted to win a Disability Employment Service (DES) contract for the provision of open employment for people with a disability and a contract to provide independent wage assessments. These are very exciting developments as we now have service offerings across the full spectrum of disability employment and training.

After almost 9 years at the helm I will retire from DSA early this year and am handing over to our new CEO, Leisa Hart, who will commence at the end of January. Leisa has extensive leadership experience in both not for profit and commercial organisations and joins DSA at an exciting time in our history.

DSA is fully committed to the success of the NDIS because of the benefits it promises for people with a disability however the roll-out has presented many challenges for families and also for the sector.

Implementation problems continue and we are actively supporting the NDIS to improve both by direct interactions and through NDS, our peak body and Alliance20. Alliance20 is a group of the largest disability service providers supporting the NDIS with a practical, problem/ solution approach.

It has been a privilege working with DSA and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our individual, community and business supporters who share our commitment to enabling opportunities for people to experience choice, inclusion and achievement in their lives.

Every day, in so many ways, we are making a difference in the lives of the people who choose us to deliver their supports.

Mark Spurr

From the CEO

Over the past year we...

We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Jodi McKay MP who toured our Condell Park facility

542 students studying through METS

118 Learning Hub students

Achieved customer satisfaction

for Employment Solutions for Community Support Services customers

85%86%

Celebrated outstanding employee and jobseeker outcomes at the 2018 Achievement Awards

contacted our Customer Connections team for information or referrals

8,279 people

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE2

At DSA we can support you to get involved in new social and recreational activities that interest you.

This might include understanding what your hobbies are, supporting you to try new things, spending time with friends and making new ones, learning new life skills or work on achieving your health and wellbeing goals.

Our Community Solutions Teams offer a great variety of both group based and individualised programs from a range of locations including at our centres and out and about in the local community.

My Program Choices are different in each area and over the past few months have included activities such as:

In the Goulburn area we also offer after school activities for teens with a disability. The programs cover a range of skill development and fun activities such as FitTeen, Tee Time and Get in the Groove!

Our new mobile solution is bringing our centre based options into the local community. We are running a Summer school holiday program in the Shoalhaven Area including beach cricket, boules battle!, yoga by the Bay, playing PS4 and Nintendo Switch by the beach and lots of other activities.

Themed disco nights @ Goulburn

A Mexican Fiesta @ Moss Vale

Friday Movie and Dinner nights @ Nelson Bay Cinemas

The Weeklies Music Band @ Taren Point

Swimming club @ East Hills

My Program Choices

After School Teen Time

DSA On The Move

All our services are available with eligible NDIS funding or on a fee for service basis.

For more information contact Customer Connections 1300 372 121 customerconnections@dsa.org.au

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE 3

Some fast facts about the NDIS?

Supporting Independent Living

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? The program supports people with a permanent and significant disability as well as their families and carers.

Who is eligible? People aged under 65 who have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities. Participants must be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa, and live in a region of Australia where NDIS is available.

What if I have a disability but am not eligible for the NDIS? You can still receive advice from the NDIS, which will connect people with disability (and their family and carers) to disability and mainstream supports in their community.

Who’s who?

NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme Provides support to people with disability, their families and carers. It is focused on providing real choices and flexibility to people with disability through the provision of personalised funding.

NDIA – National Disability Insurance Agency A government agency whose role is to implement and manage the NDIS, and ensure people with disability continue to get the support they need.

Two new homes have been built at Ropes Crossing by developers BlueCHP with DSA Mentoring Services supporting residents to develop their living skills, create a routine and forge new friendships.

The aim is to provide opportunities to gain more independence through learning practical life skills. Each home can accommodate 4 people, with the first providing 24/7 support and the second, right next door, providing a safe place where residents can live more independently.

The new homes are part of BlueCHP’s broader program of work at Ropes Crossing and DSA looks forward to continuing the relationship and supporting more people like Faber live active lives in their community.

Faber enjoying timeout in the courtyard.

We are also investing in the redevelopment of an older style supported independent living house in Tahmoor which will see it replaced with a platinum standard accessible property over the next 12 -18 months. In addition, we are undertaking a major renovation of a property in Bowral and exploring options for short stay respite in the Wollondilly.

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE4

Our office in Bankstown

Louise Mooney, GM Employment and Training with Federal MP Jason Clare and CEO, Mark Spurr

State MP Stephen Bali, CEO Mark Spurr with Louise Mooney, GM Employment and Training

State MP Ron Hoenig, Federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite , with DSA Chairman Ken Gabb at the opening of our DES service in Mascot

Another exciting development for 2018/19, completing our service offering for disability employment and training is the news that we were successful in acquiring Disability Employment Services, Employment Support Service (DES-ESS) contracts in four areas across Sydney.

We’ve opened new Employment Solutions offices in Mascot, Bankstown, Blacktown, Rooty Hill and Campbelltown.

We have a great team of experienced Employment Consultants who are committed to working with jobseekers and employers to match the right employees to the right roles.

After more than a year of being out of work Josh came to our Employment Solutions team in Blacktown for assistance to find employment.

He found work as a general hand with Gardenview landscaping where his employer was impressed with Josh’s commitment.

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE 5

Ben Fordham with Mascot employee Natasha Joe, another cheerful employee

Heath and Paul during 2GB interview

In acknowledgement of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the work we do in DSA Business Services is contract packaging we have changed our name to DSA Packaging Solutions. It is a much better fit for what we offer our business customers.

Ben was so impressed with what he saw, he invited Operations Manager Heath Dickens and Receptionist Paul Elliott to the 2GB studios to talk on-air about supported employment, the impact of the NDIS, and some of the challenges DSA and jobseekers have faced in receiving the appropriate funding supports they need to find and keep a job.

DSA Packaging Solutions operates four Australian Disability Enterprise facilities providing third party supply chain solutions for local, national and international businesses and Assetcare, a property maintenance division. Our facilities in the Greater Sydney area are located in Mascot, Bankstown, Seven Hills and Glendenning. Our Southern Highlands facility is located in Braemar.

We pack and label product for more than 70 business customers each year which gives our employees the opportunity to work with some of Australia’s leading brands. At Braemar, we pack millions of coffee capsules! So many in fact that we’ve had to introduce a robot to help us keep up with demand.

Supported employment is an important work option for people with a disability which not only provides a job and a wage but also enables people to learn and develop new skills, improve their health and wellbeing and provides lots of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.

We are very proud of what we do and invited Ben Fordham from radio station 2GB to our Mascot site to see the team in action first hand.

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE6

Events – 2018 International Day of People with DisabilityThe 2018 theme for the International Day of People with Disability was all about empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality for all.

DSA was kept busy with celebrations in Bankstown, Blacktown, Burwood, Eastgardens, Goulburn, Kingsgrove, Kogarah, Mittagong, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan and that was just in the first week!

We were overwhelmed by the outstanding support and sponsorship received from our community partners and local businesses.

To keep up with what’s happening visit

www.dsa.org.au click on the Contact us tab and select What’s On

Join us in celebrating International Day of People with Disability 2018.Date: Wednesday, 5th DecemberTime: 10am - 2pmLocation: Blacktown Showground,

Entry via Richmond Road Free event with BBQ, entertainment and lots of activities including a silent disco, art

in the park, and much, much more!For information and to RSVP, contact DSA’s Customer Connections team

on 1300 372 121 or email customerconnections@dsa.org.au

You are invited to Picnic in the Park

YOUR LIFE • YOUR FUTURE • YOUR CHOICE 7

It’s the chance to meet new people, learn new skills and live an independent life. 15 years ago, Paul came to us looking for a new challenge and he’s been with us ever since.When he first joined DSA, anyone with a disability could come to us for a job and be on the payroll with supports in place to support them within a day or two. Since the introduction of the NDIS however, the process is much harder, and people can wait for many months to have the support they need to start their career.DSA supports the NDIS and has done since day one, but no system is perfect. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who wants to work should have the opportunity to do so.

In the short term, we have chosen to cover the cost of supports that people need while they wait for their NDIS funding to be approved. The cost is around $12,000 a year for each person whose funding isn’t yet approved.

Paul has become a strong advocate for work, because having a secure job has truly changed his life. He gets up at 5am to get to work by 7am.“I’d hate to stay at home. When you come to work you get to meet new friends. It feels so much better coming to work and having things to do than staying at home” says Paul.At 5am he gets a bus from his home at Revesby to the station, then a train to Mascot followed by another bus.

Paul loves his job but it is so much more than just a job to him.

SUMMER 2018/19

The proximity of the DSA site to Sydney airport means that airlines from around the world use DSA to fulfil their packaging requirements.Paul originally started with DSA at our Condell Park facility packaging mouthguards and mobile phones but now he works on Reception at Mascot answering phones, meeting and greeting visitors and working on data entry projects.He’s also studied through the DSA Learning Hub to achieve qualifications that are recognised across the country. Paul has a Certificate II and III in Business and a Certificate III in Warehousing. Paul is living proof of why it’s critical that people can access the support they need to find a job and start a career. The impact on Paul’s life can’t be understated. His confidence has improved, he’s met so many friends along the way, and he is more driven than ever before to explore new hobbies and passions. He’s also used his income to fund his passion for travel. Paul has been on four cruises and is booked in for another in January.It’s very clear that for Paul, working at DSA is more than just a job. For Paul it’s about new-found confidence, social connections and real qualifications. The next big challenge Paul is working towards is to move out of the family home. A support worker is currently teaching Paul how to prepare healthy meals, just one skill he needs to acquire to achieve his goal of living independently.So much of Paul’s personal development has come from being able to have a job that suits his abilities. There are many more people in our community who need support to find and keep a job, and flourish just like Paul. It was a pleasure to present Paul with

his Cert III in Business!

Paul with Ben Fordham from 2GB

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Thank you for supporting Disability Services Australia. Disability Services Australia Ltd

ABN: 35 002 507 655CFN: 12222