For Every One in a Million
Better health outcomes for Victorians with disability through sport and recreation
On behalf of the Board and Management of Disability Sport & Recreation (DSR), it is with great pleasure that we present our annual activities for the 2014/15 financial year.
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Every year brings change, challenges, renewal and growth. Recently, the most significant change has been that of Chief Executive Officer. In September 2015, after seven years as CEO, Rob Anderson took the opportunity to step down as CEO and move onto the DSR Board. While these developments are outside the reporting period, this significant change in the organisation’s management needs acknowledgement.
Rob was instrumental in changing DSR’s strategic direction; from our name, to our mandate. We want to thank Rob for his unwavering dedication to our mission: to provide and promote positive health outcomes for people with disability participation in sport and recreation. Rob set us on the path to achieving it and from his new position on the Board, he will continue this important work.
Finally, we welcome Susan Brunton to the Board, who joined in mid-2014.
The disability sector is poised for the biggest change social policy reform since Medicare, with the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The implementation of the NDIS is still a way off; Victorian access to the scheme is now scheduled to commence in July 2016. Feedback from the Barwon region pilot is optimistic on the scheme’s capacity to reduce the economic barriers to sport and recreation for NDIS participants. We welcome the challenge to help make the potential to increase participation in sport and recreation into a reality.
Throughout 2014/15, we continued to focus on growing our existing programs and developing new initiatives to engage Victorians with disability in sport and recreation. We added an extra two locations to our lawn bowls program and expanded our in-hospital paediatric education program into the Monash Children’s Hospital with the development of a pilot program to a permanent arrangement.
We launched Score!, our new interactive online directory of accessible and inclusive venues, sport and recreation programs, and organisations. Score! was developed in consultation with the Victorian community and Youth with Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) to meet the needs of people with disability, their families and carers. Commentary and ratings from users, along with the directory’s ability to map supply and demand for services will give Victorians with disability a voice and power to influence change where it is needed. Engagement with this online resource has been strong, with more than 1,000 early adopters signing on since it went live in April.
Alongside our innovations, we continued to run our clinical and school education programs, children’s camps, sporting programs and community engagement events.
Our four WheelTalk presenters travelled thousands of kilometres across the state to teach students about diversity, acceptance and disability sports. More than 20,000 students in 164 schools now have a greater understanding of the issues facing people with disability and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The Rehabilitation to Recreation program for healthcare workers was delivered in 19 healthcare settings including some of the state’s largest public hospitals, helping clinicians understand the importance of early intervention and access to physical recreation.
Our annual Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Festival, on International Day of People With Disability, is still the single biggest event in our calendar. On that one day in December, we reach more than 29,000 people with our message that every Victorian has the right to enjoy optimal health through physical activity. The array of accessible and inclusive recreation and sporting activities on display at the festival is not only a celebration of our sector, but a celebration of the strength of the Victorian community.
None of this work would be possible without the incredible investment we receive from the community. We thank the thousands of individual donors, our members, staff, volunteers, sponsors and program partners who have generously supported. We are privileged to share DSR’s journey with you all and we thank you for sharing our vision of a community where there is access and equity for all.
Dean Walker – Chair
Richard Amon – Chief Executive Officer
Dean is a Consultant Lecturer at Victoria University and Principle Consultant for the Wax Consulting Group. Dean brings to the Board an abundance of global economic and business knowledge.
Tina has represented Australia in wheelchair basketball at three Paralympic Games and three world cups. She has been involved in the development of the National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball League since 2000 and has represented the players on the League Advisory Committee.
Jeremy has been a member of Disability Sport and Recreation for nearly 20 years, a Director for 12 years and Chair for the past 7 years. Jeremy has a wealth of experience in management system assessment and has worked professionally as auditor and consultant for Davis Langdon since 1992. He is a member of RAB-Quality Society of Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building and Director of Independence Australia.
Stuart competed as part of the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team at the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. He won a gold medal at the Atlanta Paralympics for which he received a Medal of the Order of Australia. Stuart has been a practicing solicitor for over 10 years and currently works for the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Greg brings to the Board a strong sport and event management focus. He has represented Australia at multiple international sporting events as a Coach or Team Official. Greg worked as the Program Manager, Sport Services for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and FINA 2007 World Swimming Championships. He was the General Manager for the 2009 Australian Paralympic Youth Games prior to taking up his current role as Head of Sport for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Susan’s professional background is as a lawyer specialising in litigating catastrophic injury cases in Queensland. She was General Counsel for a publicly listed company, and has extensive experience in risk management. Susan has also acted on behalf of hospital boards in Queensland.
As a mother of two children with disability, she is also a passionate health advocate. Her personal and professional experience affords her a unique perspective on the tensions between balancing commercial realities with the importance of the engagement process to find solutions. As a result, Susan’s advocacy work is nuanced, insightful and rooted in practical problem-solving.
Andrew has worked in a variety of Senior Operations and HR roles for some of the country’s leading recruitment agencies, bringing superior people management skills and motivational tools to the team. Currently Andrew works as the Regional Manager of Human Resources for Boral in Victoria.
Russell is a registered General and Psychiatric Nurse, retired Naval Officer, former Vice President of Elwood R.S.L and Treasurer of Sailability Victoria. Russell has been a member of Disability Sport and Recreation since 1978.
Alfred Felton Bequest
Boroondara Central Lions Club
Carbine Club
City of Melbourne
Collie Foundation
Department of Social Services
nib foundation
Henry Carus & Associates
Protect
Sport & Recreation Victoria
Uniting Journeys Foundation
Brian M Davis Charitable Fund
Canchester Group
Federation Square
Invacare Australia and New Zealand
Photography By Design
Southern Grampians Shire Council
Team Bus
Yarra Trams
Altona RSL
Barry Plant – Werribee
Ross Beddoe
Brickwood Holdings
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks
Cello Paper Pty Ltd
CH Group Pty Ltd
Clayray X-Ray Services Australia
Domo Collections Ltd
Robert D Evans
Excel Australasia Pty Ltd
Hardy Spicer / Waltersheid
John Moran Motors
KG & SL Nominees Pty Ltd
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Mainfreight Distribution
NGK Spark Plug (Aust) Pty Ltd
Oli E Foundation
Steve Ozanne
Pathfinder Australia Pty Ltd
Philip Chun & Associates
Jill Pickering
Provider Assist
Quest Carpets
Scorch PR
Bruce Shaw
Erica Strong
The Steel Club of Victoria
Tuff Lift Hoists Australia
XTM Australia
ACCRA Pty Ltd
AIW Printing
Aquatap Plumbing
Australian Foam Technology
Austral-Asia Freight
Bertocchi Smallgoods
Patricia Bullen
Serge Canale
Capral Limited
Chelgrave Contracting Australia
Neal Collins
Paul Cosgriff
Gordon Cramer
DCE Group Pty Ltd
Sean Driscoll
David Donaldson
Elgendy Refrigeration
Ensign Laboratories Pty Ltd
Fischer Plastic Products
Floorworld
Four Star Tooling
David Gill
Jen Hocking
Pat Howell
I Do Travel
iGo Direct Group
Jefferson Ford Pty Ltd
Jetmaster
Jim’s Greek Tavern
Julie Jones
Sue Keyt
Leo John Pty Ltd
Loscam Pty Ltd
The L R Cazaly Trust Fund
Luisa Leather Boutique
Madd Gear
Made in Japan
Elizabeth Magnano
Mark Gabel & Associates
Media Relations Pty Ltd
Metalsistem Australia
Betty Mills
Mitsubishi Pencil Australia
Lorraine Moir
Mooroolbark Technology
Mulgrave Country Club
Mary O’Sullivan
Outer East Region
William Passick
Nigel & Patricia Peck
Prime Mover Workwear
Revelation Software Concepts
Rodine Australia
Madeline Sanders
Dr J Santamaria
Lindy Shelmerdine
Southern Special Vehicles
Neil Spitzer
Stefani Estate Wines
Sutton Tools
Swagelok Eastern Australia
Synergy Australasia
Todd Devine Homes
Charles Uber
Victorian Cataract and Laser Centre
Warrandyte Community Market
Brian Warren
Warren & Brown Technologies
Widetread Tyres
Wilsmore Nelson Group
Ursula Whiteside
Vic Fresh Poultry
XTM Australia
Margaret Young
Zenith International Freight
In 2014/15 Disability Sport & Recreation received no funding from estates or bequests.
Thanks to the Boroondara Central Lions Club, who funded 10 of our new WheelTalk sports chairs, the students and staff who contributed their time, and to Lumi Media for their assistance in making this video.
“Highly recommended to have included in the PE curriculum to allow students to gain a deeper understanding of disabilities and being physically fit and active throughout life.” – Secondary school teacher
Delivered to primary and secondary schools, councils, businesses, scouts, and sporting groups. This powerful, engaging program raises disability awareness, educates people about disability, and increases our reach within the community.
In 2014/15, there were 476 WheelTalk sessions presented at 164 different schools. The WheelTalk presenters travelled all over the state; from Albury to Leongatha, Warrnambool to Nathalia and everywhere in between.
During the year, the WheelTalk fleet of 30 sports wheelchairs was upgraded. We purchased 20 new chairs – five for our regional WheelTalk program based in Bendigo and 15 for the Fitzroy-based fleet – and refurbished the remaining 10.
To promote this unique program, we produced a short promotional video, featuring Victorian secondary school students who have attended a WheelTalk session. The video was launched in late June 2015.
Delivered to health professionals in a clinical setting, these sessions provide detailed information about active sport and recreation opportunities for people with disability.
In 2014/15, Rehabilitation to Recreation was delivered at 19 institutions, with an average attendance of 23 clinicians at each session.
Organisations visited include Epworth Rehabilitation, La Trobe Orthopeadic & Health Clinic, South Coast Primary Care, Victoria University Health, Health Scope, Monash Health- Cranbourne and Clayton campuses, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Ballarat Community Health and The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Thanks to Henry Carus and Associates for their support of this program.
“I now know who to contact, and to provide the client early on with information I have learnt from this R2R session” – R2R participant
Delivered in metropolitan and regional settings, the What’s Out There Day introduces participants to local Disability Sport & Recreation members, community groups, State Sporting Associations and Disability Sports Organisations, and gives people an opportunity to try adaptive sporting equipment.
In October 2014, 70 Melbourne University post-grad physiotherapy students and five staff attended a What’s Out There Day.
Clients with intellectual disabilities from several Healthscope residential sites came together at Healthscope Glen Waverley for their annual What’s Out There Day. The November 2014 event was attended by 30 clients and their carers, plus 15 staff.
In May 2015, a small session was held at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Royal Park Campus for 20 staff, clients and family members.
Working in partnership with the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service and supported by State Sporting Associations, this exciting program is having positive impact on young people with disability. The program aims to inspire young people to stay active by introducing them to sport and recreation in a safe and supportive environment while they are still in hospital.
Parents and carers are shown the options available to their children and how to keep them connected to healthy physical activity.
In 2014/15, DSR Kids was delivered at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Kingston Centre at the Monash Children’s Hospital. More than 144 children took part in the 24 sessions across the two sites.
Thanks to Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Netball Victoria, Swimming Victoria, BJ’s Dance Studio, Gymnastics Victoria, Bowls Victoria, Football Federation Victoria, Basketball Victoria and the Brunton family for their support.
Jo Hall from Channel 9, at the Monash Children’s Hospital, celebrating the arrival of DSR Kids.
Learning to dance with DSR Kids at the Royal Children’s Hospital
Adaptive lawn bowls at the RCH, with DSR Kids and Bowls Victoria.
These enormously popular camps open young people’s eyes to the world of opportunity that is sport and recreation.
The winter camp in July 2014, was at Howman’s Gap, Falls Creek and was attended by seven children with five volunteer staff. The nearly one-to-one ratio means every child’s needs were met and their time on the snow was maximised.
The summer camp, in March 2015, was held for the first time at the Licola Wilderness Resort, six hours’ drive from Melbourne. It was attended by 12 children with five adult volunteers supervising the fun.
Camp participants reported an increased sense of independence, and parents have all have expressed interest in further involvement. Every year the camps are over-subscribed, and this year’s were no exception.
Thanks to Disabled Wintersport Australia for their support.
“I got to go on a camp where I can do everything and make new friends.” – David
“The best thing about camp is meeting new people and doing things I am able to do” – Sophie
Over the financial year, our library of adaptive sporting equipment was brought on-site, to a custom-made storage facility.
Having the library centrally located in our Fitzroy office, makes the fitting and hiring of equipment more convenient and efficient for our members.
This low-cost, affordable rental scheme helps remove the financial barrier to participation.
This year we added four junior and 11 adult refurbished basketball chairs, one new adult basketball chair, and one adult handcycle to the library.
This program was developed and is run in partnership with Northcote City Football Club (NCFC). The aim is to offer a supportive environment for players with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or who have experienced stroke to learn the sport. They can then integrate into their local clubs, or continue playing friendly games with NCFC and other disability football teams.
We also manage the state 7-a-side team, coordinating training and the Victorian team selection for the national championships. At the National Championships in October 2014, the Victorian team was narrowly beaten by South Australia for the bronze medal.
Thanks to Northcote City Football Club, Melbourne City Football Club, Madison Sports, George Tsangas, Carmel Accetta, George Prapas, and Sport and Recreation Victoria for their contribution to 7-a-side football.
In 2014/15, our lawn bowls program continued to see strong growth.
The program now operates out of three clubs: the Brunswick Bowling Club, the Richmond Union Bowling Club and the Fitzroy Victoria Bowls Club. The training sessions help players develop their technique and skills so they can learn the sport or compete in their local club competitions.
We continue to manage the logistics for the state lawn bowls team that competes in the national championships.
Thanks to Fitzroy Victoria Bowls Club, Brunswick Bowling Club, Richmond Union Bowling Club, Nicole Shortis and Bowls Victoria for their support.
For more than 20 years, we have coordinated wheelchair rugby in Victoria, running local, state and national competitions, as well as player development and the training of officials.
The Hamilton Classic wheelchair rugby tournament continues to draw strong crowds. While not formally part of the National Championships, because of the Classic’s reputation and standard of competition, players come from around the country to compete.
The May 2015 event saw 24 athletes from across Australia converge the regional Victorian town for the two-day event. We are in discussions with interstate counterparts to replicate the Hamilton Classic model in other states.
The Protect Victoria Wheelchair Rugby League is the state’s competition, from where we select the best players to train on the Victorian squad for the national championship. There are currently nine Victorians on the Australian Steelers squad, who all trained with us.
Thanks to Protect, Madison Sports, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Southern Grampians Shire Council, Bryce Alman, Darren Pickering and Sport and Recreation Victoria for their support of wheelchair rugby in Victoria.
Scoring the Equaliser
Part of the festival, our mini-conference, Scoring the Equaliser, had 116 registrations from across the sporting, health and disability sectors.
Corporate Challenge
A record 14 teams competed in the annual Wheelchair Basketball Corporate Challenge. Basketball Victoria took out the top spot, beating last year’s runners up, Victoria Police, in the friendly final.
POP In Program
New in 2014, we invited sport and recreation providers across Victoria to participate in the festival by opening their doors for people with disability, their families, friends and carers to ‘pop-in’ and try an activity. Activities were offered that were free or low cost. There were 28 venues and clubs involve in the inaugural POP In Program, from Mildura, Werribee, South Gisborne, Glen Eira, Melbourne and Geelong.
Thanks to Federation Square, City of Melbourne, Carbine Club, Yarra Trams, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Photography by Design, City West Water, Lumi Media and Semcore for their support of the festival.
Every year we acknowledge the outstanding work being done throughout the Victorian community to support people with disability to take part in sport and recreation, and celebrate those whose commitment and dedication enhance the reputation of their chosen sport. These award winners are role models, leaders and advocates.
Toby Kane
Jessica Gallager
Keiran Johnson Vickers
Gary Connor
Jetz Balloon Football Team
George Tsangas
Liam Costello
Hans Boers
David Staley
Gymnastics Victoria – Inclusive Club Guideline
Ben Robson – The Border Mail
Thanks to the Carbine Club for their support of our annual awards.
The fifth annual CyclePower saw four intrepid hand cyclists and eight cyclists take on the hills of Laos. Over eight days, they cycled just under 480km of mountainous terrain, from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
As part of this fundraising initiative’s in-country community development program, CyclePower 2015 partnered with the Laos Disabled People’s Association. A donation of three sports chairs, basketballs, nets, uniforms scoreboards and other sporting equipment was donated to help develop their wheelchair basketball program. An additional donation of two day chairs and personal care equipment was also made.
CyclePower sets a positive example of the benefits of sport and recreation for all people of all abilities and has touched the lives of some of our closest international neighbours.
Thanks to Cinori Shoes, Uniting Journeys, Invacare, Top End, and all the CyclePower riders for their support of CyclePower 2015.
Score! is our interactive, multi-platform online directory helping Victorians with disability to find accessible and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities around the state. It was developed with seed funding from nib foundation, the Alfred Felton Bequest, Appleby Real Estate and the Collie Foundation.
Score! went live on 3 December 2014 at the Disability Sport & Recreation Festival. On 16 April 2015, it was officially launched to the Victorian public at an event at Simonds Stadium with AFL Victoria, followed by a football clinic for local children with disability starring Dawson Simpson and Jared Rivers from the Geelong Cats.
Since its launch, Score! has accrued 1,420 programs and organisations, 1,100 members and 700 venues.
As part of the Score! marketing plan, in the next financial year, we will be holding eight events throughout regional and rural Victoria to educate people in how to use this free resource. We are making a series of 30 second videos featuring young DSR members. The first in the series of eight has been made, along with a longer, four-minute advocacy video and an animation explaining how to use Score!
The accreditation program, Top Score! which supports inclusive, accessible program delivery, will be launched in the 2015/16 financial year.
Thanks to nib foundation, the Alfred Felton Bequest, Appleby Real Estate, Collie Foundation and Semcore for their support of Score!
Throughout the year, we continued to voice our concerns and ideas to government and key stakeholders within the sector to address systemic and policy changes so people with disability can take part in sport and recreation.
Meetings were held with the Minister for Sport, the Victorian Disability Services Commissioner and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner. We also made submissions to Sport and Recreation Victoria, representing the sector’s interests.
In November 2014, we presented at the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation’s (ACHPER) annual conference, and in May 2015, we exhibited at the Principals’ Association of Specialist Schools (PASS) conference. We surveyed 125 principals and senior teachers from 80 schools across Victoria, asking them what the barriers and enablers to participation were for their students.
December saw the hosting of the webinar Scoring the Equaliser: Health Professionals – Key players in disability sport, with the Australian Physiotherapy Association. The webinar addressed the role health professionals play in facilitating their clients’ return to physical activity and importance of recreation in achieving optimal health outcomes.
“Themes from the PASS conference:
Knowledge: promoting what is available for children with disability; giving children the opportunity to try a range of activities.
Education: teaching parents how important it is for their children to be physically active; teaching local clubs and sporting groups how to be inclusive.
Access: improving transport options
Community: increasing levels of participation in sport and recreation needs the support and investment of the entire community. The families of children with disability cannot do this alone.”
Our unique, person-centred approach is pivotal to Victorians with disability successfully navigating a complex sector.
We strongly influence public and private health, education, and sport and recreation.
We believe health is a basic human right to which everyone is entitled.
Taking part in sport and recreation connects us, motivates us, and keeps us healthy.
Help continue our work making sport and recreation a real option for Victorians with disability. Please make a donation today.
Call our fundraising team on (03) 9473 0100 or visit our website.
Assets | |
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Current Assets | $489,948 |
Property, Plant and Equipment | $3,777,570 |
Total Assets | $4,267,518 |
Liabilities | |
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Employee Entitlement Provisions | $171,979 |
Creditors | $148,944 |
Total Liabilties | $320,923 |
Net Assets | $3,946,595 |
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Income | |
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Donations | $1,144,841 |
Government Grants | $92,000 |
Philanthropic Funds | $223,800 |
Corporate Sponsorships | $104,639 |
Entry Fees | $174,934 |
Total Income | $1,740,214 |
Expenditure | |
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Sports & Recreation Program & Administration | $1,141,468 |
Fundraising Employee Benefits | $431,248 |
Audit, Legal & Consultancy | $81,638 |
Borrowing Cost | $2,802 |
Total Expenditure | $1,657,156 |
Net Profit | $83,058 |
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Total Comprehensive Income | $83,058 |
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