Program description and geographical boundaries NDCO The National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) works toward the Australia-wide referral, coordination and referral program to deliver support services for people with disabilities that are, or will be attending, university, TAFE or other training organisations. It seeks to achieve this by building links with services so that they have assistance at all levels. NDCO Region 20: Covering Moreton (including the Lockyer Valley), Toowoomba, Darling Downs, South-West Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Central-West statistical boundaries. NDCO Region 22: Covering Mackay, Whitsundays, Burdekin, Townsville, Hinchinbrook, Cassowary Cairns, Cape York, Tablelands, Charters Towers, Mt Isa and North-West Queensland, including the Gulf. Workplace Modification Scheme The Workplace Modification Scheme funds SCS assessors to determine what physical or environmental workplace adjustments, or specific of equipment, will reduce restrictions and barriers to employment for workers with a disability. Supported Wage Scheme The Supported Wage Scheme funds assessors to determine productivity of a worker in a specific workplace by measuring that worker’s productivity against a who is skilled to do the same job, in the same workplace. This process decides on formal and legally binding, minimum productivity rates and wages. STEPS Assessors cover Queensland and northern New South Wales. Disability Support Services Disability Support Services provide in-home respite and community access support covering Gin Gin and North Burnett. STEPS Community Service’s Commonwealth and State contracts, with an annual gross income of $440,000 NDCO Region 20 NDCO Region 22 Workplace Modifications Supported Wage Disability Support Services
Employment report More importantly we are supplying quality programs, services and job opportunities. At the heart of this work we see the potential of many people realised, to live more full and meaningful lives through employment. John Conway, General Manager, Employment The past year has been one of significant growth for STEPS Employment Services Division from both an operational and leadership perspective. Once substantial changes in government policy and funding has created extra costs, adjustments and replanning to the division, but the challenges are being met. We have substantially expanded our service capacity and continue to enhance our community by providing support number of individuals and employers. Empowering people to maximise their potential STEPS Employment Division has gone from strength to strength through assisting a record number of jobseekers with a disability into employment. In addition, the Personal Support Program has assisted participants with barriers to realise their aspirations. Many Australians with a disability who want to work still experience difficulties finding suitable employment, while at the same time a large number of employers struggle to find people with suitable skills. As a result training and assistance have become crucial for the welfare of individuals. In this context there is a great deal of opportunity for STEPS Employment to assist people with disabilities to realise their aspirations, so that they can participate in the
Future developments The Federal Budget announcements and the discussion paper on “The Future of Employment Services in Australia” brought both positive and challenging news. CASE STUDY Who needs a forklift when you’ve got Heath? NCP Bathroom Centres The Government extended DEN and Volunteer Rehabilitation Services (VRS) contracts until 28th February 2010 to allow further consideration of the disability employment service’s future, including the outcomes of the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy. This presents an excellent opportunity for to strengthen its position to tender in 2010 through performance improvement. Merger and partnership possibilities with like-minded providers continue to be explored through a consultative approach. It is expected that, in the lead up to the Disability Employment Services tenders in late 2009, the market will contract providing opportunities for further growth. We are expecting the release of the tender for the new Employment Service in August 2008. The new Employment Services (to replace Job Network) will replace seven contracts with one universal employment service comprising four streams of assistance. Providers will be encouraged to help jobseekers develop an individualised plan including a mix of vocational and non-vocational activities with a focus on developing skills needed by employers. This presents a real opportunity for the Employment division to tender for mainstream employment services. In closing Our work is not possible without the support of many people, employment managers and staff, Corporate Services, divisional managers and staff, and of course, our hard working Board. We thank everyone who has made a contribution to our success. We would also like to express our thanks to DEEWR, employers and our business partners. Next year marks the 20th year of delivering successful services helping people with disabilities achieve their goals and aspirations. In the year ahead we look forward to continuing the delivery of services to our existing clients, and the the opportunities that will unfold. have been in business for 55 years and employ over 100. But they have to work pretty hard to keep up with Heath. Store Manager, Dave Cherry, admits to being hesitant at first, but he has no regrets now. “We Heath as a truck driver and storeman. He’s a real gentle giant, everyone likes him, and we always get good reports from our customers,” David said. “He has become a good for us, allowing us to get through
more deliveries and expand our business.” And Heath wouldn’t want to be anywhere else: “I like making the deliveries best and chatting to the other truck drivers.” Dave was very pleased with the backup-service they got from STEPS. came in and supervised with the training and it was a great help. Heath is trustworthy, reliable – and always there. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.”
Business Development report The Business Development Division of STEPS Disability Qld Inc exists to ensure the organisation continues to operate from a sustainable base. A broader base ensures greater stability. National and even international operations are desirable and entirely feasible. Consider that in less than 20 years a small group of people with a regional focus has grown into an The Business Development Division itself is growing, yet to reach the first anniversary of its launch at the time of writing. Since inception, projects undertaken include: Stuart Coward, STEPS Business Development Manager Like most business sectors of today, STEPS operates in an environment of change. Innovation and diversification are needed in order to flourish and build for the future. Business Development supports all existing divisions of the organisation with a view to growth and maximising potential of existing operations. It also seeks and investigates new business and growth opportunities. The strategic objectives of the Business Development’s division are: Identifying industry needs and trends, Identifying opportunities for business improvement, Generating leads to establish new business opportunities, Assessing potential opportunities and determining their feasibility. Looking back at the history of STEPS, growth and development is a continuing theme. So too is a strong grip on core values and vision. is every confidence that these attributes, so firmly established in the organisation, will continue. organisation with branches throughout the state of Queensland, and the Northern Territory. To this end, the Business Development Division will establish, develop and maintain key relationships with existing and potential clients, partners, service providers and stakeholders nationally and internationally. We will also continue to research and develop new business enterprises that will create employment for all of our Disability Employment Network clients, for example, the provision of contract cleaning services and other suitable employment creation strategies. Where possible synergies exist, partnerships with other businesses and providers will be explored to engineer employment. All surplus funds will be re-injected back into the organisation to enable us to continue offering excellence in service and support, as well as growth and development for our client base. Supporting of STEPS Training through promoting of existing programs to new markets and exploration of new program delivery opportunities Investigation of specific and targeted business opportunities within the growing aged-care sector Maintaining and developing the organisation’s profile through local and national networking events, seeking to build new business relationships and opportunities. Assisting the Marketing/Public Relations arm of STEPS in developing and implementing marketing strategies Identifying merger and partnership opportunities These are very exciting times for STEPS as we continue to grow and diversify, while at the same time becoming an employer of choice, and achieving business excellence.
Corporate Services report Corporate Services Manager, Paula Payne STEPS Corporate Services reflects the structural change of the organisation during 2007-2008. This change involved the formalisation of the Corporate Services Division (CS) to strengthen the cohesion between the six corporate departments - Finance, Human Resources, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Administration, Business Excellence Unit (BEU) and Marketing/PR. As STEPS expands, Corporate Services seeks to manage the significant exchange of corporate knowledge, and provide greater corporate support to the operational divisions. CS supports the delivery of business functions and programs by providing cost effective, efficient and timely corporate services to all divisions: HR: human resource management, industrial relations, occupational health and safety, staff development, compensation and remuneration management. Finance: financial reporting, processing financial transactions, and management of STEPS revenue and investments Administration: property management, provision of general business services, records management, travel, fleet management and insurance ICT: information management and management of STEPS information technology infrastructure including systems maintenance, user support and IT equipment and stores Marketing/Public Relations: community relations, incident management, publications, education campaigns and media liaison and releases BEU: audits (internal and external), quality management, performance monitoring and systems development. Through the recent time of change and expansion, CS has successfully supported the operational divisions in bringing various projects to fruition. In addition to these accomplishments, CS has assisted in developing the overall strategic direction for the organisation and managed its human, financial, informational and physical resources.
Marketing / Public Relations The launch of the Community Services and Business Development Divisions, reinvigoration of STEPS Training, and a growing geographical base for Employment meant a greater need to communicate with the organisation’s broadening customer base. Improving relationships with employers – existing and new customers – was seen as a priority. To achieve this improvement, STEPS launched a full-time marketing and public relations department at the start of 2008. The priority was, and continues to be, developing an integrated, approach to marketing and communications – a continuum from branding to sales support. Researching the needs of stakeholders as a basis for developing a strategic marketing plan is another priority, as is establishing a set of reliable and accurate tools to measure the effectiveness of marketing strategies against business goals. The TV campaign began in early June in three regional areas – Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Townsville. Radio and newspaper advertising featured in Alice Springs and Bowen respectively. The campaign’s launch coincided with the release of a research report compiled from surveys conducted by employment staff throughout all branches. Responses from just over 300 employers were analysed, with recommendations for improving relationships tabled. Two strong central themes are being promoted as the key to marketing STEPS and its services: Story-telling – communicating success stories from across the organisation through various media to relevant stakeholders; Association – developing professional, synergistic relationships with people of like- mind in our communities, and promoting relationships. new website, combining all divisions of the organisation and featuring a strong emphasis on success stories, was under development. An employer breakfast on the Sunshine Coast featuring Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett as guest speaker was being planned. An employer’s breakfast was held in Caloundra earlier in the year, and all divisions and branches of STEPS attended numerous expos and events. Through attending these and networking, many employment consultants continue to build strong strategic partnerships with disability, community and industry groups. The key to increasing and improving business through marketing and public relations will be through a approach to corporate communications, that is, all staff contributing to the marketing and promotion of STEPS. Employer engagement became a central theme through the coordination and production of new television commercials featuring employer testimonials. These two themes were evident in several key marketing and public relations initiatives under development in 2008.
Staff Divisional List of Chief Executive Officer Garry Hooper Executive Assistant Stephanie Manager – Business Development Stuart Coward Employment Services General Manager – Employment Services John Conway Program Manager Le Anne Cartwright AITKENVALE Branch Manager – Aitkenvale Lee-Anne Whalley Kylie Budd Janet Glynn-Armstrong Heather Goldstein Mark Jenkins Phyllis Iker Joanne Patroni SPRINGS Branch Manager – Alice Springs Katrina Whan Andrew Garoni Joanne Lukehurst Denise Murray Mister Shaun BOWEN Branch Manager – Bowen Greg Cummins Elrae Connell Julie Finch Greg Martin Anita Short Sarah Thompson BUNDABERG Branch Manager – Bundaberg Eiser Kathlene Brown Matthew Chamberlin Jennifer Goodchild Simon Mills Rebecca Sunnerdale Evelyn Thompson CALOUNDRA Branch Manager – Caloundra Steven Chand Maria Bowis Sandra de Jersey Greg Harris Aimee Hollonds Cristina Mihalache Eva O’Reilly Kelly Paton Sharon West HERVEY BAY / MARYBOROUGH Branch Manager – Hervey Bay / Maryborough Martin Heneker Sherrie Auld Rachael Finn Karen Goffinet Ann Horridge Lori Keevers Jodi Logovik Jerome Tueta-Nicholls MAROOCHYDORE Branch Manager – Maroochydore Trish Cameron Siobhan Ablett Scott Baker Jacqueline Cartwright Bradley Heir Darren Hilliard Shelly Nichols Toni Usher
NAMBOUR Branch Manager – Nambour de Jonge Rhonda Rose Dale Anne-Maree Dearden Marlene Dearden Elaine Dornan Yvonne Higgs Hazel Innes David Lindsay Liza Scriven Lee Shea Andrew Spencer Gleyn Warren Kylie Watson TOWNSVILLE Branch Manager – Townsville Joanne Wittmaack Linda Di Betta Karen Easterbrook Susan Marron Megan Murray Gail Naismith Christine Sheriff Morgan Wittmaack Community Services Manager – Community Services Barbara Davidson Kim Anderson Cynthia Cedergreen Sharon Dulac Ian Hulsman Antonia James Brian Kerr Marilou Pech Heather Robson Deborah Rooskov Gary Travers Training Services Manager – Training Services Shelly Campbell Corporate Services Manager – Corporate Services Paula Payne Sheila Helen Brooks Jennifer Carter Chris Eaton Marja Forbes Samantha Geeson Kaitlin Kris Isabel Hooper Margaret Hooper Narelle Jones Sharon Manzone Christina Nysschen Helen Ray Melissa Slaby Stacey Spencer Darren Trinder Alison van Herberghen Teisha Wernowski