2019

Dear members

The 2018-2019 Financial Year has been a year full of challenge and achievement.

The challenges for Barkuma, which we shared with the rest of our sector, continued to influence our decision making. These included

• continued transition of part of Barkuma’s business into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• further reductions in income from traditional funders for long standing Barkuma programs
• provision of large amounts of unfunded advocacy support to customers to assist them to maximise choice and control
• increased administrative burden
• continued conversion of traditional service models into supports that can be purchased by NDIS participants, and
• a constantly changing policy environment.

Whilst there have been, and will continue to be challenges, our key focus was to ensure that Barkuma maintained the provision of high quality support and services to its customers with the least amount of disruption possible.

We are extremely pleased to provide a snapshot of the achievements of Barkuma, its staff, volunteers and supporters over the past 12 months. These included

• expansion of Barkuma’s Open Employment program, Barkuma Employment, into the Northern and Gawler Employment Services Area, providing more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to find and keep a job in South Australia’s competitive employment market
• expansion of Barkuma’s suite of school transition services to include offering a School Leaver’s Employment Supports (SLES) option for students post their final year of school
• successful achievement of both ISO 9001:2015 and National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) accreditation for the next three years
• expansion of Barkuma’s Accommodation program across the Northern Adelaide Region to provide more supports to people with intellectual disability to participate in their local community
• celebration of the graduation of more than 50 students though Barkuma’s State Disability Transition Program
• increased revenue to above $13 million for the first time since 2011-2012
• commenced the strategic planning process for 2020-2023
• Barkuma staff, customers and volunteers continued to actively participate in their local communities through involvement in major community events including
  • Playford Christmas Pageant
  • Playford Celebration of Ability
  • Credit Union Christmas Pageant
  • City to Bay Fun Run
• Barkuma staff, customers and volunteers celebrated a range of key employment milestones including
  • Karen F celebrated 45 years’ employment with Barkuma
  • Lisa G, Jeffrey S and Anthony P celebrated 35 years’ employment with Barkuma
  • Angelo D and Donna G celebrated 30 years’ employment with Barkuma
  • Robbie M celebrated 26 years’ employment with Pizza Hut
  • Julie M celebrated 25 years’ employment with Barkuma Accommodation and Respite
  • Nic F celebrated 20 Years’ employment at Zooper cars
  • David M celebrated 15 years’ employment with Barkuma and transitioned from a role in administration into a role in information technology (IT)
  • Thomas L celebrated 10 years’ employment with Ikea, and
  • Natasha S and Brett R celebrated five years’ employment with Access Pay.
• Barkuma staff and customers continued to influence State and Federal Governments’ disability policy through
  • provision of submissions to the State Government’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan
  • Amy and David speaking about their employment experience at National Disability Services Employment Conference
  • hosting tours for State and Federal Government members of Parliament, and
  • actively participating in forums and working groups to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the disability sector.

In closing, Barkuma’s next few years will be key to the organisation’s ongoing success and we both look forward to sharing the outcomes

and goals of Barkuma’s next Strategic Plan with you all. Once established and communicated, this plan will be the guiding document for the organisation’s next three years.

We look forward to continuing to work with our members, staff, customers, supporters and directors to achieve and exceed these goals and our customers’ expectations.

Simon Rowberry
Chief Executive Officer

Chas Allen
Chairperson

Overview

It has been a busy year for the Intake and Development (I&D) Team which has continued to transition Barkuma’s valued existing customers into NDIS supports, in addition to welcoming new customers to Barkuma. Throughout this time Barkuma has remained committed to work in partnership with all of its customers to ensure as smooth an experience as possible.

The I&D Team supported people to assess if Barkuma was the best NDIS Provider for them, and if so they were helped to match the goals in their plans with the right Barkuma supports. It was explained how this worked and individual Service Agreements were created for all supports delivered by Barkuma.

NDIS Supports

With the support of colleagues across Barkuma’s teams, its intake processes continued to develop ensuring we responded to the needs of its new and existing customers.

In the 2018-19 financial year 238 people chose to use Barkuma to deliver their supports through the NDIS funding in their NDIS Plan. This was an increase of more than 100 people from the previous year and it is expected these numbers will steadily increase. The supports received covered all aspects of peoples’ lives including

• Support in Barkuma’s Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE)
• Skills Development
• Support Coordination
• Improved Daily Living
• Increased Social and Community Participation
• Assistance to Access Community – Core Supports
• Assistance with Self Care Activities – Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Core Supports
• School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)
• Improved Relationships, and
• Improved Learning.

Lifestyle and Intervention Programs

Barkuma’s Better Pathways and Flexible Learning Options (FLO) operate on behalf of the South Australian Department for Education. The School Leaver Employment Support (SLES) program and the Support Co-ordination work was funded via the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). During 2018-19 these programs supported more than 217 people to create, pursue and achieve better lives.

Better Pathways

During the 2018-19 financial year Barkuma’s Better Pathways program supported 160 young people across 19 schools, with 40 students successfully completing the program. We are delighted to report that 38 of these students who transitioned from school this year achieved their aspirational post school outcome.

Flexible Learning Options

The FLO program supported seven young people across five schools. As part of this program, case managers worked with students to develop pathways towards their education and employment goals. Barkuma has concluded its work with this program to concentrate on further transition opportunities.

School Leaver Employment Supports

Barkuma supported 32 young people within the School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) program which was newly developed in 2018-19 and funded by the NDIS. Eligible school leavers were supported to develop the skills necessary to secure and maintain employment.

At the 2018 City of Playford International Day of People with Disability Mayoral Awards, the SLES program was nominated for the Business/Employment/Education Award for outstanding contribution to young people with disability in the Playford Council area. A superb recognition for such a new Barkuma program.

Support Coordination

During the 2018-2019 year Barkuma was proud to support people on their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) journey. More than 90 people implemented their NDIS plans and connected to services of their choice.

Since 2000 Barkuma has been contracted by the Department for Education to deliver the Transition Program. Through the program, schools from the three schooling sectors had the opportunity to offer students with disabilities and learning difficulties pathways to assist their students’ exploration of suitable vocational career pathways in a supported adult environment.

Barkuma was privileged to have 49 students from 31 schools participate in the program in 2018. These students showed commitment and a willingness to succeed beyond school and are now ready for the next phase of their future.

Barkuma was also fortunate to access additional funding through the Department for Education which provided further training for the students. This included attending an information session at Headspace (a not for profit organisation offering support to young people with mental health issues) and a visit from SAPOL’s ThinkUknow program to ensure the students are better equipped to deal with difficult situations, especially online.

The program also partnered with Heta (employment and training agency) to provide an intense course in preparation for gaining their L’s, the highlight of which was 10 students walking out of Service SA proudly showing off their L’s permits.

From the Transition Program 21 students from 19 schools registered with Barkuma Employment, one of whom was Connor who secured employment. Connor completed the Transition Program in 2018 and registered shortly thereafter with Barkuma Employment to receive Disability Employment Support (DES).

Overview

Barkuma Employment provides specialist supports to people with developmental disability to find and keep a job. Barkuma understands developmental disability and tailors support to meet the needs and aspirations of the individuals it supports. Barkuma’s goal is to assist as many people with developmental disability as possible to access meaningful jobs in open employment, which in turn increases economic, social and community independence.

Expanded Reach

This year marked the beginning of a new Disability Employment Services contract and the addition of two new Disability Employment Services sites. Barkuma Employment now has offices in Adelaide, Alberton, Smithfield and Gawler. Eighty one participants were supported to find and remain in employment throughout the year and an additional seven participants were assisted to career develop into new roles with the aim of strengthening their career pathways.

Overview

Barkuma Commercial Services supported 149 people across two sites during 2018 – 2019. Over the next 12 months Barkuma will review its service model and look at ways to improve employment pathway options for both existing and potential new employees.

Upgrades at Factories

Barkuma’s two factories have undergone major works, including being painted throughout, new lighting systems and new extraction systems installed, as well as all the electrical mains power boards upgraded, new electric forklifts introduced across sites and air conditioning systems upgraded. A new clean room has been established to create more options for the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) preventative food safety system.

Community Inclusion

This year Commercial Services supported employees to participate in community programs and encouraged family and friends to get involved as well

• two supported employees were nominated and won the Tea Tree Gully Council’s Youth Award in the area of employment
• two supported employees joined the City of Playford Access and Social Inclusion Advisory Group which provided advice on development, implementation, monitoring and review of policies, strategies, projects and planning related to disability in the Playford Council area
• five employees participated in the Uniting Care and City of Playford hospitality initiative and enjoyed learning and working in the Flourish on Coventry Café. They were very proud to be the first graduates of this program
• four employees from across sites attended and represented Barkuma at the Positive Futures Expo. This expo showcased opportunities for education, training and employment in the North
• two employees participated in a new Salisbury and City of Playford initiative which involved developing a toolkit aimed at linking people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to disability services and programs in the local council areas
• four employees participated in the Let’s Talk Disability program. This program focused on building confidence, making connections, creating change and most importantly, public speaking
• four supported employees attended the A Vision of a Good Life - Our Journey conference. This conference was presented by people living with intellectual disability with the focus being the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Goal Setting and Self Advocacy
• fifty one participants (both supported employees and family members) participated in the City to Bay Fun Run, and
• thirty supported employees registered to participate in the 2019 City of Playford Xmas Pageant.

Barkuma’s Accommodation and Respite Services (ARS) currently operate across the northern metropolitan suburbs and the Barossa Valley. Barkuma provide Supported Independent Living (SIL) accommodation for people with disability to live safely and independently in their community in a variety of accommodation settings.

SIL Houses Transition

All SIL customers transitioned to the NDIS funding at the start of 2019 (January to March) and Barkuma ARS staff continued to assist customers to

• develop independent living skills in all areas of daily living
• participate in employment and day programs
• actively participate and connect to their communities
• maintain and develop new friendships and social networks
• set meaningful goals and achieve those goals, and to
• make choices, take risks and live their lives their way.

New Services

Barkuma has expanded its ARS during the year with the purchase of two additional properties in the northern suburbs which will provide accommodation for up to seven new customers.