Novita Annual Report 2012 (Large file - PDF - 4Mb )

Consistent with ouracknowledgment of the importanceof opportunities in education forchildren with disabilities, Novitacontinued its participation in theUniversal Access to EarlyChildhood Education StakeholdersAdvisory Committee, which providesadvice to the Chief Executive of theSouth Australian GovernmentDepartment of Education andChild Development. With a focuson the need for integration andcollaboration between services toensure cohesive early childhoodcare and access to education, theCommittee made recommendationson issues including increasingaccess for children with a disabilityand children with additional needs.Government initiativesIn the federal sphere, Novitaacknowledged the $1.03 billionpackage announced in the2012-13 Federal Budget to supportmeasures to launch the NDIS.Whilst considerable policydevelopment challenges remain,this is an encouraging stepforward for people with a disability,their families and carers. Novitacontinues to focus its attention topreparing the organisation tooperate successfully under anNDIS and importantly to ensurethat we continue to provide highquality services to our clients.We were delighted to host theFederal Minister for EmploymentParticipation and Child Care, andMinister for the Status of Women,the Hon Kate Ellis, MP, who visitedthe Regency Park Centre inOctober 2011 to announce theextension of funding for the HomeInteraction Program for Parentsand Youngsters (HIPPY). Thisprogram supports parents inpreparing their children for schoolin several Adelaide locations, withour Mansfield Park and DavorenPark programs being extended.By the end of 2011, 225children and families were assistedby Novita’s HIPPY programs. Theinaugural HIPPY Age 5 GraduationCeremony at Novita’s RegencyPark Centre marked a specialoccasion for 34 of these childrenand their families. I congratulatethose children who graduated onreaching this very important stepfor themselves, and know that theirparents are enormously proud oftheir achievement.At the state level, following therelease of the Strong Voices report,the South Australian Governmentannounced the expansion ofpersonalised funding packagesfor services. As with the NDISreforms, Novita is continuing toevaluate its service delivery modelsand support systems to ensure wecan provide the services our clientsrequire as changes driven by thesepolicies continue.Child protectionNovita has continued to participatewith representatives of the Australianand South Australian Governments,together with leading nongovernmentagencies in the keyNational Framework for ChildProtection Partnership Group –South Australia. This has led tothe development of the secondthree-year action plan by theAustralian Government to improvesupport services for vulnerablechildren, develop strategies toreduce child abuse and neglect,and build partnerships to deliverlocal solutions for children whoare at risk.At a state level, Novita activelyparticipates with the Women’s andChildren’s Health Network andother non-government agenciesto promote ways of protectingchildren’s health, safety andwell-being across the health,education and community portfolios.Novita’s commitment to childprotection is of paramountimportance and will continue incollaboration with all levels ofgovernment, and in interagencynetworks where child protectionis their primary concern.novita children’s serivces annual report 11