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

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corporateservicesThe Corporate ServicesDivision provides essentialbusiness administrationservices, including finance,information technology, libraryservices and facilities maintenance.The Division’s charter also includesthe portfolio responsibilities forBusiness Development andGovernment Relations.Preparing for the future hasbeen the key theme guiding theactivities of the Division throughoutthe year. Contributing to newstrategic business acquisitionsdesigned to support serviceexpansion, as well as enhancinginternal operations to increaseefficiency, were priorities for staffoperating across Finance,Information Technology, LibraryServices, and Facility Services.Business DevelopmentWith the Australian Government’sdecision to design a NationalDisability Insurance Scheme(NDIS) for people living withdisability, their families and carers,ensuring Novita is well placed todeliver high quality services andembrace new opportunities intothe future continued to underpinbusiness development activities.Highlights and achievementsThe Division contributed to theactivities required for Novita toestablish a new, wholly ownedsubsidiary company, CareFirst PtyLtd, and its strategic acquisition of afee-for-service business, Child’s PlayPhysiotherapy & Aquatics for Kids.The Division also contributed toNovita’s strategic acquisition ofCommunity Choices, enabling theorganisation to offer servicesincluding respite, personal care,domestic assistance, day optionsand life skills development tochildren, adolescents and adultswith a disability.Another highlight was the grantof $253,000 in one-off fundingachieved under the AustralianGovernment Department ofClimate Change and EnergyEfficiency, Community EnergyEfficiency Program, to implementenergy efficiency upgrades andretrofits to Novita’s Regency ParkCentre, enabling the organisationto substantially reduce its energyconsumption into the future.Successful negotiations led toa funding contribution from theNew South Wales GovernmentDepartment of Family andCommunity Services to continuethe provision of visiting paediatricoutreach clinics into Broken Hill.Government RelationsIn a changing disability andchildhood policy environment,advocating for the special needsof children and young people livingwith disability continued to be apriority throughout the year. TheDivision contributed to Novita’snon-partisan approach toadvocacy and governmentrelations through a range ofmechanisms, including a formalsubmission to the State Budget.With the implementation of newdisability reform measures, includingthe NDIS and recommendationscontained in the South AustralianGovernment’s Strong Voicesreport, the Division contributed toNovita’s representations togovernment aimed at ensuring thatthe special needs of children livingwith disability are given priority. Italso continued to support theorganisation’s involvement as anactive member of peak disabilitysector bodies such as NationalDisability Services, Cerebral PalsyAustralia and Ability First Australia.Highlights and achievementsNovita hosted a media conferencein December 2011, attended bythe Federal Minister for DisabilityReform, the Hon Jenny MacklinMP, the Premier of South Australia,the Hon Jay Weatherill MP and theState Minister for Disabilities, theHon Ian Hunter MLC, who jointlyannounced the decision to expandpersonalised funding packages forpeople with a disability.34novita children’s serivces annual report
Information Technologyand Library ServicesKeeping pace with changingtechnology and providing aprofessional workforce with theservices and tools they require isessential. Throughout the year,Information Services implementeda range of projects designed toincrease network efficiency. LibraryServices also provided informationsupport to assist research andresources to support clientservice activities.Highlights and achievementsA new fibre optic connection wasinstalled between Novita’s RegencyPark Centre and its southern officeat St Marys, providing improvednetwork access, speed andreliability for staff.A portable devices project wasconducted, which trialled a rangeof portable devices, includingtablets and netbooks, and identifiedpreferred options for integratingsuch technology to enhance thedelivery of services to clients.Novita launched its free iPhone,iPad and smartphone application,enabling faster communicationof news and events to clientsand stakeholders.Novita’s Citrix system, usedto efficiently link remote officeworkstations to head office, wasupgraded, delivering improvednetwork access speed andsupporting productivity gains.The Toy and Resource Centrebegan a project to create a registryof Novita’s archival material topreserve and record the historyand achievements of Novita.Trialling of partnerships withlocal council toy libraries was alsoundertaken to enhance servicedelivery of toys to clientsthroughout the community.Facility ServicesFacility Services, including theSecurity Team, continued toenhance and maintain Novita’sbuilding infrastructure, groundsand gardens for staff, clients andtenants. Following the strategicacquisition of Community Choices,an additional six properties wereadded to the Facility Servicesportfolio. With the closure of theParadise office in June, FacilityServices coordinated the relocationof staff and infrastructure toNovita’s St Mary’s, Regency Parkand Parafield Gardens offices,minimising disruption to clientsand helping to achieve cost savings.FinanceNovita’s Finance Departmentcontinued to provide high quality,timely financial information acrossall divisions and business unitsand continued to improve itsoperations, with cross-skilling ofstaff, as well as undertaking arange of process reviews resultingin increases in efficiency. Thedepartment also played a key rolein ensuring all Novita’s financialactivities and obligations as acompany limited by guaranteewere successfully enacted.highlight01new, wholly owned subsidiarycompany, carefirst pty ltd andits strategic acquisition of afee-for-service business, child’splay physiotherapy & aquaticsfor kids established.highlight02acquisition of communitychoices, to offer respite,personal care, domesticassistance, day optionsand life skills development.highlight03$253,000 one-off federalfunding for energy efficiencyupgrades and retrofits tonovita’s regency park centrebuilding facilities and lighting.novita children’s serivces annual report 35
Page 2 and 3: our purposeconnectingkids withtheir
Page 4 and 5: connecting kidsto a new eracontents
Page 6 and 7: historyFor 73 years Novita has been
Page 9 and 10: Fundraising and philanthropicsuppor
Page 11 and 12: Influencing policyNovita continued
Page 13 and 14: Consistent with ouracknowledgment o
Page 15 and 16: The Police Association of SouthAust
Page 17 and 18: Professor Andrew DowningHon FIEAust
Page 19 and 20: DirectorAttendance at the meetings
Page 21 and 22: highlight01commencement of services
Page 23 and 24: The Pauline McGregor AwardOwen is s
Page 25 and 26: Rob Garrett and Toan Nguyenalso con
Page 27 and 28: amelia can now keep upwith her brot
Page 29 and 30: highlight02more than 20 groups took
Page 31 and 32: novita children’s serivces annual
Page 33 and 34: Community Choices nowoperates as a
Page 35: All employees also workthrough a se
Page 39 and 40: Summary consolidated statement of c
Page 45 and 46: OsupportersPO LI C EA SS O CI A TIO
Page 47 and 48: BenefactorsBenefactors. organisatio

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