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Koorana • Annual Report 2013–14 1

2013-14 Annual Report

Koorana • Annual Report 2013–142

Koorana’s mission is to provide learning opportunities to all children and their families in a caring environment.


About KooranaKoorana has a proud history

and strong connection with

the communities of the

Bankstown, Canterbury and

broader Inner West areas of

Sydney.

The genesis of Koorana came about nearly

40 years ago when a group of local women

identified a need within the community for a

centre in which to undertake playgroup activities.

After approaching Canterbury Council – and with

additional federal funding – they were able to

purchase a home in Belmore which became the

first Koorana centre.

Over the years our playgroups and preschool

programs have developed the reputation of being

highly professional, specialised and inclusive. These

programs now set the standard for inclusive early

childhood education.

We have dedicated ourselves to identifying needs

within the community and responding with

professional, specialised programs and services.

Today we provide a broader range of education

and disability services for children and their

families based on local community needs. These

include early intervention, therapy, early childhood

education, case management and early diagnosis

support.

Koorana is proud to be the provider of such

important services in one of the most culturally and

linguistically diverse communities in the country.

We respect the many nationalities that make

up the rich cultural tapestry of the Bankstown,

Canterbury and Inner West areas of Sydney. We

do this mindful of the traditional owners of all the

lands in which we live and work, and we thank

them for their custodianship of country.

Koorana’s vision for the future is to continue

building on our mission to be a voice for the

right of all children to access learning in a caring

environment, whether that be within their home,

an early childhood education setting, or other

natural environment.

To achieve this we will always provide flexible

and responsive services to families and children

that reflect our deep commitment to an inclusive

approach to early education, intervention and

family support.

Thank you for taking care

of my son. He absolutely

loves going to Koorana.

At home, he says “let’s go

to Koorana.” ~ parent testimony,

Koorana 2014 Client Satisfaction Survey

We recognise parents and carers as their child’s most important teacher and work closely with them to provide information and resources to support their child’s learning potential.


Koorana’s vision is that children and their families have supportive connections, discover possibilities and participate to their full potential in all aspects of family and community life.


ContentsPresident’s report .................................................... 6

CEO’s report ........................................................... 9

Our services .......................................................... 12

Children’s services ................................................. 13

Family services ...................................................... 19

Board of Directors ................................................. 24

Executive Management Team ................................ 25

Treasurer’s report .................................................. 26

Financial statements .............................................. 29

How you can help? ............................................... 33

Our supporters ...................................................... 34

2013-14Annual Report


Koorana finished yet another strong year providing

services to over 700 families across the Bankstown,

Canterbury and Inner West areas of Sydney.

The financial report provides details on the

health of the accounts and operations across

the organisation, and the CEO’s report gives

information on the operational successes and

challenges this past year.

I think you will agree with me that, given the

increasingly difficult environment for the not-

for-profit sector and the government funding

dependencies, Koorana and our management

team and staff have performed outstandingly, and

Koorana is well positioned for the long term.

Every year we show consistent strength in not

only reaching more and more families with crucial

services, but staying true to our core principles and

values, which I personally feel are exuded in every

aspect of the organisation.

Throughout this year we have met a number of

major milestones and significant turning points in

the maturity of the organisation.

Given the new environment we are entering into,

especially with the approaching rollout of the

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the

Board has considered all aspects of our situation

and are committed to moving in positive ways

towards the future. In particular, due to the

President’s ReportI am very proud to present the Annual Report for

Koorana Child and Family Services Inc. for the

financial year ending 2014.


complexity and responsibility required, there are a

number of organisations who are deciding to not

offer services under the NDIS, leaving Koorana with

an opportunity to ensure the gaps are addressed

where it makes sense.

StrategyAs we have completed the last strategic plan, the

Board has spent much time in deliberating on

what our focus needs to be for the new cycle. To

this end, the next strategic plan now has a 5 year

vision or umbrella to consolidate and grow the

organisation and prepare to deliver services for the

NDIS amongst others. The Board will focus on this

plan in 2 year chunks, therefore providing for a

more fluid plan, but keeping the long term strategy

in mind.

The Board has looked at why Koorana should

continue to provide services to the disability sector

and has then re-committed to those principles. As

mentioned throughout this report, the NDIS will

start transition in 2016 with transition completed

by 2018.

Contrary to how government funding currently

works for disability services, the NDIS means that

Koorana needs to build its cash flow in order to

be sustainable. Apart from non-disability services,

there will be no block funding. Services will be

billed to the National Disability Insurance Agency

(NDIA) directly upon completion of the services

delivered. As you can imagine, although this

removes the financial risk on the government

funding bodies, it transfers it to the service

providers, something that many organisations in

this sector are not used to working with.

Quality Service DeliveryThe Board is supporting a current exercise with an

external auditor to ensure we have a total quality

management framework in place. This means that


all services across Koorana will need to meet a

certain industry standard to be able to continue to

retain and secure funding and make certain that

families receive the best in class of services. Policies

and procedures are being assessed and refreshed

right throughout the organisation.

Growth and OpportunitiesThis year, the Board continued to support

Koorana’s Management Team in investigating

opportunities for growth in service delivery and

expansion into other areas, resulting in increased

capacity.

Our SupportersOnce again, we are ever thankful to the local

community in supporting Koorana, in particular

Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, Canterbury

Leagues and Bankstown Sports Clubs who

continue to be valued sponsors, providing much

needed supplemental monies that enhance all of

our services. Koorana has forged some important

partnerships and we are always looking to

expanding these further.

Our BoardOur dedicated Board continues to flourish. This

year we have been lucky to add members with

great new skills and experience. I would like to

formally thank each and every member for the

time and effort they donate to Koorana and in turn

the community, which is very hard to come by in

today’s fast lane life. We urge anyone interested

in Koorana’s governance to contact our CEO Vicki

Battisti or a current Board member so that we can

continue to grow the capacity of the Board.

I would like to close my report in thanking a few

people. Please join me in acknowledging our long

standing auditors, Bryan Rush and Co, and our

external partners who help to deliver management

services and direct delivery to our families. Last

but not least I want to thank Vicki, our amazing

management team, and each and every member

of staff of Koorana without whom there would be

no Koorana. Their tireless efforts are crucial in the

services we all receive across the community.

Here’s to another successful year, and more to

follow no doubt.

Khurram Mahmood

President


CEO’s ReportThe 2013 – 2014 year marks the successful

completion of a three year strategic plan and the

beginning of a new phase. We’ve adopted a five

year strategic vision, supported by a two year

strategy, that’s reflective of the disability sector’s

transition to the National Disability Insurance

Scheme and the subsequent closure of Ageing,

Disability and Home Care (ADHC).

The strategic planning process involved a critical

review of our organisational strengths and our

areas of vulnerability, along with a forward thinking

approach as we explored potential opportunities.

This culminated in a focused direction that will

build a solid platform upon which we can achieve

our strategic goals. The key outcomes we will

achieve are:

• full implementation of a quality management

framework, resulting in third party verification

• consolidation of our current position, and

• identification of growth opportunities.

Much progress has already been made with

the priority being to ensure organisational

sustainability.

Sound administrative functions are crucial to

organisational health and underpin all aspects

of service delivery. A Business Services team has

been formed, bringing together key organisational

supports to ensure that our management

framework positions us for the opportunities and

challenges that lie ahead.

A review of Koorana’s management structure

resulted in the appointment of a General Manager

– Service Delivery. This new position sits within

the Executive Management team and alongside

the General Manager of Business Services. The

key function of the position is to ensure quality of

operational practice and consistency of approach,

and importantly to support staff in carrying

out their daily activities, providing them with

opportunities for ongoing professional discussion

and learning.

In preparation for the introduction of the National

Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) we need to

achieve Third Party Verification to demonstrate that

we have a quality business framework in place that

recognises and conforms to the National Disability

Standards. Verification will be conducted by an


external auditing company. A thorough mapping

of our processes, along with a comprehensive gap

analysis, laid the groundwork for improved systems

and streamlined processes that are consistent and

transparent. The mapping also identified those

areas where further resources are needed which

will inform our ongoing planning and subsequent

work. We are now positioned well to meet the

expectations of the verification process.

Forging strong professional partnerships and

increased participation in a broad range of external

networks continues to be high on our agenda. A

great deal of new work has been carried out in this

area which will develop our learning, encourage us

to explore new initiatives and increase our profile in

the community. I’d like to highlight the following:

• Staff have worked closely with the Disability

Support Unit (DSU) to provide information

sessions on grief issues in relation to disability

diagnosis. We are also working closely with

them to develop visual tools that will support

families understanding of what to expect as

they utilise specific aspects of the health system.

• As auspice of the Canterbury Child and Family

Interagency, staff have been involved in a multi-

service collaborative effort to develop and train

a pool of casual child care workers.

• Our keen knowledge of the local community

has provided valuable input to the Medicare

Local team and the Department of Health

to determine the needs of local residents of

Lakemba, Wiley Park and Campsie for the “Can

Get Health” project.

• Koorana’s significant collaborative effort with

the Association of Children’s Welfare Agency

and University of NSW has contributed to the

development, pilot and launch of a service

delivery practice tool to use with socially

isolated families.

• We continue to collaborate with FRANS with a

view to embedding an ongoing partnership in

the delivery of sibling programs.

• We provided consultancy to the School of

Community Languages (Department of

Education) to determine support initiatives for

volunteers who teach at community language

schools. We have since delivered information

sessions on inclusion of children with disability

and developmental delay at the school’s annual

conference.

• An important partnership and subsequent

Memorandum of Understanding has been

entered into with Medicare Local. Koorana has

been appointed as a key referring agent into

the ATAPS program for children under 12 years

of age, enabling them to access psychology

services at no cost.

• We continue to consult with ADHC to identify

and close service provision gaps as ADHC

transitions out of direct service delivery

to make way for the National Disability

It is through the

ongoing support of key

local clubs that we can

explore new initiatives

that provide crucial

support to families of

young children.


Insurance Scheme. Discussions are ongoing

with the possibility of a Koorana-based sleep

consultation clinic and/or fussy eating clinic.

There is also some possibility of access to onsite

assessment.

• Initial connections have been made with

the University of Wollongong with a view

to collaborative work within our new clubs’

funded pilot programs.

Our relationships with key local clubs Bankstown

Sports, Canterbury Leagues and Canterbury

Hurlstone Park RSL remain strong. It is as a result of

their continued financial support that we are able

to continually explore new initiatives that provide

crucial support to families of young children. I am

forever grateful for their confidence in us.

Koorana is committed to service provision of

integrity. We are driven by evidence-based research

to guide our family focussed planning and strive

to provide programs that respond meaningfully to

the needs of the families with whom we work. Our

partnership with families and respect for what we

learn from them is at our core.

I work alongside a committed team of

professionals who generously share of their

knowledge and skill and I am grateful for their

willingness to explore new ways of thinking. I am

enriched by the genuine partnerships we have with

each family to whom we provide a service and

by the diversity of our community. I’m thankful

for the encouragement, support and measured

governance of Koorana’s Board which continues

to energise and inspire me. I am proud to be a

part of an innovative organisation that continually

seeks to explore possibilities and is unafraid to take

calculated risks.

I look forward to all the future has to offer.

Vicki Battisti

Chief Executive Officer


Our Services


Children’s Services The Children’s Services team delivers a range of

early education and intervention programs to

families living in the Bankstown, Canterbury and

Inner West areas of Sydney.

We take a family-centred approach that recognises

the family as the centre of a young child’s life. We

also recognise that each family is unique in their

makeup, priorities, strengths and support network.

We understand that some families have a strong

network of support and that others are more

isolated in the community.

Our team of experienced early learning

professionals works closely with families to help

determine the most appropriate program for

their child’s learning needs and family priorities.

Through this consultation we can ensure that

each program is unique and will provide the best

outcomes for the child and their family.

We work closely with the family to determine not

only what services would be the most appropriate

for them, but also the way in which the services are

delivered. We respond to the changing needs of

the family and adjust service delivery accordingly.

The Children’s Services stream of activities includes

early childhood education, early childhood

intervention and therapy services.

Our early childhood education programs are

delivered through two inclusive preschools and two

centre-based specialist groups.

Our early intervention services are delivered

through home-based early learning teams, and

individual and group therapy programs. We use a

key worker model, which provides families with a

single, key contact with the organisation thereby

improving communication and coordination as the

family adjusts to their child’s diagnosis.

Through the generosity of grants received from

local clubs and councils we are also able to

provide additional one-off programs in response to

community needs.

‘’I’m happy with the therapy

because they teach me

simple things to help my

child, but they make a big

difference to my child,

family and life”. ~ the Skedri family.


TherapyKoorana provides a range of speech pathology and

occupational therapy services to families.

Our family-centred approach recognises that

a child’s family is the most important factor in

maximising the benefits of their therapy. We work

closely with families to understand their routines

and priorities. Our aim is to develop a program

that incorporates therapy into the family’s everyday

routine – not to make the routine work around the

therapy.

Wherever possible, therapy is provided in natural

environments – such as the classroom, home

or community. Providing therapy in natural

environments has a number of benefits, including

supporting the family to encourage their child’s

participation in the everyday family routine and

community activities; and providing the child

and family with the necessary strategies as they

progress to formal education settings.

Highlights of 2013-14This year the therapy team has had a strong

focus on establishing connections with a range of

interagency networks. Such networks provide our

therapists with the opportunity to network with

other professionals, share resources and improve

their professional development.

Goals for 2014-15Over the next twelve months, the focus for the

therapy team will be to expand the number

of families we support and strengthen our

consultative model of therapy provision with

families. We will focus on implementing results-

based interviews (RBI) and functional strategies to

support families.

We will continue to embed the family-centred

approach with all client families, including

providing families with supports and resources,

for example, providing learning and social stories

in the family’s home language. This approach will

help families to continue to successfully incorporate

therapy into home routines and help them to

independently identify opportunities for therapy

within their family and community context.

LUKE’S STORY

The home-based program opened up

a whole new world for us. We were

shown so many achievable ways in

which to help our special boy and we

were informed of helpful workshops

and events being held that may be of

interest. The beautiful educators and

speech pathologists always listened

to our many concerns. They picked

us up emotionally. ~ an excerpt from Luke’s Story by Jan, Luke’s

grandmother and Debbie, Luke’s mother.


Home-based Early LearningThe Home-based Early Learning program

supports families with a child under 4 years of

age who has a delay or disability, or may be at

risk of developmental delay. We focus on children

who have not been exposed to early childhood

education settings.

We work in partnership with the family to support

the child’s early learning and development, helping

the family to feel confident in providing the

everyday experiences and opportunities that are

important for young children to learn, participate

and connect. We work closely with the family to

establish positive and sustainable family routines

that are responsive to the child’s strengths, interests

and needs.

The Home-based program is often the first

experience of early intervention for the family.

We provide a single point of contact who works

with the family to identify and gain access to

information and resources so they can make

informed decisions and choices.

We encourage families to develop strong links with

social support networks within their community,

for example family-to-family support.

The Home-based team focuses on supporting

children to participate in the experiences that are

important in their family and community life. In

this context, strong partnerships with community

supports and organisations are incredibly

important. In particular, collaboration with

colleagues in inclusive early learning communities

is at the heart of our work. This is especially

important during times of transition as we support

our families to form genuine partnerships with

early childhood education programs in their

community.

Partnerships with other early intervention

organisations, social support networks and

inclusive programs are also a natural extension

of supporting families to deepen their sense

of community connectedness. Over the last 12

months, this has involved working with community

paediatricians, playgroups, social support networks

and children’s recreation programs (such as

Kindygym, soccer and swimming programs).

Highlights of 2013-14The Home-based team developed a strengths-

based process for creating participation based

outcomes in collaboration with families, with the

goal of developing outcomes that are both family

and child focussed.

We continued to deepen our understanding

of responsive practices that support families to

connect with sustainable social supports that will

exist long after they have transitioned from the

Home-based program.

We clearly defined our practice model, with

a strong focus on evidence-based research,

whilst ensuring that our approaches are also

individualised, responsive, flexible and reflect the

unique family experiences.

Goals for 2014-15Over the next year we will:

• consolidate our framework for reflective

practice and professional development

• deepen our participation in community projects

that support inclusive practices

In July 2014, we surveyed

clients about their

experience of Koorana’s

services. Responses were

received from 101 clients,

with 98% expressing

satisfaction with the overall

quality of Koorana’s service.


• enhance the implementation of natural learning

environment practices to include broader

community inclusion in our approach

• develop a holistic framework for evaluating

our achievement of program and family level

outcomes, placed within the broader context of

Koorana’s strategic plan

• strengthen our participation in professional

development and interagency networks.

Inclusive PreschoolKoorana’s philosophy is underpinned by a

commitment to ensuring access and equity for all

children to quality early childhood education.

Our professional preschool educators work

collaboratively within a transdisciplinary team

at our Lakemba and Roselands preschools to

implement a range of intervention strategies to

facilitate each child’s participation and learning

needs through a play-based curriculum.

All early childhood education facilities in Australia

are now required to conform to a National Quality

Framework (NQF) and to deliver their curriculum

in line with the Early Years Learning Framework

(EYLF). The focus of the EYLF is to promote a

healthy sense of identity and belonging through an

active play-based learning environment that opens

the door to individual potential.

The preschool team regularly reflects on their

practice through team discussion and professional

learning. Outcomes are assessed regularly to

ensure that the children are offered quality learning

opportunities that are responsive to each child’s

interests, strengths and needs.

Preschool Preparation (PREP) and Playlinks

PREP and Playlinks are small play-based group

intervention programs that operate within the

Phillip Street Preschool in Roselands. They provide a

relatively structured 12 month program, with each

group supporting between 8-9 children.


Both programs are designed to develop children’s

learning of foundational skills to prepare them

for transition to larger group programs, including

preschool and primary school.

The PREP program is tailored to children with a

diagnosis of moderate to severe disability. The

Playlinks program is specifically for children with

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The groups are run by a team that includes a

Special Educator, Early Childhood Educator, Speech

Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. Each team

plans and works closely with families to develop

individually tailored programs designed to support

each child’s development and learning.

Operating play-based early intervention programs

alongside the mainstream preschool environment

provides inclusive opportunities for children at

various stages of development to interact with, and

learn from, each other.

Highlights for 2013-14• We were able to substantially reduce our

preschool fees as a result of the new NSW

government universal access funding model

for community preschools, launched in January

2014. The model arose from a National

Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood

Education which commits all Australian

Governments to achieving universal access

to early childhood education programs for all

children in the year before school, guided by

university qualified early childhood teachers.

• We have strengthened our collaborative

partnerships with families to ensure that

our planning and goals for each child reflect

individual needs and interests.

• We continue to streamline foundational

processes between the preschool and Prep/

Playlinks programs to ensure consistency in

approach. As a result the orientation process

has been fine-tuned, with families feeling a

greater sense of belonging from the start.

• Families – parents and children – actively

participated in gardening projects across

both sites, thus strengthening our sustainable

practices. Some other projects that families

actively participated towards included various

celebrations, for example Mothers’ Day, Fathers’

Day, family flags.

• Work commenced at both preschools to

develop and implement sustainable practices.

Recycling and gardening have become an

integral part of our curriculum.

• Our young learners across both sites have been

learning about fire safety at various times of the

year. We are thankful to ‘Fire & Rescue NSW’ at

Lakemba who were able to visit us and educate

children about fire safety.

• We liaised with primary schools to ensure

timely, effective enrolment process as well

as smoother transition for the children and

families.

Goals for 2014-15:Over the next twelve months we will:

• continue to encourage families and the wider

community to actively participate in our early

education and intervention programs, thus

strengthening our community ties.

• continue to strengthen our preschool

framework and processes.

• liaise with other leading early education and

intervention providers to develop a professional

tutoring/mentoring network.

• plan incursions/excursions based upon children’s

interests such as ‘young scientists’ incursion,

visits to the local library.

• work closely with allied health professionals

and referral services to guide families to various

early intervention services within the Canterbury

and Bankstown local Government areas.


Koorana playgroups provide age appropriate play activities that encourage the development of language, new skills and independence and highlight the importance of play-based learning.


Family Services Family Services delivers a range of programs and

services designed to support the families of young

children with disabilities, promote access to services

and encourage community connection.

The family services provided by Koorana include

supported playgroups, case management, early

diagnosis support services (Early Links), and family

support groups.

Supported PlaygroupsSupported Playgroups provide parents/carers a

friendly, accessible environment to spend time

with their children and enhance their learning and

development in a play-based environment.

Koorana runs 14 supported playgroups in the

Canterbury and Bankstown areas of Sydney in

a number of park and venue-based locations,

including a group specifically to support young

mothers aged up to 24.

These areas have a number of unique

characteristics including high density housing and

large migrant communities, where families are at

risk of social isolation.

The focus of our playgroups is parents/carers

interaction with their child, supported by a team of

experienced Early Childhood Educators and Family

Workers who are on hand to answer questions on

childhood development and assist with information

on links to supports within the community.

The playgroups provide age appropriate play

activities that encourage the development of

language, new skills and independence. Our

playgroups also serve to highlight to parents the

importance of play-based learning, build their

awareness of children’s developmental milestones,

and support positive parenting strategies.

Throughout the year, the playgroups undertake a

number of activities including:

• child and family health initiatives, such as

information on nutrition and connection with

Community Health nurses

• early literacy and numeracy support e.g. trips to

library, counting games, story time

• information sessions to help families prepare

their child as they transition to school.

Highlights for 2013-14• As mentioned in last year’s report, we

responded to the needs and wants of the

community by moving some of our venue-

based playgroups to parks. This move has been

highly successful. The new location has resulted

in increasing accessibility and visibility of the

playgroup to other families in the community.

Some of the groups have now grown to have a

regular attendance of up to 50 children at one

session.

• As a result of a generous donation from

Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL we were able

to purchase a new van for the park-based

playgroup team. Both playgroup vans were also

brightly decorated with the Koorana logo and

the Koorana mission proudly on display.

• Over the course of the last 12 months the

playgroups team has continued to foster

partnerships and collaborations with various

Over the 2013-14 financial year Koorana provided services to more than 700 clients, delivering

• over9,300hoursofearlyintervention services to individuals, and

• over3,500hoursofgroup education and early intervention services.


agencies, programs and services, including

Learning Links, Community Health, Local

Schools as Community Centres, local family

support agencies (Good Beginnings, Brighter

Futures and Catholic Care), and youth

services (Belmore Youth Resource Centre and

Bankstown Youth Services social workers).

• We have actively engaged families at

community events such as Playgroup in the

Park and Bankstown Family Fun Day, as well as

school-based fetes and information expos.

• The playgroups team participated in a

number of key interagency groups within the

Canterbury and Bankstown areas including

Canterbury Child & Family Interagency (CCFI),

Canterbury Bankstown Migrant Interagency

(CBMIA), Safe Start (a group that creates

networking and partnership opportunities

to address supports and concerns for young

mothers and to receive referrals for our Young

Mum’s groups through the health system) and

the Bankstown Domestic Violence group.

Goals for 2014-15Over the next 12 months, we will:

• adopt a strategic approach to support as many

families as possible

• determine strategies to reach those families

who aren’t known to Koorana, and who are

not accessing any support services or early

educational settings

• maintain a responsive program that moves

with the changing needs of families in the

community

• support other, smaller playgroups in the area

• increase our presence at various interagency

groups across Canterbury & Bankstown

to increase our profile and collaborative

partnership opportunities.

Family SupportThe Family Support team assists families to

access local services and supports, maximise their

independence and participation in the community,

and reduce the potential for family breakdown.


The Family Support team comprises two key

functions – case management and early diagnosis

support (Early Links). Support is provided through

home visits and groups.

We work collaboratively with the family to

undertake detailed assessment and regular reviews

of family needs and goals. An Individual Family

Service Plan (IFSP) is developed with the family to

help develop strategies to meet these goals.

Our team works to provide timely and relevant

coordination and linkage of families with

information and advice about mainstream, informal

and specialist community support options that

meet their long and short term needs.

Our focus is to support and educate families so

that they will be able to understand their child’s

disability, identify their child’s needs in relation to

their disability, and independently navigate the

disability service system.

Case Management

Case management provides short to medium term

support to families with a child between the ages

of 0 – 18 years who has a disability, developmental

delay and/or challenging behaviours. We provide

individual and group programs and activities, as

well as information about, and connection to, a

range of community resources, such as respite care.

Group Activities

It is well proven that when people who share

experiences are given the opportunity to connect

the outcome is one of strong social connection and

mutual support.

SIBs Club is specifically for children ages 7-11

years who have a sibling with a disability and/or

developmental delay. SIBs Club enables children to

connect in a fun environment with other children

who have had similar experiences. The SIBs Club

helps to develop resilience and confidence in

a space that belongs to the children. SIBs Club

operates during school terms, with a special

excursion during each term break.

My Time offers families of children with a disability

the opportunity to meet other parents, share

experiences and provide mutual support. Free


childcare is provided at each My Time event to

give parents/carers a couple of hours respite while

they participate in the group. We also encourage

connection and participation with the whole family

at special family events in the school holidays. The

family events encourage parents, grandparents and

carers to come along for a day of fun activities,

food and the chance to meet other families.

These events have been gaining popularity, with

increasing numbers at each event.

Dad’s Time caters to fathers and male carers

of children with a disability, giving men an

opportunity to come together in a social &

recreational environment to connect with other

men in similar situations. Over the last 12 months

significant work has been done to revamp the

Dad’s Time program. Looking ahead, we will be

holding one Dad’s Time event each term.

Workshops are held throughout the year by the

Family Support team. The topics selected for the

workshops are in direct response to feedback from

families and issues that arise at groups. Common

topics include behaviour support, transition to

school, and advocacy.

Early Links

The Early Links program is designed to support

and assist families who have just received, or

who are awaiting, a diagnosis of disability and/

or developmental delay. The program also

helps families to understand the various funding

and early intervention options as well as the

complexities of the disability service system.

This year the Early Links team has focused on

diversifying the way our support is delivered to

reach more clients and reduce wait times. We

have continued to work in partnership with other

Early Links programs at a management level, as

well as through the development of an Early Links

Worker Network. This network enables Early Links

workers from different areas to come together to

discuss the strengths and challenges of working

with families who are either going through the

process of diagnosis, or who have recently received

a diagnosis.

Our continued participation in local interagency

groups has helped increase our ability to partner

on ventures and events that have directly benefited

our families, such as Playgroups in the Park as well

as a recent collaboration with several local agencies.

Before we had case management,

things were very unsettled. Now with

the help of a case manager, we’re able

to set goals, work together with the

school and speech pathologist to try

and get the best outcome for my

child. We feel more relaxed now and

things run smoothly. ~

parent testimony, Koorana 2014 Client Satisfaction Survey.


Canterbury Child & Family Interagency

As part of Koorana’s commitment to supporting

networks and partnerships across the community

and disability services sectors we lead the

Canterbury Child & Family Interagency, which

• is a ‘hub’ or central point for local organisations

to connect at meetings

• links service providers for collaborative

opportunities to work in partnership on

broader, community-based initiatives

• provides an opportunity for developing best

practice by enabling information sharing events

where members can work on example case

studies, identifying how they can contribute

and work together.

Goals for 2014-15:Over the next 12 months we will:

• strengthen our responsive model, ensuring we

provide timely support to families at crucial

times, recognising that people go through

periods of high and low support needs,

meaning case management and early links

involvement may vary at different times in

families’ lives

• continue to provide a variety of group and

individual support models

• work to further engage a broad range of

organisations to participate and contribute

in the Canterbury Child & Family Interagency

and develop tools to engage and familiarise

new members with the group and its member

agencies.


Khurram Mahmood, President

Khurram Mahmood is a senior IT professional who has been involved with Koorana for

many years. His children, now aged 13 and 7, have both been through the Koorana

playgroup and preschools, and he remains involved with Koorana.

Born and raised in the UK, with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Khurram has

been in Australia now for 12 years and works for a major Australian headquartered IT

software development company.

Jerry McNamara, Vice President

Jerry McNamara is the CEO of FRANS, a disability-specific agency for respite and

recreation. With over 32 years experience in not-for-profit and for-profit agencies,

Jerry brings with him invaluable experience and insight.

Jerry has a strong background in marketing and advocacy and is committed to

the ideals of human rights and social justice, particularly as it pertains to the most

vulnerable and marginalised members of our society.

Jerry was drawn to Koorana after working with Vicki Battisti when she was on the

Board of FRANS. He sees his work with Koorana as providing mutual benefit to both

Koorana and FRANS.

Syed Ammar Hasan, Treasurer

Syed Ammar Hasan came to know about the work of Koorana when his children

attended one of the playgroups. Syed is the Financial Accounting Manager at Toll

Contract Logistics and brings with him a wealth of knowledge on best practice

reporting.

Syed has influenced Koorana’s development of best practice financial report procedures.

Syed is married with two children.

Hilda Eid, Secretary

Hilda Eid is a longstanding Director on the Koorana Board, having served for the past

nine years. Hilda runs her own workplace rehabilitation services business after working

in a variety of senior management roles in rehabilitation services.

Hilda came to know of Koorana through the preschools and utilising the early

intervention and therapy programs. She became more deeply involved with the

organisation after seeing the high quality services provided by Koorana firsthand. Over

the last few years, Hilda has enjoyed “giving back” by supporting Koorana to continue

to empower families in raising their children. Hilda is married with two children.

GovernanceBoard of Directors


Sandra Angel

Sandra Angel joined the Board of Directors in 2014. Sandra is the principal of

Earlwood Public School. Sandra has a passion for serving the community and working

together with families to ensure equality and opportunity so that all children have

access to the best possible opportunities to grow and develop to become positive

contributors to society.

Sandra’s interest in Koorana’s Board supports her commitment to fostering strong

community relationships to benefit the local community.

Afia Nouman

Afia Nouman joined the Board of Directors in 2013. Afia’s family has been involved with

Koorana for the past three years, primarily through the early intervention programs. Her

recent involvement with Koorana brings a current service user perspective to the Board.

Afia is very interested in the work of Koorana and wanted to utilise her skills at the

governance level. Afia has two boys, ages 4 ½ and 6. She has a Masters in Journalism.

Executive Management Team

Vicki Battisti, Chief Executive Officer

Koorana CEO, Vicki Battisti has 35 years of experience working in early childhood

education and intervention, including 20 years leading the team at Koorana Child &

Family Services.

Vicki is committed to the not-for-profit sector and is driven by a strong sense of

community. She is dedicated to principles of equity, inclusion and social fairness.

Helen Wilkinson, General Manager – Service Delivery

Helen Wilkinson joined Koorana in 2013. Helen’s extensive experience in child and family

services includes 12 years at SIDS and Kids, providing support to bereaved families and

leading the services team in strategic directions towards service development and growth.

Helen has worked with Tresillian child and family services, supporting new parents with

complex issues. Through her experience working with emerging populations in Western

Sydney, Helen has a thorough understanding of the critical importance of developing

responsive services and programs to community needs. Helen has a Bachelor of Social

Work (UNSW).

Nick Toonen, General Manager – Business Services

Nick Toonen joined Koorana in 2014 bringing 25 years of experience in leadership of

non-profits, spanning health, education, human rights and social service. He originally

trained and worked in IT, and has extensive experience managing corporate and business

services.

Nick is a born organiser who’s passionate about seeing people, organisations and

communities develop and grow. He loves working with others who are also committed to

making a difference, which led him to Koorana. Nick was awarded an Order of Australia

medal in 2003.


Treasurer’s ReportI am pleased to present the report on the financials of Koorana Child &

Family Services for the year ended 30th June 2014. The financial results of

Koorana for 2013-14 are now reviewed and finalised by the auditor.

Koorana, in the financial year 2013-14, proved to be strengthening and the

overall performance of the organisation is in line with the strategic growth

in all service areas they are providing to the community. The chart below

presents Koorana’s year to year growth/performance.

Koorana has been able to consolidate its position over the past year to

become a far-reaching and influential organisation. Koorana services

approximately 700 families through its various activities. Koorana will

continue to provide flexible and responsive services to families and children,

with deep commitment to an inclusive and holistic approach to early

education, intervention and family support.

This report covers the financial accounts for the period ending 30th June

2014, which represents the annual transactions of all Koorana activities

delivered through our 3 sites at Croydon Street Lakemba, Phillip Street

Roselands, and Cleary Avenue Belmore.

Financial History


I would like to share some of the highlights with you:

Financial Highlights

IncomeThe overall income for the year 2013-14 was

$3,205,803, compared to $2,910,007 for the

same period last year.

• Total grants received in 2013-14 were

$2,730,805 compared to $2,491,252 for

the same period last year.

• Total interest received in 2013-14 was $17,932,

compared to $21,016 for the same period last year.

• Other operating receipts, excluding interest

received, in 2013-14 totalled $193,054, compared

to $73,896 for the same period last year.

• Total fees received in 2013-14 were $264,012,

compared to $323,843 fees received for the same

period last year.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Board members

for their support and dedication in leading Koorana towards the

right direction. Also the management and staff, without whose

support, Koorana could not achieve the wonderful outcome.

I would also like to thank our auditor, David Conroy, for the

support, assistance and advice throughout the year.

I would also like to recognise the significant financial support

provided by our funding bodies, as without this funding we

would be unable to provide the vital services to the community.

The accounts for the period ending 30th June 2014 are herein

presented for your perusal and acceptance, duly audited by

Bryan Rush & Co – Chartered Accountants.

If you have any question on the results or would like more

information on anything mentioned above, please contact

myself or Vicki Battisti, CEO or send us email at

[email protected]

Syed Ammar Hasan

Treasurer

Total expenses for the various activities for 2013-14

were $3,109,095 compared to $2,910,709 for the


• Employee benefit expenses in 2013-14 were

$2,478,229 compared to $2,361,540 for

the same period last year.

• Depreciation & Amortisation expenses

in 2013-14 were $64,726 compared to

$52,687 for the same period last year.

• Other expenses from ordinary activities

were 2013-14 were $566,139 compared to

$496,482 for the same period last year.

The overall net profit for the year 2013-14 was

a $96,708, compared to a loss of ($702), for the


Expenses


Financial Statements


KOORANA CHILD FAMILY SERVICES INC. • ABN 98 173 846 132

STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 Note 2014 2013

$ $

Revenues from ordinary activities 2 3,205,803 2,910,007Employee benefits expenses (2,478,229) (2,361,540)Depreciation and amortisation expenses (64,726) (52,687)Other expenses from ordinary activities (566,139) (496,482)

Current year surplus before income tax 96,709 (702)

Income tax expense 1 - -Current year surplus 96,709 (702)Other comprehensive incomeGains on revaluation of land and buildings 6 350,000 -

Total comprehensive income for the year 446,709 (702)Total comprehensive income attribute to members of the entity 446,709 (702)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2014CURRENT ASSETSCash and cash equivalents 4 464,817 472,567Receivables 5 59,816 58,367TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 524,633 530,934

NON - CURRENT ASSETSProperty, plant and equipment 6 1,412,238 1,051,478TOTAL NON - CURRENT ASSETS 1,412,238 1,051,478TOTAL ASSETS 1,936,871 1,582,412

CURRENT LIABILITIESPayables 7 175,245 307,785Provisions 8 307,091 266,801

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 482,336 574,586

TOTAL LIABILITIES 482,336 574,586

NET ASSETS 1,454,535 1,007,826

EQUITYRetained surplus 1,454,535 1,007,826TOTAL EQUITY 1,454,535 1,007,826

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 Asset Revaluation Reserve Retained Earnings Total

$ $ $

Changes in equity

Balance at 1 July 2012 750,000 258,528 1,008,528

Net deficit for the year - (702) (702)

Balance at 30 June 2013 750,000 257,826 1,007,826

Other comprehensive income for the year

Gains on revaluation of land and buildings 350,000 - 350,000

Net deficit for the year - 96,709 96,709

Balance at 30 June 2014 1,100,000 354,535 1,454,535


KOORANA CHILD FAMILY SERVICES INC. • ABN 98 173 846 132

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014 Note 2014 2013

$ $

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Fees received 260,276 327,191

Grants received 2,870,182 2,674,514

Interest received 17,932 21,016

Other operating receipts 166,792 486,588

Payments to suppliers and employees (3,219,408) (3,371,013)

Net cash provided by operating activities 10 (b) 95,774 138,296

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds on sale of fixed assets 13,376 3,944

Fixed asset purchases (116,900) (45,154)

Net cash provided by investing activities (103,524) (41,210)

Net increase (decrease) in cash held (7,750) 97,086

Cash at the beginning of the financial year 472,567 375,481

Cash at the end of the financial year 10 (a) 464,817 472,567

STATEMENT BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In the opinion of the Board of Directors the accompanying financial report:

1. Presents a true and fair view of the financial position of Koorana Child & Family Services Inc. as at 30

June 2014 and its performance for the year ended on that date in accordance with Australian Accounting

Standards (including Australian Accounting interpretations) of the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

2. At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Koorana Child & Family Services

Inc. will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board and is signed for and on behalf of the

Board by:

President __________________________________________ Khurram Mahmood

Treasurer __________________________________________ Syed Hasan

Dated this 29 day of September, 2014


You can support Koorana in the following ways:

• Make a donation. You can make a donation

via the Donate Now button on our website.

• Become a partner. Koorana cherishes its

relationships with all businesses who can help

us to deliver our early education, intervention

and family support programs. Support from

businesses can take many forms, including gifts

in kind, discounted services or sponsorship.

• Remember us in your will. Your bequest to

Koorana will ensure your support of our services

continues into the future.

• Volunteer. A few hours of your time will not

only benefit Koorana with additional resources,

but also give you the personal satisfaction of

knowing your contribution has helped our client

families and children.

• Fundraise for Koorana. Make Koorana the

recipient of funds generated by your own

events and initiatives.

For more information:

For more information on how you can help

Koorana continue to provide important early

childhood services and programs to our local

community, please call our head office on

(02) 9750-4100, or visit our website –

www.koorana.org.au.

Koorana holds endorsement as a deductible gift

recipient. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

How you can helpKoorana guarantees that 100% of your donation will directly contribute to the provision of early

education, intervention and family support.


Our supportersKoorana would like to thank and acknowledge our generous supporters in 2013–14, whose

commitment has greatly enriched the outcomes for the families who attend our programs.

Koorana is grateful for the financial and in kind support from the following:

• NSW Department of Family and Community Services –

Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC)

• NSW Department of Family and Community Services –

Community Services

• NSW Department of Education & Communities

• Department of Social Services

• Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL

• Bankstown City Council

• Canterbury City Council

• Bankstown Sports Club

• Canterbury Leagues Club

• And the many parents who have generously shared their skills to support specific

organisational activities.

HEAD OFFICE

(includes early childhood intervention, playgroups

and family services)

1A Cleary Avenue, Belmore NSW 2192

Postal address

PO Box 403, Belmore NSW 2192

Phone (02) 9750-4100 / (02) 9758-2666

Fax (02) 9759-1245

Email [email protected]

Website www.koorana.org.au

Twitter @koorana

Facebook facebook.com/Koorana

OUR PRESCHOOLS

Phillip Street Preschool

22 Phillip Street, Roselands NSW 2196

Phone (02) 9750-3655 | Fax (02) 9758-3666

Croydon Street Preschool

33 Croydon Street, Lakemba NSW 2195

Phone (02) 9759-4494 | Fax (02) 9750-4533

Contact Us


It is the dedication of Koorana staff to the children and families who come through our doors that is our greatest asset.


Koorana Child & Family Services IncABN 98 173 846 132

Telephone: (02) 9750-4100

Website: www.koorana.org.au

Twitter: @koorana

Facebook: facebook.com/Koorana

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