RIDBC
Annual
Report
2012
Contents
RIDBC in 2012
RIDBC People
About RIDBC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
RIDBC People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
RIDBC National Footprint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Organisational Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Report of the President and Chief Executive. . . . . . . 8
RIDBC Senior Leadership Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
2012 Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
RIDBC Staff in the Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
RIDBC 2012-2016. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Profile – Sky is the limit for young Hugh . . . . . . . . . 44
Profile – Jan North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RIDBC 1992-2012; 20 years of growth . . . . . . . . . . 15
Financial Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Profile – Simra is learning through
music and songs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
RIDBC Funding
In Appreciation of Your Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Corporate Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Clubs and Committees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
RIDBC Services
Profile – Graeme Skarratt –
50 years of service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
RIDBC Services and Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
RIDBC Honourees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
RIDBC Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Profile – The RIDBC Hunter Sight
and Sound for Kids Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
RIDBC Educational Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
RIDBC Clinical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Bequests and Permanent Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Quality Assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Profile – Generous support
for generations to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Continuing Professional Development. . . . . . . . . . . 27
Sponsors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
RIDBC Renwick Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Key Supporters for 2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Professional Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Thomas Pattison Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Profile – Michelle Knight –
RIDBC Access Technology Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Profile – Tele-audiology –
Hearing assessment for remote communities . . . . 31
Research, Publications and Presentations . . . . . . . 32
RIDBC Governance
RIDBC Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Corporate Governance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
RIDBC Concise Financial Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Profile – Lucas is learning braille with RIDBC . . . . . 34
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
3
About
RIDBC
Our Mission
By providing quality and innovative education and other
services, RIDBC will achieve the best outcomes for current
and future generations with hearing and/or vision loss.
4
RIDBC in 2012
Our Values
In everything we do, we are always….
• Ethical
• Innovative
• Striving for High Quality
• Respectful to all People
• Sharing Knowledge
• Child & Family Focused
The range of specialist services
available at RIDBC is unique
in Australia and is benefiting
thousands of children a year.
These services are delivered
by a broad range of highly
qualified professionals including
speech pathologists, teachers,
audiologists, orthoptists,
occupational therapists,
psychologists, technology
consultants, physiotherapists and
a paediatrician.
A regional and remote service
where families and children
are receiving services via
videoconference.
Services are provided from
13 permanent sites but serve
families and children throughout
Australia. Using in-person
sessions combined with modern
technology, RIDBC connects
families across Australia to the
expert therapy and other services
they need.
Cochlear implant program.
As a charity RIDBC relies
significantly on community
support.
RIDBC provides:
Early intervention programs
for children from birth to five
years.
Five preschool programs for
children aged three to five
years based on a reverse
integration model, and support
in mainstream preschools.
Three schools as well as a
school support service for
children with hearing or vision
loss who attend mainstream
schools.
Individual therapy sessions.
Assessment and planning
services, including orthoptics
and audiology.
Outreach programs in
Indigenous communities.
A world class research
program and postgraduate
courses for professionals
working with children who
have vision or hearing loss.
A professional development
program for professionals
working with children who
have vision or hearing loss.
Objectives
To provide high quality and
innovative education and other
services to achieve the best
outcomes for current and
future generations with hearing
and/or vision loss throughout
Australia.
To engage in research,
information dissemination,
professional preparation and
continuing staff development
for teachers and associated
professionals in the field of
sensory disability.
To recruit the best people
we can, engage them in
challenging work, and
continually develop their skills
and knowledge so that they
can perform to the best of their
ability.
To provide sufficient funding
from diverse sources to have
maximum impact on the
mission of RIDBC.
History
What is now known as the
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind
Children began in 1860 as a
small school for deaf children at
152 Liverpool St, Sydney. The
first teacher and co-founder was
Thomas Pattison, a profoundly
deaf Scottish immigrant. RIDBC
enrolled its first blind students
in 1869, and in 1872, moved
to purpose-built premises in
Darlington. In 1944, school
attendance for deaf children and
blind children became compulsory
– as it had been for their sighted
and hearing peers since 1880. In
the early 1960s, RIDBC moved to
the current site of its main campus
in North Rocks.
This report is to be presented
to the 152nd Annual General
Meeting of the Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children on
Tuesday 21 May, 2013.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
5
RIDBC
National
footprint
RIDBC sites, professional
collaborations and
partnerships
NSW
University of Newcastle
ARCS Auditory Research
M
Centre
1,161
children received
intensive therapy and
education services
2,626
children received
assessment and
diagnostic services
198
students enrolled
in postgraduate
courses
Australian Hearing Hub
(Macquarie University)
SW Department of Education
N
and Communities
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
WA
WA Foundation for Deaf Children
chool of Special Educational
S
Needs – Sensory (WA
Department of Education)
VIC
PERTH
La Trobe University
University of Melbourne
Victorian Deaf Education Institute
Statewide Vision Resource Centre
Key
SA
A Department of Education and
S
Children’s Services
hildren with vision or hearing loss on
C
RIDBC services
Statewide Vision Resource Centre
ostgraduate students currently studying
P
through RIDBC Renwick Centre
NT
RIDBC Darwin
6
RIDBC in 2012
* Map shows location of children and
postgraduate students outside of the
major capital cities.
DARWIN
Australia-wide
ational Acoustic Laboratories
N
(Australian Hearing)
Cochlear Limited
Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre
earing Cooperative Research
H
Centre
International
eriot-Watt University
H
(Edinburgh)
NZ Ministry of Education
elston and van Asch Deaf
K
Education Centres
International
development
Vision 2020 Australia
AusAid
enese Inclusive Education
S
Samoa
BRISBANE
Postgraduate
students from:
iji, Samoa, Hong Kong, Japan,
F
New Zealand, Singapore
SYDNEY
ADELAIDE
Continuing
Professional
Education
CANBERRA
Presenters from:
MELBOURNE
The USA and the UK
Presentations held in:
ydney, Melbourne, Perth,
S
Brisbane, Darwin, New Zealand
and South East Asia
RIDBC staff professional
presentations in:
HOBART
ussia, Austria, New Zealand,
R
Italy, the USA
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
7
Report
of the
President
and the
Chief
Executive
2012 was a year of
significant achievements
and advancements for the
Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children.
In our first year of the new five
year plan, RIDBC extended on
its mission to ‘provide quality and
innovative education and other
services, to achieve the best
outcomes for current and future
generations of Australians with
vision and or hearing loss’. Put
simply, in the course of 2012, more
children and families received
quality services in more locations
than any other year on record.
At the end of 2012, 1,161 children
were enrolled in RIDBC services
and over 2,500 diagnostic and
assessment services were
provided. This represents
growth of approximately 10% in
enrolments in services from 2011.
These numbers, in addition to the
6% increase in services provided,
demonstrate a strong demand for
RIDBC’s quality programs across
Australia.
We are committed to furthering
accessibility for RIDBC services
across Australia. In 2012 we
extended our physical service
locations through the opening of
two new important sites. RIDBC
Darwin was officially opened in
8
RIDBC in 2012
RIDBC Chief Executive, Chris Rehn and RIDBC President, Sean
Wareing, spend time with Nahkiaya and Mia from RIDBC Garfield
Barwick School.
November 2012 by the Honourable
Robyn Lambley, MLA and is the
first RIDBC service physically
located outside of New South
Wales. Through RIDBC Darwin
we are improving access for
children and families in the Top
End, including an increasing focus
on Indigenous hearing and vision
issues. Within NSW we have
commenced service from a new
site in the Rouse Hill Town Centre
in Sydney’s north west. This service
was launched under the Hear the
Children name in 2010 and was
acquired and relocated by RIDBC
in 2012. There are now 13 physical
sites operated by RIDBC, however,
our technological capacity ensures
that the potential for virtual sites
across Australia and internationally
is increasingly realised.
The use of advanced technology
continues to assist us to improve
outcomes for children at RIDBC.
A significant achievement late
in 2012 was the acquisition of
an advanced videoconferencing
platform to enhance our
Teleschool service and “blended
services”. Blended service
combines in-person sessions
complemented by remote
videoconference. This enables
greater accessibility for both
families and professionals alike,
allowing additional opportunities
such as virtual playgroups
and enhanced professional
development opportunities
through RIDBC Renwick Centre.
Continuing the technology theme,
RIDBC has extended its services
for cochlear implant clients and in
early 2013 will be able to provide
a seamless service to families
where cochlear implantation
is indicated. The ability to
provide early intervention, acute
cochlear implantation services
and extended rehabilitation and
audiological support will ensure
this service will be the benchmark
for outcomes and family-centred
service in Australia.
In late 2012, we farewelled our
long-serving Director of Children’s
Services, Mrs Jan North. Jan
has been a tremendous asset
to the management of RIDBC
and played a significant role in
the development of key RIDBC
services and facilities including
VisionEd, the Early Learning
Program and many of the current
RIDBC sites. We thank Jan for her
leadership, energy and service over
two decades with RIDBC. As a
result of Jan’s departure we have
put in place an enhanced operating
structure. Two distinct areas of
operation were created in 2012 with
Children’s Services being replaced
by the directorates of Educational
and Clinical Services. This change
saw the appointment of Craig
Thomson to the position of Director
Clinical Services and Melissa
McCarthy to the position of Director
Educational Services.
A comprehensive review of RIDBC
School Support Service was
undertaken to ensure the service
continues to meet the needs
of children with hearing and/or
vision loss enrolled in independent
schools. Service changes were
made late in 2012 and will be
implemented progressively in
2013. Children with sensory
impairment enrolled in our School
Support Service continue to
demonstrate that with the right
support, they can achieve their
potential in mainstream school
environments.
Responding to increased
community demand for additional
services, RIDBC commenced
RIDBC Plus – a service designed
to give families access to a broad
range of therapy activities for
children with hearing or vision
loss. Services include speech and
language therapy, occupational
therapy and physiotherapy. With
a progressive start in mid-2012,
enrolments had grown significantly
by year's end.
An improved RIDBC website
was launched in 2012 to better
disseminate information to our
diverse stakeholders. Parents,
professionals, supporters and
recipients of services can now find
important and helpful information
at the click of a mouse. The
new website provides up-todate information on all aspects
of RIDBC and can be located at
www.ridbc.org.au
Throughout 2012, RIDBC again
was well supported in the media
and this enabled strong alignment
to the communities we serve.
Strong media attention was
received across a variety of RIDBC
initiatives throughout the year.
Student numbers at RIDBC
Renwick Centre were at
record levels this year with 198
postgraduate students studying
Master's or Certificate level
courses. An exciting addition to
RIDBC’s collaborative research
projects is the formation of the
Australian Hearing Hub (AHH)
on the grounds of Macquarie
University. This site will further
collaborative research with service
and industry partners. The AHH
site will also enable RIDBC to
extend clinical and education
services. The building will be
officially opened in April 2013.
Financially, RIDBC continued to
feel the effects of a somewhat
challenged economic environment.
In 2012, total revenue was $32.1M
with total expenditures of $34M
resulting in a deficit of $1.9M.
The result for the year is an
improvement over 2011, primarily
due to an increased value of
the RIDBC investment portfolio
that saw no impairment in 2012
compared to a $4.9M impairment
taken to the profit and loss in 2011.
Despite this, the operating result
in 2012 includes a reduction in
investment income of $2.8M when
compared to 2011. Expenditure
on operating activities increased
by $1.2M compared to 2011 as
increases in student services
allowed higher enrolments.
Looking to the balance sheet, the
net asset position increased by
$6.8M to $133.2M, an outcome
of the improvement in value of the
RIDBC investment portfolio.
to ensure no significant impact on
the high quality services provided
by RIDBC.
Following a significant review
of fundraising activities in 2011,
further development work
progressed in 2012 to ensure
RIDBC has the resources
necessary to deliver on its mission.
With strong growth in demand for
RIDBC services across Australia,
a new Director of Fundraising was
appointed in July 2012 to further
the fundraising activities of RIDBC.
RIDBC is indeed fortunate to have a
broad range of generous supporters
who so willingly give in-kind support,
time and funds to ensure the
continuation of RIDBC services to
children and families. Once again,
legacies provided significant support
in meeting the costs of RIDBC
services. We are most grateful to
those who have had the generous
foresight to make a gift in this way.
We pay tribute in this report to
RIDBC's many generous donors and
celebrate their ongoing enthusiasm,
interest and support in meeting the
needs of young Australians with
hearing or vision loss.
RIDBC is most grateful to all
its staff, supporters, partner
organisations and volunteers,
including the RIDBC Board, for the
significant contributions made in
support of children, their families
and the professionals in the field
throughout Australia.
Sean P Wareing
President
Chris Rehn
Chief Executive
Our strong governance and
financial management continues
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
9
2012
Overview
RIDBC Plus launched
Launched in 2012, RIDBC Plus is
a family-centred therapy service
targeting specific aspects of a
child’s development. The service
was developed in response to
increased community demand
for therapy provided by experts
in the field. RIDBC Plus is one
of the services that have been
implemented as RIDBC prepares
itself for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
RIDBC Darwin opened
RIDBC Darwin was officially opened in November
2012 by the Honourable Robyn Lambley MLA, the
then Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education,
Children and Families, Corporate and Information
Services, Central Australia and Women’s Policy.
RIDBC Darwin enhanced the support available
for families in the Top End and allows RIDBC to
form partnerships with local service providers to
further explore the needs of local families, including
Indigenous Australians.
25% increase for Continuing
Professional Education
Participation in the continuing professional education
program increased by 45% over 2011 with more
than 3,000 person days of training and development
being provided for the field. This cemented RIDBC’s
position as Australia’s premier provider of continuing
professional education for teachers and a wide range of
associated professionals working in the field of sensory
disability. Postgraduate student numbers also rose with
an 18% increase in equivalent full time students.
10
RIDBC in 2012
RIDBC Teleschool
book launched
As a result of continual requests for
information on our refined service, Director
of Children’s Services, Jan North, and
Director of Educational Services, Melissa
McCarthy, wrote RIDBC Teleschool;
Guiding Principles for Telepractice. The
guide has application across a variety of
services not just limited to the education
and health sectors. The guide was launched
by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for
Broadband, Communications and the
Digital Economy, and presents a model
of telepractice for delivering services to
remotely located families that are equivalent
to those provided in metropolitan areas.
$250,000 grant for the Hunter!
The Newcastle Permanent Charitable
Foundation (Charitable Foundation) provided
an amazing $250,000 grant to install
state-of-the-art remote videoconferencing
technology in the RIDBC Hunter, Central
Coast and Lismore centres. The funding
enables RIDBC to provide enhanced
educational and therapy services through a
'blended service' of in-person and remote
videoconferencing.
Pathfinders revue dazzles!
Over five nights, the volunteer performers
of the Qantas Pathfinders Revue dazzled
the audience with fantastic skits, songs and
tales raising over $80,000 for RIDBC. The
Revue is a culmination of almost a year’s
effort of organising, scripting and rehearsing
the performance. The sell-out revue was
sponsored by Qantas and North’s Leagues
Club, which provides the venue free of
charge.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
11
RIDBC
2012 - 2016
Under the 5 year plan for 2012-2016, our services will be enhanced through innovation
and technology. RIDBC will develop its staff, infrastructure, and programs to improve
opportunities and outcomes for children who have hearing and/or vision loss,
their families and the professionals who work with them throughout Australia.
Progress made against the five year plan in 2012:
1.
2.
Leverage
technology
Improve access
across Australia
Key recommendations of the IT Road Map,
including significantly enhanced site connectivity,
were implemented.
RIDBC Renwick Centre registered record
enrolments from interstate and international
participants across its postgraduate programs.
New and innovative web-based delivery models
for remote, accessible postgraduate education
were introduced.
Three new sites were launched in 2012 including
RIDBC Darwin, RIDBC Hear the Children in
Rouse Hill and the Australian Hearing Hub at
Macquarie University.
An iPad application was launched to help young
children develop speech and language.
More iPads were rolled out across services.
The new RIDBC website, which includes a
sophisticated payment portal, event ticketing and
member area for donors, was launched.
Use of e-marketing to communicate with
stakeholders was increased.
Through a generous grant, and dedicated
RIDBC investment, the blended service model
was extended. This combines high quality
videoconferencing technology with in-person
sessions.
12
RIDBC in 2012
The RIDBC Indigenous hearing and vision
screening programs were extended.
More children than ever accessed RIDBC
Teleschool across Australia.
The private networking website, RIDBC & Me,
was used by more RIDBC services, allowing
greater interaction between parents and their
RIDBC teachers or therapists.
3.
4.
Review and
improve services
Continuing professional
development provided
through RIDBC Renwick
Centre continued to underpin
RIDBC programs, ensuring
staff are well-trained and
up-to-date.
5.
Secure and
enhance funding
An improvement of $777,000 in
recurrent funding was secured
from State and Federal
Governments and a further
$200,000 was secured in
Government Grants.
Interaction with community
agencies was increased,
forging new collaborations
with industry partners such as
within the Australian Hearing
Hub at Macquarie University.
Services were further adapted
to align RIDBC with a clientcentred funding model.
The RIDBC community service
announcement was launched
across all commercial
television stations.
The three RIDBC preschools
assessed under the new
National Quality Framework
received a rating of
‘exceeded national standard’,
which is the highest rating.
A new Director of Development
was appointed and all fundraising
programs were reviewed.
The RIDBC Indigenous vision
and screening program
underwent review and
recommendations are now
being implemented.
The foundations and corporate
partnerships program was
extended to capture growing
support from the corporate
sector for Australian charities.
A full suite of new courses
was introduced in RIDBC
Renwick Centre following an
extensive review.
New donors were recruited
for both the Annual Fund and
RIDBC’s continuing Regular
Giving Program, the Thomas
Pattison Society.
The Achievement and
Recognition process was
rolled out to all staff across
RIDBC, standardising
goal-setting and development
plans across the organisation.
A comprehensive review of
the RIDBC School Support
Service was undertaken to
ensure the service continues
to meet the needs of children
with hearing and/or vision
loss enrolled in independent
schools.
Build awareness
and branding
Strong growth was developed
in the RIDBC Hunter Baillie
Circle, which thanks and
honours those who have
decided to leave a bequest to
RIDBC in their will.
Participation in community
fundraising events such as
City2Surf increased.
More volunteers than ever
worked tirelessly on RIDBC
fundraising committees and
auxiliaries not only raising
much needed funds, but also
working as ambassadors in
the community.
Strong growth was seen in the
use of RIDBC’s social media
platforms, and engagement
from RIDBC Facebook fans
increased 33%.
A greater focus on
dissemination of RIDBC
achievements has led to a
growing media presence with
over 500 mentions throughout
the year in print, radio and TV.
As RIDBC prepares for a
client centred funding model,
RIDBC Plus was launched as
a cost recovery, fee-for-service
therapy program in response
to family demand.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
13
Jan
North
I had worked as a lecturer in
Special Education at the University
of Newcastle for many years
where early intervention was, and
remains a focus.
I came to RIDBC to establish the
early intervention programs along
with reverse integration preschools
and a resource team.
In 2012, Jan North retired
from her position as Director
of RIDBC Children’s
Services. Her time at
RIDBC marked a period
of extensive growth as the
organisation responded to
the changing educational
environment for children
with vision or hearing loss.
Here, Jan reflects on some
of those changes.
“When I started at the Royal NSW
Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
in 1990, it was a very different
organisation to the RIDBC of today.
At the time, the organisation had
a large residential program along
with the Alice Betteridge School,
Garfield Barwick School with
an adjoining preschool, a braille
production unit and an itinerant
teaching service. Our core services
were for school aged children.
RIDBC was about to embark on
an ambitious program envisioned
by the CE at the time, John
Berryman and the Deputy CE,
John Race, to take the fledgling
early childhood program and
establish a comprehensive
range of early intervention
and preschool services.
14
RIDBC in 2012
In the first five years we worked
extremely hard to ensure that
our service offered world-class,
family-centred early intervention.
Preschools were built in Newcastle
and Penrith, the preschool
attached to the Garfield Barwick
School was relocated to the North
Rocks campus, and a specialist
preschool for signing deaf children
was built. Not long after, a fifth
specialist preschool was built
– this time devoted to children
with vision impairment. This
coincided with the consolidation
and expansion of the range of
programs for vision impaired
children to form what is now called
RIDBC VisionEd.
During this period, the Thomas
Pattison School for signing deaf
children was established along
with the teacher professional
development and research arm
of RIDBC, the Renwick Centre,
in affiliation with the University of
Newcastle.
During a four year period away
from RIDBC employment, I was
delighted to serve on the RIDBC
Board and observed as the
Jim Patrick Audiology Centre
was established along with the
forerunner to the Teleschool
Program, Remote Homestart.
On returning to RIDBC in 2000, it
has been such an honour to play a
small part in extending the access
of RIDBC’s services to meet the
needs of ever increasing numbers
of children in more locations, not
only through the establishment of
new centres, but also via our very
successful Teleschool program.
I am proud that, over the past
20 years, RIDBC has changed
and grown to meet the needs of
children and to keep families at
the centre of their child’s early
intervention. I know I’m biased, but
children who come to RIDBC truly
are the luckiest kids in the world!
RIDBC really does endeavour to
tailor its programs to meet the
individual needs of children and
our range of services ensures they
receive the very best opportunities
– no matter where they live.
It has been an amazing privilege to
witness the dramatic improvement
in services and technology for
children with vision and hearing
loss. RIDBC has grown and
remained at the forefront of change
to ensure children with hearing
or vision loss are afforded the
best possible start to life. The
outcomes for children now are truly
remarkable – quite different from
when I started at RIDBC nearly 23
years ago."
It has been an honour
and a privilege to work at
RIDBC. It is an outstanding
organisation doing incredibly
important and very,
very rewarding work.
RIDBC 1992-2012;
20 years of
growth
We look back at 20 years of extraordinary
growth at RIDBC through a period of
significant change in technology, the
importance of early intervention and the
role of the family in early intervention.
In 1992:
Three sites in
• North Rocks
• North Parramatta
• Tingira Centre (now RIDBC Hunter) celebrates
its first year of operation
301 children enrolled in RIDBC services
63 children are staying in RIDBC’s residential
services either full time or part time, including six
who attend the Department of Education schools
located onsite
37 children received education planning sessions
in Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Casino and Dubbo
30 students received itinerant support from
RIDBC while attending mainstream schools
No postgraduate students
Renwick College was established in 1991 in
affiliation with the University of Newcastle and
curriculum development commenced in 1992
277 employees including 49 full time staff
employed in the residential services.
In 2012:
Ten sites in New South Wales as well as a site in
the Northern Territory
1,161 children enrolled in RIDBC services as
well as 2,626 children receiving diagnostic and
assessment services
Residential services no longer exist
184 children right across Australia receive RIDBC
Teleschool services via videoconference in their
homes
272 students receive support in mainstream
schools
Over 600 students have graduated from RIDBC
Renwick Centre
198 students are currently enrolled in a
postgraduate course at RIDBC Renwick Centre
Over 3,000 person days of professional
development delivered for a range of
professionals in the field
Over 430 staff are currently employed at RIDBC
with more than half boasting postgraduate
qualifications.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
15
Financial
Summary
2012
2011
Change
($’000)
($’000)
%
Total Operating Revenue
31,654
32,950
-3.9%
Recurrent Operating Expenditure
32,406
31,245
3.7%
(752)
1,705
(1,111)
(5,722)
(1,863)
(4,017)
911
874
Operating (Deficit)/Surplus
Non-Operating items
Deficit after non-operating items
Capital Expenditure
16
RIDBC in 2012
Revenue
8%
Other
13%
Investments
35%
Charitable
Fundraising
33%
Government
11%
Rainbow
Lottery
Total Expenditure
1% Community
Information
5%
Administration
8% Rainbow Lottery
7% Investment in
Charitable Fundraising
1% Investment
Management
78%
Student Services
Expenditure – Student Services
12%
Teacher education and
research in Renwick Centre
2% RIDBC Jim Patrick
Audiology Centre
13%
RIDBC Community
Support Services
18%
For school children
who are multiply impaired
27%
For preschoolers
8%
For school children who are
blind or have low vision
20%
For school children who are
deaf or hearing impaired
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
17
Simra is learning
through music
and songs
Four year old Simra, who is blind, loves
music. Songs with repetition help her learn
and build the confidence she needs to
engage with the world around her.
RIDBC VisionEd Preschool Director, Kathryn Bowie, with Simra and her mother,
Fatima, reading one of Simra’s favourite tactile books, That’s my bear.
18
RIDBC in 2012
We’d be lost without
RIDBC! The service
has been so fantastic
– so personalised and
supportive. RIDBC is
giving my daughter
every opportunity
to succeed.
– Fatima, Simra's mum
Simra is developing tactile and hearing skills
which are critical for her to be independent.
Simra, who was born blind, has
vision loss where children from
a syndrome which causes her to
the community also attend, Simra
have low muscle tone. Enrolling
used music to help her learn.
at the Royal Institute for Deaf and
“Simra absolutely loves music,”
Blind Children when she was
said RIDBC VisionEd Preschool
three months old, Simra attended
Director,
Kathryn Bowie.
RIDBC VisionEd Preschool in 2012.
A child with vision loss must learn
to feel, touch and hold objects.
Developing tactile and hearing
skills is critical and Simra and her
family spent a lot of time working
on this in her early therapy
sessions at RIDBC.
“It’s really a two way relationship
with the preschool,” said Simra’s
mother, Fatima. “We’ve really
appreciated the guidance we’ve
been given along the way. It’s
a whole new world for us – you
don’t really think about how
children learn until you have a child
with vision impairment.”
At RIDBC VisionEd Preschool, a
reverse integration preschool
purpose built for children with
“We use songs to help develop
an awareness of her environment.
Songs with repetition help Simra
learn language, and lyrics which
ask her to ‘touch your head’ or
‘stamp your foot’ have helped her
develop the spatial awareness
that is essential for her physical
independence. Now when
someone says, ‘something is
coming up on the left’, Simra will
know what to look out for.”
Simra is also learning braille.
“We gave Simra access to lots
of tactile books so she could
understand how pictures
contribute to a story. Simra also
began ‘scribbling’ on a braille
machine. Just like a sighted child
will scribble with a pen – this is the
stage a blind child goes through
before they begin to learn letters.
Simra can now recognise her
name in braille!”
Fatima is happy Simra will
continue her schooling at RIDBC
– starting kindergarten at RIDBC
Alice Betteridge School in 2013.
“We’d be lost without RIDBC! The
service has been so fantastic –
so personalised and supportive.
RIDBC is giving my daughter every
opportunity to succeed,” said
Fatima.
“The whole Early Learning
Program team and now at Alice
Betteridge School – the staff have
been wonderful. I’m so thankful
that Simra has been given the
opportunity to have a bright future.”
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
19
RIDBC Services
and Programs
20
RIDBC Services
It has been another year of strong growth
across all of RIDBC’s services.
Families from across Australia
are benefiting from the latest
technology, therapy and
educational services available for
children with vision or hearing
loss. The range of services and
professionals provided through
RIDBC Children’s Services is
unique in Australia. Working with
families, the multidisciplinary
team ensures children from birth
through to the end of school can
take advantage of every learning
opportunity.
In 2012, RIDBC provided support
to a record number of children
and their families across Australia.
At year's end, 1,161 children with
significant vision and/or hearing
loss were benefiting from a broad
range of family-centred services
tailored to the needs of each child.
RIDBC also provided vision and
hearing assessments to more than
2,500 babies and children.
With the retirement of Jan North
at the end of 2012, Children’s
Services was restructured into two
divisions. Melissa McCarthy was
named as Director, Educational
Services and Craig Thomson as
Director, Clinical Services. The
restructure was imperative, not
only because of the extensive
growth of RIDBC Children’s
Services under Jan North, but
also to enable RIDBC to respond
effectively to the new personcentred funding arrangements
from State and Federal
Governments. In early 2013, the
RIDBC Cochlear Implantation
Service was also launched under
Clinical Services.
In addition to the remote service
offered through RIDBC Teleschool,
RIDBC now operates from 13
service sites. In 2012, RIDBC
Darwin opened and expansion
into interstate sites will continue
as need is identified. RIDBC
is committed to providing the
technology required to best
support families across Australia.
Videoconferencing technology
which enables a complement of
remote and in-person services is
increasingly used across all RIDBC
services. The ‘blended service’
model will allow busy families
to access consistent support,
either by videoconference or inperson sessions. Already used
in RIDBC VisionEd and RIDBC
Thomas Pattison School, the
blended service was extended to
more services throughout 2012,
particularly in the Hunter region
due to a generous $250,000 grant
from the Newcastle Permanent
Charitable Foundation.
Resources
RIDBC resources are developed
to support and enhance services
for families across RIDBC services
and the wider community. For
more information about the
resources developed at RIDBC
visit www.ridbc.org.au/resources
RIDBC&Me website
RIDBC&Me website is a private,
parent networking site which
puts parents in touch with
other parents who share similar
challenges as well as health and
education professionals who
provide assistance to their families.
Originally developed to overcome
the isolation often felt by families in
rural or regional Australia who have
a child with a disability, in 2012 the
website was extended to more
RIDBC services. The site has been
very well received by families and
has allowed for greater interaction
between parents and their RIDBC
teacher or therapist regarding their
child’s progress.
RIDBC Educational Apps
RIDBC’s suite of language learning
apps continued to be released this
year. Row Row Row Your Boat
was launched and is the second
in a series of six applications
developed by RIDBC for use on
an iPad. It is aimed at helping
children – including those who
have hearing loss – to develop
their listening and language skills.
Download at ridbc.org.au/apps
RIDBC Teleschool book
For over ten years, RIDBC has
developed a world-leading
telepractice service for children
and their families in rural and
regional Australia. In 2012, RIDBC
launched RIDBC Teleschool:
Guiding Principles for Telepractice,
which presents a model of
telepractice aimed at delivering
services to remotely-located
families which are equal to those
provided in metropolitan areas.
The book provides organisations
with the tools they need to
get started and deliver a high
quality telepractice service. The
National Broadband Network
(NBN) will allow more services
to be delivered via telepractice
and, as a leader in the field,
RIDBC will continue to provide
practical support for new service
providers. Order a copy at
ridbc.org.au/telepractice
RIDBC Vision Impairment
Books
The Understanding Vision
Impairment series of books was
extended in 2012. The primary
purpose of the series of five books
is to provide assistance to families
and professionals in developing
their understanding of what their
child can see, and to demonstrate
the impact of environmental
features on what they can see.
The books demonstrate different
levels of vision loss and also
provide strategies that promote
the use of vision. Order a copy at
ridbc.org.au/resources
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
21
RIDBC Services
and Programs
Educational Services
Five Year Record of Enrolments
RIDBC Early Learning
Programs
Early Childhood Programs Enrolments
Early intensive support is critical
for children with vision or hearing
loss. For children from birth
to five years, the RIDBC Early
Learning Program provides the
necessary support by conducting
regular individual sessions, group
sessions and family information
sessions. Sessions are delivered
in-person, through telepractice or
a combination of both.
RIDBC operates five reverse
integration preschools which cater
for the needs of a child with vision
or hearing loss and where children
from the community also attend
and are excellent language and
learning models for their peers.
This environment is ideal to prepare
children for mainstream school.
RIDBC also specialises in unilateral
hearing loss. In 2012, as in past
years, staff conducted a series of
information sessions for families
and professionals impacted by
unilateral hearing loss.
ELP (HI)
ELP (VI) ELP (Hunter) Matilda Rose Centre
Teleschool (HI)
Teleschool (VI) Hear the Children
146
117
121
119
125
127
123
129
41
39
38
33
21
18
75
77
76
83
16
19
20
24
19
111
120
31
Total 443
363
388
2012 2011201020092008
10
13
7
14
5
11
13
5
10
4
13
12
8
9
7
17
13
14
8
8
Total 49
43
49
60
48
Total Early Childhood Enrolments
RIDBC runs three schools that
provide individualised education
for children requiring more
specialised schooling.
Total RIDBC Services
378
7
Hunter Preschool
Rockie Woofit Preschool 15
Roberta Reid Preschool 5
16
Nepean Preschool
VisionEd Preschool 5
22
397
76
25
Preschool Age Enrolments
RIDBC Schools
RIDBC Garfield Barwick School
is for children who listen and
speak with the aid of cochlear
implants or hearing aids and who
are progressively integrated into a
mainstream partner school. Staff
continued to focus on developing
students’ audition, speech and
2012 2011201020092008
2012 2011201020092008
491
446
421
437
423
School Age Programs
2012 2011201020092008
Alice Betteridge School 55
Thomas Pattison School 30
Garfield Barwick School 29
Total
56
28
34
62
33
37
72
31
31
67
38
28
114 118132 134 133
Student Support Services Enrolments
2012 20112010 20092008
School Support
135 145141 145143
Services (HI) School Support
42 4347 4445
Services (VI) School Support
2 4332
Services Auslan Teleschool – School Age 70
50
54
36
44
Teleschool School
23 251714
Support Service Total 272
267
262
242
234
Total School Program Enrolments
2012 20112010 20092008
386
Total 385
394
376
367
Assessment Unit Enrolments
2012 20112010 20092008
Preschool Age
School Age
57
241
58
178
43
135
29
87
35
91
Total 298
236
178
116
126
Audiological and Diagnostic Services
2012 20112010 20092008
Total 2626
2484
2059
2416
A small number of children are enrolled in more than one service.
HI
VI
Hearing Impairment
Vision Impairment
2677
language in innovative ways. By
providing fun, hands-on activities
the students also benefit from
a social environment, actively
involving them in a learning
experience where they learn
language in context.
RIDBC Alice Betteridge School
caters for school-aged children
who have a significant sensory
impairment, combined with a mild
to moderate intellectual impairment
which requires substantial
specialist teaching. Students
have individualised educational
programs that combine academic
and functional skills. Assistive
technology was a focal point during
2012 with the introduction of iPads,
teaching apps and an increase in
the types of specialised equipment
available for student learning.
Some of the most recent rich, real
and relevant projects undertaken
in 2012 included a new design
and technology practical space,
the creation of a purpose built
food technology kitchen and
the accessible relocation of the
health centre to provide health
related educational lessons for the
students.
RIDBC Thomas Pattison School
offers a bilingual educational
program for deaf students up to
Year 10 who use Australian Sign
Language (Auslan) and English
in its spoken and written form.
Inclusion opportunities are offered
for all students. Through an
improved range of services and
other technology, RIDBC Auslan
programs continued to provide
additional learning opportunities in
Auslan and English.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
23
RIDBC Services
and Programs
The program of integration with
local schools continues to be
very successful, including in-class
captioning for Years 11 and 12. The
volunteer reading program is giving
the students one-on-one time with
a dedicated group of experienced
volunteers for additional English
literacy opportunities to ensure
fluency in both languages. A sign
language acquisition program
was run once again for parents of
children at the school.
RIDBC School Support
More than 200 school-aged
students in approximately 100
schools benefited from RIDBC
School Support programs in 2012.
The impressive HSC results from
students supported by RIDBC
– many of whom have gone on
to university – demonstrate the
wonderful outcomes for children
with vision or hearing loss today.
RIDBC School Support Service
for children who are blind or have
vision loss plays a critical role in
assisting mainstream independent
schools in providing teaching,
materials and technological
support. Each year the Alternative
Format Production team produce
over 250,000 pages of braille,
large print and tactile materials for
students in mainstream schools
who are blind or have vision loss.
Increasingly, iPads and other
mainstream technologies are also
providing children with access
to the school curriculum. The
RIDBC Access Technology Centre
harnesses everyday technologies
such as GPS, scanners, netbooks
and laptops, as well as specialist
tools such as smart boards, inclass audio systems and screen
24
RIDBC Services
reader software, to ensure no child
misses out.
A focus for RIDBC School Support
Service for children who are deaf
or have hearing loss, was helping
to boost confidence and resilience
in their mainstream school
environment. RIDBC Garfield
Barwick School held a social skills
program during the year, attended
by Year 5 to 8 students from both
RIDBC Garfield Barwick School
and mainstream independent
schools supported by RIDBC.
The program not only helped
the children to learn strategies to
build social skills and self-esteem,
but it also provided them with an
opportunity to forge friendships
and develop networks.
Remote and regional services
RIDBC Teleschool staff continued
to provide technological solutions
to overcome the challenges
associated with living in regional
and remote Australia ensuring
families access the same quality
services available in the major
cities. Through one-on-one
sessions via videoconference,
families are able to access
the expert support of RIDBC
Teleschool. Sophisticated
videoconferencing technology
enabled remote group sessions
and parent education sessions.
RIDBC teachers and therapists
work in collaboration with local
service providers to ensure
children in remote areas receive
consistent, quality support. At the
end of 2012, 184 children were
enrolled in RIDBC Teleschool.
Several residential weeks were
run throughout the year aimed
at bringing together families of
children with vision or hearing loss.
The weeks provide a rare chance
to socialise with other families and
an opportunity for intensive, faceto-face sessions to fast-track their
progress. For children with hearing
loss, this means a language and
speech development program,
and for children with vision loss,
it means braille immersion and
access to assistive technologies.
Clinical Services
RIDBC Plus
Launched in 2012, RIDBC Plus
was established in response
to family demand for additional
intensive, therapy services for their
children. Designed to meet the
needs of children with vision or
hearing loss including additional
disabilities, therapy is offered to
assist all agreed development
areas. Through RIDBC Plus,
families are able to assign Better
Start funding towards therapy
which is provided by experts in the
field of hearing or vision loss. The
program was extremely successful
in 2012 and plans are in place to
expand in 2013. RIDBC Plus is
another way in which RIDBC is
preparing for the introduction of
person-centred funding models
and demonstrates a commitment
to meeting the needs of children
and their families.
RIDBC Assessment Unit
298 children were assessed
through RIDBC’s multidisciplinary
Assessment Unit. This service
allows parents to access a
variety of professionals, including
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
25
RIDBC Services
and Programs
psychologists, occupational
therapists, speech therapists,
orthoptists, audiologists,
physiotherapists, technology
consultants and a paediatrician,
who all specialise in vision or
hearing loss in children. Parents
receive a specialised assessment
report which is critical in
providing information on how
to meet a child’s educational
and developmental needs. The
team of therapists also provide
assessment assistance and
expertise to other RIDBC services.
In 2012, the team introduced
the use of video reporting of
assessment results for ease of
information sharing.
CALD Support
The numbers of children from
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
(CALD) groups continued to
increase steadily in 2012 and now
incorporate over 20% of all RIDBC
children. Specialist community
support staff are employed by
RIDBC to ensure families from
CALD backgrounds have full
access to all RIDBC services.
In 2012, 63 Arabic speaking
families and 43 Chinese speaking
families were supported by RIDBC
specialist community support
workers. Assistance for speakers
of other languages was supported
by interpreters. New and emerging
CALD communities continue
to be identified, particularly
African languages, and RIDBC
will continue to provide support
wherever there is need.
26
RIDBC Services
Indigenous programs
International Programs
In 2012, the RIDBC Indigenous
Outreach Program provided
hearing screening to 600 children
and vision screening to 174
children. The program focused
on communities in Taree, Walgett,
Lightning Ridge/Goodooga and
Nambucca Heads/Bowraville.
Vision screening was also
conducted regularly at Western
Sydney Aboriginal Medical
Service in Mount Druitt. Regular
visits to these communities
have enhanced rapport with the
wider communities to ensure
better follow up to Indigenous
communities through local
medical services. Ear and Eye
Health Education Programs
were delivered to health workers,
early childhood and school-age
teachers, as well as parents, in
each of the targeted communities.
The work of RIDBC includes:
RIDBC Jim Patrick Audiology
Centre
RIDBC Jim Patrick Audiology
Centre is a dedicated paediatric
audiology centre which
incorporates the latest technology
for hearing assessment of children
from birth onwards. Staff have
continued to support the RIDBC
Indigenous Outreach program,
with a dedicated audiologist
providing consistency in service
delivery, quicker development of
positive on-going relationships
with communities and continuing
support for Samoa. Audiologists
from the centre support children
across all RIDBC programs and
also provide assessments to
external clients.
Membership of Vision2020
Global Consortium and
participation in three projects
in Samoa, Fiji and the Solomon
Islands. Activities included:
vision screening, staff training,
facility development and
establishing referral pathways
Partnering with the Senese
School in Samoa in a
Volunteering for International
Development From Australia
(VIDA) project by sending and
supporting an RIDBC staff
member to work with blind
children
Providing audiology, therapy
and education services to
deaf children in Samoa – a
collaboration between the
Senese School and RIDBC
Facilitating RIDBC Teleschool
services to six deaf children
in Fiji
Providing consultative support
in program and facility
development
Operating 'shadowing
programs' for a number of
Senese staff who have stayed
onsite at RIDBC and learned
from RIDBC staff
Students from across the
world studied postgraduate
courses at RIDBC Renwick
Centre.
Quality Assurance
In January 2012, the National
Quality Framework for Early
Childhood Education and Care
was established. Three of RIDBC’s
five preschools were assessed
in 2012 and all were rated as
‘exceeding national standard’,
which is the highest rating.
RIDBC also responded to changes
to the Funding Agreement
announced by the NSW
Department of Ageing, Disability
and Home Care. To ensure
ongoing compliance with the
agreement, new procedures were
put into place and existing policies
revised. This also serves to prepare
RIDBC further for the introduction
of person-centred funding.
The annual client satisfaction
survey was conducted inviting
all parents to provide feedback
about RIDBC services. Additional
feedback was sought from the 100
schools to whom RIDBC provides
support services, along with a
peer review by professionals in
the field.
Continuing Professional
Development
RIDBC Children’s Services are
continually upgrading their skills
through regular staff development
and through attending and
presenting at conferences both
at RIDBC Renwick Centre and
beyond. Through further training
and continuing professional
development for staff, RIDBC
ensures children can continue to
benefit from the latest methods
and technological developments
as changes occur. In 2012, 19
Children’s Services staff received
scholarships or financial support
from RIDBC or from the Rotary
Club of Carlingford to enable them
to enhance their qualifications
in their areas of expertise. Most
undertook RIDBC Renwick Centre/
University of Newcastle programs,
either as Masters Degrees or
Graduate Diplomas. We are very
grateful for the support of these
sponsors.
Audiologists Kim Ter-Horst and
Rebecca Bull participated in
collaborative research programs
involving RIDBC Children’s
Services, RIDBC Renwick Centre,
and the Hearing Cooperative
Research Centre.
RIDBC Renwick Centre including
co-facilitating the Itinerant
Teachers of the Deaf Conference
and the Itinerant Teachers of the
Blind Conference. RIDBC Jim
Patrick Audiology Centre staff
also presented at the Audiological
Society of Australia Conference
in Adelaide and the International
Society of Audiology Conference
in Moscow.
RIDBC Teleschool staff conducted
a one day workshop for disability
service providers – Getting Started
in Telepractice. Conference
attendees were provided with the
tools for delivering a successful
telepractice program based on
RIDBC’s world-class model.
RIDBC is also a participant in
the National Acoustic Laboratory
(NAL) Outcomes Study, a research
project which aims to examine
the language, literacy and social
development of children from the
time of identification of hearing
loss until age five.
RIDBC Children’s Services
staff were the key presenters
in the RIDBC TAFE courses in
hearing and vision loss. Staff
conducted, and lectured in, a
number of the postgraduate
courses for RIDBC Renwick
Centre. They also presented at
a number of conferences held at
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
27
RIDBC
Renwick
Centre
RIDBC Renwick Centre is Australia’s leading provider of professional development
and research in a range of fields related to the education of children with hearing or
vision loss. In affiliation with the University of Newcastle, the Centre offers postgraduate
programs (at masters and doctoral degree levels) and an extensive program of
continuing professional education for teachers, therapists and a range of other
associated professionals.
Through the Renwick Centre,
RIDBC helps to ensure that
services for children with sensory
disabilities and their families –
across Australia and around the
world – are based on current
evidence and are delivered
by skilled and knowledgeable
professionals. The Rydge Family
Library, which is part of RIDBC
Renwick Centre, houses the most
extensive collection of books and
resources in special education for
children with sensory disabilities
in Australia.
Professional Education
In 2012, there were 198 students
undertaking postgraduate
studies through RIDBC Renwick
Centre. This represented a record
enrolment for the Centre with the
full-time equivalent of 66 students
undertaking courses through a
mixture of full-time, part-time,
on-campus, and remote-access
modes of delivery. During the
year, 51 students completed their
courses and became eligible to
receive their degrees from the
University of Newcastle.
Following a full review of all
courses offered by the Centre
in 2011, 14 new and 12 revised
courses were delivered for the
first time in 2012. Those courses
were delivered using an innovative
28
RIDBC Services
mix of technologies including
videoconferencing, multi-party
web-conferencing, and a range
of web-based systems including
the streaming of video and audiorecorded lectures. A highlight of
the year was the development
of new and innovative strategies
for providing access to 'webbased' content by postgraduate
students who themselves have
vision or hearing impairment.
Those strategies included; (a)
the provision of both 'live' and
pre-recorded web-based lectures
with real-time captioning and
sign language interpretation, (b)
the provision of transcripts of all
audio content, (c) the provision
of materials in braille or large
print, and (d) the extensive use
of 'screen reader' technology to
provide screen accessibility for
students with low or no vision.
Without question, RIDBC has
become a national leader in the
provision of accessible web-based
educational content for university
students.
In addition to pre-service
professional education, RIDBC
Renwick Centre is also Australia’s
premier provider of Continuing
Professional Education (CPE) for
teachers and a wide range of other
professionals working in the field
of sensory disability. The CPE
program increased participation
by 45% in 2012 relative to 2011,
with more than 3000 person days
of training and development being
provided.
In 2012, CPE events were
conducted in Melbourne, Perth,
Adelaide, Auckland, Sydney,
and Kuala Lumpur. Notably,
endorsement for several
events was provided by the
Audiological Society of Australia
and the Alexander Graham Bell
Association for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing. As a consequence,
audiologists and auditory-verbal
therapists undertaking those
courses were able to credit
their participation towards their
statutory professional registration
requirements for continuing
professional development.
International visitors to the Centre
for the purposes of lecturing, CPE
program presentation, and/or
research collaboration included Dr
Donald Goldberg, President of the
AG Bell Association for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing and former
President AG Bell Academy for
Listening and Spoken Language;
Daniel Kish, CEO of World Access
for the Blind; Dr Frances Mary
D’Andrea from the University
of Pittsburgh; Professor Anu
Sharma from the Centre for
Neuroscience at the University of
Colorado; Dr Rosalind Herman
of City University London; and
Professor Bencie Woll, Director
of the Deafness Cognition and
Language Research Centre at
University College London. The
Centre also welcomed return visits
by US academics Dr Karen Wolffe
and Nancy Caleffe Schenck –
long-standing collaborators in the
fields of vision impairment and
hearing impairment, respectively.
In addition to hosting a range of
international speakers during the
year, various other CPE events
showcased knowledge and
expertise from within Australia
and, in particular, from within
RIDBC. Notably, staff members
from RIDBC Teleschool and
RIDBC Auslan Programs were
instrumental in the delivery of
continuing education programs
relating to Telepractice in Early
Intervention and Sign Bilingual
Education. Staff from RIDBC
Garfield Barwick Centre and
RIDBC VisionEd also continued
to provide expert input into highly
successful annual conferences for
itinerant teachers and workshops
for teachers who have students
with hearing or vision impairment
in their mainstream classes.
Research
The Centre maintains an active
and varied program of research
and 2012 was another year of
significant publication (see page
31 and 32). Research programs
Dr Frances Gentle was awarded the 2012 University Alumni Award
for Regional Leadership by the University of Newcastle for her
work in the field of education and disability in the Asia Pacific.
Pictured with Professor Stephen Crump.
which continued through 2012
included the innovative project to
design and deliver a system for
using computer-control technology
to provide full scale hearing
assessments for children in rural
and remote locations. Work also
continued on the internationally
recognised Infant Monitor of Vocal
Production (IMP) project and
the Australian Childhood Vision
Impairment Register.
In October, Frances Gentle,
Lecturer in Vision Impairment and
Renwick Centre postgraduate
research student, was awarded
her PhD for her thesis titled,
“Transforming the education
systems for children with
disability in Papua New Guinea
and Timor-Leste”. Her research
was supported by a scholarship
made possible by the Frank
Buckle Family Trust. Dr Gentle
was subsequently awarded the
University of Newcastle Alumni
Award for Regional Leadership
in recognition of her work in the
education and disability fields in
the Pacific Region.
University Postgraduate and Continuing Education Programs
201220112010 20092008
University Award Courses
66.0
(Equivalent full-time students – EFTSU)
Graduates from Award Courses
(Students graduating during reporting year)
51
Continuing Education Programs
(Number of person-days of training provided) 3,011
56.0
54.0
52.0
44.5
54
53
59
55
2,072
1,551
1,662
1,527
* A total number of 198 students (66.0 EFTSU) undertook graduate studies in 2012
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
29
Michelle
Knight
For a child who is blind
or who has vision loss,
being an efficient user of
specialist and mainstream
technology is critical
to access the school
curriculum and the world
around them.
Michelle Knight, who is completing
postgraduate studies at RIDBC
Renwick Centre, works with
children, their families and
their teachers to provide the
most appropriate technological
solutions through the RIDBC
Access Technology Centre.
Starting at RIDBC in 1997 to set
up the centre, Michelle has seen
not only an obvious evolution of
the technology available but also a
shift in the age of children using it.
“Early in my career, the children
I supported were at school but
always at the upper primary age
group. I now work with children
from around three years of age,”
said Michelle.
“Children have a much higher skill
level at a much younger age as
they have more experience with
technology. We now have a higher
expectation of children as we
encourage them to be life-long
learners."
Assisting children at such a young
age gives them a good solid
foundation and an appreciation
of what the technology can do
for them. This means that as they
progress through school, they can
move seamlessly through the use of
different technologies as required.
30
RIDBC Services
Michelle Knight and her colleagues at the RIDBC Access
Technology Centre work with children as young as three years
old to ensure they have the technology they need to access the
curriculum and the world around them.
Head of RIDBC VisionEd, Alan
Baynham, has had a significant
impact on how the area has
evolved and while the Centre's
core role is still to support, teach
and research new technologies,
it now collaborates with staff
across RIDBC to provide
advice – including the RIDBC
Assessment Unit.
“It’s so important to keep
up-to-date and to be able to
think creatively, as every child’s
circumstances are different. One
teacher may have a student using
an iPad connected to the smart
board wirelessly to read the board,
one may be reading a book on
an iPad and using a computer for
note taking or one might be using
the iPad for note taking. The same
technology can be used in so
many different ways.
Together with her colleague,
Mike Corrigan, Michelle teaches
the Theory and Application of
Technology in Vision Impairment
in the Masters course in RIDBC
Renwick Centre.
“I really enjoy teaching the course.
It means that more children with
vision loss across Australia will
have the appropriate support to
ensure they succeed.”
Children have a much
higher skill level at a much
younger age as they have
more experience with
technology. We now have
a higher expectation of
children as we encourage
them to be life-long
learners.
Tele-audiology
In 2012, RIDBC concluded
an innovative two-year
research project which has
resulted in audiologists
being able to assess
children’s hearing remotely
via telecommunications
links. The study was
conducted by RIDBC as a
support party within with
the Hearing Cooperative
Research Centre.
The study showed that, under
experimental conditions, remote
access technology can be used
to assess hearing in children
as accurately as conventional
face-to-face assessment.
The study was developed in
response to the need of remote
communities across Australia
for flexible solutions in the
provision of health and medical
services because of the lack of
local, qualified professionals and
test facilities.
‘Tele-audiology’ of the type that
has been developed in this study
stands to revolutionise the way
in which services are delivered
to these communities, with more
timely service provision being
made available in remote locations.
Qualified and experienced
professionals will be able to
access more communities and
therefore more children in need.
RIDBC has long held that
telepractice might provide a
solution to the issue of ‘access’
that many of these remote
communities face. Improvements
In 2012, the culmination of a two-year research project by RIDBC
and has paved the way for remote audiological testing for children
across Australia and the world.
in telecommunications and
information technologies have
made this increasingly possible.
While audiological tests are
typically carried out by highly
skilled professionals in soundtreated rooms with highly
sophisticated and expensive
equipment, this combination of
elements is simply not available
in many communities across
Australia. Tele-audiology will help
provide audiological services to
these communities, filling a serious
gap in service provision.
In 2012, RIDBC’s three stage
research project culminated in
the first field test of the newly
developed procedures. For this
first live trial, 51 children were
screened for hearing loss in a
school more than 300 kilometres
from Sydney. From that screening,
14 children were referred for full
audiological assessment which
was conducted remotely by an
audiologist in Sydney using the
sophisticated remote access
technology and techniques that
had been validated in the first two
phases of the project. This highly
successful trial was undertaken to
ensure that the findings from the
project were able to be upheld in
real-life settings.
The final stage of the project also
served to refine the assessment
protocols and provided a
blueprint for other programs
across Australia to follow. A
manual outlining the protocols
and required equipment is
being produced for use by other
professionals around Australia and,
potentially, internationally.
You can view a remote
audiology assessment at
www.ridbc.org.au/renwick
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
31
Research, Publications
& Presentations 2012
Research Projects
The early communicative environment
prior to and following cochlear implants:
impact on children’s early communicative
and cognitive development (Prof. Edith
Bavin, Dr Julia Sarant, Prof. Candy
Petersen, Dr Peter Busby, and Prof.
Greg Leigh).
newborn hearing screening (Dr Michaela
Murray, Prof. Melissa Wake, Prof. Greg
Leigh, & Dr Zeffie Poulakis).
Assessment of patterns of teacherstudent interactions in sign languageinclusive classrooms (Assoc. Prof. Jemina
Napier, Prof. Greg Leigh, Della Goswell,
Dr Breda Carty).
Matthijs, L., Mouvet, K., Loots, G., Van
Herreweghe, M., Hardonk, S., Van Hove,
G., & Leigh, G. (2012). Setting the stage:
First information parents receive after
UNHS detection of their baby’s hearing
loss. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf
Education, 17(4), 387-401.
McCarthy, M., & North, J. (2012).
RIDBC Teleschool: Guiding Principles for
Telepratice. Sydney: North Rocks Press.
Development of adaptive assessment
procedures for hearing-impaired
children—PhD project (Rebecca
Bull—Supervisor/s: Prof. Greg Leigh &
Assoc. Prof. Norm Erber).
A review of oral support services for
people of working age with a hearing
loss—MPhil project (Michele Nealon—
Supervisor/s: Prof. Greg Leigh, Prof.
Philip Newall, & Prof. William Noble).
Development of the Infant MonitorProduction (IMP) as an evaluation protocol
for infants with impaired hearing (Dr
Robyn Cantle-Moore).
A comparison of the NAL-NL1 and DSL
5 prescriptive hearing procedures in
severely deaf children in Malaysia (Prof.
Philip Newall).
McCarthy, M. (2012). RIDBC Teleschool:
A hub of expertise. The Volta Review,
112(3), 373-381.
Deaf people in colonial Australia: Access
to justice, education and employment
(Dr Breda Carty & Darlene Thornton).
The development of speech testing
materials to assess tonal language
perception in Mandarin (Prof. Philip
Newall).
McCarthy, M., Duncan, J., & Leigh,
G. (2012). Telepractice: The Australian
experience in an international context.
The Volta Review, 112(3), 297-312.
Profiling children with vision impairment
in Australia (Oz Vizkids): A national
register of children with vision impairment
(Sue Silveira).
Montgomery, A., & Loomes, C. (2012,
November). Adapting speech pathology
practice: Delivering parent education
groups using technology. Journal of
Clinical Practice in Speech-Language
Pathology (JCPSLP), 14(3), 144-146.
Factors influencing the nature of
intervention by itinerant support teachers
of deaf and hard of hearing students—
PhD project (John Davison-Mowle—
Supervisor/s: Prof. Greg Leigh, Dr Jill
Duncan, & Assoc. Prof. Michael ArthurKelly).
Publications
Social capital, language, literacy, and
quality of life of adolescents who are deaf/
hard of hearing and their chronologicallyage matched hearing peers: A pilot study.
(Dr Jill Duncan).
Carty, B., & Thornton, D. (2012). Deaf
people in colonial Australia. In T. Hedberg,
(Ed.), No history, no future: Proceedings
of the 7th DHI International Conference,
Stockholm 2009. Solna: Dixa.
Evaluation of the accessibility of children’s
television programs using simulated
hearing loss (Assoc. Prof. Norm Erber).
Cantle Moore, R., & Steer, M. (2012).
Generating positive interactions in regular
school settings for Australian students
who are deafblind or have multiple
disabilities. Deafblind International Review,
49, 14-21.
UEB Braille for beginners: Developing
training programs for families of
children with vision impairments and
paraprofessionals (Frances Gentle).
Transforming Papua New Guinea and
Timor-Leste’s educational systems
for children with disability and their
families—PhD project (Frances Gentle—
Supervisor/s: Dr Mike Steer & Dr Rod
Beattie).
Paediatric hearing assessment with teleaudiology: An investigation in rural and
remote populations (Prof. Greg Leigh,
Kim TerHorst, Genelle Cook, Prof.
Philip Newall).
The effectiveness of telepractice in
delivering specialist early intervention
services to deaf and hard of hearing
children and their families—PhD project
(Melissa McCarthy—Supervisor/s: Prof.
Greg Leigh & Dr Jill Duncan).
Survey of Australian health professionals’
knowledge of and attitudes towards
32
RIDBC Services
Gentle, F. (2012, April). EFA-VI campaign
in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. SPEVI
blog, http://blog.spevi.net/2012/04/efa-vicampaign-in-fiji-and-papua-new.html
Gentle, F. (2012). Opening the doors to
learning. The Seahorse, 2, 15.
Jackson, L. (2012, August).
Understanding ROI analysis: A tool
to grow your fundraising program.
Fundraising & Philanthropy Magazine,
32-33.
McCarthy, M. (2012). Using ASHA
guidelines to establish a telepractice
service: The RIDBC Teleschool
experience. eHearsay, 2(2), 29-45.
North, J., & Duncan, J. (2012).
Perspectives from around the world:
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
In E. Fitzpatrick & Doucet (Eds.), Pediatric
audiologic rehabilitation: From infancy to
adolescence (176-177). New York: Thieme
Medical Publishers Inc.
Quar, T. K., Ching, T. Y. C., Mukari, S.
Z. S., & Newall, P. (2012). Parents’
evaluation of aural/oral performance
of children (PEACH) scale in the Malay
language: Data for normal-hearing
children. International Journal of
Audiology, 51 (4), 326-333.
Smith, T. (2012) Up-skilling Down Under.
British Association of Teachers of the
Deaf Magazine.
Steer, M. (2012). Editorial: Gems from
the treasure chest. Australian DeafBlind
Council Beacon, 42, 1-5.
Steer, M. (2012). Australian Report:
Deafblind International Review, 48, 44-46.
Jones, M., Silveira, S., & Martin, F.
(2012). Childhood blindness and low
vision. In K. Wright & Y. Strube (Eds.),
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
(3rd ed.). Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Wang, S., Mannell, R., Newall, P., Liu B., &
Han, D.M. (2012). Roles of spectral cues in
Mandarin tone perception for sensorineural
hearing-impaired patients. Chinese Journal
of Otorhinolaryngology, 47(2), 122-126.
Kadappu, S., Silveira, S., & Martin, F.
(2012). Aetiology and outcome of open
and closed globe eye injuries in children.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
doi: 10.1111/ceo.12034.
Wang, S., Mannell, R., Newall, P., Dong,
R., Li, J., Zhang, H., Liu B., Chen, X.,
& Han, D. M. (2012). Role of formants
Mandarin lexical tone perception. Chinese
Archives of Otolaryngology, 9(1), 8-11.
Presentations
(a selection of more than 60 presentations
by RIDBC staff in 2012)
Anderson, M., & Carty, B. (July). The
Cosmopolitan Correspondence Club.
Deaf History International Conference,
Toronto, Canada.
Cantle Moore, R. (May 31). The ABC
of IMP: Implementing the Infant Monitor
of vocal Production. Invited presentation
at 1st Family Centred Early Intervention
Congress, Bad Ischl, Austria.
Cantle Moore, R. (May 9). IMPact
on habilitation. Cochlear Technology
and Research Lab, Cochlear Global
Rehabilitation, Sydney.
Carr, G., Stredler-Brown, A., Cantle
Moore, R. (May 30). Supporting families
in decision making and making informed
choices. 1st Family Centred Early
Intervention Congress, Bad Ischl, Austria.
d’Apice, T. (May). Orientation and
mobility for children. RIDBC Renwick
Centre Paediatric Vision Forum, Sydney.
Bull, R. (September). Listening for
learning: 5 Strategies for managing
classroom acoustics. Itinerant Teacher of
the Deaf Conference, Sydney.
Bull, R., & Erber, N. P. (October).
Supporting adolescents with hearing
loss: Improving (auditory) access. Annual
Supporting Adolescents with Hearing
Loss Conference, Sydney.
Campbell, T., Newall, J., Newall,
P., Ramos, H., & Martinez, N. (July).
Prevalence of wax occlusion in Filipino
adults and children. 11th Asia Pacific
Congress on Deafness /6th NUH-NUS
ENT Head Neck Surgery Conference,
Singapore.
Campbell, T., Newall, J., & Newall, P.
(July). Prevalence of wax occlusion in
Filipino adults and children. Audiology
Australia National Conference
(Audiological Society of Australia Inc)
Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide.
Cook, G. (May). Candy’s story: A mild
hearing loss with profound implications.
World Congress of Audiology, Moscow,
Russia.
Cook, G., & Ter-Horst, K. (July).
Unilateral Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum
Disorder (ANSD). Audiological Society of
Australia National Conference, Adelaide.
Cupples, L., Ching, T. Y. C., Crowe,
K., Ching, T. Y. C., Seeto, M., Leigh,
G., Street, L., Day, J., Marnane, V., &
Thomson, J. (July). Developmental
outcomes for children with permanent
childhood hearing impairment and
additional disabilities at 3 years of age.
11th Asia Pacific Congress on Deafness/6th
NUS–NUH ENT Conference, Singapore.
Duncan, J. (September). Adolescents
with hearing loss: Auditory (re)habilitation
framework. Paper presented at the
Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology,
Providence Rhode Island, USA.
Association) National Conference,
Adelaide.
Duncan, J. (October). Social capital
of adolescents who are deaf/hard of
hearing. Annual Supporting Adolescents
with Hearing Loss Conference, Sydney.
McCarthy, M. (May). RIDBC Teleschool
– The benefits of technology. National
Deafness Sector Summit, Melbourne.
Duncan, J. (November). Teacher of the
deaf preparation. Paper presented at the
Deaf Australia EI and Education Summit,
Canberra.
McCarthy, M. (May). High speed
broadband applications in the Home.
Financial Counselling Australia
Conference, Melbourne.
Elliot, R. (May). Reflections on a ‘train the
trainer’ program in Fiji. RIDBC Renwick
Centre Paediatric Vision Forum, Sydney.
McCarthy, M., & Houston, T. (June).
Teleintervention: Fundamentals of
effective practice, AG Bell Convention,
Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Erber, N. (November). Conference
summary, conclusions, and
recommendations. ONICI Conference
(International state of the art meeting on
(re)habilitation of children and adults using
cochlear implants), Antwerp, Belgium.
Stevens, M., Gentle, F., & Howse,
J. (April). The Trans-Tasman UEB
Proficiency experience four years on.
National Conference of Round Table on
Information Access for People with Print
Disabilities—2012, Perth.
Gentle, F. (April). International report:
Braille in the South Pacific. Annual
Conference of Australian Braille Authority,
Perth.
Ter-Horst, K., Leigh, G., & Cook, G.
(July). Application of tele-audiology to
screening and assessment of school-age
children. 11th Asia Pacific Congress on
Deafness/6th NUS–NUH ENT Conference,
Singapore.
Gentle, F. (November). Community
perspectives on the needs of people
with multiple disabilities. WBU-ICEVI
General Assemblies: Achieving our vision
through empowerment and partnerships,
Bangkok, Thailand.
Gentle, F. (November). Promoting quality
inclusive education of visually impaired
children in mainstream schools. Panel
presentation at ICEVI EFA-VI Strategic
Planning Day, WBU-ICEVI General
Assemblies, Bangkok, Thailand.
Howse, J., Stevens, M., & Gentle, F.
(May). The Trans-Tasman UEB Proficiency
Certificate experience 4 years on. 5th
General Assembly, International Council
on English Braille (ICEB), Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Leigh, G. (July). Developmental and
educational intervention for children
with hearing impairment in Australia:
Programs, outcomes and future
possibilities. Invited keynote address
at 11th Asia Pacific Congress on
Deafness/6thNUS–NUH ENT Conference,
Singapore.
Leigh, G., & Carty, B. (November).
Overview of early intervention and
education for deaf children: Some
perspectives. Deaf Australia Summit on
Early Intervention and Education for Deaf
Children, Canberra.
Leigh, G., Ching, T. Y. C., Day, J., Seeto,
M., Cupples, L., & Crowe, K. (July).
Psychosocial outcomes for early – and
late-identified children with permanent
childhood hearing impairment at 3 years
of age. 11th Asia Pacific Congress on
Deafness/6th NUS–NUH ENT Conference,
Singapore.
Napier, J., Goswell, D., Carty, B., &
Leigh, G. (August). Shaping future
learners: An analysis of the potential
impact of interpreted education. ASLIA
(Australian Sign Language Interpreters
Ter-Horst, K., Leigh, G., & Cook, G.
(July). A comparative investigation of teleaudiometry and conventional audiology
with school-age children. 11th Asia Pacific
Congress on Deafness/6th NUS–NUH
ENT Conference, Singapore.
Young, T., Newall, J. & Newall, P. (July).
The prevalence of hearing loss in rural
and urban populations in the Philippines:
Is rurality a predicting variable for hearing
loss? Audiology Australia National
Conference, Adelaide.
Young, T., Newall, J., Newall, P.,
Ramos, H., & Martinez, N. (July). The
prevalence of hearing loss in rural and
urban populations in the Philippines.
11th Asia Pacific Congress on Deafness.
In conjunction with the 6th NUH-NUS
ENT Head Neck Surgery Conference,
Singapore.
Silveira, S. (June). Understanding
vision impairment in Australian children.
International Orthoptic Congress, Toronto,
Canada.
Smith, T. (June). Evaluating the impacts
of professional development. A G Bell
2012 Convention, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Smith, T. (April). Professional teacher
standards for teachers of the deaf.
National Deafness Sector Summit,
Melbourne.
Smith, T. (September). Understanding
your interactive style. Itinerant Teacher of
the Deaf Conference, Sydney.
Yu, C., & Smith, T. (September). Digital
communication. Itinerant Teacher of the
Deaf Conference, Sydney.
Yu, C. & Smith, T. (October). Adolescent
communication styles. Annual Supporting
Adolescents with Hearing Loss
Conference, Sydney.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
33
Lucas is
learning braille
with RIDBC
When Lucas was nine months old, parents
Renae and Adam noticed a problem
with one of his eyes. After a diagnosis of
significant vision loss the family began on
a difficult journey of appointments and
assessments.
Renae with her son, Lucas, who has already learnt how to write
his name in braille on his new Mountbatten Brailler.
34
RIDBC Services
When Lucas was diagnosed with
vision loss the family went through
a challenging time.
“If Lucas wasn’t visiting an eye
specialist he was in the hospital,
because the condition that causes
his vision loss also means he has
brittle bones which break easily,”
said Renae.
“We were referred to RIDBC
Early Learning Program (Vision
Impairment) for support and
began receiving fortnightly home
visits from our RIDBC Consultant,
Maria Lupton. This early support
has made such a huge difference.
“Lucas is also regularly assessed
by specialists from the RIDBC
Assessment Unit, including a
psychologist, speech pathologist,
orthoptist and technology
consultant. Having these
specialists in the one unit really
streamlines Lucas’ therapy – they
even organise their visits to
coincide, lessening the timetabling
burden on me. That’s an
incredible help to me as a mum of
three children, two of whom have
additional needs.”
RIDBC Consultant, Maria Lupton,
says that Lucas, who is now five,
has made impressive progress.
“Lucas has come so far,” said
Maria. “We are now working
on early literacy, numeracy
and school readiness skills. As
braille will be Lucas’ main form
of literacy we’re also focusing
on him learning how to use his
Mountbatten Brailler, which
he loves.”
Lucas has made excellent
progress with his language
development and social skills,
however Renae recognises there
will be more challenges ahead.
Sharing their expertise with Lucas' mainstream preschool has
been invaluable to allow Lucas to access the program and to
expand his social circle.
– Renae, Lucas' mum
“My heart comes out of my mouth
every second of the day because
Lucas is very active and we
have to take extra precautions
to prevent him from falling over. I
have had to learn to relax and take
a step back so that he can learn
through his own experiences,”
said Renae.
RIDBC has liaised with Lucas’
preschool to ensure he is included
in all the preschool activities.
“Sharing their expertise with the
preschool has been invaluable
to allow Lucas to access the
program and for his social circle.”
“I am so grateful for the support I
have received from RIDBC. Maria
is not just a consultant, she has
become our friend. Lucas is
always excited to see her and he
asks me every day if she’s coming
to visit!”
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
35
RIDBC
People
2012 highlights:
Established Achievement
& Recognition which saw
managers and employees
undertake individual feedback
reviews and the development
of goals and development
plans
RIDBC Recruitment and
induction programs took a
great leap forward to ensure
an RIDBC values based, best
practice approach that is both
practical and meaningful for
new employees
Improved Work Health
and Safety outcomes and
compliance through the
appointment of a dedicated
Manager focusing RIDBC’s
compliance with new
legislation and the education
of our people to ensure safe
practice and sound injury
management strategies
Cross function working group
established to focus on
accessibility of documents and
access to information for all
employees
An Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) was introduced
during 2012, providing access
to health and well-being
strategies for employees and
their family
Completion of a human
resources review that took
place early in 2012 to ensure
the readiness to deliver on
its 2012 operational plan and
36
RIDBC People
move towards the delivery of
the 2016 strategic plan. The
review researched relevant
industry benchmarks for the
Australian not-for-profit sector
and best practice models for
human resources
People & Performance will continue
to partner with RIDBC’s people in
2013 to achieve the best possible
outcomes for children and their
families, by inspiring, supporting
and developing our talent.
Staff numbers, degrees and
professional development
opportunities.
430 + employees including
casual staff
Over 250 active volunteers
Boasting qualifications in a
variety of different courses
including: Bachelor of
Applied Science, Bachelor of
Education, Master of Special
Education, Certificate in
Children's Services, Certificate
in AUSLAN, Graduate Diploma
in Audiology, Master of
Information Technology and
Bachelor of Business.
13 locations throughout NSW
and the Northern Territory
This allows us to provide quality
and innovation in education and
other services to achieve the best
outcomes for children and their
families
Other highlight figures 2012
New Hires: 93 total
(45 permanent, 35 casual,
13 fixed term contract)
Employee count end of 2012:
333 permanent, 83 casual,
21 fixed term contract
Eight volunteers have taken
on casual or permanent
employment with RIDBC
in 2012
Turnover data including
permanent part time Rainbow
Lottery employees (but
excluding all casuals) 17.5%
and excluding all casuals and
permanent part time Rainbow
Lottery employees at 10%
Turnover in 2011 was 15.5%
excluding Rainbow Lottery
employees.
Academic qualifications
held by our 430+
employees
Certificate
53
Diploma
36
Bachelor's Degree
80
Graduate Certificate
12
Graduate Diploma
24
Master's Degree
92
Doctorates
9
Wins for Volunteers
in 2012
RIDBC had a number of volunteer
nominations in the 2012 NSW
Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Five RIDBC volunteers received
acknowledgement awards at
the Carlingford Rotary Awards
Ceremony for National Volunteer
Week held in May 2012.
RIDBC Alternative Format
Publications Volunteer Team won
the 2012 NSW Volunteer Team of
the Year Award for Hornsby
North West Region.
(The NSW Volunteer of the Year
Award is an annual awards
program launched in 2007 by
The Centre for Volunteering to
recognise and celebrate the
outstanding efforts of the two
million plus volunteers in NSW
and promotes the importance of
volunteering to the community.)
RIDBC Volunteer Service
and Recognition Awards:
34 x 1 year awards
4 x 5 year awards
5 x 10 year awards
6 x 15 year awards
1 x 20 year award
RIDBC welcomed 56 volunteers
and farewelled 28 volunteers in
2012; these volunteers contributed
over 22,000 hours of support to
RIDBC programs and services.
Our volunteer induction and
orientation process was revised as
part of the workplace health and
safety roll out.
Work Experience/
Practicum students
82 students from over 30 training
institutes and schools attended
RIDBC's Work Experience and
Practicum program in 2012.
Work Experience and Practicum
students are valuable pathways
to the community as they take
with them knowledge of the
specialised work done by RIDBC,
with some students continuing on
to become regular volunteers.
Service Award
Recipients 2012
25 Years
Jenny Conway
20 Years
Phyllis Burns
Maria Cheung
Carole Everingham
Lorna Rayner
Debra Sarjeant
Celia Vild
15 Years
Timothy Cheesman
Suzette Denman
Tania Hudson
Tanya Kemp
Michelle Knight
Jodie Lenton
Joanne Lucas
Shirley Tulk
Deborah Vickers
Patricia Yeo
10 Years
Margaret Bacoulopoulos
Alison Byrne
Tristan Clare
Michael Corrigan
Erana Fletcher
Rebecca Glover
Felicity Hodgson
Katie Huntsdale
Lila Ibrahim
Julie Kirkness
Elsa Ling
Rebecca Maxwell
Linda Mitchell
Lesley Nelson
Janice North
Maria Porto
Ana Radis
Geraldine Shearim
Stephen Walker
Visiting Professional and
Honorary Professional
Staff, and Organisations
Consulting Otologist:
Professor William Gibson, AM,
MD, FRACS, FRCS
Associate Professor Catherine
Birman, MBBS, FRACS, GAICD
Consulting Paediatrician:
Phillip Emder, FRACP
Hon. Consulting Ophthalmic
Surgeon:
Christopher Challinor, MB,
BS(Syd), FRACS, FRACO
Hon. Dental Consultants
and Inspectors:
Martin Barhon, BDS
Greg Boulus, BDS
Craig Calleia, BDS
Moheb Farag, BDS
Hon. Property Consultant:
Michael Scott
Auditor:
Grant Thornton
Banker:
St George Bank
Solicitor:
Bartier Perry
Insurance Broker:
Aon Risk Services Australia
Investment Advisor:
JANA Investment Advisors
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
37
Organisational
Chart
Director, Clinical Services
RIDBC Jim Patrick Audiology
Centre
Director, Educational
Services
RIDBC Assessment Unit
RIDBC Plus
Community Support Services
Government Relations
RIDBC Matilda Rose Centre
Postgraduate Education
RIDBC Early Childhood Services
(HI)
Research and Publication
• RIDBC Early Learning Program
(Sydney, Nepean, Hunter,
Central Coast)
• RIDBC Hunter Preschool
• RIDBC Nepean Preschool
• RIDBC Rockie Woofit Preschool
RIDBC Cochlear Implant Program
RIDBC VisionEd
• RIDBC Early Learning Program
(VI) (Sydney, Nepean, Central
Coast)
• RIDBC VisionEd Preschool
• RIDBC School Support
Services (VI)
• RIDBC Alternative Format
Publications
RIDBC Auslan Bilingual Programs
• RIDBC Thomas Pattison School
• RIDBC Host Family Program
• RIDBC Roberta Reid Preschool
• RIDBC School Support Service
(Auslan)
RIDBC Alice Betteridge School
• RIDBC Alice Betteridge School
• RIDBC Health Unit
RIDBC Garfield Barwick Centre
• RIDBC Garfield Barwick School
• RIDBC School Support
Services (HI)
RIDBC Teleschool
VI – Vision Impairment
HI – Hearing Impairment
38
RIDBC People
Director, RIDBC Renwick
Centre
• RIDBC Teleschool Early
Learning Program
• RIDBC Teleschool School
Age Program
• RIDBC Teleschool School
Support Service
Continuing Professional Education
Library and Information Services
Board of Directors
Chief Executive
Director, Corporate Services
Director, Development
Finance, Accounting and Audit
Call Centre
Risk, Legal, Insurance and
Secretarial
Direct Marketing
Payroll
Operations, Facilities and Capital
Works
IT and Communications
Committees, Auxiliaries and
Community Fundraising
Director, People and
Performance
Human resources
Volunteers
Achievement & Recognition
Major Gifts and Philanthropy
Planned Giving and Bequests
Media and
Communications
Workplace Health
and Safety
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
39
RIDBC Senior
Leadership
Team
Chris Rehn – Chief Executive
BBus, DipAppSc, JP, joined
RIDBC on November 1, 2010.
Previously Chris was General
Manager of the Sydney Cochlear
Implant Centre (SCIC). His early
career was in health management
within the public and private
sectors. He is a Harvard Club
Australia Non Profit Fellow.
Professor Greg Leigh –
Director, RIDBC Renwick
Centre
DipTeach, BEd, MSc, PhD,
FACE, joined RIDBC as Head of
Renwick College in 1993, and
was appointed Assistant Chief
Executive (Educational Services) in
1999. In 2006, Greg was appointed
to his current role, and assigned
the responsibility of expanding
and developing RIDBC’s research
and professional development
programs and facilities.
Jan North – Director of
Children's Services
CertTeach, BSpecEd, MEd,
MACE, was a university lecturer
in Special Education before
joining RIDBC in 1990 to establish
the early childhood programs.
Jan subsequently headed the
RIDBC VisionEd Department
before leaving in 1998 to become
Principal of Highfields School. She
was a Director on RIDBC's Board
from 1999 until 2002, when she
rejoined the staff as Manager,
Service Development. In 2006,
she was appointed Director of
Children’s Services.
40
RIDBC People
Paul Harris – Director of
Corporate Services
BEc, MEc, MBA, FCPA, joined
RIDBC in September 2009,
having previously held senior
management positions in
the corporate sector. Paul's
background is in finance,
accounting, information systems
and business, with experience
working for ASX50 multi-national
corporations both in Australia
and overseas in senior financial
management roles.
Lawrence Jackson – Director
of Development
BComm, MBA (Executive),
MFIA, joined RIDBC in July 2012
having previously held senior
management positions in a
number of organisations including
Vision Australia, University of
Sydney and the Royal Blind
Society of NSW. Lawrence has
also served as an independent
philanthropy consultant and as
an adjunct faculty member at the
Australian Graduate School of
Management.
(l-r) Marcella Lazarus, Paul Harris, Lawrence Jackson, Jan North, Chris
Rehn, Craig Thomson, Melissa McCarthy, Prof Greg Leigh.
Craig Thomson – Director of
Clinical Services
BBus, CPA, joined RIDBC in
2010. Craig has held senior
executive roles in various
commercial organisations
delivering community health
and other social sector projects
to developing countries. His
extensive experience within
the Government sector makes
him well placed to drive RIDBC
services into the person-centred
funding environment.
Melissa McCarthy – Director of
Educational Services
BA, MED, LSLS Cert AVT, joined
RIDBC in 2004. Melissa was
appointed to her current role
in 2012. Her background is in
speech pathology/audiology, deaf
education and early childhood
education with experience in a
variety of educational settings,
including five years as the
Manager of RIDBC Teleschool.
Marcella Lazarus – Director of
People and Performance
BA, Grad Dipl. ER, CAHRI, ICF
PCC, MAITD, joined RIDBC in May
2012 after working with RIDBC as
a consultant to develop their 2016
Strategic Plan. Prior to managing
her own consultancy, Marcella
worked in senior HR management
roles in a range of global and
Australian companies including
Cochlear Ltd.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
41
RIDBC Staff in
the community
Breda Carty
Director, Deaf Society of NSW;
Consultant Expert (Education),
Deaf Australia;
Consultant Expert (Education,
Deaf Community and Culture,
and Bioethics), Deaf Australia;
Member, National Neonatal
Hearing Screening Working Group,
Australian Population Health
Development Principal Committee;
Editor, Deaf History International
newsletter.
Jill Duncan
Deputy Chair, Deafness Forum
of Australia;
Member, Editorial Board,
The Volta Review.
Frances Gentle
Vice President, International
Council for the Education of
People with Visual Impairment
(ICEVI);
Editor, Journal of South Pacific
Educators in Vision Impairment
(SPEVI) & Member of the SPEVI
Committee of Management;
Member, Examinations Board,
Australian Braille Authority;
Member, Special Needs
Assessment and Targeted
Programs Advisory Panel,
Association of Independent
Schools.
Greg Leigh
Adjunct Professor, Macquarie
University, Department of
Linguistics;
Chairman, Australasian Newborn
Hearing Screening Committee;
Chairman, International
Committee, International Congress
on Education of the Deaf;
Chairman, International Steering
Committee, Asia Pacific Congress
on Deafness;
42
RIDBC People
Member, Editorial Board, Deafness
and Education International;
Member, Editorial Board,
Phonetics and Speech Sciences;
Member, Literacy and Special
Learning Needs Advisory
Committee, NSW Association of
Independent Schools.
Philip Newall
Visiting Professor, University of
Santo Tomas and University of the
Philippines, Manila;
Visiting Audiologist, Senese
Centre, Samoa;
Editorial Associate, Journal of the
American Academy of Audiology;
Editorial Consultant, Australian
Journal of Audiology;
Senior Consultant, China
Research and Rehabilitation
Centre for Deaf Children;
Expert Committee Member,
Chinese Scientific Journal
of Hearing and Speech
Rehabilitation;
Board Member, Hearing
International; Carabez Alliance for
Deaf Children; Bring and Buy Ltd
(Rotary Club of Carlingford).
Sue Silveira
Board Member, Australian
Orthoptic Board;
Convenor of Awards and Grants
Standing Committee, Orthoptics
Australia;
Scientific Convenor, 70th Annual
Scientific Conference, Orthoptics
Australia;
Member, Editorial Board,
Australian Orthoptic Journal;
Member, Orthoptic Standing
Committee, Agency for Clinical
Innovation;
Member of the State-wide
Eyesight Preschool Screening
(StEPS) Implementation and
Review Committee, NSW Health;
Member, Prevention and Early
Intervention Committee, Vision
2020.
Trudy Smith
Chairperson, National Association
of Australian Teachers of the Deaf.
Mike Steer
Editor, International Journal of
Orientation and Mobility;
Editorial Consultant, Australasian
Journal of Special Education;
Coordinator, Australian and
New Zealand Leaders in Vision
Education Services (LIVES);
NSW Committee Member,
International Council for the Vision
Impaired (ICEVI);
Member, Planning Committee,
2013 International Deafblindness
Conference.
Brian Conway
Immediate Past President, Round
Table on Information Access for
People with Print Disabilities;
Vice President, Flintwood
Disability Services.
Paul Harris
CPA Australia NFP Conference
National Taskforce;
CPA NSW Divisional Councillor.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
43
Sky is
the limit
for young
Hugh
Janet and Degen’s son, Hugh, is three and a half
years old and has hearing loss. The family lives in
Ballarat, Victoria, and accesses RIDBC Teleschool
which provides families in regional and remote
Australia access to specialist support via high
quality videoconferencing technology.
Hugh and his family have accessed weekly
videoconferencing sessions since he was a baby.
44
RIDBC People
In my determination to
support Hugh, RIDBC
Teleschool has been an
incredible support
for me, particularly as
we are a country family
and we struggle to find
quality services close
to home. RIDBC has
taught me so many
strategies to promote
Hugh’s learning.
– Janet, Hugh's mum
Janet and Hugh with RIDBC Teleschool Consultant/Speech Pathologist,
Neryl Horn (right) during a residential week for children with hearing loss
at RIDBC in Sydney.
When Hugh was born with hearing
loss it was a difficult time for the
family.
“I lost those precious early weeks
with my newborn to clinical
appointments and a desperate
search for information about
hearing loss,” said Janet.
“I learned more in my first RIDBC
Teleschool session than I had read
in any book or ascertained from
any person. Accessing the service
has been the best thing I’ve ever
done.”
RIDBC Consultant/Speech
Pathologist, Neryl Horn, continues
to work to develop Hugh’s speech
and language.
“I encourage very high
expectations about the precision
of Hugh’s speech and language,
to help make maximum use of his
hearing. When we are not sure
what Hugh means, we say “I don’t
understand” and let him take the
challenge of clarifying what he
said,” said Neryl.
“Hugh is using his hearing
extremely well to develop spoken
language which is above average
for his age.”
Janet and Hugh attended the
residential week during the year,
where Janet not only learnt more
about language development but
also met other parents who have a
child with hearing loss.
Janet is very hopeful about Hugh’s
future.
“The fact is, though, the book
isn’t written for Hugh. Children
are now receiving specialist
services, technologies and
education programs at such a
young age. So for Hugh, who
was diagnosed with hearing loss
by three weeks, received hearing
aids by eight weeks, and has had
the benefit of the expert early
intervention services of RIDBC –
the possibilities for his future really
are endless!”
“We are focusing on transitioning
Hugh into a mainstream
kindergarten in 2013, so this
was a perfect time to meet other
parents and to learn about their
own experience with this process,”
said Janet.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
45
In Appreciation
of Your Support
RIDBC would be unable
to provide the services it
does without the support
of thousands of individuals
and organisations.
Community support and
philanthropy remain the
key source of RIDBC
funding and is critical to
ensuring the continuation
of vital services for children
with vision or hearing loss
across Australia.
With the appointment of a new
Director of Development in
June 2012, RIDBC undertook
a comprehensive review of
fundraising activities. The
outcomes from this review will be
implemented in 2013. One of the
major improvements throughout
2012 was the streamlining of
communication channels to
supporters through initiatives such
as e-marketing and increased use
of social media. This has enhanced
RIDBC’s ability to communicate
and interact with supporters.
Despite challenging external
economic conditions, RIDBC was
able to exceed its Net Fundraising
Target (Budget) by $348,251
including internal administration
costs. Approximately $14 million
was raised in private sector
income from combined sources
in 2012 which was in line with
revenue totals in 2011. Fundraising
costs however, increased by
4.3% this year resulting in a slight
reduction in net funds raised of
$200,053 or 2.2%.
46
RIDBC Funding
Funds raised through the sales of Entertainment Books
continue to grow with over $20,000 raised in 2012.
RIDBC’s direct marketing
campaigns sent each quarter
continue to be a principal means
of attracting new donors. The
regular mailing of letters and
newsletters enables RIDBC to
provide important information
on how our supporters assist
us to provide essential services
to so many children, as well as
asking for their continued valuable
support. In 2012, our supporters
helped RIDBC to raise $1,641,947
over these four campaigns.
RIDBC continues to operate its
long standing Rainbow Lottery.
Despite the highly competitive
nature of this program, it still
attracts significant and generous
support from the community
with over 57,602 annual lottery
buyers who in turn contribute
approximately $1 million towards
annual operations.
The greater Hunter region
continued to generously support
RIDBC through various events and
community days. A highlight of
the year was the Changing Lives
Luncheon with celebrity trainer,
Michelle Bridges, as the special
guest speaker.
More people than ever took part
in third party community events
such as City2Surf, choosing
to raise funds for RIDBC. Our
continued focus on encouraging
‘peer-to-peer’ fundraising saw 296
individuals volunteering to raise
funds. In addition to this, a variety
of community fundraising activities
were held including Christmas
light displays, open gardens and
morning teas as well as special
occasion donations, with a total
of $130,700 raised from these
combined activities.
In addition, the hundreds of
volunteers in RIDBC Clubs
and Committees continued to
work tirelessly throughout the
year. Lantern Clubs and RIDBC
Committees raised just under
$950,000 in 2012.
Bequests and Permanent Funds
are other vital income streams
for RIDBC. Those who make the
decision to leave a gift to RIDBC in
their will, make a very considerable
and highly appreciated
contribution. Their support by
this means is remembered with
enormous gratitude. The Hunter
Baille Circle continued to be a
great success. RIDBC runs an
annual luncheon to keep those
who have decided to leave a gift in
their will up to date with the work
of RIDBC. In 2012, RIDBC received
funds from bequests totalling
$5,473,275 as well as $562,800
in proceeds from RIDBC’s
Permanent Funds.
Corporate
support
2012 saw a renewed
focus on developing
corporate relationships and
partnerships. During 2012,
our corporate contributions
included one-off donations,
payroll giving, onsite
fundraising, Foundation
and Trust funding, skilled
labour, gifts in-kind and
pro-bono support. RIDBC
continued to focus on the
development and growth
of existing corporate
partners, using volunteering
as the vehicle for building
sustainable relationships.
The Crane Group (a division of
Fletcher Building Limited) continued
to develop innovative and diverse
activities in support of RIDBC.
Crane supports RIDBC through
the Crane Group’s annual golf day.
This day not only raises necessary
funds for RIDBC but also builds
a network of friends and raises
awareness of the services of
RIDBC. The partnership extends
beyond the corporate level with
excellent support at the branch
level through Tradelink’s stores
across Australia.
The largest corporate donation
this year was made through the
Newcastle Permanent Charitable
Foundation which provided
a phenomenal $250,000 for
videoconferencing equipment in
the Hunter, Gosford and Lismore
regions. This extremely generous
contribution will enable RIDBC to
extend access for families in the
Vodafone Australia funded and attended an end of year Christmas
event for RIDBC children. Over 200 RIDBC students, 35 Vodafone
volunteers and RIDBC staff enjoyed a day full of activities.
region through a combination of
in-person and remote services
delivered via high quality
videoconferencing equipment.
Hundreds of individual donations
were made to RIDBC through
corporate partnerships and Trusts
and Foundations in 2012. The list
below demonstrates the diversity of
ways that organisations, large and
small, can contribute to RIDBC.
Australian Federation of
International Forwarders
(AFIF) charity golf day raised
$16,085 and funded the kitchen
equipment for the RIDBC
Alice Betteridge School Food
Technology Room.
$20,000 was raised through
WRI Insurance Brokers with the
support of corporate sponsors
for the RIDBC Garfield
Barwick School playground
refurbishment.
$10,000 was received through
Telstra’s Everyone Connected
program to develop an iPad
app which will help children
who are blind or have
vision loss.
The strategy to further develop
RIDBC’s grants based fundraising
platform resulted in a revenue
increase in one of the most cost
effective revenue streams for the
organisation. Grants awarded
to RIDBC by private trusts,
foundations, private ancillary funds
and corporate donations provided
$959,154 for nominated projects
and programs in 2012. This
represented an increase on the
prior year of almost 20%.
In 2012, RIDBC began hosting
business lunches to raise
awareness of RIDBC and to
encourage support from the
corporate sector, particularly the
benefits for payroll giving. With the
support of RIDBC Board members,
the lunches were very successful
and provided a good foundation to
extend these relationships.
Corporate volunteer
groups
Corporate volunteer groups also
assist in a range of activities
for RIDBC including gardening,
painting, excursions, sports days
and craft sessions.
In 2012, RIDBC saw 25 visits
from corporate groups with 1,284
hours of in kind support provided
representing a total labour value of
$32,100.
We thank the corporate volunteer
visits from the following companies:
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
Commonwealth Bank, JANA
Investments, Lloyds International,
Oracle Investments, Bausch +
Lomb, AXA Investments, Vodafone
Australia, Lend Lease, Pandora
Jewellery Australia, NAB, Newcastle
Knights, Aurecon, Hudson and H L
Mullane Maintenance.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
47
Clubs and
Committees
RIDBC is very grateful to
the hundreds of volunteers
who are members of
Lantern Clubs and RIDBC
Committees. Together they
raised almost $950,000
during 2012. The Clubs
and Committees also
undertake a very important
role in raising community
awareness of RIDBC.
Lantern Club Presidents
Central Council of Lantern Clubs:
Eileen Short and Jan Bell
Avoca Beach: Marie Fuller
Belmont: Nanette Bingham and
Nevia Morro
Outgoing President of the Central Council of Lantern Clubs,
Eileen Short (left) with current President, Jan Bell at the 2012
Lantern Club luncheon. Together the 22 Lantern Clubs raised
over $660,000.
Blacktown City: Maureen Fry
Blue Mountains: Diane Marris
Committees
Camden Haven: Richard Batts
Port Stephens: Colleen Ward and
Laurel Donavon
Cronulla: Trish Woodford
Ryde: Rosemary Costar
Far South Coast: Mary Backhouse
Shoalhaven: Merv Newell
Forster-Tuncurry: Margaret
Stephens
St George: Barbara Yates
Southern Highlands: Jane Deen
RIDBC Hunter Parents and
Friends Committee
Goulburn: Joan Thomas
Warringah: Val Davison and Pam
Smith
President: Nadine Leighton
Hills District: Robyn Shaw
Horizon Committee
President: Colleen Keys OAM
Pathfinders Auxiliary
Hornsby & Districts: Tamara
Beasley and Gai Saunders
RIDBC Ambassadors
Ku-ring-gai: Beverley Low
Tara Moss
Abstract Committee
Maitland: Nola McCarthy and
Pauline Hogg
Reuben Mourad
President: Christopher Arnott OAM
Justin Norris
Hunter Sight and Sound for
Kids Corporate Committee
Mosman: Elaine Cox
Orana: Greta Wiggins and
Charmain Woodbury
Parramatta: Joan Hartley
48
RIDBC Funding
Sir Michael Parkinson CBE
James Pittar
Graham Ross
President: Louise Flitcroft Paisley
Graeme
Skarratt
Long-serving Board Member and Abstract Committee
Member, Graeme Skarratt OAM, announced his
retirement from the Board in 2012.
While he continues his fundraising
work, Graeme’s announcement
marked the end of 30 years of
voluntary service on the RIDBC
Board.
Graeme’s relationship with RIDBC
began in 1960 when he joined the
RIDBC Bachelors and Spinsters
Auxiliary. A victim of its own
success, not long after he joined
there were very few bachelors
or spinsters left in the committee,
and it was reformed into the
Abstract Committee in 1965.
Graeme Skarratt OAM
RIDBC Board Member:
30 years
RIDBC Involvement:
50 years
Life Governor:
Appointed 2005
"My involvement with RIDBC
has been a privilege and a
joy – it’s been my life story.
It’s been a marvellous 50
year journey for me as a
volunteer at RIDBC."
Graeme Skarratt and Diane,
his wife of 43 years, whom
he met at an RIDBC Abstract
Committee function.
“The Abstract Committee
continues to raise funds and
awareness for RIDBC and, while
I’ve retired from the Board, I’m
still active in the Committee
which I enjoy immensely,” said
Graeme. “We’ve become quite
good at fundraising over the years
and now raise around $45,000
each year.”
The Abstract Committee is one of
many fundraising groups which
raise funds for RIDBC. These
committees are vital to RIDBC
as a charity – not only do they
raise funds, they raise awareness
as well.
“I think the Australian public is
one of the most generous in the
world and I’m so inspired by the
willingness of people to give,
particularly with their time. It’s a
busy world today but there are
still so many who devote their
time and effort to help support a
good cause.”
While Graeme’s contribution to
RIDBC is both remarkable and
commendable, he was appointed
a Life Governor in 2005, he
considers himself fortunate to be
able to help the children.
“My involvement with RIDBC has
been a privilege and a joy – it’s
been my life story. It’s been a
marvellous 50 year journey for me
as a volunteer at RIDBC,” he said.
“The friendships forged over
the past 50 years through my
involvement with RIDBC, and the
knowledge that someone else
is going to benefit from the hard
work, makes the work even more
satisfying.”
RIDBC relies significantly on
the efforts of our fundraising
committees to continue to provide
quality and innovative services.
“It’s wonderful when you’re having
a good time and doing it for a
good cause. I met my wife at an
Abstract function and we married
in 1970, so on a personal level
too, it’s been a wonderful part of
my life," said Graeme.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
49
RIDBC
Honourees
Community support is at the centre of RIDBC’s ability to deliver the services it provides.
Many people assist in a variety of ways. RIDBC wishes to acknowledge this support.
Life Members
Appointed 2012
Life Governors At
31 December 2012
Sir Michael Parkinson CBE
Betty Berwick
Abigroup Ltd
Qantas Airways Ltd
Graeme Bradshaw
Robert Albert AO
John Race
Elaine Burrow
John Bedwell
Vera Radó
Elaine Butler
Richard Bonynge AO CBE
RA Gale Foundation
Laurence Cable
Bruce and Joy Reid Foundation
Rotary Club of Carlingford
John Cameron
Lenore Buckle
Rotary International District 9680
Colin Colgan
Kenny Cheng
Rotary International District 9690
Elizabeth Hegarty
Cochlear Limited
Rotary International District 9750
Lyn Jiear
Crane Group Limited
Royal NSW Bowling Association
Mr R Johnston
Charles Curran AC
Norman Rydge AM OBE
Mrs I Kwan
Professor Christine E Deer
Lynda Rydge-Guyton
Fiona MacGregor
Gwynvill Group
Janis Salisbury
I Nielsen
Ian Holmes
St Andrew’s Cathedral School
Lesley Riach
Merry Howie
Graeme Skarratt OAM
Merle Shattles
Pieter Huveneers
Suttons Motors
Barbara Stone AM
James N Kirby Foundation
Terrace Tower Pty Ltd
Anthony Sweetman
Kathleen Breen Children’s
Charity Trust
The Profield Foundation
Kumagai Australia Pty Ltd
Tasia Varvaressos
Dorothy Malouf AM
Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
Lena Ulrich
Vamps Bistro
Gwenda Waddington
Barbara Williamson
Myer Community Fund
Ardeis Myers Jnr
Life Governors
Appointed 2012
National Australia Bank
Professor Christine E Deer
Lysia O’Keefe
Merry Howie
Opera Australia
Janis Salisbury
Richard Owens OAM
50
RIDBC Funding
Network Ten
Ian Paul
Transfield Pty Ltd
The RIDBC Hunter
Sight and Sound for
Kids Committee
hearing loss – but it costs a lot
of money which is where we can
assist in some small way.”
RIDBC is extremely grateful
for the guidance and support
given to RIDBC Hunter by all the
committee members.
“As we extend our services
in the Hunter region through
videoconferencing technology, we
rely significantly on the support
of the community and local
businesses to reach more children
than ever,” said RIDBC Chief
Executive, Chris Rehn.
The RIDBC Hunter Sight and Sound for Kids Committee
is a unique corporate group formed to raise awareness
of RIDBC and build strong corporate relationships in the
Newcastle and Hunter Regions.
The Committee
was the
brainchild of
Harry Raftos of
the Newcastle
based franchise
of ActionCOACH
which is an
Australian founded company now
in 42 countries around the world.
“I met RIDBC Board Member,
Richard Owens, around the time
that ActionCOACH was looking
for a local charity to work with. I
started giving pro-bono business
coaching to Grace McLean, the
Relationships Executive at RIDBC
Hunter,” said Harry.
Through these sessions, it was
decided that a committee of local
business leaders would enhance
corporate relationships in the
Hunter and create awareness for
RIDBC Hunter.
“I started by contacting my own
network to pitch the idea and
every person I approached said
yes immediately. The Hunter
Sight and Sound Committee
was formed in early 2011 and we
have taken on an advisory role
for Grace and also called on our
contacts to support functions and
provide auction items etc.”
Many very successful events have
already been held including the
Michelle Bridges Changing Lives
Luncheon in 2012 which raised
over $25,000 for RIDBC Hunter.
“I feel that we’ve really just
scratched the surface – there is
great potential for the Committee
to tap into the generosity
of the business community
by establishing a corporate
sponsorship program in the region.
“Everyone who comes to visit
RIDBC Hunter leaves inspired and
energised to do whatever they can
to support the kids. We are able to
see how technology is changing
the lives of children with vision or
“The model we are seeing in
the Hunter is one that we hope
to replicate in other regions as
RIDBC opens more centre-based
services across Australia.”
Hunter Sight and Sound
committee members
Geoff Rose
NAB
Ross Melville
The Newcastle Herald
Anthony Saddington
Saddingtons Building Supplies
Tony Rhodes
H L Mullane
Kirsty Porteous
Crosbie Warren Sinclair
Gary Sheppard
Bass Floor Company
Garry Hardie
Hunter Business Review Magazine
Harry Raftos
ActionCOACH
Richard Owens
RIDBC Board Member
Grace McLean
Hunter Relationships Executive
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
51
Bequests and
Permanent Funds
RIDBC wishes to acknowledge with deep gratitude those who have remembered it in
their Wills and those who have established permanent funds to support RIDBC’s work.
Their generous forethought has contributed to ensuring that the children served by
RIDBC are given the best opportunities available. It will make a lasting difference in the
lives of deaf and blind children.
Bequests
Received
During
2012
Merle Almond
Edith Armstrong
Iris Atkin
Beryl Atkins
Margaret Balchin
Eva Barrowman
Raymond Beggs
Frederick
Bickerton
Henry Blanks
Alma Bottero
Ella Boyd
Robert Brindley
Henry Brown
Dorothy Burton
Robert Erwin
Stanley Fallows
Betty FosterMcMulkin
Reginald Radford
Joan Larsen
Edmund Resch
Phyllis Frost
Alfred Laskey
Donald Ridley
Iris Gageler
Marie Leedham
George Roberts
Alan Gaudry
Hans Lewin
Moya Robinson
Thora Geddes
Reginald Lindley
Neta Robinson
Rachel Ginsburg
Nola Lowden
Bernard
Rothbury
K & G Gluck
Trust
Alan Lumb
Janusz
Franckiewicz
Ida Gugger
Thelma Guinn
Hazel Hardy
Norman Heaton
William Hill
Allan Hunt
Kenneth Clarke
Jean Hunter
Doris Cox
Neal Jackson
Francis Cullen
Lily Johnson
Lionel Dege
Raymond
Johnston
RIDBC Funding
Ross Pfeiffer
Betty Larsen
Harold Cadell
52
Ernest Paull
Valma Price
Shirley Fox
Arthur Byrne
Konstantin Doku
Allan Knights
Gordon Page
Nicolina
Kusheva-Dimoff
Catherine
Hooton
Percival
Dermond
J & C Kennedy
Trust
Laura Mackey
Heinrich
Mannigel
Zena Sachs
Verity Scott
William Small
Constance
Martin
A Sparke
Frances Milat
Robert Stokes
Gordon Milne
Basil Vincent
Flora
Monnikendam
Barbara Waddell
Alice Moorcroft
Joseph Steens
Alan Walker
William Moore
Sir William
Walkley
Myra Nettelbeck
Eric Weatherley
Albert Nickless
Eileen Weidmann
Eric Olsen
Anthony Weston
Annabella Jones
Lorraine Olsen
Sidney Williams
Denis Jones
Muriel Osmond
Alice Wilson
Permanent
Funds at 31
December
2012
William and
Gladys Judd
Memorial Fund
18th Australian
Infantry Brigade
Association of
NSW Fund
N McWilliam
Prize Fund
John B Bedwell
Fund
Ivan Rado
Memorial Fund
Frank Buckle
Family Trust
Fund
Vera Rado Fund
The Estate of
Joan Isabel
Craven Fund
Robert Simpson
& Amy Caroline
Brown & Family
Trust
Jack and Gwen
Freeman Fund
Dora and
George Garland
Memorial Fund
Stan and Betty
Graham Bursary
Fund for RIDBC
Garfield Barwick
School
Stan Graham
Bursary Fund for
RIDBC Thomas
Pattison School
Frederick
Gregory-Roberts
Prize Fund
Japan Australia
Friendship Fund
Elsie McLachlan
Bursary Fund
Ian Paul Fund
Ann Ratcliffe
Fund
Special Prize
Fund
Jane Vickery
Memorial Fund
Generous support for
generations to come
Margaret Dobbin has been supporting the Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) since 1986, when
she bought her first lottery ticket.
Margaret has decided to
leave a bequest in her will
for RIDBC – her support
of RIDBC spans two and
a half decades.
“It was important to me to give
to a charity which helps children.
I’ve always been anxious about
blindness and I can’t imagine the
challenges the children at RIDBC
face every day.
Margaret is a member of the
Hunter Baille Circle which is a
group established to recognise,
honour and thank those who
have made provision to remember
RIDBC in their Will.
“But when I come out to visit
RIDBC I can see that the children
are doing wonderfully well thanks
to the innovative work of the
organisation," said Margaret.
“While I haven’t decided to leave a
bequest for the recognition, one of
the wonderful things about RIDBC
is that I have always felt valued to
the organisation.
Margaret has decided to leave
a legacy in her Will to RIDBC
which will ensure that a whole
new generation of children will be
able to access the educational
opportunities necessary to reach
their full potential.
“I receive regular updates about
new services and about the
families who are benefiting from
these programs right across
Australia.
As an accountant only just retired,
Margaret encourages people to
think about getting their affairs into
order early.
I’m really happy to think
that the children who will
come to RIDBC in the
future will benefit in some
small way from the gift that
I will leave for them.
“I think it’s very important to make
a decision about my estate well
before anything happens. It means
that my friends and family are
aware of my wishes.”
“Technology changes so quickly.
When I think of the changes I’ve
already seen at RIDBC, I know
that opportunities for the children
will continue to grow.
“I’m really happy to think that the
children who will come to RIDBC
in the future will benefit in some
small way from the gift that I will
leave for them.”
For more information about leaving a bequest, establishing a
permanent fund or becoming further involved with RIDBC's fundraising
activities, please contact Lawrence Jackson, Director of Development,
(02) 9872 0333 or lawrence.jackson@ridbc.org.au
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
53
Sponsors
RIDBC receives support
from the business
community in many ways.
Corporate sponsorship
through cash and gifts inkind is vital to the success
of many fundraising events.
Many corporations, Trusts
& Foundations, community
groups and social and
service organisations gave
of their time, expertise
and money.
Corporate Volunteers
Aurecon Group
AXA Investment Managers
Bausch + Lomb
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Hudson Recruitment
JANA Investment Advisers Pty Ltd
Members of Team RIDBC finish their City2Surf run – more people than
ever participated in third party community events for RIDBC in 2012.
Lend Lease Corporation Ltd
Bitton Cafe
West Tankers Pty Ltd
Breakfast Point Realty
Budget Rent-a-Car Alexandria
Abstract Committee
Raine & Horne
Horizon Committee
3D Parties
Australian Voices in Print
Cabcharge
Bunnings Mascot
Captain Cook Cruises
Damn Good Productions
Decoroom
Energizer
Hip Hampers
Little Manly Kiosk
Cosmetic Research
Littles Coaches Daylesford/
Ballarat
De Bortoli Wines
Matisse Derivan
De Lorenzo Hair
Melbourne Airport Corporation
National Australia Bank
Dr. Hauschka Skincare
Mondial Neuman
Newcastle Knights
Lindt & Sprüngli
North Sydney Leagues Club
Oracle Investment Services Pty Ltd
Moss and Spy
Perth Metro Ute
Pandora Australia
Pearsons Florist
Q Catering
Lend Lease Corporation Ltd
Black Horse Foundation
(Lloyds International Pty Ltd)
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Vodafone Foundation
Qantas Flight Hostess Club
Qantas Pathfinders Auxiliary
Rockpool
Qantas Airways Limited
Rotary Club of Turramurra
Corporate Sponsors
Access Ireland/UK Holidays
Rydges Hotels & Resorts
Australian Federation of
International Forwarders
Aeromic
Shell Aviation
AirServices Australia
Silk Massage and Spa
Brady Australia
Alpha Flight Services
Sovereign Hill Ballarat
The Crane Group
Aqua Dining
Spice Temple
imei Pty Ltd
Becker Minty
St George Rowing Club
54
RIDBC Funding
Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd
Lions Club of Elemore Vale
Qenos Pty Ltd
Taronga Zoo
NAB – Lake Macquarie Business
Banking
Reliance Worldwide Australia
Rotary Club of Adamstown/New
Lambton
Rinnai Australia Pty Ltd
The Convent, Daylesford
The Pacific Coast Horns
TMR Music Stands
Trovato Design
Vamps French Bistro
Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Toni Stevens
Lions Club of Valentine
Good Guys – Warners Bay
The Newcastle Master Builders
Association Golf Club
Rheem Australia Pty Ltd
Sun Ace Australia Pty Ltd
Technika Pty Ltd
Telstra Corporation Ltd
Visy Industries
Zetco Valves Pty Ltd
RIDBC Hunter Changing
Lives Luncheon with Michelle
Bridges
WRI Insurance Brokers
Charity Golf ProAm
NAB – Business Banking
Allianz Australia Ltd
Michelle Bridges
Alstom Australia Ltd
Merewether Surfhouse
Angostura Holdings Ltd
NBN Television
Australian Liquor
Matthews Jewellers
ActionCOACH
ABC Orthodontics
Australian Financial Risk
Management
Peoplefusion
Enigma
Greater Building Society
Good Property
Genetics Fitness
Newcastle Permanent Building
Society
Splash for Cash
CarNet Auctions
105.3 NewFM
Central District Smash Repairs
Justin Norris Swim Academy
CGU Insurance Ltd
Mingara One Aquatics
Club Marine Limited
Southern Cross Austereo
BGK Contech Pty Ltd
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic
Centre
Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd
Sydney Olympic Park Catering
Homebush Export Meat Co. Pty Ltd
NBN Television
Hunter Premium Funding Ltd
The Forum, Newcastle University
Kintyre Building Services Pty Ltd
Hare & Forbes Pty Ltd
Lumley Insurance
Endota Spa
Crane Group Charity Golf Day
Crosbie Warren Sinclair
Adaptalift Hyster
Monteath & Powys Pty Ltd
Australian Vinyls Corporation Pty Ltd
The Newcastle Herald
AVK Australia Pty Ltd
Impact AV
BOC Limited
Newcastle Jockey Club
DUX Hot Water
Jewells Pharmacy
Electrolux Pty Ltd
Kami Pty Ltd
Enware Australia Pty Ltd
Newcastle Cosmetic Medicine
Centre
George Fischer Pty Ltd
GWA International – Caroma
Hultec Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
RIDBC Hunter Community
Events
iPlex Pipelines Ltd
Kloster Hyundai
Plastic Sales & Distribution Pty Ltd
Labourforce International Pty Ltd
Matrix Norwest Financial Planners
Pty Ltd
MB Prestige
MPM Financial Services Pty Ltd
QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd
Quest North Ryde
Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club Ltd
Ryde Parramatta Golf Club
St. George Bank Limited
Valvoline (Australia) Pty Ltd
Vero Insurance Ltd
West Orange Motors
West Ryde Hotel
Zurich Financial Services
Australia Ltd
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
55
Key Supporters
RIDBC thanks the very large number of individuals
for 2012
and organisations (too numerous to mention) who
supported us in 2012. We thank below some of
the more substantial supporters.
Individuals
Neil Adams
F Adamson
Antoinette Albert
Robert Albert
R Andre
George Andrews
Valerie Appleroth
Rob Asher
Veera Siva Kumar Balineni
Ken Balmer
Paul Barton
Phyllis Barton
David Bedwell
John Bedwell
P Bell
Jennifer Berryman
Richard Blackwell
Cecil Boardman
Thomas Bookallil
Pauline Bridge
Robert Brown
Leo Browne
Joan Bryan
Maximo Buch
Elaine Butler
Laurence Cable
M Cahill
Helen Callander
John Cameron
56
RIDBC Funding
Fraser Campbell
Albert Flick
Peter Haydon
Rosemary Campbell
S Flint
Ai-Lee Heng
Doreen Carter
Christopher Flynn
James Hetherington
Mark Chan
Joyce Foran
Ian Hewetson
Arthur Chittenden
Brian Forbes
Gladys Hey
Mark Chong
Keith Forsyth
Barrie Hill
Ross Christmas
Russell Fox
Dennis Hill & Family
Lynne Church
Jack Freeman
Felicity Hogg
Robert Clarke
Sidney French
Coralie Holmes
June Clowes
Anne Fursman
Hugh Hone
Jess Cohen
Colin Gageler
Fay Hudson
Trevor Cohen
Joseph Galliani
Gayle Hultgren
Colin Colgan
John Gerofi
A Hung
Hugh Condon
P Glennie
Pieter Huveneers
Peter Connah
Sylvan Goddard
Frank Isaacs
Maureen Connell
David Goddard
Virginia Jackel
Stanley Costigan
Cyril Golding
Eileen Jeffress
Margaret Coventry
Paul Grant
G Johnson
A Craig
Joan Green
Thelma Johnson
Julieanne Crawford
Matthew Gwynne
R Johnston
Nemer Daher
Roy Hall
Eirianydd Jones
Jonathan Denovan
David Hall
Barry Katz
Margaret Dobbin
Anna Hameleers
Trevor Klein
Gordon Douglas
Janette Hamilton
Jim Kropp
Robyn Dwyer
Joanne Harris
I Kwan
Ralph Dyer
Peter Harris
Margaret Lederman
Brian Eggert
Brian Harrison
A Lee
C Elliott
L Harrison
Peter & Terry Lennon
Roger Etty
Geoff Hartnett
Richard Lewis
Dorothy Fitzgerald
P Harvie
Qing Yun Li
Rachel Fitzhardinge
Betty Hatch
Thomas Lin
Penelope Little
C Oppen
Tom Schrecker
Robert White
F Lumley
Mary O’Sullevan
Thomas Scott
Peter Whitehead
David Lyons
Yasumi Otani
Margaret Sekhon
Wendy Wild
M Macarthur
Walter Paine
Tony Shepherd
Ruth Wood
K MacDonald
P and R Pantaleo
Leon Short
Sue Zeckendorf
Peter MacFarlane
Sue Parker
Charles Shuetrim
Fiona MacGregor
Ian Paul
Gillian Sofatzis
Rocco Mangano
M Peine
John Stanger
Grahame Mapp
Karan Perkins
Audrey Steinmetz
Alan Matheson
Douglas Perry
Peter Stephens
Roderick McAllery
Andrew Pethebridge
Linda Sterling-Levis
Donald McBean
Vic Petrovich
Timothy Sterling-Levis
Nancy McFarlane
Brian Pinch
Douglas Stetner
Terry McGee
Richard Porter
Margaret Stevens
Geoffrey McIntyre
Preisz Family
Barbara Stone
Shirley McIntyre
Mary Preston
Wayne and Julie Stone
Robert McNally
Vera Rado
Anthony Sweetman
Lorna Mead
Max Raine
Eleanor Sydney-Jones
Australian Chinese Charity
Foundation
Hernet Menka
Rosemary Rajola
Patricia Tang
Dunk Island Land Trust
Colin Mercer
Kasturi Raju
Wilbred Taylor
S Metzmacher
Jennifer Reid
Robert tenKate
Belmont 16ft Sailing
Club Ltd
Ian Miller
Lesley Riach
Margaret Terry
Bidvest Australia Limited
Michael Monaghan
Peter Richardson
Dean Thompson
Birchall Family Foundation
Trust
Catherine Moroney
I Robertson
K Thomson
Anna Morse
Sandra Rollo
Wilton Trembath
Sam Moss
Alison Rosenberg
Reginald Turner
Peggy Muntz
David Ross
B Vaughan
Ronald Neller
Sophie Rothery
Anthony and Gai Wales
Rowland Noakes
Pam Ryan
Helena Waters
Isabel Norris
Richard Rydge
Noela Watson
John O’Connell
Norman Rydge
Peter Watts
Jean O’Kane
Lynda Rydge Guyton
Mary Webster
Lysia O’Keefe
June Sainty
Anabelle Westwood
Norm O’Neill
Janis Salisbury
Gill Wheaton
Sue O’Neill
Derek Sawer
Bill Wheeler
Organisations
Air Liquide Healthcare
Pty Ltd
Animal Doctors Port
Macquarie
Aristocrat Technologies
Australia Pty Limited
Associazione Maria SS DI
Corsignano Inc Sydney
Auburn RSL Club
Co-operative Limited
Ausgrid Employees’
Children’s Appeal
Black Horse Foundation
Bruce & Joy Reid Trust
Buddha’s Light International
Association of Australia Inc
CAF Australia Community
Fund Ltd
Canada Bay Club
Central Coast Rotaract
Club
Chats Accountants
& Advisers
Cheltenham Girls’ High
School
Church of Grace
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
57
Key Supporters
for 2012
Clubs NSW Eastern Zone
Bear Cottage and other
Charities Committee
J.J. Richards & Sons
Pty Ltd
NSW Blinded Soldiers’
Association
James N. Kirby Foundation
Nuriootpa Senior Citizens
Friendship Club Inc.
Commercial Club
(Albury) Ltd
Karoon Gas Australia Ltd
Commonwealth Bank of
Australia – Carlingford
Kathleen Breen Children’s
Charity Trust
Crane Copper Tube
Kool Nominees Pty Limited
Crane Distribution Limited/
Tradelink
KPMG Holdings (Australia)
Pty Ltd
Dalwood-Wylie Foundation
Landson Alliance Australia
Pty Ltd
Data Solutions Australia
Lee & Sons (Aust) Pty Ltd
Olsson Property Group
Pty Ltd
P G Binet Pty Ltd
Quota International of Taree
Inc – District 28
Regiti Pty Ltd
The John Bedwell
Endowment
The Knappick Foundation
The Monarch Investments
Foundation
Rotary Club of Carlingford
The Newcastle MBA
Golf Club
Liangrove Foundation
Pty Ltd
Eastlakes Skills Centre –
Belmont
Elermore Vale Lions Club
Emorgo Foundation Pty Ltd
Endes Pty Limited
Macquarie Group
Foundation Limited
Ettalong Memorial Bowling
Club Ltd
Maple-Brown Abbott
Limited
Ferny Dental Care
Maple-Brown Family
Charitable Foundation Ltd
Skipper – Jacobs
Charitable Trust
Maroubra Garden Village
Residents Committee
SPW Services Pty Ltd
May and Stanley Smith
Charitable Trust
The J & G Bedwell
Endowment
Rodgers Bros Newcastle
Pty Ltd
Duchen Family Foundation
Pty Ltd
Galston Financial Services
Limited
The Hargrove Foundation
The MacDougall
Family Endowment
LexisNexis Australia
Gabriella’s Cottage
The F M Bradford
Endowment
Robert Higman Fund
Dick and Pip Smith
Foundation
Valentine Lions Club Inc
The Elliott Family Trust
Rotary Club of New
Lambton/Adamstown Inc.
The Profield Foundation
Rotary Club of Warners Bay
The R A Gale Foundation
Rotary District 9670
The Ravine Foundation
Secom Technical Services
Pty Ltd
The Shaw Foundation
Security Portman Pty Ltd
State Transit Employee’s
Welfare Fund Inc
The Thomas and
Rosemarie Pearce
Charitable Trust
The Vodafone
Foundation Australia
Theo William Portbury
Estate Trust
SVN Engineering Pty Ltd
Thomas Hare
Investments Ltd
Telstra Foundation Limited
TVSN Channel Pty Ltd
MQ Financial Services
The Amelia Eliza Holland
Trust
Uruguayan United Charity
Organisation
Mutual Assistance Society,
Sydney
The Baxter Family
Foundation for Children
Guardian Interlock Systems
Australasia Pty Ltd
Westfield Charities
Trust Fund
Nell & Hermon Slade Trust
Westfield North Rocks
Harvey Norman
Holdings Ltd
Newcastle Permanent
Charitable Foundation
The Decor Corporation
Pty Ltd
Gantiel Vensott E.P.S.
Pty Ltd
Gladys Stone Foundation
Glencore International AG
Goninan Employees
Charities Fund
58
RIDBC Funding
Medtronic Australia Pty Ltd
Monteath & Powys Pty Ltd
The Denton Family Trust
Westpac Foundation
RIDBC Thomas Pattison
Society and Regular
Giving Program
In 2012 there were over 680 supporters who were part of our regular giving program.
Together, these members gave over $185,000 to support RIDBC services and we
thank them all.
The upper levels of our regular giving program are named after Thomas Pattison, a deaf migrant to Australia from
Scotland who was pivotal in the establishment of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children in 1860. The
following people are members of RIDBC’s Thomas Pattison Society and we recognise their generous support.
Mr Norman Green
Mrs D Battaglene
Mrs Noeline Yabsley
Mr G Goodwin
Mrs Joan Boyd
Miss T Zanoni
Mr Stephen Alley
Mr David Henley
Miss Christabelle Craker
Mr John Bedwell
Mrs Jean Himmelhoch
Mrs Joan Derricks
Mr Matthew & Mrs
Catherine Gwynne
Mrs D Horley
Mr Miro Dintinjana
Mrs Patricia Irving
Miss J Flanagan
Mr Michael Kaminski
Mr J Gibson
Mrs Cathy Kite
Mr Walter Gottlieb
Mrs Haidee Lance
Mrs C Grover
Mr R & Mrs P Lane
Mrs E Hardman
Mr Larry Magid
Mr B Hart
Mr Neil Margolis
Mrs Judith Henderson
Mrs Ethel Murray
Mr Lance Harkus
Mr John Pratten
Mrs Maria Harriss
Mr David Rea
Mrs G Hopper
Miss Giaconda Augimeri
Mr Graeme Rochfort
Mrs Clare Humphreys
Mrs Bronwyn Baragry
Mr R Stephenson
Mr Peter Jones
Mrs Irene Brady
(deceased)
Miss Gwenda
Waddington
Mrs Judith Lindgren
Mr Gregory Burton
Mrs Robin Yabsley
Mr Mark & Mrs Evelyn
Chan
Mr Neumann Yip
Thomas Pattison –
Preschool
Thomas Pattison
– Early Learning
Program
Mr Roger & Mrs Carolyn
Etty
Mrs Sophie Rothery
Dr Anna Ziegler
Thomas Pattison –
Gold
Mr George Cloros
The Hon Brian J K
Cohen QC
Ms Robyn Dwyer
Mr John Foster
Dr John York
Thomas Pattison –
Silver
Mrs Judith MacDonald
Mrs Sally Neil-Smith
Ms Joscelyn Pescott
Mrs Clare Phibbs
Mr P & Mrs E Ryba
Dr Tony Sorensen
Mr F Bailey
Mr Phillip Thomas
Mrs Valerie Bailey
Mrs Brenda Walker
Thomas Pattison –
Bronze
Mrs Carolyn Bell
Mrs Carol Best
Mr F Brown
Mrs J Cameron
Mr John Clark
Mr W Clarke
Mr Jack Cridland
Miss Elizabeth Crombie
Miss G Fok
Ms Lindy Frazer
Mrs Vera Grace
Mrs Wendy E Holmes
Mrs Marion Ireland
Mrs Lynette Jones
Mr N R Lawton
Mrs Annetta Roe
Mr Tom Savage
Mr Anthony Sayer
Mr Allan Willoughby
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
59
RIDBC
Board
Patron
Her Excellency
Professor Marie
Bashir AV CVO,
Governor of New
South Wales
Vice Patron
Mr Norman B
Rydge AM OBE,
was a Director
from 1977-2009
and President
from 1995-2009.
He is a Life
Governor.
Mr Sean P Wareing, FCPA,
ACIS, was appointed to the Board
in 2000, elected a Vice President
in 2003 and President in 2009.
He is a Life Member of RIDBC.
Mr Wareing has had extensive
experience both as an Executive
in, and Chairman or Director of,
public and private companies.
He is a Graduate of the Senior
Management Program of the
Harvard Business School, an
Honorary Fellow of the University
of Western Sydney and a former
Vice President of the NSW Division
of CPA Australia.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
6 of 7
Mr David Dinte, BEc, LLB,
MAICD, is a property developer
with extensive experience in
commercial, retail, industrial
60
RIDBC Governance
Above: (l-r) Mr Richard Owens OAM, Mr Graeme Bradshaw,
Mr Roger Gee, Mrs Barbara Stone AM, Mr Jim Kropp, Mr Sean
P Wareing (President), Mr John Landerer CBE, Mr David Dinte,
(seated l-r) Professor Christine E Deer, Mr Greg Sedgwick, A/ Prof
Catherine Birman.
and residential development,
acquisition and management in
both Australia and the United
States of America. He is a member
of the International Council of
Shopping Centres. Mr Dinte joined
the Board in 2000, was appointed
a Vice President in 2009 and is a
Life Member.
Attendance
Board Meetings
5 of 8
Committee Meetings
4 of 5
Mr Jim Kropp, BComm, FCPA,
was a senior audit and risk
management consulting partner
with PricewaterhouseCoopers,
retiring from the practice in
December 1999. He is a Director
of Commonwealth Managed
Investments Limited, Colonial First
State Capital Management Pty
Limited and Colonial First State
Loan Note Issuer Pty Limited, and a
former director of AARNet Pty Ltd,
and former National President of
CPA Australia. Mr Kropp joined the
Board in 2010, and was appointed
a Vice President in 2012.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
5 of 6
Mr Richard Owens, OAM, is
Chairman of his family’s diversified
retail, real estate development
and investment company, and a
vigneron and wine producer in
the Hunter Valley. He is Deputy
Chairman of the Hunter Valley
Training Company and is a
member of the Hunter Valley
Research Foundation. He joined
the Board in 1990, was appointed
Vice President in 1999, and is a
Life Governor.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
8 of 10
Mrs Barbara Stone, AM, BA,
DipEd, Med, MAICD, FACE,
FACEL, retired as Principal of
MLC School in 2011. She is a past
National Chair of the Association
of Heads of Independent
Schools of Australia, past Chair
of the Association of Heads of
Independent Schools (NSW),
Past President of the Alliance of
Girls’ Schools of Australasia, a
Board member of the Association
of Independent Schools (NSW),
Kormilda College, Darwin and a
member of the Advisory Group
for Gifted Education Resource
Research and Information
Centre, UNSW. She joined the
Board in 2002, was appointed a
Vice President in 2012 and is a
Life Member.
Attendance
Board Meetings
8 of 8
Committee Meetings
3 of 8
Associate Professor Catherine
Birman, MBBS, FRACS, GAICD,
is an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon
at the Children’s Hospital at
Westmead and a number of other
public and private hospitals, Deputy
Director of the Sydney Cochlear
Implant Centre and a member of
the Macquarie University Medical
Advisory Committee. She has
been a past Chairman of the NSW
division of the Australian Society of
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck
Surgery, and past Secretary of
the Australian and New Zealand
Paediatric Otolaryngology Society.
A/Prof Birman joined the Board
in 2011.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
0 of 1
Mr Graeme Bradshaw, BEc,
FFIA, CFRE, is the Principal of
Graeme Bradshaw Consulting.
He retired in 2007 from the role of
Senior Partner of DVA Navion Inc, a
specialist international management
and marketing consultancy
serving the not-for-profit sector. Mr
Bradshaw was Deputy General
Manager of the Royal Blind Society
of NSW. He is a member of the
Foundation Board at Neuroscience
Research Australia and Fellow
Emeritus and past President of the
Fundraising Institute of Australia. He
joined the Board in 1998 and is a
Life Member.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
1 of 1
Professor Christine E Deer,
BA, MTCP, DipEd, PhD, FACE,
is Emeritus Professor of the
University of Technology, Sydney,
having retired as Professor of
Teacher Education and Head of
the School of Teacher Education.
She is a member of the Salvation
Army Eastern Territory Advisory
Board, a director of the James N
Kirby Foundation, and a former
member of the MLC School
Council. Professor Deer joined
the Board in 1993 and is a Life
Governor.
Attendance
Board Meetings
8 of 8
Committee Meetings 1 of 3
Assessment
10 of 12
Committee Meetings
Mr Roger Gee, FRAeS, retired
in 2006 from Qantas after a 41
year career with the airline. He
retired as a 747-400 Senior Check
Captain. He has been an active
member of RIDBC's Pathfinder
Auxiliary for more than 30 years.
He instigated the Charity Flight, a
very successful fundraising event,
and piloted the Qantas Children’s
Jumbo Joy Flight for many years.
Mr Gee joined the Board in 2008
and is a Life Member of RIDBC.
Attendance
Board Meetings
7 of 8
Committee Meetings
4 of 4
Mr John Landerer, CBE,
AM, LLB (Syd), LLD (Honoris
Causa Macquarie), is a Solicitor
specialising in corporate advisory
work, and a company director.
He is Chairman of Goldsearch
Limited and a number of private
companies. He is a Director of Life
Education Australia, the Garvan
Research Foundation and other
charitable institutions. Mr Landerer
is a Fellow of the University of
Sydney. He is a Commander in
the Order of the Star of Italian
Solidarity. He joined the Board in
2005.
Attendance
Board Meetings
5 of 8
Committee Meetings
3 of 5
Mr Greg Sedgwick, BComm,
MComm, joined the Board in
2011. He was previously the
Managing Director of Crane Group
Limited and was instrumental in
fostering the corporate relationship
between RIDBC and Crane.
He was Vice President of the
Australian Industry Group of NSW
and a member of the Business
Council of Australia. He has had
extensive international experience
and has held board positions with
listed companies in Japan, India
and South Africa.
Attendance
Board Meetings
6 of 8
Committee Meetings
3 of 4
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
61
Corporate
Governance
Under the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Act, RIDBC’s Board of Directors
is elected by the members of RIDBC from amongst their own number. The Board has
responsibilities and duties defined under the Act and the by-laws. These define broadly
the processes of control by which the Board and management ensure that RIDBC is
achieving its objectives effectively and efficiently, that its financial reporting is properly
informative and reliable, and that it acts in compliance with all laws and regulations.
The Board selects and appoints the Chief Executive, who is accountable to the Board for the performance
of RIDBC.
The Board of Directors
and Governance
The Board has implemented a
number of formal steps in
corporate governance. These
include an “Integrity Statement”,
guidelines for the selection of
persons to fill casual vacancies on
the Board, and a process of
performance self-appraisal by
Board members.
Integrity Statement
Preamble
Good governance is essential
to maintaining trust between
RIDBC and its supporters, funding
authorities and the families of
students.
RIDBC is a charitable human
service organisation. Accordingly,
its Board will aim to promote
appropriate values and attitudes
of service, integrity, financial
prudence, consideration of
individuals, accountability and
personal responsibility.
What is required of Board
Members
Criteria for Board membership
are determined by the “Eligibility
Guidelines”, largely derived
from relevant clauses in the
Royal Institute for Deaf and
Blind Children Act 1998 and the
by-laws.
Members of the Board:
Shall be non-executive and
unpaid and take no benefit
whatsoever from their office.
No member of RIDBC staff
may be appointed to the Board
Shall act at all times and in all
matters in the best interests of
RIDBC in conformity with its
Act and the by-laws
Have a duty to ensure that
the management of RIDBC
is competent, ethical and
prudent and that it acts in the
best interests of RIDBC
Shall at all times act honestly
and in good faith in the
exercise of their powers and
the discharge of their duties
of office
Have a duty to use due care
and diligence in fulfilling the
62
RIDBC Governance
functions of office and in
exercising the powers attached
to that office
Should not engage in conduct
likely to bring discredit upon
RIDBC
Shall not take improper
advantage of their position
nor allow personal, family or
business interests to conflict
with the interests of RIDBC
Require the prior approval of
the Board and subsequent
disclosure to the members for
the performance of any service
or the supply of any article for
which compensation may be
received
Conclusion
Members of the Board agree to be
bound by this Integrity Statement.
New appointees to the Board
will be required to agree to be
bound by the Integrity Statement.
Any member of the Board
finding herself/himself unable
to meet or to continue to meet
the requirements of the Integrity
Statement must offer to resign
from the Board.
Guidelines – Appointments Standing Committees
to the Board
of the Board
Prospective appointees to the
Board of Directors must:
Be, or be prepared to become,
members of RIDBC in accord
with the Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children Act
Have sympathy with, and
be prepared to contribute
to, RIDBC’s purposes and
objectives
Have abilities and skills which
would be of use to RIDBC
Be compatible with and
prepared to work harmoniously
with existing members of the
Board
Have a range of personal and/
or professional contacts from
various fields of endeavour
who would be of potential
benefit to RIDBC
Have an understanding of the
duties and responsibilities of a
Board member
Performance Appraisal
by Self-Analysis
In order to ensure that the Board is
constituted so as to properly
discharge its duties to the
members, staff and clients of
RIDBC, Board members agree
that periodically they will undertake
a performance appraisal by
self-analysis. This requires the
completion and signing of a
questionnaire, signifying continued
agreement to be bound by the
requirements of the Integrity
Statement (a copy of the
questionnaire can be found on
RIDBC’s website at
www.ridbc.org.au).
Under the Royal Institute for
Deaf and Blind Children Act, the
Board is empowered to establish
such committees as the Board
thinks will assist it to exercise its
functions. Currently, there are six
Standing Committees as detailed
below. The committees are
constituted at the first meeting of
the Board after the Annual General
Meeting of RIDBC.
The Capital Projects
Committee oversees all but
minor capital projects, receiving
proposals from the Chief Executive
and making recommendations to
the Board in relation to proposed
projects. Members: David Dinte
(Chairman), Assoc Prof Catherine
Birman, Graeme Bradshaw, Prof
Christine E Deer.
The Fundraising Committee
receives and considers plans
and progress reports in relation
to RIDBC’s community relations
and fundraising activities. The
committee reviews the annual
Operational Plan for community
relations and fundraising.
Members: Graeme Bradshaw
(Chairman), Roger Gee, Richard
Owens, Greg Sedgwick.
The Finance, Audit and Risk
Committee regularly reviews the
accounting policies of RIDBC, the
provision of financial information,
and the policy on risk management.
The committee receives and
reviews the annual budgets and
financial statements prior to their
consideration by the Board.
Members: Jim Kropp (Chairman),
Roger Gee, John Landerer, Greg
Sedgwick, Barbara Stone.
The Investment Committee
regularly reviews RIDBC’s
investment policies and practices
to ensure they are and remain
appropriate to RIDBC’s needs.
Members: Sean Wareing
(Chairman), David Dinte, Jim
Kropp, John Landerer, Richard
Owens.
The Nominations and
Governance Committee
develops and maintains
guidelines to apprise prospective
Board members of the Board’s
expectations of its members, and
advises the Board on the selection
and recruitment of persons to fill
vacancies on the Board. Members:
Sean Wareing (Chairman), David
Dinte, Jim Kropp, Richard Owens,
Barbara Stone.
The Student Services
Committee receives and
considers proposals that relate to
the establishment of new
programs or services, or to
significant changes or the
discontinuation of existing
programs or services. The
committee reviews the annual
Operational Plan for services.
Members: Barbara Stone
(Chairman), Assoc Prof Catherine
Birman, Prof Christine E Deer,
Sean Wareing.
Assessment
Committee
The Assessment Committee
considers applications for
enrolment to RIDBC’s Children’s
Services, examining assessment
data against admissions criteria
to determine eligibility. The
criteria are intended to ensure
that RIDBC’s limited resources
are directed towards children
whose prime special educational
needs are related to their sensory
impairment. The Board is
represented on the Committee
by Prof Christine E Deer. All
other committee members are
employees of RIDBC.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
63
ABN 53 443 272 865
Annual Concise Financial Report
For the Year Ended 31 December 2012
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
Information on RIDBC
Concise Financial Report
The concise financial report is an
extract from the full financial report
for the year ended 31 December
2012. The financial statements and
disclosures in the concise financial
report have been derived from the
2012 Financial Report of RIDBC.
A copy of the full financial report
and auditor’s report will be sent
to any member, free of charge,
upon request.
The discussion and analysis
is provided to assist members
in understanding the concise
financial report. It is based on
RIDBC’s financial statements,
the information contained in the
concise financial report and in the
2012 Annual Report of RIDBC.
Income Statement
In 2012, RIDBC recorded Total
Revenue of $32,168,810. This
was a decrease against 2011 of
$1,703,991. Within total revenue,
Operating Revenue decreased
by $1,296,025 or 4.0% over
2011 driven by the reduction in
Investment Income of $2,847,511
partially offset by increases in Total
Fundraising Revenue of $536,474
and by an increase in Government
Grants and Subsidies of $895,401.
Revenue from legacies of
$5,564,139 was 13% higher than
the prior year – at near 5 year
historical record levels. RIDBC is
very grateful for the generosity
and foresight of those who have
64
RIDBC Financials
made provision for RIDBC through
their Wills. Donations in 2012
totalled $3,971,246, in line with
the prior year and represent the
fourth successive year in RIDBC’s
history where donations have
approximated or exceeded four
million dollars. Income from other
fundraising areas was consistent
with or exceeded the 2011 result,
providing RIDBC with continued
valuable contributions from the
Rainbow Lottery, the Lantern
Clubs and other fundraising
Committees, Auxiliaries and
RIDBC events.
of its investment portfolio in 2012,
compared to the fall experienced
in 2011, income flows from the
portfolio fell to $4,106,267, a
reduction of some 41% compared
to the prior year.
2012 was characterised by a
significant and welcome rebound
in the asset value of RIDBC’s
investment portfolio following the
fall in values caused by the global
financial crisis (GFC) “doubledip” experienced in 2011. RIDBC
continued to benefit from the
ongoing support of the NSW and
Commonwealth Governments –
for which we are most appreciative
– with the increase in Grants and
Subsidies noted above.
Expenditure increased primarily in
Children's Services, reflecting an
increased breadth and depth of
services delivered to an increased
number of children and families in
2012. At the year end, there were
1,161 children enrolled, an increase
of 107 over the year. RIDBC spent
78% of its outgoings on services
to children.
The difficult and unpredictable
economic and operating
conditions experienced since 2009
receded and stabilised somewhat
in 2012, however, the spectre
of ongoing depressed global
economic growth, especially in
North America and Europe, still
remains and casts a shadow
over future business conditions
locally in Australia and for RIDBC.
Despite the rise in the asset value
Total Expenditure on Operating
Activities increased by 3.7% in
2012 to $32,405,810, above that
of CPI, reflecting increases in
a number of expenditure types
where RIDBC has little or no
control and spend in areas that
helped execute the Institute’s
Five Year Strategic Plan.
Administration costs were
contained to 5% of operational
expenditure. This continues to
reflect the efficient and prudent
operation of RIDBC.
Principally resultant from the
crystallisation of losses on
investment assets sold during
2012 of $1,626,320, RIDBC
recorded a net loss after Non
Operating Activities of $1,863,130
in 2012 compared to a loss of
$4,017,186 in 2011.
Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Disability Services, (centre)
launches the second in a series of iPad apps developed by RIDBC
to help small children develop language.
Income Statement and
Changes in Reserves
Recognised in Equity
Continued application in 2012 of
the Financial Reporting accounting
standard, first adopted in 2009,
indicates an increase in the year
end market values of the long term
investments held by RIDBC as at
31 December of $5,560,503 or an
8% gain in market values during
2012. This represents a reversal of
the 1% loss in value experienced
in 2011.
Statement of Financial
Position
In 2012 the value of RIDBC’s Net
Assets increased by 5.4% to
$133,204,496.
Of most importance was the
increase in the Non Current
Financial Asset values, which
had lost value in 2011, with an
increase of 3.2% experienced in
2012 reflecting a gain in the value
of RIDBC’s investment assets,
with increases experienced
across all asset sectors driven by
rises in all major global financial
markets. RIDBC’s investment
portfolio is diversified, being
invested broadly across a range
of managers and asset classes
including cash, bonds, equities,
infrastructure, property trusts
and direct property. RIDBC is a
long term investor and operates
its investment portfolio with the
advice of an independent asset
consultant and with a special
purpose sub committee of the
RIDBC Board.
During 2012, RIDBC’s additions to
fixed assets were in line with the
prior year and reflected normalised
capital spending, with no major
building works being undertaken
during the year.
Included for the first time last year,
the Reserve for the Technology
Capital Campaign continues to
reflect RIDBC’s dedicated focus on
raising funds for the acquisition and
implementation of communications
technologies to enhance the
breadth, depth and quality of the
organisation’s services.
Statement of Cash Flows
Cash inflows from operating
activities increased 9% compared
with 2011, primarily due to
combined increases in receipts
from fundraising activities and
from Government however these
increases were somewhat offset,
by a decrease in cash-based
income receipts from our
investments.
Total Cash inflow for 2012 of
$5,825,677 compared to the
outflow in 2011 of $1,413,085
was bolstered significantly by the
increase in cash balances held for
investment purposes. This resulted
from rebalancing the investment
portfolio in 2012 as recommended
by the investment consultant
and approved by the Board's
Investment sub-committee.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
65
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Statement of Income & Expenditure
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
Note
2012
2011
REVENUE FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2
31,653,886
32,949,911
INCOME FROM NON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2
514,924
922,890
TOTAL REVENUE
2
$32,168,810
$33,872,801
CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING
3
2,403,438
2,093,422
RAINBOW LOTTERY
3
2,536,648
2,570,478
COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
3
389,841
601,502
ADMINISTRATION
3
1,716,291
1,824,417
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
3
244,517
217,174
STUDENT SERVICES
3
25,115,075
23,938,427
3
$32,405,810
$31,245,420
3
1,626,320
6,644,567
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
$34,032,130
$37,889,987
DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR
($1,863,320)
($4,017,186)
EXPENDITURE ON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
EXPENDITURE ON NON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
66
RIDBC Financials
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Statement of Income & Changes in Reserves Recognised in Equity
(comprehensive income)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
2012
2011
($1,863,320)
($4,017,186)
Net unrealised gain/(loss) on revaluation of long term available for
sale investments to fair value
5,560,503
(1,199,357)
Reclassification to income statement on disposal of available for sale
investments
3,142,558
658,680
8,703,061
(540,677)
$6,839,741
($4,557,863)
Note
DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR
CHANGES IN RESERVES RECOGNISED IN EQUITY
(OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME)
TOTAL INCOME & CHANGES IN RESERVES RECOGNISED
DIRECTLY IN EQUITY (COMPREHENSIVE INCOME)
FOR THE YEAR
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
67
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2012
2012
2011
Cash and cash equivalents
8,159,528
2,333,851
Trade and other receivables
1,593,901
1,931,216
–
2,088,210
616,201
498,713
$10,369,630
$6,851,990
78,332,322
73,101,591
228,000
164,000
50,397,170
51,746,511
Note
CURRENT ASSETS
Financial assets
Other current assets
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Financial assets
Retirement benefit surplus
Property, plant and equipment
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
$128,957,492
$125,012,102
TOTAL ASSETS
$139,327,122
$131,864,092
1,420,853
1,449,623
480,957
122,699
3,285,652
3,703,015
$5,187,462
$5,275,337
935,164
224,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables
Other current liabilities
Short-term provisions
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-term provisions
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
$935,164
$224,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$6,122,626
$5,499,337
NET ASSETS
$133,204,496
$126,364,755
Capital projects account
1,082,066
1,089,062
Capital subsidies reserve
179,000
85,113
4,076,775
3,295,438
Asset revaluation reserve
45,968,893
37,265,832
Designated investment fund
74,775,000
69,156,152
300,000
264,000
FUNDS
Reserves
Prescribed purpose funds
Technology capital campaign
Total reserves
$126,381,734
$111,155,597
Retained earnings
$6,822,762
$15,209,158
TOTAL FUNDS
$133,204,496
$126,364,755
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
68
RIDBC Financials
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Statement of Changes in Equity
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
Capital Prescribed
Subsidies
Purpose
Reserve
Funds
Asset Designated Technology
Revaluation Investment
Capital
Reserve
Fund
Campaign
Retained
Earnings
Capital
Projects
Account
Balance at 1
January 2011
16,318,775
861,086
105,287
2,755,014
37,806,509
73,075,947
–
130,922,618
Total
comprehensive
income for the
year
(4,017,186)
–
–
–
(540,677)
–
–
(4,557,863)
Subtotal
12,301,589
861,086
105,287
2,755,014
37,265,832
73,075,947
–
126,364,755
(227,976)
227,976
–
–
–
–
–
–
20,174
–
(20,174)
–
–
–
–
–
(540,424)
–
–
540,424
–
–
–
–
3,919,795
–
–
–
–
(3,919,795)
–
–
(264,000)
–
–
–
–
–
264,000
–
$37,265,832 $69,156,152
$264,000
$126,364,755
TOTAL
Transfers to and
from reserve
Capital projects
account
Capital
subsidies
reserve
Prescribed
purpose funds
Designated
investment fund
Technology
capital
campaign
Balance at 31
December 2011
$15,209,158 $1,089,062
Total
comprehensive
income for the
year
(1,863,320)
–
–
–
8,703,061
–
–
6,839,741
Subtotal
13,345,838
1,089,062
85,113
3,295,438
45,968,893
69,156,152
264,000
133,204,496
(249,300)
–
–
249,300
–
–
–
–
6,996
(6,996)
–
–
–
–
–
–
(93,887)
–
93,887
–
–
–
–
–
(532,037)
–
–
532,037
–
–
–
–
(5,618,848)
–
–
–
–
5,618,848
–
–
(36,000)
–
–
–
–
–
36,000
–
$85,113 $3,295,438
Transfers to and
from reserve
Prior Year
transfer
Capital projects
account
Capital
subsidies
reserve
Prescribed
purpose funds
Designated
investment fund
Technology
capital
campaign
Balance at 31
December 2012
$6,822,762 $1,082,066
$179,000 $4,076,775 $45,968,893 $74,775,000
$300,000 $133,204,496
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
69
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Statement of Cash Flows
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
2012
2011
Receipts from fundraising, fees and sundry sources
16,474,950
14,882,233
Government grants & subsidies received
10,723,840
8,599,633
248,258
246,295
4,553,027
6,663,209
(29,715,785)
(28,296,456)
$2,284,290
$2,094,914
16,318
24,051
(639,431)
(873,596)
25,264,500
8,314,061
(21,100,000)
(10,972,515)
$3,541,387
($3,507,999)
Net increase /(decrease) in cash held
5,825,677
(1,413,085)
Cash at the beginning of the financial year
2,333,851
3,746,936
$8,159,528
$2,333,851
Note
Cash flow from operating activities
Interest received
Receipts from investments
Payments to suppliers and employees
Net cash inflows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Payments for property, plant and equipment
Receipts from sale of investment securities
Payments for investment securities
Net cash inflows/(outflows) from investing activities
Cash at the end of the financial year
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
70
RIDBC Financials
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
Note 1 – Basis of Preparation of the Concise Financial Report
The concise financial report is an
extract from the full financial report
for the year 31 December 2012.
The concise financial report has
been prepared in accordance with
Accounting Standard AASB 1039:
Concise Financial Reports, and
Charitable Fundraising Act 1991.
detailed an understanding of the
financial performance, financial
position and financing and
investing activities of RIDBC as the
full financial report. A copy of the
full financial report and auditor’s
report will be sent to any member,
free of charge, upon request.
The financial report covers
the entity of the Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children
(RIDBC) domiciled in Australia,
incorporated in 1905 by Act
No. 10 of the New South Wales
Parliament, and continuing under
the provisions of the Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children Act
No. 6 from 26 June 1998.
The financial report complies with
Australian Accounting Standards.
A statement of compliance with
International Financial Reporting
Standards cannot be made due
to RIDBC applying the not-forprofit sector specific requirements
contained in the Australian
Accounting Standards.
The financial statements, specific
disclosures and other information
included in the concise financial
report are derived from and are
consistent with the full financial
report of the Royal Institute for
Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC).
The concise financial report
cannot be expected to provide as
The Australian Charities and Notfor-Profit Commission, the new
independent Commonwealth
regulator for Australian charities,
was established under
the Australian Charities and
Not-for-Profit Commission Act
2012 (Cth) (the ACNC Act) and
the Australian Charities and
Not-for-profits Commission
(Consequential and Transitional)
Act 2012 (Cth) (the ACNC
Consequential and Transitional
Act).
The ACNC Act sets out the
objects and functions of the
ACNC, as well as the framework
for the registration and regulation
of charities. This includes the
ongoing obligations that charities
must comply with.
RIDBC was automatically
registered as a charity with the
ACNC with its registration details
transferred across from the
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
having been previously endorsed
by the ATO as a charity.
It is anticipated that RIDBC will
first be required to comply with the
ACNC’s reporting obligations in
relation to its 2013 annual report
and accounts.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
71
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
Note 2 – Revenue
A) Revenue from Operating Activities
Charitable Fundraising
Legacies
Donations
Lantern Clubs, Committees and Auxiliaries
Merchandising and Other Fundraising
Rainbow Lottery
TOTAL FUNDRAISING
Government grants and subsidies
Commonwealth Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations
General recurrent expenditure grants
Special education schools support
Intervention support grants
Capital support – Non-Government Schools
Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community
Services & Indigenous Affairs
Braille production subsidy
Invest to Grow
Better Start for Children with Disabilities
NSW Ageing, Disability & Home Care
Therapy, Low vision and other service grants
Community service grants program funding
NSW Family and Community Services
Preschool per capita grants
SCAN Funding
NSW Department of Education and Communities
State per capita grants
Teaching supervisors’ subsidy
AusAID
Avoidable Blindness Initiative
TOTAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS & SUBSIDIES
Investment Income
Student and Other Fees
Staff Development & Publications Miscellaneous Income
TOTAL REVENUE FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
B) Income from Non Operating Activities
Net gain on sale of available-for-sale investments
Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
Gain on revaluation of Defined Superannuation Fund
TOTAL INCOME FROM NON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
TOTAL REVENUE
72
RIDBC Financials
2012
2011
5,564,139
3,971,246
946,233
495,209
$10,976,827
$3,513,674
$14,490,501
4,905,185
3,985,480
1,041,902
104,268
$10,036,835
$3,917,192
$13,954,027
902,536
1,576,871
704,138
278,200
851,218
1,523,381
655,740
–
100,000
583,528
394,620
101,766
573,500
48,140
3,561,225
847,419
3,798,373
244,927
374,066
183,050
391,594
178,493
292,139
533,990
284,254
557,867
86,562
$10,418,344
$4,106,267
$1,768,366
$332,036
$538,372
$31,653,886
313,690
$9,522,943
$6,953,778
$1,714,884
$330,857
$473,422
$32,949,911
450,924
–
64,000
$514,924
$32,168,810
917,233
5,657
–
$922,890
$33,872,801
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
2012
2011
Note 3 – Surplus from Ordinary Activities
Surplus from ordinary activities has been determined after:
A) Expenditure on Operating Activities
CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING
1,732,628
1,489,095
Lantern Clubs, Committees and Auxiliaries
452,338
479,290
Merchandising and Other Fundraising
218,472
125,037
$2,403,438
$2,093,422
2,536,648
2,570,478
$4,940,086
$4,663,900
$389,841
$601,502
General and Financial Management
962,055
1,068,444
Human Resources Management
754,236
755,973
$1,716,291
$1,824,417
$244,517
$217,174
Donation Appeals
RAINBOW LOTTERY
TOTAL FUNDRAISING EXPENDITURE
COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATION
TOTAL ADMINISTRATION EXPENDITURE
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
STUDENT SERVICES
Preschool Services
RIDBC (Hunter) Preschool
837,544
813,461
Roberta Reid Preschool
297,750
279,343
Rockie Woofit Preschool
627,087
586,149
RIDBC (Nepean) Preschool
612,802
588,136
VisionEd Preschool
213,372
204,808
Alice Betteridge School
4,521,989
3,357,116
Thomas Pattison School
2,091,763
1,905,411
Garfield Barwick School
1,560,507
1,419,276
Schools
Schools Support
974,372
916,374
-
2,683,560
Community Support Services
3,205,336
3,088,691
Jim Patrick Audiology Centre
578,481
447,709
2,969,150
2,969,024
6,624,922
4,679,369
TOTAL STUDENT SERVICES EXPENDITURE
$25,115,075
$23,938,427
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$32,405,810
$31,245,420
$2,193,101
$2,221,821
Braille and Large Print Production
Therapy Services
Renwick Centre
Education and Research
Home & Community Based Professional Services
Depreciation of non current assets
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
73
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
2012
2011
1,626,320
$1,626,320
$34,032,130
1,672,018
30,188
4,942,361
$6,644,567
$37,889,987
Note 3 – Surplus from Ordinary Activities (cont.)
B) Loss on Non Operating items
Net loss on sale of available-for-sale investments
Net loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
Loss on impaired available-for-sale investments
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON NON OPERATING ACTIVITIES
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Note 4 – Fundraising activities conducted
Fundraising appeals conducted during the financial year, under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991, included
direct mailings, special events, merchandising, lotteries and bequests. Other fundraising activities were also
undertaken by various Committees & Auxiliaries including Lantern Clubs.
(a)Details of income and aggregate expenditure of appeals conducted jointly with traders
For the purpose of this note all fundraising involving the Sale of Items (e.g. chocolates, sun hats,
sunscreen, etc) is deemed to have involved a trader.
Income received from sale of items
Total expenditure incurred
Net Income
2012
2011
1,441,442
1,146,170
670,810
604,327
770,632
541,843
(b)Forms of fundraising appeals conducted in 2012
For the purposes of reporting under the requirements of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991, Royal
Institute for Deaf and Blind Children classifies all fundraising activities under five categories; legacies,
donations, lantern clubs plus committees and auxiliaries, merchandising and rainbow lottery
Note 5 – Events after the Balance date
No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may
significantly affect the operations of RIDBC, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of RIDBC in
future financial years.
The financial report was authorised by the Directors for issue on 26 March 2013.
74
RIDBC Financials
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Directors’ Declaration
The Directors of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children declare that the financial statements and notes,
present fairly the financial position as at 31 December 2012 and its performance for the year ended on that
date in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including Australian Accounting Interpretations).
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Sean P Wareing
President
26 March 2013
Jim Kropp
Director
26 March 2013
Declaration By The President With Respect To Fundraising Appeals
I Sean Wareing, President of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, declare that in my opinion:
(a)the accounts give a true and fair view of all income and expenditure with respect to fundraising
appeals;
(b)the statement of financial position gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the organisation
with respect to fundraising appeals; and
(c)the provisions of the Charitable Fundraising Act, the regulations under the Act and the conditions
attached to the fundraising authority have been complied with by the organisation; and
(d)the internal controls exercised by the organisation are appropriate and effective in accounting for all
income received and applied by the organisation from any of its fundraising appeals.
Sean P Wareing
President
26 March 2013
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
75
Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd
ACN 130 913 594
Level 17, 383 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Locked Bag Q800 QVB Post Office, Sydney NSW 1230
T+61 2 8297 2400
F+61 2 9299 4445
Einfo.nsw@au.gt.com
Wwww.grantthornton.com.au
Independent Auditor’s Report
To the Members of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
Report on the concise
financial report
We have audited the
accompanying concise financial
report of Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children comprises the
statement of financial position as
at 31 December 2012, the income
and expenditure statement,
the statement of income and
changes in reserves recognised
in equity (comprehensive income),
statement of changes in equity
and statement of cash flows
for the year then ended and
related notes, derived from the
audited financial report of the
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind
Children for the year ended 31
December 2012 . The concise
financial report does not contain
all the disclosures required by the
Australian Accounting Standards
and accordingly, reading the
concise financial report is not a
substitute for reading the audited
financial report.
Board’s responsibility for the
financial report
The Board of the Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children are
responsible for the preparation
of the concise financial report
in accordance with Accounting
Standard AASB 1039 Concise
Financial Reports, and the
Charitable Fundraising Act 1991,
and for such internal control as the
directors determine are necessary
to enable the preparation of the
concise financial report.
Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on the concise financial
report based on our audit
procedures which were conducted
in accordance with Auditing
76
RIDBC Financials
Standard ASA 810 Engagements
to Report on Summary Financial
Statements. We have conducted
an independent audit, in
accordance with Australian
Auditing Standards, of the financial
report of the Royal Institute for
Deaf and Blind Children for the
year ended 31 December 2012.
Our audit report on the financial
report for the year was signed
on 26 March 2013 and was not
subject to any modification. The
Australian Auditing Standards
require that we comply with
relevant ethical requirements
relating to audit engagements
and plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance
whether the financial report for
the year is free from material
misstatement.
An audit involves performing
procedures to obtain audit
evidence about the amounts
and disclosures in the concise
financial report. The procedures
selected depend on the auditor’s
judgement, including the
assessment of the risks of material
misstatement of the concise
financial report, whether due to
fraud or error. In making those
risk assessments, the auditor
considers internal control relevant
to the entity’s preparation of the
concise financial report in order to
design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances,
but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the entity’s internal
control.
Our procedures in respect of the
concise financial report included
testing that the information in the
concise financial report is derived
from, and is consistent with, the
financial report for the year, and
examination on a test basis, of
evidence supporting the amounts
and other disclosures which
were not directly derived from the
financial report for the year. These
procedures have been undertaken
to form an opinion whether, in all
material respects, the concise
financial report complies with
Accounting Standard AASB 1039
Concise Financial Reports.
We believe that the audit evidence
we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for
our audit opinion.
Independence
In conducting our audit, we
complied with applicable
independence requirements of
Australian professional ethical
pronouncements.
Auditor’s opinion
In our opinion, the concise
financial report of Royal Institute
for Deaf and Blind Children for
the year ended 31 December
2012 complies with Accounting
Standard AASB 1039 Concise
Financial Reports.
GRANT THORNTON
AUDIT PTY LTD
Chartered Accountants
Sydney, 26 March 2013
A J Archer
Partner – Audit & Assurance
Sydney, 26 March 2013
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
Five Year Financial History
Description
EXPENDITURE
Educational Services Expenditure
Preschool Services
Alice Betteridge School
Thomas Pattison School
Garfield Barwick School
Visiting Professional Services
Braille and Large Print Production
Recreation and Respite Services
Approved Therapy Services
Community Support Services
Jim Patrick Audiology Centre
Renwick Centre
Total Educational Services Expenditure
Administration
Investment Management
Charitable Fundraising
Rainbow Lottery
Community Information and Education
Total Expenditure from Operating Activities
REVENUE FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
Charitable Fundraising Income
Legacies
Donations & special events
Lantern Clubs, Committees and Auxiliaries
Merchandising and Other Fundraising
Total Charitable Fundraising Income
Rainbow Lottery
Government
Commonwealth Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations
Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing,
Community Services & Indigenous Affairs
NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care
NSW Department of Family and Community
Services
NSW Department of Education and Communities
AusAID
Total Grants and Subsidies
Other Income
Investment income
Sales, fees and miscellaneous income
Total Revenue From Operating Activities
Operating Surplus
Net (loss)/gain on sale of available–for–sale
investments
Net (loss)/gain on disposal & reinstatement of
property, plant & equipment
Net loss on disposal of investment property
Net loss on impairment of inventory
Gain on financial asset at fair value
Loss on impaired available–for–sale financial asset
(Deficit)/Surplus after non–operating Items
%
2012
2011
2010
2009
78
5
1
7
8
1
100
2,588,555
4,521,989
2,091,763
1,560,507
6,624,922
974,372
–
–
3,205,336
578,481
2,969,150
25,115,075
1,716,291
244,517
2,403,438
2,536,648
389,841
32,405,810
2,471,897
3,357,116
1,905,411
1,419,276
4,679,369
916,374
–
2,683,560
3,088,691
447,709
2,969,024
23,938,427
1,824,417
217,175
2,093,422
2,570,478
601,502
31,245,421
2,481,640
3,590,399
2,102,680
1,424,205
4,452,654
901,502
–
2,581,224
2,698,066
403,085
2,601,934
23,237,389
1,962,321
250,846
2,151,157
2,321,994
602,721
30,526,428
2,239,368
3,439,501
1,995,761
1,412,073
4,258,024
1,019,064
371,756
2,456,989
2,414,886
393,855
2,273,499
22,274,776
1,709,816
230,605
1,834,607
2,351,951
531,352
28,933,107
2,635,495
3,593,512
2,369,816
1,603,654
4,514,638
1,071,405
957,955
2,624,330
2,354,586
434,445
2,850,981
25,010,817 78
1,864,346 6
222,026 1
1,847,498 6
2,374,035 6
590,719 2
31,909,441 100
35
11
5,564,139
3,971,246
946,233
495,209
10,976,827
3,513,674
4,905,185
3,985,480
1,041,902
104,268
10,036,835
3,917,192
5,294,359
4,181,645
946,964
80,129
10,503,097
4,287,680
4,186,518
5,849,177
911,774
367,638
11,315,107
4,320,168
4,948,329
3,914,314
786,162
430,598
10,079,403
4,484,833
3,461,745
3,030,339
4,033,248
3,688,257
2,982,784
1,078,148
723,406
642,822
610,908
601,171
4,408,644
4,043,300
3,647,627
3,721,953
4,014,055
557,116
570,087
548,776
531,444
485,978
826,129
86,562
10,418,344
842,121
313,690
9,522,943
1,124,619
76,441
10,073,533
918,636
–
9,471,198
911,491
–
8,995,479
4,106,267
2,638,774
31,653,886
(751,924)
6,953,778
2,519,163
32,949,911
1,704,490
6,064,550
2,287,535
33,216,395
2,689,967
4,387,548
2,303,219
31,797,240
2,864,133
(1,175,396)
(754,784)
–
(4,304,738)
1,198,307
–
(24,531)
(81,317)
18,942
12,181
–
–
64,000
–
(1,863,320)
–
–
–
(4,942,361)
(4,017,186)
(100,000)
(116,312)
–
(1,138,747)
1,253,591
–
–
–
(245,750)
(1,667,413)
(80,577)
–
–
(3,478,835)
1,633,646
33
13
8
100
2008
%
28
12
25
10,223,166 28
2,109,130 6
35,892,011 100
3,982,570
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
77
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
GOVERNMENT FUNDING – SUMMARY OF APPLICABLE LEGISLATION
Source of Funds
Legislation
Funding Purposes
Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• G
eneral Recurrent Grants
Program
• G
eneral Recurrent Grants for
Non-Government Schools
• Commonwealth Strategic
Assistance for Improving
Student Outcomes
• Schools Support
Non-Government
• Commonwealth Strategic
Assistance for Improving
Student Outcomes
• S
tates Grants (Primary and
• A
ssistance towards the cost of
Secondary Education Assistance)
recurrent services at our schools.
Act (2000)
• S
tates Grants (Primary and
• A
ssistance towards costs of education
Secondary Education Assistance)
support services at and from our
Act (2000)
Special Schools.
• States Grants (Primary and
• F
unding for special projects that
Secondary Education Assistance)
provide a type of support to children’s
Act (2000)
education which may otherwise be
lacking in an institutional setting.
• A
ssistance towards the recurrent costs
of our Early Learning Programs.
• S
chool Language Program
– Community Languages
Element
• C
ommonwealth Strategic
Assistance for Improving
Student Outcomes
• C
apital Support – Non
Government
• Building Education Revolution
– National School Pride (NSP)
• F
unding towards the cost of provision
of Student Support Services.
• States Grants (Primary and
• A
ssistance towards the cost of
Secondary Education Assistance)
implementation of Community
Act (2000)
Languages Program in the RIDBC
Thomas Pattison School.
ssistance towards the cost of
• States Grants (Primary and
• A
Secondary Education Assistance)
Equipment and construction projects
Act (2000)
within our schools.
• Nation Building Economic
Stimulus Plan – Education
– P21
• B
uild learning environments to help
children, families and communities
participate in activities that will support
achievement and develop learning
potential.
Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
• E
arly Childhood – Invest to
Grow. RIDBC Teleschool
Project
etter Start Early Intervention
• B
Funding
• Childcare Act (1972)
• T
o provide intensive, targeted and
coordinated support for parents and
children who are vulnerable, at risk or in
disadvantaged communities.
• T
he Better Start for Children with
Disability (Better Start) initiative
aims to assist eligible children with
developmental disabilities to access
funding for early treatment, diagnostic
and management services.
• Production of Alternate Format • Print Disability Service – Disability • S
ubsidy towards the production of AFP
Print
Services Act (1986)
(Part II, Section 10 of the Act).
78
RIDBC Financials
Royal Institute For Deaf and Blind Children
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2012
GOVERNMENT FUNDING – SUMMARY OF APPLICABLE LEGISLATION
Source of Funds
Legislation
Funding Purposes
N.S.W. Ageing, Disability and Home Care
• Financial Assistance Grants
• Disability Services Act (1993)
• Assistance towards the cost of
providing boarding, therapy, low vision
and other services, under Section 7 of
the Act.
• Community Services Grants
• Departmental policy initiative –
Children (Care and Protection)
Act (1987)
• Community services grants program
funding for community support and
braille production.
N.S.W. Department of Family and Community Services
• Preschool Per Capita Grant
• Children and Young Persons
(Care and Protection) Act (1998)
• Per capita allowance for pupils
attending RIDBC’s Hunter, Nepean,
Roberta Reid, Rockie Woofit and
VisionEd Preschools under the
Childrens Services Regulation 2004.
• Supporting Children with
additional needs
• Children and Young Persons
(Care and Protection) Act (1998)
• Assistance towards the cost of
providing inclusive support for children
with additional needs who attend
RIDBC’s Hunter, Nepean, Rockie
Woofit, Roberta Reid and VisionEd
Preschools.
N.S.W. Department of Education and Communities
• Non-Government State
Schools Per Capita Allowance
• Education Act (1990)
• Teaching Supervisor’s Subsidy • Education Act (1990)
• Per capita allowance for primary and
secondary pupils attending our special
schools.
• Subsidies for approved teaching staff of
intellectually impaired children.
AusAid
• Avoidable Blindness Initiative
• Public Service Act (1999)
• Tackle avoidable blindness in the Asia
Pacific region.
RIDBC Annual Report 2012
79
Royal Institute for Deaf and
Blind Children (RIDBC)
Chief Executive: Chris Rehn
361–365 North Rocks Road
North Rocks NSW
Service enquiries:
T 1300 581 391
General information:
T 02 9871 1233 (TTY/V)
Donate:
T 1800 043 411
F 02 9871 2196
Private Bag 29
Parramatta NSW 2124
E online@ridbc.org.au
RIDBC North Parramatta
106 Pennant Hills Road
North Parramatta NSW 2151
T 02 8838 1400 (TTY/V)
F 02 9630 1364
RIDBC Nepean
5–6 Floribunda Avenue
Glenmore Park NSW 2745
T 02 4733 4239 (TTY/V)
F 02 4733 4144
PO Box 8161
Glenmore Park NSW 2745
RIDBC Hunter
RIDBC Central Coast
160 Floraville Road
Floraville NSW 2280
46B Mann Street
Gosford NSW 2250
T 02 4942 8455 (TTY/V)
T 02 9872 0347
F 02 4942 8457
RIDBC Matilda Rose Centre
LE King Building, War Memorial
Hospital
125 Birrell Street
Waverley NSW 2024
T 02 9369 1423
RIDBC Hear the Children
Rouse Hill Town Centre
Library Building, Level 1, LB 104
Main Street Rouse Hill NSW 2155
RIDBC Darwin
Suite 1002, Ground Floor Stage
Cascom Centre
13-17 Scaturchio Street
Casuarina NT 0810
T 08 8945 6498
Casuarina Post Shop
PO Box 40725
Casuarina NT 0810
RIDBC Lismore
Suite 10A, Conway Plaza
21 Conway Street
Lismore NSW 2480
T 02 6622 5593
RIDBC at the Australian
Hearing Hub
16 University Avenue
Macquarie University NSW 2109
T 02 9871 1233
RIDBC Teleschool (Regional/
Remote services)
T 1300 131 923 (at the cost of a
local call) or 02 9872 0780
F 02 9872 0889
Join the RIDBC conversation!
You can be part of the RIDBC
community online by following us
on Twitter and Facebook
Twitter.com/ridbc
Facebook.com/ridbc
To subscribe to the
RIDBC e-newsletter go to
www.ridbc.org.au
You can
make a
difference
Every year, thousands of people
help the Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children (RIDBC) to
make a difference in children’s
lives. There are many ways to
help. Here are just some:
Make a donation
Become a volunteer
Many people and businesses
give monetary support to RIDBC
each year. To make a donation
phone 1800 043 411 or visit
www.ridbc.org.au/donate
Volunteers support our staff
in areas as diverse as proofreading braille, helping in
classrooms and even gardening.
For further information contact
Elise Taylor on (02) 9871 1233.
www.ridbc.org.au/volunteers
Join a fundraising
group
RIDBC has around 1500 people
helping behind the scenes as
members of fundraising groups.
For further information contact
Erin Adams on (02) 9871 1233.
www.ridbc.org.au/volunteer
Leave a bequest
Your support through a bequest
creates a legacy that will
continue to give. For further
information contact Adrienne
Pearson on (02) 9871 1233 or
visit www.ridbc.org.au/bequest
Buy a Rainbow
Lottery ticket
The Rainbow Lottery is held
four times a year with $25
000 in prizes to be won each
time including cash and gift
vouchers. To purchase a ticket
phone 1800 043 411 or online at
www.ridbc.org.au/lottery
Participate in a
fundraising event
Everything from opera
evenings to swimathons. To
find out the latest fundraising
activities contact Kaye Bailey
on (02) 9871 1233 or visit
www.ridbc.org.au/events
Organise your own
fundraising event
Enlist the support of friends,
family, school and work
colleagues. We can help you
plan your fundraising event for
RIDBC. For ideas or further
information contact Sarah
Middlemiss on (02) 9871 1233 or
visit www.ridbc.org.au/fundraise
Become a
corporate partner
Align your organisation with
RIDBC and encourage staff
to fundraise to support the
children. Contact Johanna
Yule on (02) 9871 1233 or visit
www.ridbc.org.au/partnership