Platform October 2014 AGM Annual Report
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Platform October 2014 AGM Annual Report
Chair’s Report E nga matawaka o te motu, tena koutou katoa
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Recently Platform’s first annual report resurfaced from the archives. Penned in 2001 by Co-Chairs Barbara Anderson and Hugh Norris it makes for interesting reading. At the time Platform Inc had been trading for 18 months, was governed by a committee of fourteen and was starting the year with a deficit of $15,000. Total income at the time was $40,000.
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The previous ‘peak body’ for the NGO sector, HOMES, had been wound up and the establishment of Platform was seen as the sectors last ditch effort to offer a credible, centralised national voice to the Ministry of Health. To enable that, members had very kindly donated old office equipment and a computer so the newly appointed chief executive, Marion Blake, could get started. There was no guarantee her job would be there in a years’ time. By anyone’s definition Platform was on its knees. Yet the 2000/2001 annual report is full of hope and outlines Platform’s aims of: • Increasing Ministry of Health policy makers understanding of the NGO sector in terms of role, size, workforce and contribution
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Bringing a clear, consistent community sector perspective to future mental health reform Championing a shift towards a strengths based approach to mental health services (addictions had not become part of the everyday lexicon) Understanding the newly established District Health Board structure and how best to engage Highlighting innovative practice in members Organisation’s and at the same time challenging sub-standard practice Working hard to secure more sustainable income for Platform from fee for service work and grants Establishing a website as a means of connecting with members
Fast forward to present day and Platform is about to enter its fifteenth year. While financial sustainability remains a delicate balancing act from year to year the organisation is no longer on its knees. Increasingly we are recognised and respected for bringing a strong, considered voice not only to the Ministry of Health but multiple government Ministries and agencies and indeed Government itself. That voice is made more potent as we systematically build up resources and factual information that better describe our sector, the contribution we make to the lives of tens of thousands New Zealanders every year and of course the wider community itself.
Certainly some of the problems of old still niggle but perhaps we are seeing our most determined and sustained effort to remedy that with the Fair Funding campaign. Our hard won credibility combined with the unwavering support of the membership has meant Platform has felt able, for the first time, to speak very publically about the barriers that compromise our sector. These barriers are largely systemic, compromising the community sectors ability to play its part in bringing about the changes Government says it wants. A health, as well as mental health and addictions system, orientated towards the community and primary care end of the continuum, with services intervening earlier and with the lightest touch. That vision has such strong resonance for community Organisation’s as it represents our whakapapa, our roots, and it’s where we are at our best.
The Board and I wholeheartedly thank you for your continued confidence in us and your steady support. We also want to pay special tribute to Marion who has stayed the course with Platform over many years, made an enormous contribution to our sector and remains energized and ambitious for our future. Paul Ingle Chair
As a final nod to our past I’d like to end with the same whakatauki from the 2001 annual report.
Whakapuputia o rakau. E kore e whati. A single stick can easily be broken. Many sticks bound together cannot
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Platform October 2014 AGM Annual Report
Chief Executive Report The challenges for any national collaboration is keeping members connected, staying aware of emerging issues then with the Board, reflecting this into a work programme. There is also the task of achieving that with limited resourcing and at times, being a little overwhelmed at the size of the job before us. The pattern we have established of biannual leadership forums, regional visits and now regular online exchanges has been a dramatic improvement in helping Platform to be more aligned; it also gives me confidence to know I am working to a mandated strategic plan. Through the development and shaping of Platform’s Statement for Change, members have brought together the thinking that has been emerging over the past few years. It reflects an environment that is becoming increasingly difficult to operate within and the urgent changes required. We have promoted this document widely and it provides a sharp focus on where our energies must be directed if we are to assist organisations to continue to take a critical role in our communities. Within that body of work sits Equally Well, which is a critical work area and we must play our part in championing change as we cannot accept the poor physical health status of people with mental health
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and addictions. Taking care of the health and wellbeing of the sector has been an important feature of the Fair Funding campaign and there is more work to do to maintain a robust community sector. National plans such as Blueprint II, Rising to the Challenge and Towards the Next Wave fail to give life to the greater role the NGO sector can play. So in order to address this we are developing On Track a roadmap that will specifically: • describe future mental health and addiction NGO service delivery •
estimate the predicted impact on the NGO workforce
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propose some solutions to current and emerging service development and workforce challenges
We will also continue to advocate for far greater weighting to be given to the social determinants of health, particularly employment and affordable housing, in order to balance the privileging of the clinical model that frequently has ascendancy. The other responsibilities we have that impact our work plan are outlined in our current contract with the Ministry of Health, which is in its second year. These are to: • Promote public trust and confidence in the Sector •
Improve service user outcomes for services delivered in the Sector
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Improve the quality of mental health and addictions services in the Sector
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Improve Mental Health and Addiction NGO organisational capability
Growing the sector’s capability has long been part of Platform’s role. Therefore the development of NZ Navigator, a sophisticated tool to assist all community organisations to assess the wellbeing of their organisations is a piece of work we are very proud of. Platform supports and collaborates with projects and programmes such as the NGO benchmarking club, PRIMHD and KPI forums, hosting national leadership forums. It is now widely recognised that the social, economic and personal costs of mental illness and addiction has an extensive impact on individuals, families, communities and government. The social determinants that contribute to wellbeing means our focus is now much wider than it has been. This creates an obvious resourcing dilemma given Platform’s relatively small size so we rely heavily on trustees and the membership taking a lead in certain areas. We are also supported by excellent contractors.
Ministry of Business and Innovation (Streamlined contracting and auditing), the Community and Voluntary Sector, Health Quality and Safety Commission, Mental Health Commission, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, State Services Commission, Treasury, Productivity Commission and the Social Housing Unit. This year we have spoken up about some of the important issues, many of which have had support from across the health and social sector. There have been times when people in positions of influence may not always agree with our perspective however we have established ourselves as a credible national, regional and local leadership movement that has found its voice.
Marion Blake Chief Executive
These are some of the agencies we have engaged with over the past year: Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA), the NGO MOH Council, ANGOA, NCAT, Careerforce, Disability Employment Forum, the
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Platform October 2014 AGM Annual Report
Platform thanks and acknowledges the commitment of its members to improved service for users of mental health, addiction and disability services: Affinity Services Ltd Arahura Charitable Trust Arataki Ministries Ltd Beth-Shean Trust Blueprint NZ Ltd Care NZ Ltd Changing Minds Comcare Trust Connect - Supporting Recovery Dalcam Co Ltd Dayspring Trust Delamore Support Services Ltd Depression Support Network Equip Fairleigh Lodge Ltd Framework Goodwood Park Healthcare Group Ltd Healthcare of New Zealand Ltd Mental Health & Addiction Service Kites Trust Koputai Lodge Trust
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Le Va Linkage Limited MASH Trust Mental Health Education and Resource Centre Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand MHAPS (Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support Trust) Mind and Body Consultants Ltd MIX Odyssey House Pact Pathways Problem Gambling Foundation Progress to Health Recovery Solutions Group Refugee Trauma Recovery Richmond New Zealand Trust Limited Rubicon Charitable Trust Stand Children’s Services Tū Māia Whānau Step Ahead Trust
Stepping Stone Trust Supporting Families in Mental Illness NZ Te Runanga O Kirikiriroa Te Whare Mahana Trust The Higher Ground Drug Rehabilitation Trust The Salvation Army Timaru Mental Health Support Trust Timata Hou - Hillcrest Lodge Toi Ora Live Art Trust TRANX, Drug and Alcohol Services Inc Turning Point Trust Waiheke Island Supported Homes Trust WALSHtrust Whatever It Takes Trust Inc Wild Bamboo Wise Group Workwise Employment Ltd Youthline
Financial Performance While Platform is no longer in the precarious position it was in earlier years, each year remains a delicate balancing act. Membership fees only equate to on average 18% - 20% of income and as such cover few operational costs. What that means is Platform relies heavily on its Ministry of Health contract, grants and fee for service work to balance the books. Any loss of revenue from these sources would require a significant paring back of Platform’s work programme. In the year ending 30th June 2014 Platform received total income of $507, 495 and had total expenses of $437,086. The small annual surplus was in part due to a number of member organisations making a contribution to the Fair Funding campaign for the 2014 calendar year. Platform’s full 2013/14 financial statements are available on the Charities website www.charities.govt.nz
It is important to note that Platform Board members do not receive trustee fees and also meet their own travel and accommodation costs to attend meetings. We would like to acknowledge and thank their respective Boards for this additional form of support. Platform Trustees Rob Warriner Kay Fletcher Barbara Disley Naomi Cowan
Paul Ingle Chair Donald Shand Lynette Hutson Derek Wright Kathryn Leafe
Acknowledgements Platform acknowledges and thanks its funders at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development. Platform thanks its partners at the Department of Internal Affairs Charities Services, ANGOA, The Bishop’s Action Foundation, Social Development Partners and the New Zealand Lotteries Grants Board.
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P O Box 6380 Marion Square Wellington New Zealand www.platform.org.nz
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