UnitingSA Annual Report 2018-19

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ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY UnitingSA acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout South Australia and pays respect to elders past and present. We recognise their spiritual heritage, living culture and our walk together towards reconciliation.


CONTENTS 2 ABOUT US 3 OUR ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 4 OUR SERVICE MAP 6 CHAIR’S REPORT 8 CEO’S REPORT 10 SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY 28 MEET OUR BOARD 30 OUR ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 34 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 37 THANK YOU

ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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ABOUT US

UnitingSA began as the Port Adelaide Central Methodist Mission in 1919 and today provides housing, aged care and community services to people across regional and metropolitan South Australia. Throughout our 100 years our reason for being has remained – to realise our vision for a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.

OUR VALUES

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OUR ANNUAL SNAPSHOT

14,704

11,931

people supported across UnitingSA

people provided community services

2,773

5,538

people supported across aged care

occasions of emergency assistance

98

1,083

volunteers

employees

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Elizabeth

Paralowie Salisbury Outer Harbor

Bolivar

NORTH

North Haven

Golden Grove

Taperoo Parafield Largs Bay Semaphore

Modbury

Pooraka

Port Adelaide

Semaphore Park

Tea Tree Gully

St Agnes Valley View

Gepps Cross Regency Park

Alberton

Seaton

Croydon

Woodville

Newton Walkerville

Findon

Payneham

Grange

Hindmarsh Thebarton Fulham

Mile End

SOUTH

West Beach

Campbelltown

Prospect

Tennyson

Henley Beach

Highbury

Northfield Holden Hill

WEST

West Lakes

OUR SERVICE MAP

Para Hills

Mawson Lakes

North Adelaide

Magill Maylands

Stepney Skye Norwood Dulwich Stonyfell Eastwood Burnside Greenhill Wayville Goodwood Glen Osmond Hyde Park

ADELAIDE

Waterfall Gully Plympton Glenelg Springfield Edwardstown Panorama St Marys

EAST

Mitcham Belair

Marion

Brighton

Sturt

Blackwood

Seacliff Darlington Marino O’Halloran Hill Aberfoyle Park Hallett Cove

Woodcroft Reynella Lonsdale

Christies Beach Morphett Vale Noarlunga Centre

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METRO SA

Montacute


Quorn

Port Augusta

Wilmington

Peterborough

Whyalla

REGIONAL SA

Port Pirie

Burra

Cowell Clare Kadina

Morgan Kapunda

Port Wakefield

Renmark

Waikerie

Berri

Tanunda

Gawler

Loxton

Minlaton

Port Lincoln

Murray Bridge Tailem Bend Cape Jervis Kingscote

Goolwa

Victor Harbor

Penneshaw

Meningie Tintinara Keith Bordertown

Darwin

Padthaway Kingston SE A

U

S

T

R

A

L

I

Naracoorte

A Brisbane

South Australia Perth

Robe Sydney Canberra

Adelaide

Melbourne

REGIONAL SA

WEST

EAST

SOUTH

NORTH

Hobart

                             

Penola Beachport

Millicent

OUR SERVICE AREAS Use this chart to search our services by region. Select a service, reference the regions it provides assistance and refer to the map to find the nearest office location. Aged Care: Residential care, transitional care packages, home care, and retirement living services for older people. Employment and Training: Intensive employment, training and education support for people living with a disability, members of long-term jobless families and Aboriginal people from remote communities. Ethnic Link Services: In-home support for older people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Homelessness: Early intervention, intensive tenancy, housing and accommodation support, case management and counselling, emergency and outreach assistance, and life skills advice for people who are homeless or experiencing a housing crisis. Mental Health Services & National Disability Insurance Scheme: Holistic recovery services, psychosocial rehabilitation support, housing and social support, life skills advice, counselling and case management for people living with a mental illness. Housing: Affordable and appropriate accommodation for low income families, young people, refugees and people with mental health related disabilities. Wesley Social Enterprises: Employment opportunities for people living with a disability. Child, Youth and Family: Emergency and financial assistance, counselling and case management, educational courses, and support programs for individuals, families, children and young people.

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This year we commemorated 100 years of service to the South Australian community. I feel honoured to be Board Chair during such a significant chapter in our organisation’s story. We launched our Centenary celebrations with a service at Port Adelaide Uniting Church on April 8. It was 100 years to the day of our founding and was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how much has changed in society and within our organisation over the years. Our Centenary celebrations continued at UnitingSA sites across metropolitan and regional South Australia throughout the year. One of my favourite moments was in Renmark, where we held a lunch to celebrate our Centenary and the 30th birthday of Ethnic Link Services with the Riverland community. It was amazing to see how many people’s

CHAIR’S REPORT lives have been touched by our work in that region. School children performed, their yia-yias were there and some of them got up and danced. It was quite remarkable. While our roots are in Port Adelaide, the Riverland is a snapshot of the incredible impact we have when we embed ourselves in different communities across the state. Despite having much to celebrate this year our work has not been without its challenges. If anything, we are operating in one of the most challenging times in our 100 years. Our Mental Health Services staff are working with ongoing uncertainty around government funding and policy direction. It is still difficult to see clearly what the future of Mental

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Health Services looks like alongside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Our Aged Care workers are faced with the increasingly complex needs of older people. We continue to strive for continuous improvement, both in terms of how we deliver our services and how we bear the financial implications of an under-funded sector. In January, we provided detailed submissions to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and eagerly await the outcomes. We can only hope it delivers the change and investment so desperately needed in aged care. Our Housing and Homelessness teams are working in an environment where there simply isn’t enough affordable accommodation. We know that housing is key to so many other factors in a person’s life including positive mental health, the ability to maintain employment and pursue education. Being unable to deliver something so fundamental to everyone who needs it is frustrating and upsetting. However, we have only survived 100 years by taking on challenges in the face of adversity. Our work and the people we support are too important. As a Board, our role is to create positive leadership so that we can help steer the organisation through these challenges. UnitingSA’s values of respect, compassion,


courage and integrity are central to this. Courage, in particular, is key during difficult times. This year it is evident in the bold decisions we have made and the innovative ways we have worked to achieve positive outcomes for the people we support. One of the biggest changes has been the transition of Portway Housing Association to UnitingSA Housing Ltd. The change in name and legal status firmly positions UnitingSA Housing for the future. As a subsidiary company of UnitingSA, UnitingSA Housing is better able to strengthen tenant support and referrals across services. It also benefits from an increased capacity to build new housing for our community. At the end of the financial year, UnitingSA Housing became the first tier-two community housing provider in Australia to secure a National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) loan. The $7 million low interest loan will enable us to fast-track several community housing projects, including a townhouse development in Kurralta Park. Across Mental Health Services, this year we further enhanced our commitment to putting a lived experience workforce at the heart of service delivery. We invested in a PhD scholarship with the University of South Australia to carry out research around the important role of lived experience workers within the sector. We also launched a pilot project with clients of our Metro Options and Metropolitan Adelaide Community Living programs, who have transitioned to the NDIS. We are supporting them with a 100 per cent lived experience workforce and are already seeing incredible outcomes.

In Aged Care, we received Planning Approval to work on an innovative five-storey aged care development at West Lakes. The project moves aged care out of the backstreets and into the heart of the community, combining residential aged care, retirement living, retail and office space. It is a significant investment for our organisation and firmly cements our future as a leading aged care provider. These are all examples of our organisation staying committed and innovative in the face of a challenging environment. There is no doubt that this resolve is why we are still operating 100 years on. At a Board level we had significant renewal this year, with the departure of Deputy Chair Bruce Trebilcock and Board Secretary Paul Kilvert. They each contributed so much to UnitingSA and I sincerely thank them for their service. We welcomed David Lewis, Lea Stevens, Chris Headland and Emma Siami. They have incredible expertise and commitment, which will build on our strategic, governance and financial capacity as an organisation. We also welcomed Christine Hahn as a member of our Finance and Audit Committee and are excited by the wealth of knowledge she brings.

GAEL FRASER Board Chair

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank CEO Libby Craft, the executive team and all of our staff and volunteers. I am continually inspired by the dedication shown to the people we support and your ability to strive for positive outcomes no matter what challenges arise. This year, our organisation supported almost 15,000 people across the state. Without you, none of this would be possible. It is a true reflection of our motto at UnitingSA – ‘Together we can’.

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In 1919, our organisation began as the Port Adelaide Central Methodist Mission. Our first Superintendent Frederick Brasher worked alongside his family and congregation to deliver emergency relief to people in the Port struggling with unemployment, illness and poverty. One hundred years on, UnitingSA’s workforce of more than 1,100 employees and volunteers this year provided services from over 30 locations across South Australia. Our foundations in Port Adelaide are still strong but we now provide support in communities from as far north as Whyalla through to Kingston in the state’s south-east. No matter how much we have grown and changed over the years, our reason for being has never faltered. We walk alongside people and provide understanding and support to help them achieve their best possible life.

CEO’S REPORT This year, we were privileged to provide support to almost 15,000 people. Of these, 1,780 people were supported by our Homelessness Services, 858 people were provided mental health support, 1,600 people were assisted to pursue employment and training, and 300 people were assisted under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Our Youth Services worked with 563 young people to help them overcome challenges and engage in education. Much like the year of our founding, emergency relief continued to be a core part of our work this year, with 5,538 occasions of assistance provided including food, clothing, blankets and swags. In the area of aged care, 2,773 people were supported in their own homes, in our retirement living units and across our residential aged care sites.

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These are significant numbers of people in diverse communities but what is so important about our work is that every person’s situation is unique and our employees and volunteers value this. Across UnitingSA we work to ensure people are listened to and supported in a way that best suits their individual needs. One of the fundamentals of our work is our drive to improve people’s quality of life. This year, we introduced the Quality of Life (QOL) assessment tool across our community services to support this. The assessment allows us to track and measure the health and wellbeing of the people we support. This provides insight around the impact of support on an individual person’s life, as well as more broadly across all of the clients who receive our services each year. The QOL will also help us align with UnitingSA’s Strategic Plan, which sets a target of 80 per cent of people who use our services showing improved wellbeing, independence and inclusion. Already in the first few months of rolling out the QOL assessment, we are seeing the positive impact our services are having on people’s lives. At a program level, this year there have been some significant changes, especially in the area of Employment & Training Support. Funding for our Building Family Opportunities (BFO) program, which we started running in 2010, ended in June. To say BFO had a positive impact in our community is an understatement. Over the years, the program


supported 1,096 long-term unemployed families. It helped transform lives and particularly showed the importance of recognising someone’s ‘whole of life’ situation when helping them to address their multiple, complex barriers to social participation and employment. It is never easy when a program with this kind of impact closes but it is a reality of the sector we work in. I want to recognise the incredibly dedicated, experienced team who delivered the program over nine years. The legacy of BFO lives on in the lives of the people it helped. Our Mental Health Services continue to be impacted by funding changes and the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). I commend all of our staff working in this space for their continued determination to pursue positive outcomes for the people we support in this new environment. This drive and person-centred approach is evident across all of our workforce and it is what makes UnitingSA such a special organisation. I feel incredibly proud to lead such a dedicated, passionate team and was delighted to be part of celebrations this year recognising their efforts. In May, we held a volunteer lunch and appreciation ceremony to say a special thank you to the people who volunteer their time to enhance our work in communities across South Australia. Then, in June, our employees celebrating a milestone year were recognised at our annual staff recognition event. Incredibly, six of the employees were marking their 25th year at UnitingSA and four had reached their 30-year milestone. In total, we had more than 700 years of service in the room, which was remarkable. In order to ensure we are not only leading for today but equipping our staff with strong leadership for the

future, we implemented a new leadership training program this year. Staff from across our diverse service portfolio participated. Feedback from the first group to take part was extremely positive and a second round will be scheduled later this year to ensure training is embedded across the organisation and emerging leaders are supported. One of our longest serving leaders, our Executive Manager of Aged Care Deborah Burton, retired this year after 30 years working with our organisation. Deborah’s expertise in aged care, her enthusiasm and support will be greatly missed and we sincerely thank her for her years of service. Our work at UnitingSA would not be possible without the invaluable support of our sponsors and donors. This year’s Christmas Appeal was an incredible example of the impact we can have when the community unites to support others. We raised more than $33,000 and collected almost 3,000 toys and more than 1,500 food items to brighten Christmas for individuals and families in need. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us to make this happen. Finally, thank you to all of our staff, volunteers, our leadership team and Board of Directors for your continued support, hard work and dedication to improving people’s lives across South Australia. I am so proud of what we have achieved this year, as well as what has been achieved by those who have come before us in our 100-year story.

LIBBY CRAFT Chief Executive Officer

Our Centenary has been an amazing year of reflection, celebration and looking to our future. I look forward to continuing to work with UnitingSA as we pursue our vision for a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.

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1,600

HELPING CHILDREN THRIVE & FAMILIES CONNECT

people were assisted through our Employment & Training Support programs

“To see my kids’ faces when I gave them a doll, some toys and new shoes for Christmas was priceless. I am forever grateful for what UnitingSA did. I can’t really put it into words.” – CHANTAL, RECIPIENT OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL

OUR CHRISTMAS APPEAL RAISED $33,872 and collected 2,900 toys and 1,590 food donations to support people in need during the festive season.

We are committed to addressing people’s immediate needs and offering ongoing support to help them overcome life challenges and achieve positive outcomes.

THIS YEAR AT UNITINGSA…

Our commitment to reconciliation was celebrated during Nunga Week with the inaugural raising of the Aboriginal and Australian flags at Taperoo Community Centre.

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563

young people were supported to overcome challenges and connect with their community through our Urban Youth and Flexible Learning Options (FLO) programs


1,245

families were supported to join or re-enter the workforce through our ParentsNext program

Our financial counsellors helped 483 people find solutions to ease financial stress. This included support with debt and loan repayments, budgeting, bankruptcies, negotiating with creditors and managing income and spending.

Our No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), which we deliver in partnership with Good Shepherd Microfinance, provided 1,219 people fee-free loans to buy essential goods and services.

1,320

IN 1933… Free kindergarten for all

people accessed programs funded by our Communities for Children initiative

WE OPENED A NEW SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN SMITHFIELD PLAINS, FLOURISH CAFÉ ON CONVENTRY, to provide a training

ground for people wanting to learn cooking and customer service skills while obtaining qualifications.

Our Building Family Opportunities program supported

361 people from long-term jobless families

on their pathway to meaningful employment.

We established a free kindergarten on Dale St, Port Adelaide, to ensure all children could access education in their early years regardless of wealth. Such a service had previously only been available to middle-class society who could afford the fees. – CHILDREN AT THE MISSION’S KINDERGARTEN

5,538

occasions of Emergency Assistance were provided including food, clothing, blankets and swags

“I got in touch with UnitingSA when I had my little one and was in the hospital. I was so down, I would say there was no life apart from breathing. I couldn’t afford to get certain things and rather than go without, I was helped.”

6,948

people were supported through our Child, Youth & Family Services

– SARAH, CLIENT OF STRENGTHENING FAMILIES WEST

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Single father-of-two, Sean, is pursuing his employment dreams for the first time in his life. After six years without a job, he says the ParentsNext program has been crucial to helping him take the first steps towards meaningful work. “Instead of a job agency saying ‘you need to go and do this or that’, they understood that I was in a broken place and needed to get myself back before I could start worrying about what comes next,” Sean says. “A lot of places want you to just build a bridge and get over it.

ParentsNext support worker, Amanda, encouraged Sean to meet regularly with a counsellor and over time helped him take small steps towards his employment goals. “Initially we focused on getting my mental health in order,” Sean says. “We also concentrated on doing more community activities, particularly more karate because it was a place where I could really focus on self-discipline and self-respect.

SEAN’S STORY “ParentsNext understands that’s not how it works.” ParentsNext is a national program helping parents prepare to join or re-enter the workforce by the time their youngest child starts school. It helps parents identify their education and employment goals and develop a pathway to achieving them, taking their family responsibilities and personal circumstances into account. When Sean was referred to the program at UnitingSA in 2018, he had just left a troubled relationship and his self-esteem was at an all-time low. He had full custody of his eldest daughter Hayley, now age 4, and part-time custody of his youngest daughter Toni, now 18 months.

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“Every six weeks I met with Amanda and we would review where I was at and then try to increase the goal.” After eight months, Sean enrolled in a Certificate IV in Community Services at Elizabeth TAFE. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years but haven’t known how to get there,” he says. “I’ve made excuses and let other things in life distract me and pull me away from that dream. “This time I said ‘no’… I need to take my life seriously.” ParentsNext provided Sean financial assistance to pay for the course, as well as ongoing support to help him stay on track with his studies.

He is relishing the opportunity to upskill and learn about a sector he feels passionately about. “I’ve been exposed to quite a lot of physical and emotional abuse since I was a kid,” he says. “Some of the things I’ve studied in the last couple of months have been really personal and it has helped me understand what I have gone through. “I don’t think there’s a day that I don’t learn something about myself and what’s going on around me.

“It feels amazing and it has helped confirm this is what I want to do.” While Sean is yet to decide which area of Community Services he would like to specialise in, he knows his own experiences will help him provide support to others from a place of understanding. “I want to be able to show people that having a rough life is not an excuse to make bad decisions,” he says. “I want to make a positive difference in the community. “At ParentsNext, they have supported me in my journey and been there to help when I have needed a pick me up… that’s what has been so important. “At the end of the day this is about working towards getting a job and showing my girls how they should be living life.”


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Our new community housing development in Pennington took out the Excellence in Affordable and Public Housing Award at the Master Builders SA Awards.

PROVIDING HOMELESS SUPPORT & HOUSING SECURITY

$602 was the average weekly household income of tenants living in UnitingSA Housing properties

“The stability for me and my children having long-term accommodation and a place to call home has been absolutely amazing. Coming from homelessness, UnitingSA has been like a family to me.” – RUTH, TENANT OF UNITINGSA HOUSING

PORTWAY HOUSING ASSOCIATION BECAME UNITINGSA HOUSING LTD,

better reflecting our presence beyond Port Adelaide and improving our ability to develop safe, affordable housing for our community.

We understand that housing is about more than shelter. It’s the platform on which we build strong communities and support people to participate and flourish.

THIS YEAR AT UNITINGSA…

42%

of Homelessness Services clients experienced mental health issues 14

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$168

was the average weekly rent paid by tenants living in UnitingSA Housing properties


WE HOSTED A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT, HOMELESSNESS IN THE WEST,

We helped 427 people

in Port Adelaide during National Homelessness Week to share information and strengthen referral pathways for the people we support.

into emergency accommodation, found

Homelessness Services clients were aged under 18. Over half of these were children aged under 9

262 people

transitional housing and secured long-term housing for

238 people

through our Homelessness Services.

26%

458

IN 1937… of Homelessness Services clients identified as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

Our Homelessness Services team provided 31,532 services to people including support around mental health, domestic violence, parenting skills and obtaining employment. Providing multiple supports to clients is crucial to address their complex needs and improve outcomes.

714

people were provided affordable accommodation in 382 UnitingSA Housing properties

We supported

542 people at risk of eviction

to maintain their tenancy.

“You guys helped me off the streets and provided me with a safe, warm place to stay as you helped me secure a home. While engaging with your service I was able to start caring for my mental health and I found my faith in the world again. Today I am the happiest and safest I have ever been.” – BRIAN, CLIENT OF WESTERN ADELAIDE HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

Shelter for homeless men

At the height of the economic recession, our organisation converted a two-storey home in Port Adelaide into a men’s hostel to provide accommodation for homeless people. Four railway carriages were later added as extra sleeping quarters. In 1941 alone, 7,760 beds and 17,800 meals were freely given. – DINNER TIME AT THE MEN’S HOSTEL

1,780

people were supported through our Western Adelaide Homelessness Services ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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Gidget thought she knew what her future looked like. She was 61, married, had two children and four grandchildren. She had a house in Port Pirie where she had a network of friends and family. Then everything changed. Her husband, whom she had been with for 46 years, told her it was over. She felt blindsided and alone. Initially she stayed in the family home but with mounting bills and an inability to pay the mortgage, she soon found herself living in a caravan park. After 15 months, further financial pressure saw her sell the caravan and move into her car.

parks or truck stops, finding good neighbourhoods to park in to ensure she felt safe at night. “You want to park near lights but not directly under them, otherwise people can see you,” she explains. “It’s amazing how many people are out there sleeping in their cars. “I met so many families doing the same thing.” After four years on the road, Gidget got tired of running. “I realised I couldn’t live my life like this any longer,” she says. She called up her daughter and asked if she could stay at her house

GIDGET’S STORY “I had lost everything, I had nothing to look after and no one to look after,” Gidget says. “I had been told how to live my life for so many years I didn’t know how to be me. “I don’t know how else to explain it but to say I just needed to run. “I went to Melbourne, Sydney, everywhere in that car. It saved my life.” The red hatchback became Gidget’s home for the next four years. Where possible she couch surfed at friends’ places but was always cautious not to overstay her welcome and would end up back in her car for stretches at a time. Gidget says she quickly learnt the tricks of survival; showers in caravan

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for a few weeks while she tried to find a long-term housing solution. “At first I was looking in the private sector but because I have no rental history, I couldn’t get anywhere,” she says. “I was just getting to the stage where I was thinking it wasn’t worth it because it was just getting too hard. “Then one night I was in the local laundromat and that’s when things changed.” While waiting for her washing, Gidget got talking to another woman. There was something about the way the woman asked Gidget if she was okay – like she really cared – that was her undoing. “I just broke down and told her my whole story,” Gidget recalls.

“She looked at me and said, ‘You need to go to see UnitingSA Housing’.” Gidget was unaware that such a service existed and the next day she headed straight to the office in Port Adelaide to apply for community housing. As luck would have it, a suitable rental property soon became available. Gidget cried when she first saw the two-bedroom unit in Queenstown, which would become her home. She says it is the first place in her life she can truly call her own. “I was saying, this can’t be right – good things don’t happen to me. “But as it turned out, they do.” Gidget is sure the woman she met that night in the laundromat was her Guardian Angel. “She actually said to me, ‘Can I say a little prayer for you?’” she recalls.

“Whatever that prayer was, it worked.” Gidget is part of a growing number of older women who find themselves facing homelessness when their marriages break down later in life. In Gidget’s situation, despite working most of her life she had no superannuation and her husband controlled their finances, meaning she had no savings of her own. She is now writing a book of her life story to reach out to other women who find themselves in a similar situation. “People need to realise that they can start again, there can be a new adventure,” she says. “They need to know there is support out there and it’s okay to ask for help. “I still have my tough days but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. “I finally feel that I am a person again. “I am important. I count.”


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“Being a lived experience worker is understanding mental health from a first person perspective. If I can prevent someone from going down the path that I went down, maybe I can help them understand themselves and they can come out of their shell.” – ANDREW, LIVED EXPERIENCE VOLUNTEER WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

IMPROVING PEOPLE’S WELLBEING & INCLUSION

A Social Return on Investment study found that for every $1 invested in Wesley Social Enterprises, the community benefit is valued at $4.71.

We collaborated with other organisations during Mental Health Week to stage several events including Lunch in the Square and the Festival of Now. The events are an important way to raise awareness, connect with our community and provide a WELCOMING SPACE TO CELEBRATE

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

We recognise that no individual’s needs are the same and are dedicated to providing tailored mental health and disability support to help people live their best life.

THIS YEAR AT UNITINGSA…

We opened a new Mental Health Services office in Edwardstown, providing a community hub to support people living in the inner-south through a variety of programs and social groups.

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858 215

people were supported through our Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services clients were from regional areas


“My life has changed so much since I’ve had my support worker. I am now able to get out and do things I can’t do on my own. She’s fantastic and treats me as an equal.” – KAYLEE, WHO IS BEING SUPPORTED UNDER THE NDIS IN WHYALLA

111

We committed to partnering with the University of South Australia to invest in a PhD Scholarship to research the important role played by peer support workers in Mental Health Services.

people were provided supported employment at Wesley Social Enterprises

529

people accessed our Individual Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Support Service

Our Wesley Social Enterprises (WSE) team in Whyalla was contracted by Whyalla City Council TO UNDERTAKE A PILOT PROJECT

RESTORING WWII NAVAL SHIP, THE HMAS WHYALLA. It helped our supported employees develop new skills while improving one of the key tourist destinations in the region.

300

people were assisted under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

We provided Support Coordination for

76 clients under the NDIS to help them access the right supports to suit their needs and wants.

“I’m not there to do the work for them, it’s to help them to achieve and work towards their goal. We’ve had individuals who have never had a job. You see them going from not having any prospects to becoming leaders in the team.” – MONIQUE, SUPERVISOR AT WESLEY SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

IN 1995… Disability employment services

We started running the Business Partnerships employment program for people with mental-health related disabilities, which was previously delivered by Hillcrest Hospital. The service provided supported work opportunities in areas such as industrial sewing, gardening and cleaning. It has since developed to become Wesley Social Enterprises. – GARDENING PLAYS A ROLE IN SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

173

people transitioned from a previously-funded UnitingSA program to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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When Michael was referred to our Mental Health Services four years ago, the written report was bleak. Aggression problems, zero capacity, no insight or self-awareness. Several diagnosis were listed including schizophrenia, autism and Ankylosing spondylitis. As his first support worker, Nathan, puts it: “Basically they wrote it up as if Michael was completely emotionally, mentally and physically incapacitated.” But that’s certainly not what our team saw when they met Michael.

But it is the extra support, and the way in which it is delivered, that has really made the difference. He is receiving what previous service providers hadn’t offered him – comprehensive case management, advocacy, counselling and the chance to truly be heard. Michael, who is now 49, puts it this way: “They have given me the same control over my life as everyone else has.

MICHAEL’S STORY “I looked at that referral and then at Michael and they didn’t match up at all,” Nathan says. “Yes, there were times when Michael got very frustrated with us but it came from a background of having no say over things. “Michael just needed an opportunity to speak, to have a voice and be included.” Through UnitingSA’s Metropolitan Adelaide Community Living (MACL) program, Michael found that voice and, with it, a control over his life he should have always had. Our workers visit Michael in his home daily to provide assistance with his housework, medication management and transport to appointments.

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“When I need support, I just say I need someone to help me with this because I’m behind in my chores or I need to go shopping. “If I am having trouble with my thinking or I am losing it, I will call them. “They are there to help me when I ask for it.” This year, Michael transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) after funding for MACL came to an end. It was not without its difficulties but Michael’s team worked tirelessly to ensure he could continue to receive the same level of support. He is now part of a UnitingSA pilot project, trialling a new model of

support for people who were previously part of our MACL and Metro Options programs. The NDIS Peer Support Pilot is using a 100 per cent lived experience workforce to work with people from a shared place of understanding. UnitingSA’s Lived Experience Workforce Coordinator, Kez Robelin, likens it to hearing an Australian accent when travelling in a foreign country for an extended period of time. After struggling to be understood or understand others, the familiar Aussie twang allows you to easily communicate and connect. “Our lived experience workforce is about offering to meet people where their own language is at,” she says. Michael agrees and says his new team has slotted easily into his life. “If their experience is similar to my lived experience in life, that’s really beneficial because they understand,” he says.

“They are very respectful of me.” If there was a written referral that described Michael today, the words would be so different from that first time he came into contact with UnitingSA. Improved confidence, self-esteem and an ability to ask for what he needs would all be accurate. But, most importantly, the headline would read: ‘This is Michael’s life and he is in charge’.


ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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Our redevelopment of Hawksbury Gardens Aged Care in Salisbury North took out the SA Award for Excellence in Aged Care at the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards. The project included a new kitchen, 26-bedroom expansion, new sitting areas, a staff room, laundry and dining room.

SUPPORTING OLDER PEOPLE TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE

2,773

people received Aged Care Services

147

people were provided a welcoming home in our independent living units

WE CELEBRATED 30 YEARS OF ETHNIC LINK SERVICES (ELS)

supporting older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Among the festivities was a triple celebration in the Riverland where we marked the 30th birthday, UnitingSA’s Centenary and the first anniversary of the new ELS Renmark office.

We walk alongside people through every stage of the ageing journey, providing quality care and accommodation to meet their changing needs.

THIS YEAR AT UNITINGSA‌

102

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Transitional Care clients were supported to get back on their feet sooner after being discharged from hospital, using our in-home rehabilitation model


“I want to thank everybody concerned in any way for the transformation that has taken place in Bob’s life. It is unbelievable. When Bob was at home, he was a homebody. Now he is involved in so many things, thanks to the love and care of your wonderful staff. I give thanks that we are enjoying our time spent together without the pressures of caring for him at home.” – JOAN, WHOSE HUSBAND BOB LIVES AT WESLEY HOUSE AGED CARE

186 877

Our bilingual and bicultural workforce at Ethnic Link Services

assessed the needs of 416 people from culturally and

people received Home Care to enable them to remain living in their own home and maintain their quality of life

people were provided a home and support across our six Residential Aged Care sites

IN 1950… Residential aged care

linguistically diverse backgrounds living in regional areas.

WE RECEIVED PLANNING APPROVAL TO COMMENCE WORK ON OUR FIVE-STOREY AGED CARE DEVELOPMENT AT WEST LAKES, which will be the

biggest capital project ever undertaken by UnitingSA. The development includes residential aged care, retirement living, retail and office space in the heart of the community.

1,461

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds were supported by Ethnic Link Services

We opened our first aged care home for 60 residents in a bluestone villa at Semaphore Park. Named Wesley House, it was the first charitable facility of its kind in the area. – THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF WESLEY HOUSE

“Since we started with UnitingSA, the staff have been really understanding, down to earth and eager to learn. It’s shown in the fact Anne is smiling and happy to have their help. It’s taken a lot of pressure off and it’s made life so much easier for us.” – TREVOR, WHOSE WIFE ANNE RECEIVES HOME CARE

We provided 25,600 hours of service across Home Care and Transitional Care, which was a 26% increase on the previous year.

Our Ethnic Link Services team carried out the 12-month Pathways to Multicultural Access and Participation project, drawing together sector experts and working with communities to ensure culturally and linguistically diverse consumers are able to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The project culminated in the staging of the NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Symposium. ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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Helmut is part of the family at Faggotter Grove Neighbourhood Group Home. Having never married or had children, he spent much of his life living alone but is now relishing his days living alongside 11 others.

Through a Home Care Package, Helmut receives support with his personal care, cleaning, shopping and health needs.

Helmut moved to the home in West Lakes Shore shortly after suffering a stroke and says he has never looked back.

He also enjoys the daily cooked lunches provided at Faggotter Grove, which bring all the residents together to sit down over a hot meal.

The residents each have their own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette but share common areas including a dining room, lounge and laundry.

“I turned 82 the other day and the cook made a very beautiful cake,” Helmut smiles. “The residents all gave me a card.

HELMUT’S STORY Faggotter Grove is unique among UnitingSA’s aged care properties, which also include residential aged care sites and independent living units. It provides the perfect in-between for people who no longer want to live alone but are not yet looking for full residential care. “I know I can stay here and be happy because the other people here are very, very friendly and very helpful,” Helmut says. “I really like the food the cook makes and my support worker Debbie is a very nice lady who does everything for me.

“I could not get better support than this.” 24

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“I was very happy.” Helmut says Faggotter Grove has given him a sense of community and safety he did not feel in his previous home. He is also enjoying the close proximity to the neighbouring shops, including a post office, supermarket, café, doctor’s clinic and chemist. “I go for a walk every afternoon to get some exercise and I visit the café,” he says. “There’s everything that I need here. “I would like to stay here a long, long time – as long as I can. “It’s such a wonderful place.”


ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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We value diversity and are proud that our employees come from 71 different countries

WORKING WITH A UNITED VISION

THE DEDICATION OF OUR LONG-SERVING EMPLOYEES WAS CELEBRATED IN JUNE

when we hosted our annual staff recognition event. Employees marking a milestone year at UnitingSA gathered for lunch and to receive a badge and certificate. Among them, there was 700 years of service in the room.

We provide meaningful leadership, employment and volunteering opportunities to support communities across regional and metropolitan South Australia.

THIS YEAR AT UNITINGSA‌

Our staff survey found an 89 per cent work satisfaction rate among employees at UnitingSA

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1,083

employees worked across aged care, housing, corporate and community services


36

offices provided a hub for our services across South Australia

6%

of our workforce was based in regional locations

8,716

hours were spent on training and developing our workforce

IN 1919… Pioneers in the Port

We formally RECOGNISED THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS with a special lunch during National Volunteer Week in May. Volunteers play a key role in service delivery across our organisation and make an amazing difference in the lives of the people we walk alongside.

98

volunteers provided invaluable support for our community

10

Board Members provided positive leadership and strategic direction

“People don’t come to work for UnitingSA – they come to work with us. We are not here simply to do a task. It’s more than that. We are here to build a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.”

During our first year of operation, services were run by the Reverend Frederick Brasher, who was appointed Mission Superintendent, and Edith Lovell, our first Sister of the People. With help from Brasher’s family and church congregation, together they responded to the immense needs of people in the Port Adelaide area during a time of drought, war, soaring unemployment and a world-wide influenza epidemic. – REV. FREDERICK BRASHER AND SISTER EDITH LOVELL

Almost one in five of our employees has been at UnitingSA for

more than 10 years.

Incredibly, 46 people have been with our organisation for

more than 21 years.

– REV. LES UNDERWOOD, MINISTER OF UNITINGSA

ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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GAEL FRASER Board Chair, BA, Dip Lib, MRUP

Gael has worked as a senior executive in the public sector and as a senior political advisor to government. In these roles she has contributed to significant policy development in education and children’s services, further education, employment and training, social housing, workers compensation and personnel management and development. Also, as a private consultant for over 10 years, Gael has assisted many government and community organisations with strategic planning, managing change, social policy development and governance arrangements. She has held a number of board positions and is a former Chair of the South Australian Council of Social Service.

KATE IRELAND Deputy Chair, GAICD, Dip MP, B Ec. Kate has many years’ experience working in the health, community, disability and housing sectors, including more than 10 years in board positions. She brings expertise in finance, risk management and governance. Kate is Chair of the Risk Committee and a member of the Governance Committee.

MEET OUR BOARD DAVID LEWIS

SANDY RIX

Board Director, AdvDip Acctg, GAICD

Board Director, BA (Planning), M Sc.(Econ)

David is an experienced executive manager in the finance sector. Having extensive experience in the non-for-profit sector, David also brings expertise in strategic planning, governance and risk management. He is Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Sandy is an acknowledged leader and innovator in major project planning, urban design and project management. He has combined over 20 years of private sector consultant experience with success in the public sector as Project Director for design and implementation of the initial stages of the North Terrace Boulevard and Playford Alive. He directed master planning of the Bowden Village Project and his past roles include General Manager at Renewal SA and Director of the initial Northern Economic Plan. He is a member of the Property Committee.

*As at 30 June 2019.

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GARY WILSON

GLORIA PARKER

KAREN HUNT

Board Director, B. Sc, B. Soc Admin

Board Director, B. Sc, MBA, Dip T(Sec), Grad Dip Ab Studies, CPM

Board Director, B BehSci, Cert Min, GAICD

Gloria has lengthy experience in Uniting Church administration and governance and has been a consultant in strategic management, marketing and general management in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors for over 20 years. She is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Property Committee.

Karen has extensive experience in the higher education and health sectors, including a number of years in senior roles at the University of South Australia where she is currently Deputy Director: Student Engagement. She brings expertise in stakeholder management, policy development, communications, governance and community engagement and is a member of the Risk Committee.

CHRIS HEADLAND

EMMA SIAMI

LEA STEVENS

Board Director, Dip Bus Mgt

Board Director, MA, LLB (Hons), BA, GAICD

Board Director, BSc, Grad Dip Ed

Gary has experience in social work, human resource management, advocacy and governance in both government and community sectors. Previously the Executive Director of Shelter SA, Gary is a member of the South Australian Council of Social Service, Secretary of Justice for Refugees SA and was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning. He is a member of the Property Committee.

Chris possesses senior leadership experience from various roles in the aged care sector, and holds education board experience. He shares expertise in human resource management, governance and aged care in the government and not-for-profit sectors. Chris has a wealth of knowledge around Uniting Church administration and governance, and is a member of the Church himself. He is also a member of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Emma has held senior roles in the public sector in South Australia, in the United Kingdom Civil Service and at an Australian trade union. She has worked towards positive outcomes in the areas of employment, education, the criminal justice system and economic development. Emma brings expertise in strategy, people management, equality and program development to empower people through systemic change. She is also a member of the Risk Committee.

Lea brings over 35 years of experience in a diversity of senior leadership and management positions. She has worked as a secondary school Principal, local state MP, Minister for Health and Minister Assisting the Premier in Social Inclusion. More recently she was a Director of a state government agency working collaboratively towards improving economic and social outcomes in northern Adelaide. She currently sits on a range of profit for purpose boards. Lea is a member of the Governance Committee. ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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OUR ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE UNITINGSA BOARD

LIBBY CRAFT Chief Executive Officer

ANDREW ZEUNER Executive Manager Business Services

DEBORAH BURTON Executive Manager Aged Care

CLAIRE HOGARTH Executive Manager People and Culture

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MARGIE FAHY Executive Manager Community Services

MARK HAYWARD Executive Manager Property and Housing

STUART BOYD Executive Manager Strategy and Service Improvement

REV DR LES UNDERWOOD Minister


CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SUPPORT Key supporters from our 100-year story came together for a special service at Port Adelaide Uniting Church on April 8, the day of our founding. We were privileged to have the Governor of South Australia, His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, deliver a keynote address. A highlight of the day was the inaugural screening of our Centenary video, which features the stories of people in the community we support. It is a true demonstration of why we do what we do – to make a positive difference in the lives of the people

we walk alongside. The church service was the first in a long line of events held this year to commemorate our Centenary. Our staff, volunteers, residents and clients have been engaged in dozens of celebrations at our sites across South Australia. It has been incredible to mark this momentous milestone with so many of our supporters. ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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When Celeste was invited to an interview at UnitingSA, she did not expect it would be the start of a rewarding new career. She was simply looking to gain some experience volunteering in residential aged care to determine if it was an area of work she would like to pursue. She was quickly offered a volunteer position as an activities officer at Regency Green Multicultural Aged Care. Within days, she knew it was the right fit.

Despite the career shift, Celeste says she is no stranger to aged care. In her homeland, she has many great aunts, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents, who she affectionately calls her “15 grandparents”. “Four of them lived with us before I left for Australia and I took care of them,” she explains.

CELESTE’S STORY “I immediately loved working with the residents here,” Celeste says, as she walks around the site’s expansive gardens, greeting each resident by name. “It feels very rewarding when you see the residents happy. “When you get a smile, especially from that one person who doesn’t usually give smiles easily, it’s worth every effort.” Celeste’s position at Regency Green is a long way from her former life as a dentist in the Philippines. She and her husband moved to Adelaide at the end of 2017 after Celeste obtained a Student Visa to complete her Masters in Public Health at Flinders University.

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“It’s a lot of work but it’s really fun having them around.” In her role as an activities officer, Celeste helps deliver a calendar of events to keep residents active and engaged. Garden walks, craft, concerts, painting, puzzles and even karaoke nights are all on the agenda. “There are certain jobs you dread going to in the morning – this is definitely the opposite of that,” she says. “I feel like I have the energy to get up each day because I know I will feel good if I am here working with the residents.”

After five months volunteering at Regency Green, a paid position as an activities officer came up. Having already developed wonderful relationships with the residents and staff, Celeste was in the ideal position to apply. “When I went for the job I made a promise to the other activities officer,” she says.

“I said, ‘Whether I get it or not I will still come on Sundays to volunteer and help you out’.” True to her word, despite now working 20 paid hours a week at Regency Green, you will still find Celeste on site every Sunday volunteering her time to spend with the residents. When asked what it takes to work in aged care, Celeste has this message: “To be able to get into it and stay takes a certain kind of kindness because it’s a lot of work and it’s not easy work. “It is for people who smile instantly when they see you or see a resident. It is for those who are patient with the residents, even if they ask the same question five times in ten minutes. It is for the people who will make the effort to wipe the drool off the resident’s face when they are eating. “If anybody doesn’t have that inherent kindness, it’s probably not for them.”


ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION – AS AT 30 JUNE 2019 2019 $

2018 $

26,146,533 3,108,710 12,067,356 409,137 41,731,736

20,446,814 2,592,808 23,449,534 379,341 46,868,497

125,064,723 117,801,498 1,462,937 244,329,158 286,060,894

118,363,943 113,590,692 1,570,256 233,524,891 280,393,388

5,655,484 40,790 54,648,402 8,323,542 68,668,218

7,249,619 1,179,281 54,738,327 8,022,162 71,189,389

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Borrowings Provisions TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS

755,287 1,309,437 2,064,724 70,732,942 215,327,952

790,031 1,081,021 1,871,052 73,060,441 207,332,947

EQUITY Reserves Retained earnings TOTAL EQUITY

47,150,614 168,177,338 215,327,952

47,150,614 160,182,333 207,332,947

ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable and other debtors Financial assets Other current assets TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Investment properties Property, plant and equipment Intangibles TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable and other payables Borrowings Other financial liabilities – non-interest bearing Provisions TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME – FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 2019 $

2018 $

94,420,596 (61,201,676) (6,159,777) (8,394,071) (189,889) (5,596,981) 12,878,202

157,379,492 (56,431,233) (5,853,160) (7,375,912) (230,058) (5,188,886) 82,300,243

Depreciation and amortisation expense Income tax expense Current year surplus

(4,883,197) Nil 7,995,005

(4,544,143) Nil 77,756,100

Other comprehensive income Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss when specific conditions are met: Net gain on revaluation of land and buildings through asset revaluation reserve Other comprehensive income / (loss) for the year Total comprehensive income attributable to members of the entity

– – 7,995,005

11,907,111 11,907,111 89,663,211

Revenue Employee benefits expense Program, activities and resident costs Property expenses Finance costs Management, administration and other expenses Profit before depreciation, amortisation and income tax expense

The summarised financial statements have been derived from the Company’s full financial report for the financial year. Other information included in the summarised financial statements is consistent with the Company’s full financial report.

The summarised financial statements cannot be expected to provide as detailed an understanding of the financial performance and financial position of the Company as the full financial report. The summarised financial statements have been prepared

on an accruals basis, are based on historical costs and presented in Australian Dollars. A full description of the accounting policies adopted by the Company may be found in the Company’s full financial report.

ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR ON THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE MEMBERS OF UNITINGSA LTD Opinion The summary financial statements, which comprises the summary consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2019, the summary consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, for the year then ended, and related notes, are derived from the audited financial report of UnitingSA Ltd and Controlled Entities (“the consolidated entity”) for the year ended 30 June 2019. In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited financial report, on the basis described in Note 1. Summary Financial Statements The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012. Reading the summary financial statements, and the auditor’s report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial report and the auditor’s report thereon. The Audited Financial Report and Our Report Thereon We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited financial report in our report dated 17 October 2019. Board of Directors’ Responsibility for the Summary Financial Statements The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the summary financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirement and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012. Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited financial report based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Auditing Standard ASA 810 Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements.

Nexia Edwards Marshall Chartered Accountants

Damien Pozza Partner Adelaide South Australia 17 October 2019

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THANK YOU We would like to say a very special thank you to all of our supporters, past and present, who have helped us provide essential services for our community for 100 years. To all of our donors, sponsors, funding bodies, Board of Directors, staff and volunteers – countless lives have been touched as a result of your actions. It is inspiring to think that by continuing to work together, our vision for a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish can become a reality.


70 Dale Street • PO Box 3032, Port Adelaide, SA 5015 P. (08) 8440 2200  E. unitingsa@unitingsa.com.au W. unitingsa.com.au @unitingsa @unitingsa


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