ANNUAL REPORT€¦ · Annual Report 201920 5 - Board of Management - CEO WAPRES (Forest Industries) President of Pathways SouthWest 2013 - present Other current non Industry roles

Sharing the journey of recovery since 1992

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A N N U A L R E P O R T2 0 1 9 - 2 0

- Contents -

President’s Report & Patron ................................................................... 1

Chief Executive Officer’s Report .............................................................2

Governance, Vision and Values ................................................................3

Board of Management ............................................................................ 4

Group programmes

- A Taste of Life ....................................................................................5

- Shifting Gears ...............................................................................6-7

- Sewing Group ....................................................................................8

Mental Health Week 2019, including opening event .............................9

Mental Health Week Art Exhibition 2019 ............................................. 10

Share and Care Groups ......................................................................... 11

Carers Week 2019 ................................................................................. 12

Business and Housing ........................................................................... 13

Psychoeducation programs ............................................................ 14-15

Service Delivery and Quality ................................................................. 16

Testimonials ........................................................................................... 17

Audit statement .............................................................................. 18-19

Thank you partners and donors ............................................................ 20

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- President’s Report -I have had the privilege of being in the role of President of Pathways SouthWest for several years and I must admit that 2019/20 has certainly been one of the more challenging. During this term we saw the departure of our long serving CEO, Dr Richard Oades, in May, a continuation of uncertain and shifting income streams with Western Australia’s tentative transitioning to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and of course the challenges thrown at the organisation and its staff to continue invaluable support to our vulnerable consumers precipitated by the global pandemic of COVID-19 in the second half of this period. I am proud and grateful of the way the organisation has adapted to these challenges and navigated its way forward.

During his stewardship of Pathways SouthWest, Richard has increased the profile of the organisation substantially within the government and not for profit sectors. He was recently recognised by the State Cabinet approval of his appointment to the Mental Health Advisory Council. He has devoted a significant amount of time representing Pathways on several Boards and advisory committees where he has been a passionate advocate for improving the resourcing and services for the mental health sector. He has been on the WAAMH board since 2016, was a director of South West Refuge (Domestic Violence) and is a director for Breakaway Aboriginal Corporation plus an advisory member of Walkabunning Kiaka Healing Centre Task Force.

Richard’s commitment, expertise and passion has been greatly appreciated by the staff, consumers, carers and Pathways Board of Management and I wish him and his family a long and enjoyable retirement.

Providing exceptional service to our consumers and maintaining funding to do so continues to be our number one priority. I would like to thank our major funder, the Mental Health Commission for its ongoing support and for recognising the outstanding services we provide in supporting people recovering from a mental illness and their carers, relieving pressure from the overburdened public health system and diverting consumers from crisis care through support and early interventions.

The not for profit sector will always be a difficult area to balance funding and services and as Pathways Southwest moves forward, we will need to adapt our business model to fully embrace the opportunities available through the NDIS. However, we will always maintain a consumer and carer specific focus.

In the latter part of this financial year the world was rocked with the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff reacted swiftly, and appropriately following Government advice, practising social distancing, working from home where possible but continuing to provide support and information to our consumers and carers. We have adapted the way we interact with consumers & carers on many levels. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all involved, both paid staff and our dedicated volunteers on behalf of the Board of Management and our consumers.

I would like to thank Steve Blackwell, Pathways SouthWest’s Manager Quality, Service Delivery and NDIS who has stepped into the role of CEO in Richard’s stead. Steve has many years in senior management roles and mental health service delivery. It was agreed with travel restrictions in place at the time around Richard’s departure, that an appropriate recruitment process to fill the role would not be possible. It was agreed that Steve will hold the role during this time of uncertainty until a competitive process can be implemented. Once again, the Board and I thank Steve for stepping up to this role and steering the organisation through the current period.

To conclude, once again I would like to thank the Board for their commitment and valued contribution to the strategic direction and planning for the organisation. This year we welcomed Mark Piggott to the Board who brings his personal experiences and perspectives to our knowledge base through his involvement at Western Australian Country Health Services.

Once again, none of this would be possible without the support of our Members for which you have my thanks.

Ian TelferPresident

Annual Report 2019/20

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- Chief Executive Officer’s Report -As Pathways SouthWest approaches its 30th year the organisation continues to grow and change as is required of it. Pathways SouthWest is in the business of assisting and supporting people and as the needs of people changes over time, for the organisation to maintain its relevance to consumers and funders, it needs to change in concert with them. I am proud to say that in the many years since its inception Pathways SouthWest has evolved as required and embraced new business models, technologies and looked for the opportunities that are driven by change.

Pathways SouthWest continued to lead the consortia for Bunbury Mental Health Week increasing the number of activities and participants attending activities. We celebrated Mental Health Week in style at the Quality Lighthouse Hotel Bunbury with the annual Ball which has become a firm favourite in the calendar of events we held over the week.

At the start of the year all staff attended advanced training for our client management system (SMS) as we upgraded our equipment, migrated many staff away from desktop computer systems to more mobile office technologies such as laptops, dial-in access to our central database and a more flexible approach to client servicing. This was made possible by a grant provided by Stronger Communities Program (Commonwealth Government), however the benefits that would be an outcome of our system enhancements could not have been foreseen at that time and the COVID-19 situation which was just around the corner.

Whilst the past 12 months have been more turbulent than many we have to look at how we have reacted and responded and the positives that

we have achieved. Whilst many service providers were shutting their doors to their clients we were able to embrace change, adopt new technologies and reinvent many of the functions we provided. During the early months of 2020 when there was great uncertainty about what services and how we would deliver them our staff and volunteers worked together with the best outcomes for our clients being at the forefront of our actions.

Whilst physically we could only have a skeleton staff present at the office, the management team rostered themselves to maintain a person on site during the lockdown so our front line staff were able to maintain our support services over the phone, via teleconferencing and with appropriate safety measures in place, face to face with our clients when required. My thanks to all involved.

We maintained our essential shopping services for those that were unable access shopping facilities themselves. We achieved this my increasing the frequency of trips with reduced numbers of participants on each occasion to allow for social distancing on our bus. Our psycho-education programs were delivered online via Zoom directly to consumer’s homes by staff working from their own homes.

Whilst our group activities were curtailed as per Government requirements at the time, we trialled virtual Shifting Gears activities to attempt alleviate some of the social isolation experienced by our consumers. As face to face contact with our consumers was somewhat restricted we increased our contact with telephone welfare checks, a quality audit of these welfare calls to ensure we were meeting consumers’ needs and increased the frequency of our normally two-monthly newsletter to monthly to keep our consumers updated and informed with correct information.

Reflecting on the past seven and a half years as CEO of Pathways SouthWest I think the success of any organisation reflects quality of the management and staff. The collective professionalism, passion and commitment of the staff have been critical

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to the success of Pathways SouthWest. I wish to thank those staff, past and present for their support during my tenure. I will not reflect on individual achievements but feel overall I am leaving Pathways in a good structural and financial position to face the future.

Finally, I thank the Board, whose focus on the organisation’s strategic objectives, financial position and risk awareness has supported me achieving their outcomes with our key principles that provide the basis for a good governance model particularly in the context of changing funding opportunities and service delivery requirements.

- Strategy -Our VisionLet mental health be seen, as any door is the correct door for access and client centred care.

Our Values• Hope: belief in the potential of individuals with mental illness to live life to the full.• Courage: Ensuring that mental health is seen.• Respect: Acknowledging that the opinions of others have value.• Humility: Willingness to appreciate others.• Responsibility: That everyone is responsible to commit to action towards our purpose.

Our 4 Objectives are:

We will measure our success from 4 perspectives:

Clients How we create value for our clients; and how we continually improve our level of service

FinancialsHow we add value for our clients while controlling costs and how we provide a balanced approach to investment in a full range of services

Internal Business Processes How we improve and excel in our joint business processes

Learning & Growth How we build our people and system capacity to meet future needs

Unique Defining Brand

Collaboration & Partnerships

Integrated Service Model Governance

We have worked collectively together in changing times, remained flexible in our management of staff and assets and optimistic about the future.

On that note I wish you all well for the future and thank you for making my time at Pathways SouthWest as enjoyable and rewarding as it has been.

Dr Richard OadesChief Executive OfficerPathways SouthWest


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- Board of Management -

CEO WAPRES (Forest Industries)President of Pathways SouthWest 2013 - presentOther current non Industry roles include:• Chair Investing in our Youth• Chair & Volunteer Ambulance Officer St John Ambulance

– Donnybrook• Rotary Club Bunbury Leschenault

Deanne has been on the Pathways Board since November 2017Vice President of Pathways SouthWest 2018-present Project Officer SW Community Alcohol & Drug Service July 2012-presentDiploma Governance – Australian Institute of Company Directors 2017Other community involvement:• Board Member Local Drug Action Group 2014-2018 &

Chair 2016-2017• Harvey Community Drug Action Group 2010-present• Board Member Harvey Community Resource Centre 2015,

Chair 2016-2017.

Mark joined the Board in April 2020Peer Support Worker at WA Country Heath Service, Bunbury

Lyn Bluett

Annette Garlett

Cheryl has been involved with Pathways SouthWest as a carer for over 20 yearsPathways SouthWest Board member and Treasurer 2011- presentWorked in private enterprise for 50 years in financial managementOther community involvement:• Bunbury Meal on Wheels & Senior Citizens• Silver Chain Nursing Association – local fundraising

Treasurer for 40 years• Volunteer at Leschenault Community Garden

Zona was elected as the Carers’ Representative at the 2018 AGMSecretary of Pathways SouthWest 2019- presentShe has been a resident of Bunbury for over 10 years, and spent most of her life in business and farming.Other community involvement:• Volunteer at Solaris

Anne Ridgway

Dr Richard Oades (CEO/Ex officio)

Stephen Blackwell (CEO/Ex officio)

Ian Telfer (President)

Deanne Fleay (Vice President)

Cheryl Stiles (Treasurer)

Zona Richards (Secretary/Carer’s Representative)

Mark Piggott

Lyn is a passionate HR professional with an extensive background in strategic management and HR gained over 20 years. Experience in manufacturing, oil & gas; government services (training & education services), mining & resources sector with national & multinational companies including green and brown field projects.Manager, Strategic Operations at Tronox (previously Cristal). Lyn leads the direction of the Bunbury Pigment plants through development of 5 year strategic plans linking manufacturing to sales forecasts.Lyn has been a Board Member of Pathways since July 2018Board of Australind Senior High SchoolMBA, Bachelor of Business (HRM and IR)

Pathways SouthWest Board Member 2018 – presentAboriginal Development Officer, South Regional TAFE 2008-retired March 2019Other community involvement:• Aboriginal cultural heritage• Member Gnarla Karla Booja Native Title Working Group• Member - Newton Moore Girls Academy• Cert IV Mental Health• Cert IV Governance

Anne joined the Board in May 2019Lecturer South Regional TAFE July 2017 - presentProgram Manager SW Richmond Wellbeing 2016-2018Manager Quality Care & Coordination Pathways SouthWest 2014-2016Clinical Manager, Older Adult Mental Health Service 2012-2013Various senior positions Taranaki District Health Board NZ 2005-2011Diploma Quality AuditingDiploma CounsellingCert IV Workplace Training & AssessmentMasters Health Science - Edith Cowan UniversityPost Graduate Certificate Health Science Management - ECUBachelor of Nursing - Edith Cowan University

(Retired May 2020): Richard has extensive senior management experience in WA’s public service in the Kimberley, Perth and the south-west. CEO Pathways SouthWest Oct 2012-May 2020Regional Coordinator SouthWest Development Commission 2008-2012Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Social Sustainability – Curtin University Masters of Arts in Social & Community Work Studies – University of BradfordBachelor of Applied Science in Social Work – Curtin UniversityBachelor of Science Sociology& Economic & Social History – Loughborough University

(June 2020): Stephen has a long career as a registered nurse, counsellor and has been working in senior management or executive positions in both government and non-government agencies for the last 30 years. Stephen’s clinical work involved many years working at Graylands Hospital in Perth and was for several years the Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Admission’s Unit at Graylands.After moving on from clinical mental health Stephen worked at Next Step (drugs and alcohol), taught at Curtin University in nursing and Aboriginal health and then moved into sexual and reproductive health at Family Planning WA (FPWA). Stephen held the position of Chief Executive Officer at FPWA from January 2008 until September 2014. Stephen joined Pathways SouthWest as Manager Service Delivery, Quality and NDIS in 2017. Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing)Graduate Diploma of Arts (Counselling)Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research and EvaluationMaster of Human Resource Management

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- Group Programmes -

A Taste of Life 2020By Kerry

A Taste of Life is a social and activity group led by the choices our consumers make to get out into the community together, and explore and experience the surrounds of Bunbury and beyond.

We started the second half of 2019 doing many art sessions, working towards the Mental Health Week Art Exhibition in October. All participants worked on a blank mask and added their own touch to make the final instillation as a group entry an amazing and eye catching display that got many comments from the visitors who saw it at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.

Another highlight was the visit to the newly renovated Dolphin Discovery Centre at Koombana Bay. The interactive computerised fish tank was an extra special favourite from all who attended.

Other activities we enjoyed this year were Op Shopping, Dalyellup park walk, Choose Respect activity, sausage sizzle, movies and walking at different locations and we look forward to many other fun days out enjoying a taste of life!

Taste of Life mask making.

Choose Respect Group.

Dolphin Discovery Centre.


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Shifting GearsOn 6 December the group had a sumptuous festive season lunch for the last Shifting Gears for the year. It was a huge success thanks to everyone who donated their time and produce and especially Shane, Robyn and Kerry. The menu featured roast lamb and vegies plus Yorkshire puddings, cakes, fruit platters and all the trimmings.

Shifting Gears continues to be a key part of the Pathways SouthWest psycho-social programs. Clients meet every Friday in a safe and supported environment and assist with preparation and sharing of a healthy meal. A range of group activities are conducted depending on the interests of the people in attendance including walking, art, bingo, giant jenga, video gaming, Wii, bocce/boule and billiards.

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From January 2020 Shifting Gears briefly relocated from Morrissey House in Glen Iris to the Leschenault Morrissey premises. Then in April on the advice of the Government most of the group activities were put on hold due to COVID-19. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers we were still able to offer shopping trips for essential items (food and medication) and walking groups for 2 or 3 people in accordance with government guidance.

Even though the recovery workers and support workers were working-from home and not in the office they continued to make phone or video contact with all consumers at least every week and provide support during these tough and unusual times. The Pathways Newsletter also switched to a monthly format to keep in touch with everyone.

As soon as WA COVID-19 restrictions ease for indoor and outdoor group activities Shifting Gears will resume with appropriate social distancing.

Almost two years ago Steven lost his mother to cancer and shortly afterwards his aunt was also diagnosed with cancer. Not wanting the disease to break his family, Steven set himself a goal to participate in the “World’s Greatest Shave” to raise money to fight cancer. After growing out his hair since March 2019 the Great Shave took place during shifting gears on Friday 13 March 2020. Ably assisted by Shane and Lea, and supervised by Chris. See the before and after photos. Well done to Steven who raised in excess of $200 with his effort for this deserving cause.

Before. After.


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Every Thursday morning a group meets at the Rose Street premises to participate in a range of sewing activities, under the expert guidance of volunteer Pauline.

The group made 38 cotton pouches for the local wildlife rescue service.

Although the group was suspended for a few months due to COVID-19 restrictions, the group has resumed and is continuing to make a range of stuffed

toys and other projects.

Sewing Group

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Mental Health Week 2019WA Mental Health Week gives everyone a chance to talk bout mental health and illness, and break down the stigma around mental health. This year the theme was “Mental health starts where we live, learn, work and play”.

Throughout the week from 6-12 October a series of activities were held around Bunbury including the ‘think mental health’ pop-up resource booth. At the booth people could get a bag full of information and contacts for support services in Bunbury and chat with staff from agencies – including Pathways SouthWest.

The week kicked off with the SW launch at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery; a SafeTALK suicide prevention session was conducted. A coffee and muffin morning tea was held at Thommo’s Community Garden. These events received some sponsorship from the Western Australian Association for Mental Health and LotteryWest.

Thanks to generous donations from Aurizon, Southern Ports and Nola Marino MLA a Mental

Health Week Masked Ball was held at the Quality Lighthouse Hotel on Friday 11 October. This was a fantastic event and everyone got a chance to dress up, enjoy and dance to the music provided by DJ Darren & Co and share in a delicious supper including the MH Week Cake.


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- Mental Health Week 2019 Opening – and Art Exhibition

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery

By Kerry

Our second year at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) was an amazing success and collaboration once again. This year we had as our special guests The Blue Tree Project who were almost at their first year anniversary of spreading the word and starting the conversation about mental health.

Almost 80 artists contributed their works in 2019’s exhibition and the theme was once again ‘Make Your Mark’. For three weeks the works were on show at the gallery and many people visited over this time to see them and the other exhibitions on at BRAG during October, a very busy time for them. Artists also had the chance to sell their work.

Opening night on 8th October was extremely special, with the first ever light show being installed on the facade of the beautiful old building. Musicians played on the front verandah and children and adults alike danced on the grass. A beautiful and special speech from The Blue Tree Projects’ Kendall Whyte, who honoured her late brother Jayden, was a highlight. Jayden Whyte had painted a blue tree on his family’s farm in 2014, just a few years before taking his life in 2018. The trees out the front of BRAG were wrapped in calico and blue lights installed and the effect on the night of the opening was a beautiful tribute.

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- Share and Care Groups -By Jenny

Monthly “Share and Care” groups provide a safe place where Carers can come together and freely express themselves without fear of judgement. This group provides support to carers to assist in maintaining their health and wellbeing, reduce isolation and improve skills through encouragement, support and learning.

During the year Pathways Southwest continued to run the following monthly groups:

• Bunbury and Collie Share and Care Groups - open to people who are or have been Carers of a person with mental illness,

• Parents Group – open to Carers of younger people with mental illness and young adults with a psychotic disorder or emotion dysregulation disorder, and

• Moort Waangkiny open to all Carers who support family and friends who have mental health issues within the Aboriginal community.

All groups went on to Zoom when face to face services were suspended during the year. As a result we were able to offer access to registered Carers who had not been able to access these services because of geographic location. This included Carers in the Katanning and Kojonup areas.


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- Carers Week 2019 -ByJenny

A grant of $825 from Carers’ WA and LotteryWest to provide activities during Carers’ Week 2019 was welcomed by many of our carers.

Carers enjoyed the following activities:

• Cultural Mindfulness – Troy Bennell shared many interesting local stories, yarning, cultural facts and finished the evening by playing the didgeridoo.

• Glass Painting – Many carers (19) enjoyed creating a glass coaster for themselves from pieces of glass, which were later kiln fired as a permanent memento.

• safeTALK Workshop – Steve Blackwell presented the workshop for carers to become a suicide-alert helper. This provided carers with some skills to help them handle situations when their loved ones have thoughts of suicide.

The feedback from carers who attended the session confirmed yet another successful Carers’ Week.

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- Housing and Business Support Team -The team is often the first point of contact for Pathways SouthWest clients, when they come into the office or on the phone. In May, Rose resigned as the book-keeper and Marie had a very busy few days learning about the job. Lisa has been the Housing Officer for five years. Jenni is now in her third year as Manager Business Improvement.

We were assisted with some admin and office tasks by volunteers – Adrian and Jade. Their assistance was welcomed.

This year we were successful in a Commonwealth Government grant through the Stronger Communities Program to purchase notebook computers for the recovery workers and support workers and upgrade our IT systems to allow all staff to connect to all systems when working away from the office, including supporting NDIS clients. When we applied for this grant for the project we did not anticipate the impact of COVID-19, but the timing was perfect as it enabled all staff to work-from-home with full and secure access to client records and systems.

The Business Support Team was working-from-home for several months and still managed all the finances, office services, housing and HR functions. With the return to the workplace some COVID screens were installed in reception and between some work stations. There has been some adjustment to work practices, cleaning and cessation of cash handling to ensure compliance with our COVID Plan and the WA government directives on social distancing and use of PPE.

Community Housing The purpose of the Pathways Community Housing Program (CDHP) is to provide long-term affordable, safe housing for people with ongoing mental illness, as part of their recovery program. The 39 properties are owned by the Department of Communities – Housing but are managed by Pathways SouthWest. This includes providing additional support to tenants, to assist them to maintain their tenancy. This support is funded by the Mental Health Commission.Typically there is a very low turn-over of tenancies each year, with many of the tenants occupying the

same house for 10 years or more. In the last 12 months, seven properties in the Pathways Housing Program became vacant. A number of Pathways tenants had been on the waitlist for a ‘property swap’ to housing more suited to their current personal and physical needs. Three people were matched with the vacant properties, and this in turn created additional vacancies. Other Pathways clients that had applied for the CDHP housing were on the waitlist. A review was undertaken of all the available properties and applicants, for those at greatest need and ‘best fit’ for the housing.During the tenant changeover period, some repairs and renovations were completed at several properties, including repainting, replacement of kitchen cabinets, retiling of bathrooms, flooring, blinds, as well as some plumbing and electrical repairs. A Registered Builder was again contracted for comprehensive property inspections at another nine properties and identified repairs. Some repairs have been completed and others scheduled for the next 12 months.At times during the year, several units remained vacant at a complex in Withers because the properties were not suitable for the long-term housing needs of applicants. The units were then made available for shorter term vacancies (up to 6 months) for people considered of greatest need including several that had been referred by other local agencies. The 6-monthly property inspections usually conducted in May were postponed in accordance with the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020. The inspections are now scheduled for October 2020.


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- Psychoeducation Programmes -

by Jenny

Despite the challenges throughout the year, the delivery of our psychoeducation programs continued. A quick transition to the Zoom platform in March provided an ideal resolution to continuing our groups when everything went into lockdown due to COVID19. Any teething issues were quickly overcome and programs continued without a hitch.

During the year the following programs were completed:

Family ConnectionsTwo Family Connections programs for Carers have been completed in the last 12 months. The second program was immediately moved onto Zoom in March when it was clear that participants and facilitators were unwilling to put themselves at risk by attending a group at the office. By taking this decisive action, there was no loss of participants.

Challenging Our Problematic Emotions (COPE)Due to an increase in demand for this program, a total of 2 x daytime and 2 x evening COPE programs were offered and completed throughout the year. Participants, people with the lived experience of emotion dysregulation, now undergo an interview

prior to acceptance into the program and are then allocated to either the daytime or evening program according to their needs. Participants are not able to swap between the two and there are strict guidelines apply to their attendance. The COPE programs which were running in March went onto Zoom. Unfortunately, this did impact a little on the number of participants who completed the program.

Building a FutureOne Building a Future program was completed for Carers during the year. Participant numbers fell during the program which resulted in the need to review how the program was to be offered in the future.

ASISTMental Illness Fellowship of WA offered a two-day ASIST program to Carers at Pathways Southwest. This was attended by 10 Carers and 4 staff members.

My Recovery & Wellways to Work Facilitator Training It had been some time since we had any facilitator training for the My Recovery program with the result being a lack of facilitators to be able to offer the program. In January, Mental Illness Fellowship of WA were able to provide training for 6 new facilitators in My Recovery as well as in a new program: Wellways to Work. We are looking forward to making these programs available to people with the lived experience of mental illness in the next year.

Maybo Facilitator Training Maybo helps organisations reduce the risk of behaviours of concern and workplace violence through the provision of engaging, outcome-focused training programmes designed around the service being provided. Three facilitators were trained during the year with a view to providing the program to staff and later to our service users over the next year.

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- Service Delivery -

The Recovery and Family & Carer teams provide our consumers and carers with support managing and maintaining recovery from lived experience of mental illness, encouraging our consumers to live independent fulfilling lives. The ‘Recovery Program’ commences with a face to face assessment, allowing a recovery plan to be written. This encompasses all aspects of a person’s life, including their dreams and goals for the future. To fulfil the plan, recovery staff are allocated to a person to ensure their needs are met, whether that be education, life skills, preparation for employment, meaningful occupation, mentoring, coaching, promoting positive relationships and/or socialising. The Family & Carer team recognise that carers are a key member of a person’s recovery team and we work closely with the carers to develop their resilience and capacity. We understand the importance of providing support, counselling and advice to carers.We offer a number of psychoeducation programs to consumers and carers including:• Family Connections;• Challenging Our Problematic Emotions (COPE);• Building a Future;• My Recovery; and• safeTALKOne of the skills that we teach as part of the COPE program is mindfulness. One of the skills covered in this section is the skill of staying in wise mind. This is a skill that all Pathways SouthWest staff have had to put into place themselves to demonstrate that we “practise what we preach!” Twenty-twenty has been a lesson on how to behave as if everything is normal when the whole world is turned upside down. Many of the consumers reliant on our services do not manage change and uncertainty well, and in many cases they are also socially isolated. However, normality, to the degree that was possible with changing advice, social distancing, and shifting government guidelines, fuelled by sometimes sensational and often misleading media was what the Recovery and Family & Carer teams strived to achieve during the latter part of this reporting period, and to remain in wise mind.

How successful was our attempt to maintain “normality” is subjective. With staff working from home, psychoeducation training delivered on online, telephone and zoom calls replacing face to face visits and outings on the bus somewhat curtailed, I am proud to say the teams and our volunteers achieved for our consumers a near normal sense of engagement. Through all these paths we maintained our regular communication, support, guidance and limited social activities as a constant to support and let our consumers know that they had not been forgotten in the hoopla that was COVID19. I am very proud to say we have delivered “a normality” and will continue to so for our consumers into the future as normally as we can and bring them on the journey with us through these changing times.

We reinvented our service delivery and dedicated a team member specifically to undertake a quality audit to see if our deliverables were meeting the needs of our consumers. In excess of 100 calls were made to consumers specifically asking “how we were doing with our support, were there any unmet needs we could help with”. More so this reassured them that while the normal practise of being physically available in the Rose Street office was not an option, we were still actively engaged with them and our normal programs were just being delivered a little differently.

I am pleased to say the feedback on our quality audit was overwhelmingly positive and consumers reported back feeling supported and informed so I am happy to conclude that we had success in maintaining some sense of normality for our consumers in very abnormal circumstances. On behalf of all our members, consumers, carers, Board of Management and Executive, our thanks and congratulations to the Recovery and Family and Carer teams and volunteers on continuing in providing outstanding care and compassion for our consumers and carers when often, the staff themselves had little knowledge of the virus and had concerns for their own loved ones health and security during the pandemic, but continued to provide ongoing support to our consumers and carers. Well done and thank you.

by Steve


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Carers

After almost 3 years my husband and I have put in place all the therapy and help we needed to be in a great place at the moment … I am still in contact with Lea so I will keep in touch if things change and I need more support.

I can’t thank Pathways enough for everything they have offered me. Especially Lea and her support. Thank you.

C

- Testimonials -

Student

When we started our Cert IV in Mental Health, none of us imagined COVID-19’s impact. Right in the middle of our studies we were quarantined and were left wondering how we would finish our qualification. We tackled the online stuff and muddled through until we finally headed back to the classroom just in time to face the inevitable work placement element of our study. And although Pathways was still at minimal operational status, with no social groups, outings, or meetings they said yes to us students needing placement while many others turned us down.

I worked with one of their Recovery Workers, Shane, who went out of his way to give me mock situations to tackle, brief meetings with consumers (with distancing) and challenged me to think about why and how we did what we did. They made a daunting task into an exciting learning opportunity.

The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly and ‘rumour has it’ they are industry leaders. They helped prepare me exceptionally well for the industry that I now thoroughly enjoy working in.

Nikki

Volunteers

As a volunteer Bus Driver with Pathways over the last couple of years I have enjoyed participating in the events of the day and the daily interaction with both Pathways clients and staff.

Clients and staff acknowledge their appreciation of my contribution and the reward I take away is knowing that clients have been enabled to carry out daily activities and get to their appointments.

I enjoy the variation of conversations and interactions with clients and have their trust and respect. We all enjoy our ‘bus chats’ with each day being unique.

Allan

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- Thank You to Partners and Donors -

To our many Partners and Supporters, including:

WA Mental Health CommissionDepartment of Communities – Housing

Department of Communities – Disability ServicesAct, Belong, Commit

AURIZONBreakaway Aboriginal Corporation

Bunbury Regional Art GalleryBusselton Community Garden

Carers Australia WAChoose Respect

Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (Stronger Communities Program)Foodbank

Harvey BeefHelping MindsIPG Advisors

MIFWAMorrissey Homestead

Red Cross Carer RespiteSt John’s Community, Alcohol, Drug Services

South Regional TAFESouthern Ports

South West Women’s Health and Information CentreThommo’s Community Garden

Tronox (previously Cristal) Volunteer South West

Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) WA Country Health ServiceWA Primary Health Alliance

Over the past year many more individuals, businesses and groups have volunteered time and donated goods and services to support the work of Pathways SouthWest.

Thank you for your contributions.

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Documents

ANNUAL REPORT€¦ · Annual Report 201920 5 - Board of Management - CEO WAPRES (Forest Industries) President of Pathways SouthWest 2013 - present Other current non Industry roles