Endeavour Foundation - Our Story

Featured cover artworks by the talented artists with a disability employed at Endeavour Foundation’s QArt Studio based in Kew, Melbourne.

Ou r Mission

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Ou r Mission

Endeavour Foundation | Our Story | Page 3Endeavour Foundation | Our Story | Page 3

To drive positive change in the community, especially for people with a disability.

Ou r Mission

Endeavour Foundation is one of Australia’s most established providers in the disability sector but we have not forgotten our roots.

Founded in 1951 out of the doggedness of families of people with a disability, the Endeavour Foundation of today continues to advocate, innovate and push the boundaries for its customers.

While poverty, disadvantage and exclusion remain rife among the one in five Australians who have a disability – including nearly 1.3 million affected by profound or severe disability – we continue to challenge inequality of opportunity at every level and on every front.

At this transformative time, the current system of disability support – described by the Productivity Commission as ‘underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient’ – is gradually being replaced by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

We are excited that our core belief – that people with a disability deserve the opportunity to live fulfilling and active lives – is at last being reflected in national policy and practice.

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This is a time of immense opportunity for people with a disability for whom the doors to employment, education and society in general have historically been closed.

We also know that the impact of these changes will extend beyond the people who directly access our services. For families and communities who have generously responded to the unmet needs of people with disabilities through informal support, the NDIS should provide welcome relief.

Endeavour Foundation has an opportunity and obligation to shape our organisation to be more responsive and customer-focused. By doing so, we can be part of the most significant social change the current generation will likely experience.

We are also increasingly working across more areas within the health and human services continuum. Recent amalgamations have enhanced Endeavour Foundation’s capacity to provide a more holistic response to individuals, families and communities in need.

These additional service streams include employment, mental health, family support, youth case management and community development. All services have inclusion and access as a priority and therefore complement the existing services and activities of Endeavour Foundation.

“He has made wonderful progress over the years and I am very proud of him.”

As the NDIS rolls out across the country, momentum is building.

As a full service provider and advocate in the community services sector, Endeavour Foundation is ideally placed to focus on the individual needs of vulnerable people, especially those with a disability. However to do so, we need to be agile, sustainable and influential.

We have been busy listening to the people we support and preparing to tailor our service offering to meet their future needs and expectations.

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Many people who access our services, and their families, have told us they feel ‘at sea’ in the midst of these changes, that we need to demonstrate leadership and give them confidence.

We will continue to reach out to the people we support, providing information and advice, listening to their concerns, and partnering with them throughout this journey.

…a national strategyEvolving


Evolving

Endeavour Foundation is working hard to:

promote choice and flexibility

meet the expanding needs of our current customers

enhance our service offerings to attract new customers

develop an NDIS ready workforce

build a positive community perception and profile.

“I don't know how I would have managed without Endeavour Foundation and say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of my heart on behalf of my family.”

Gaining insights into our current and potential customers, and engaging them in service design and reform, will be a core part of our work. Ensuring satisfaction, and putting customers at the centre of everything we do, will be the true measure of our success.

Likewise, we must ensure that customers perception of our organisation is in tune with our vision and values. These must be as relevant today for the people with whom we interact as they ever were. Making sure that we communicate clearly and consistently with all our stakeholders will be vital if we are to continue to inspire confidence.

Moving from a ‘funding’ model to a more competitive ‘customer-focused’ model, where our customers have choice and control as never before, requires a distinct shift in terms of how we present ourselves and interact with stakeholders.


Implementation of our Business Transformation Action Plan We’re improving the agility and flexibility of our services, so that we can best meet the changing needs of people with a disability under the NDIS.

Exploring outcomes of co-design activity We’re working with local communities to gain a better understanding of their needs and challenges, leading to solutions that have a greater social impact.

Roll-out of a conversation kit We’ve provided a toolkit for customers and families, to assist with the planning process for NDIS.

Launch of our NDIS Hotline We’re creating a repository of information for anyone with concerns about what the NDIS will mean for them.

Our actions to help people with a disability in a NDIS environment include:

Investment in the future and a commitment to progress has always been a key priority, but never more so than now. As we embark upon the NDIS journey, it’s vital that we fully support the wider Endeavour Foundation family through this time of great change.

We are delighted to be partnering in research with the University of the Sunshine Coast and Griffith University, and undertaking research with our supported employees, to determine how best to capture individual needs in line with the NDIS assessment process.

By gaining an improved understanding of our customers’ lived experience, their expectations, and needs for support, we can ensure that the changes we implement are customer-focused and evidence-based.

The message we have received from people with a disability is that they need to feel informed and empowered to maximise their potential under the NDIS. To that end, we launched our Families Forums in Queensland in 2014.

We held 24 forums in 16 locations and met with around 1,000 people, with a clear mandate to demystify what for many seems like an upheaval as well as an opportunity.

Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback, we are extending the forums into other states, and are designing future activity to address ongoing concerns and gaps in understanding.



Over the last year we have spoken at Endeavour Foundation’s NDIS Families Forums across Queensland. It has been our privilege to share with other parents the process by which we have set our sons up in their own home, out in the wider community. This has become our passion – talking about making the dream a reality under the NDIS and being able to overcome obstacles when a united front is presented.

One of our most important calls is to start a support group of like-minded people, with the aim of establishing

supported accommodation for your loved one before you are not around to help anymore.

Preparation for this fantastic scheme is paramount. It will not solve all the problems but, in our experience, it has gone a long way towards helping. It has been two years now and seeing our young men growing in confidence in their approach to the world has been an amazing experience.

Steph & Dianne, parents of NDIS trial site participants

“The NDIS has allowed them to spread their wings and they have found ‘voice, choice and control’ over what they want to do and how they want to live.”

MyView

When we first had the news that our daughter, Rebecca, was going to have a lot of challenges in her life we didn’t know what the future held for her. But, once we realised that there is no point worrying about the unknown, we soon dusted ourselves off and searched for ways to help her to achieve her full potential – whatever that may be.

My husband and I had always believed that self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience are such a big part of any child’s development and that was the focus for any pathway we chose for Rebecca.

The education and lifestyle programs she has attended through Endeavour Foundation, and the friends she has made have helped to nurture these traits, teaching her problem-solving strategies and giving Rebecca the confidence to ‘have a go’ in all parts of her life.

Rebecca is working at Woolworths three mornings a week and is continuing to enjoy her weekly horse-riding, tennis and hip hop dancing lessons – her dance troupe even performed at this year’s Special Olympics World Games in LA!

While this is very exciting, these are the sorts of opportunities that also help Rebecca on her journey to become an independent young woman.

Rebecca’s dad is no longer with us, but he is always with us in our hearts. I am sure he is watching over Rebecca with a lot of pride in everything that she achieves in life, as do I.

Diane, Rebecca’s mum

“She has achieved so much in her young life so far and Endeavour Foundation’s programs have played a significant part in that. I am very proud of what Rebecca has achieved and look forward to seeing her realise her potential.”



Opening up a world of opportunity for the people we support, the future direction of disability services across Australia demands flexible, responsive, competitive and accountable providers.

Just as supporting the choices and aspirations of people with a disability is central to our ethos, so too is it a fundamental premise of the NDIS.

Through listening to people with a disability, their families and their support networks, we are working to stay attuned to their hopes and fears for the future. It is this insight which motivates us to carry out extensive research, trial ground-breaking programs of work and continue to invest in individualised, customer-focused opportunities.

That connectedness will prove critical as we meet the challenges and opportunities of the NDIS.

The NDIS is a move away from government-led and funded services to a customer-oriented system. Services will be purchased and planned according to the need of the individual, giving them more control over the support services in their lives.

…in all we doThere will be more planning and decision-making to be done by people with a disability, their families and carers. Our ability to offer what people really want and need in their lives will be crucial to our future.

Inevitably a shift of this magnitude will necessitate major change. It will mean greater empowerment for one of our greatest strengths – our frontline staff.

By enhancing the skills of our workforce, we will be better able to flexibly and responsively deliver the outcomes people want and need.

We are committed to deepening our understanding of the needs and concerns of the whole of the Endeavour Foundation family, ensuring that everyone feels respected, secure, and – ultimately – excited about this new era.

That’s a challenge we very much welcome.

Ou r services Accommodation Support

Children & Youth Support

Education

Home Care

Learning & Lifestyle Support

Post-School Options

Respite Services



We put people at the centre of our thinking, practice and planning.

1046people received accommodation support tailored to their individual needs.

736people enjoyed the opportunity to enhance their independence, confidence, self-esteem, interaction skills and life choices at our Learning and Lifestyles.

people engaged with Children & Youth Support services, including our Youth Mentoring Program and literacy, technology and life skills training through Latch-On®.

108286adults and children availed of a range of respite options, from centre based to vacation and weekend.

224people were supported in their transition from school, as they plan for the future through our Post School Services.


Anna’s eight year old daughter Lucy attended this year’s School Holiday Activity Program in Dalby, run in conjunction with Arrow Energy.

Children enjoyed a host of activities, from baking and kite making to art displays and board games, and Anna says that she would encourage other families to reach out for support:

“Lucy has a one-year-old sister and three brothers, so Endeavour Foundation’s holiday activity programme was something just for her. It gave her an opportunity to meet other kids around her own age – children who have similar challenges. Above all I had hoped that they would, hopefully, make her feel less out of place.

“Lucy is one of only a small number of kids in her special education unit, so I thought that the chance to see that there are lots of kids like her would make her realise that it’s not so bad.”

Lucy'sStory


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EducationAccommodation Employment Respite

A new era of choice and control


We believe that employment services are a critical part of an inclusive, empowering community for people with a disability. When faced with limited employment and social options, the ability to play an active role within a workplace is an important opportunity to develop personal skills and grow in self-esteem.

Balancing commercial viability with highly individualised support and development needs, our overarching purpose is to deliver meaningful outcomes for the people who work with us, while ensuring impeccable standards of service.

We understand that supported employees and their families are anxious to know what the implementation of the NDIS will mean for them. With little information available from the trial sites in relation to how the scheme

will impact on supported employment, our only certainty is that funding has been extended through to 2018. We will continue to explore opportunities, seek clarity and lobby for the best possible results for people with a disability.

Debate in the community about wages for supported employees and rising wage costs represent significant ongoing challenges.

In response, we aim to ensure our business services are continually improving to remain on a sound commercial footing, so we can continue to support our employees in a meaningful way.

…through employment

Our vision is to develop a total employment package which will enhance the lives of people with a disability.

We currently produce 51 separate products and services as diverse as mining safety equipment, recycling, food packaging and timber products.

This will offer workforce flexibility, access to TAFE, apprenticeships, and accredited training, as well as portability of employment between supported employment and Disability Employment Services.

Another area of focus will be the development of comprehensive school-based recruitment programs and a quality employment benefits package, including health insurance, income protection and assisted holidays.

In a competitive marketplace we must be an employer of choice – in a truly meaningful sense – enabling the individuals who choose Endeavour Foundation to extract the maximum benefit from their employment experience. Supported employment with Endeavour Foundation must be synonymous with personal development and fulfilment.



In the absence of a transition to retirement program, supported employees often have no alternative but to stay in the workplace. While we currently continue to provide supported employment, we recognise that there are better ways to meet individual needs and aspirations.

Given our cohort of supported employees are ageing, we will be taking steps to create a transition to retirement program. In doing so we are committed to placing the person with a disability at the centre of the decision making process, affording them the opportunity to transition to the best possible alternatives for them and so they can ultimately retire with dignity.

In a complex, ever-changing and competitive business environment we are facing some quite specific challenges, such as those related to an ageing workforce and federal government restrictions on the number of people we can employ.

Additionally the fact we are an employer of people with a disability is not a priority consideration for most customers. Their primary focus is on quality, service and value.

To meet those challenges and ensure our ongoing viability, we are continuing to pursue efficiencies through improved IT systems, increased specialisation and economies of scale and inclusion of operations that add value to our existing profile. We have also made the decision to expand accreditation across food safety, environmental, health and safety requirements.

Such moves, alongside the consolidation of services at primary locations, are necessary to ensure commercial sustainability so that we can continue to offer a high quality experience for our supported employees across the board.

Making the necessary adjustments to our operations will help to ensure that the people for whom Endeavour Foundation was founded will still have the opportunity to go to work, improve their skills and undertake training while they gain confidence, self-esteem, communication, and social skills.


Endeavour Foundation has over the last year embarked on a formal process of work towards becoming a more culturally inclusive organisation. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, we aim to make our services and programs more accessible and relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With that in mind, we’re strengthening our engagement with communities – listening and learning to reduce any perceived or actual barriers to opportunities such as support services, education, training or employment.

Reconciliation Action Plan


Advocacy has been at the core of Endeavour Foundation’s mission since its inception. We remain committed to programs of work which drive forward both internal change and progress across the disability sector as a whole. Mechanisms for complaints, behaviour support, case management and research are all vital elements that underpin the delivery of our front-line services.

Our Complex Support Advice Team, for example, is an invaluable resource for behavioural assessment and the development of Positive Behaviour Support. Thanks to our specialist competencies, we aim to extend that offering to include people with socially complex, problem behaviours in areas such as social skills and anger management.

We also know that collaboration offers fertile ground for progress, and as such will continue to engage with industry events such as the Roundtable 2015, Creativity and Collaboration for ‘Choice and Control’. Through events such as these, we can tap into the flexible and creative approaches being embraced by self-advocates and community groups around key disability issues such as employment, housing, education, peer networks and collaborative sharing of funding.

...to community expectations



Our research provides an evidence-based evaluation of Endeavour Foundation programs such as our commitment to provide low density housing for people with a disability.

The At Home with Choices program, which now has a site in Rockhampton offers contemporary community living and a genuine opportunities for choice and independence.

Ongoing evaluation of the program has found that residents experienced an improved quality of life in areas such as personal development, social inclusion, interpersonal relations, physical and emotional wellbeing and individual rights. We will continue to examine how we can facilitate improvement in the areas of material wellbeing and self-determination.

We welcome feedback, as it helps us to improve our services. Any complaints we receive are taken seriously and are managed by our Complaints Management Process.

Contact us:

1300 730 334

[email protected]

Complaints, PO Box 3555, Tingalpa DC, Qld, 4173

Strengthening…with diversity



Enabling people to realise their full potential is the driver behind our innovative and diverse range of employment, apprenticeship, traineeship, health and wellbeing services.

Through amalgamation with organisations whose values and service profile align with Endeavour Foundation’s ethos, we can enhance the opportunities available to the people we engage with, and their families.

In order to provide the best possible outcomes for the people and communities with whom we interact, our growth strategy is holistic and collaborative in nature, and driven by an absolute commitment to tailored, and needs-based services.

Working together to build social capital, we have a very real opportunity to enhance inclusion and cohesion, for the benefit of the whole community.

Harnessing our knowledge and experience, and listening carefully to the people we serve, will deliver the best possible outcomes for their individual circumstances.

Strengthening2638

members of staff

2350supportedemployees

871volunteers

360apprentices and trainees

...Endeavour Foundation is:

Community Solutions Group, including Acclaim Apprentices and Trainees, provide employment and assistance for people with barriers to employment, apprenticeships and traineeships, family support, drug prevention and public safety programs, as well as services for disengaged young people and people experiencing mental illness.

TORGAS, a Queensland group training organisation supporting apprentices and trainees, amalgamated with Endeavour Foundation to create a broader platform for the provision of employment, apprenticeship and traineeship support.

SkillsPlus and BRACE share our vision of empowering people through education, training and employment. They specialise in the delivery of employment services including jobactive – formerly Job Services Australia – and Disability Employment Services as well as training, education, disability, and youth programs across Victoria.

My name is Ni and I moved from Bali to Australia eight years ago. I lived a happy life in Bali with my husband and three young children, until my husband died in the 2002 Bali bombing.

I became depressed as I did not know how to look after three children by myself, with no money and no home. I met an Australian journalist and remarried but it was not a good marriage and he did not treat me well.

MyView

“I come to SkillsPlus four days each week and I really love it. I am already learning so much. I learn new words every day.”

I wanted to become more independent and make a good life for my three children – two live in Bali and one in Australia.

I joined the SkillsPlus Skills to Education and Employment (SEE) program to improve on my English reading, writing and language skills.

My youngest son speaks good Aussie, and we are speaking more now. Once I have completed the SEE program I hope to get a job in retail, maybe at Kmart or Target, because I like working with people.

Ni, Skills to Education and Employment participant



Paul's StoryPaul approaches each day at work with enthusiasm and a smile.

“I tell Mum, ‘Bye Mum, don’t forget to work hard and be happy today’,” he says.

As a team member at McDonald’s Gladstone, Paul is taking on new responsibilities and meeting new people.

“I go to bed early and practice my work at home. I feel good in the morning. I like everything I do.

“It is good for me to work at McDonald’s. My best friends are there and they give me training and new jobs to do. I change the bins and work on the fryer, I clear tables and do sweeping and mopping.”

Paul originally joined McDonald’s on an after-school basis through the Disability Employment Services program run by Community Solutions. Over several years he received on-the-job support until he transitioned as an independent worker.

Thanks to his commitment and professionalism, Paul has already been awarded a gold star. Now he uses technology to manage his employment.

“To keep working, every morning I listen to my iPod. The iPod tells me what to do and helps me follow instructions,” he said.

Paul has recently taken on another new challenge, as one of four founding members of social enterprise project Agapi. In a company that produces natural skin care products, Paul has found his strength in sales and packaging.

“I do the sachets and the lip gloss and we sell the products at PCYC. At the markets I demonstrate the body scrub on hands,” he said.

Now Paul has his sights set on the next big milestone: “One day I want a nice new house and to get married to a good wife.”


Australians across the country enable people with a disability to realise their ambitions by supporting Endeavour Foundation’s fundraising initiatives. Every bequest made, lottery ticket sold and piece of clothing donated plays a part in helping us to achieve the community’s collective vision for the people who access our services.

We value all donations – whether in-kind or financial. No matter what the contribution, we are committed to ensuring that it translates into a positive outcome for those who engage with our services.

Thanks to the inspiring generosity of our supporters, partners and donors, funds raised each year make a huge difference to the lives of people with a disability across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

…in community

By enabling us to provide a range of services, including education, respite, complex support and accommodation, our supporters have been instrumental in building independence, confidence and self-esteem among people with a disability.

Importantly, looking ahead, transparency and accountability will remain core principles within our area of work. We are committed to fundraising that is unequivocally aligned to our organisational values, with allocation of funds contingent on meaningful outcomes for people with a disability.



Endeavour Foundation’s QArt Studio and Gallery provides employment, mentoring and training for a talented group of professional artists with a disability.

Endeavour Foundation Lotteries

Our flagship fundraising initiative has delivered community awareness and capacity to deliver on our mission for more than 40 years.

Revenue from the Lotteries has grown to about $5.2 million as the program has expanded to include 12 Lotteries each year. Along with seven prize home draws, our Star Supporters have exclusive access to five Golden Reward Lotteries.

Funds raised through Endeavour Foundation Lotteries this year continued to support our At Home With Choices program, which constructs purpose-built homes – offering greater independence and choice – for people with a disability.

These homes for people with a disability follow accessible design principles and incorporate technology which can be tailored to suit the needs of any individual living there, with optional environmental sensors; entry and exit sensors; help alarms and panic buttons.

Endeavour Foundation’s recycled clothing stores position our organisation in the community – raising awareness of our work at the same time as raising funds for people with a disability.

Our many volunteers who assist with this work are valuable ambassadors for the organisation as well as willing and hardworking retail assistants across Queensland and New South Wales.

Constantly pursuing new opportunities to meet the dual goals of awareness and fundraising, we’ve recently added The Labels Shop to our retail portfolio. Located in the Brisbane suburb of Balmoral, the store features brand new, international fashion labels at extremely competitive prices.

It also stocks works by talented artists with a disability from Melbourne-based QArt Studio, and food products from Kingaroy Kitchens which in turn provides employment and training opportunities for people with a disability.

This new retail concept is a great platform to demonstrate to our customers the opportunities available to, and the contribution being made by, people with a disability.



John showed early signs of talent and was drawing even as a boy. An accomplished artist, his work is now sold around the world.

John turned 70 this year but shows no interest in retiring.

“He won’t give it up,” says his brother, Jeffrey. “He’ll still be painting when he’s 90.”

One of 17 artists who enjoy working at the QArt Studio, John has produced drawings and paintings for more than 40 years. A fan of all sorts of transport, John’s colourful work often highlights his favourite Melbourne trams and trains.

His output may have slowed, but John’s art still has his signature detail and bright colours. John’s name is synonymous with the QArt Studio & Gallery and he has done much to enhance the reputation of artists with a disability. His work also hangs in Endeavour Foundation Lottery homes.

“I’m still painting!”

Queensland Great Endeavour Rally

11 people in Warwick have undertaken nationally-recognised certificates to increase their work-readiness

Ageing residents in Toowoomba have enjoyed upgrades to their accommodation

An all-weather recreation area at our supported employment site in Bundaberg has provided an uplifting environment for supported employees

Our Bundaberg seniors’ accommodation service has been refurbished to enhance residents’ living experience

A new all-weather sensory garden, play area designed for children with a disability, and a new wheelchair-accessible bus have improved the experience of people who access the respite service in Biloela

Assistive technologies have been provided to 25 people in Toowoomba to help with learning.

New South Wales Great Endeavour Rally

A computer training room at the Westhaven Association in Dubbo has been enhanced, helping to prepare people with an intellectual disability for work experience in the open employment sector

An interactive learning environment – characterised by a ‘magic carpet’ on to which images are projected – has been provided to benefit Latch-On® (literacy and technology) students at Castle Hill

Offering people a Certificate II in Literacy and Technology to increase their work-readiness.

What our fundraising activities delivered



Our fundraising activities raised

500km Team Endurance Relay Our Sport and Recreation Project has been funded to help people with a disability lead active, healthy lives by increasing their participation in sport and physical recreational pursuits. The project creates genuine pathways for people to integrate into mainstream, community based sporting organisations.

64th Anniversary Gala, Charity Golf Challenge, Melbourne Cup Day

Collectively these three events will, through the Endeavour Foundation Endowment Challenge Fund, enable researchers to explore issues of key importance for the disability sector, and support non-profit organisations in the expansion or inclusivity of their current activities for people with a disability.

$741,365

Christmas Appeal The Youth Mentor Program, which connected families on the Register of Need with qualified Youth Mentors in the Ipswich area, offered one-on-one early intervention services to 84 young people with a disability and their families and carers.

Micro-businessPurchasing equipment to assist The Compass Institute, which provides flexible employment to over 30 people with a disability, in supporting workers’ independence.Queensland

TherapyExploring whether home-based occupational therapy reduces carer burden and functional decline in adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s type dementia. University of South Australia

StorytellingCulturally appropriate research addressing perceptions of health, wellbeing and disability by Aboriginal children and young people both with and without a diagnosed disability.Curtin University, WA

Upskilling Supporting the Prada-Willi Syndrome Association to develop specialist training and resources for families, carers and educators.Victoria

EmploymentEnabling social enterprise Bushlink to expand its services providing paid employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disability. New South Wales

The development and implementation of a framework for evaluating organisational person-centredness by people with intellectual disability.University of Sydney

Research

The Endeavour Foundation Endowment Challenge Fund is a capital preserved fund that has provided about $300,000 in support for research and other projects since its first competitive grants round in 2012. Applications are assessed by an independent panel including representatives from government, academia and the not-for-profit sector.

The variety of small projects funded strengthens the disability sector by improving knowledge and providing practical support beyond the day-to-day activities of Endeavour Foundation.

Endeavour Foundation | Our Story | Page 37Endeavour Foundation | Our Story | Page 37

Supporting social inclusion projects and research into issues of key importance for the Australian disability sector.

Ou r peop leOu r stor ies



Anita is a well-liked and exemplary member of the team at Endeavour Foundation Industries in Seven Hills, New South Wales.

“I have been working here since 1998. I started as a high school student doing work experience and became an employee when I finished school. Some of my co-workers used to go to school with me and one even went to kindergarten with me. We are all still friends.

“The jobs I do include packing boxes and also putting tablets and leaflets into cartons. Outside of work I enjoy going shopping and spending money, seeing movies and also doing activities with the Tuesday Night Club.

“Since working here I have learned many things like putting tablets and leaflets into cartons. I’m happy with these and would not want to do other jobs. I’m also happy that I get to see friends here every day as it makes work more enjoyable.”

“I like working here because it’s fun and what I enjoy the most is that there is always something to do and I like being busy. Also, the staff here are very nice.”


Working at Endeavour Foundation was important in getting me healthy and getting back into the workforce. After being unemployed for 10 years, I just wish I’d heard about supported employment sooner.

When I started at Endeavour Foundation I was very unwell and was only able to work two days a week. Working reintroduced structure to my life.

I really appreciate the support I was given. It helped me get my life back on track. Over the course of three years and, with the help of medication, I got back on my feet.

While working part time I studied to work in the financial planning industry. I’m now working as a para-planner in the city. It’s going well. I’m also getting married next month.

Mark, Former Supported Employee, Kew, Melbourne

MyView

“I think working at Endeavour Foundation was very good for my mental health. It is a very friendly and social environment and that helped me greatly.”

“Person Centered Active Support (PCAS) is about enabling people to become more involved in their own lives – ensuring that people with a disability aren’t bystanders in the world.”

Because our emphasis is on empowering, we work hard to interact and find out what it is that people want. Recently a lady who had never spoken mouthed the word ‘happy’ in response to a question. That was incredible.

Getting out into the community, be it through footy tipping at the RSL – as one man does – or going to see stage shows like ‘Dirty Dancing’ or ‘The Lion King’, is so important. They key is to ensure that, whatever the activity, we support and encourage the people we work with to ‘do’ rather than doing things for them – one mother was astounded to see her son pouring a glass of water for himself for the first time.

For a man who has started growing his own vegetables, incorporating them into a meal was a real watershed moment. With minimal support, he cooked a meal for everyone and was over the moon to be able to share his achievement with his housemates. The pride everyone felt was wonderful.

That same man recently said he wanted a muffin for morning tea, so we guided him to make them for himself. Now, having never been interested in cooking before, he has been encouraged to bake, which he loves.

PCAS is not without its challenges, but the rewards are immense.

Kim, Support Worker, Sunshine Coast

MyView


Our son Max had been your typical, beautiful baby, meeting all his milestones if only a bit later than expected when, at 18 months, it became a lot clearer. He was suddenly really fussy about what he ate, didn’t like people looking at him, screamed absolute blue murder when you tried to bathe him, didn’t attempt to communicate verbally and didn’t seem to notice anything around him.

It wasn’t until Max was four – and after many battles and disappointments along the road – that he was diagnosed with high functioning autism. I remember reading a report prepared for the paediatrician – seeing in black and white all the issues our child has – and sobbing. It was a very sobering moment. If I could give any advice to a parent starting along this path it would be that early intervention is key.

But we have learnt through Max and continue to learn. His thirst for knowledge has educated us, his outlook on life has been inspiring and his sense of humour and infectious laugh make our family a very happy one.

Adeane, Product Development Manager, Endeavour Foundation

“This year I was named Endeavour Foundation Volunteer of the Year. It was a surprise to receive the award because I don’t do it to get praise, I just love to help and to see the amazing people with a disability who use Endeavour Foundation services.

Despite the fact that I’m 93 years of age, there is little that gives me more pleasure than helping to make the garden at the Bundaberg Learning and Lifestyle (L&L) into a place that everyone can enjoy.

I started by cutting away a lot of the bushes and then I put in some azaleas and other shrubs. With new plants and vegetables going in all the time, there is always plenty to do.

Volunteering is something I get a lot out of, as well as hoping that I make a difference for everyone at the L&L. I really enjoy working with people with various disabilities and I think of them as my friends.”

StoryLes'

MyView

“Being a parent is supposed to be about teaching your child and guiding them through life, but through our son I’ve discovered that it’s very much a two-way street.”



Cathy is an enthusiastic advocate for supported employment:

“This is my opportunity to represent people with a disability in the community. Endeavour Foundation means a lot to me and it is something that I really love doing. I just love to help and I really enjoy working with people.

“We have training, like about food safety – no jewellery and watches, mobile phones or earrings are the rules that we have to obey – and new jobs like packing skills and how to use the tape gun properly, and things like anger management.

“I want to see people learning new skills with different jobs, and I can teach people too. I am confident and competent and I want us to be a family.

“We are the super workers and we have our rights to be at work. I love this place with all of my heart and soul. I belong here, with all of my friends and the staff – this is my life and it is our dream to stay here forever.”

“We stick together as a team, we work together as a team, and to have fun we go out with each other and we learn new things.”

TORGAS trainee Rebecca Ottone said that being selected for Group Training Australia’s annual leadership program was the latest step in a life changing experience:

“I am glad that TORGAS and my host business recognised my hard work and efforts. I felt extremely honoured that I was invited, along with so many accomplished people, to attend the leadership course.

“A highlight for me was working out my five year vision. We imagined two different visions; the path we’re currently on and the path we would like to be on. This exercise made me realise that my true passion lies within education.

“The leadership course has given me more confidence and I feel ready to take on the world.”

“My traineeship has changed my life in more ways than I could ever imagine. Words can’t explain the experience.”



Since Matthew moved into supported accommodation in Adelaide, he hasn’t looked back.

“Now I have my own house keys, I’m cooking my own food and cleaning my house,” he said.

“Now I live alone and every day I do things like watch TV, check my mail, go for a drive in the car and cook my lunch and dinner. I go to meetings with people, shopping with the staff, play my guitar, attend the discos – I do my own washing and I clean my house at night time.

“At the weekend I like going for a long drive and bowling. I like going out, and I’m looking for work in building, gardening, or making furniture.”

“My life is different now. Before, where I lived, I used to get into trouble.”

Cameron, a born entertainer, says that joining Endeavour Foundation’s Toowoomba City Learning and Lifestyle (L&L) brought about a ‘very big change’ in his life:

“I come to the L&L every day – sometimes for a couple of hours, sometimes all day. I love the fact that I get to enjoy lots of activities, from boccia to bowling.

“I’ve made so many friends here, a real mixture of people, and there’s always something going on.

“I love to sing and entertain people – I play the organ and I’m pretty good. I have a great audience here!”

“I would encourage people to get out there and experience an L&L. Make use of it and find out what it could add to your life. Don’t sit around at home being bored – get out there, make some friends, get into the community and live your life.”


Corporate Information Patron

His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC Governor of Queensland

Inaugural President

The late Professor Sir Fred Schonell MA, PhD, DLitt, FBPsS, FACE

Chairman

Grant Murdoch MCom(Hons), FAICD, FICAA

Chief Executive Officer

David Barbagallo BSurv, MTM, Dip Mgt

Joint Company Secretaries

Pat Burke BBus, Grad Dip Mgt, Grad Dip Fin Planning, FCPA, FAICD

Eric Campbell BAcc, CA, Grad Dip Project Mgt, GAICD

Registered Office

33 Corporate Drive, Cannon Hill Queensland 4170

Phone: 07 3908 7100

Fax: 07 3908 7101

Email: [email protected]

Website: endeavour.com.au

ABN 80 009 670 704

Auditors

KPMG Level 16, Riparian Plaza, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000

Solicitors

Ashurst Australia Level 38, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane 4000

Simmonds Crowley & Galvin Level 7, 110 Eagle Street, Brisbane 4000

Board of Directors

Grant Murdoch, Chairman

Tony Bellas, Deputy Chairman

Kate Swindon

Alison Semple

Suzie Thorpe

Pedro Mendiolea

Scott Ellis

Yvonne Keane

Paul Currie

Executive Management

David Barbagallo, Chief Executive Officer

Gail Davidson, Executive General Manager Disability and Community Services

Andrew Donne, Executive General Manager Employment Services

Sandra Philpott, Executive General Manager Marketing and Communications

Jenny Madden, Executive General Manager Client Services

John Hooper, Executive General Manager Corporate Services

David Curd, Growth Strategy/Community Solutions Division

Andrew Thomas, Executive General Manager, Supporter Enterprises

Published November 2015

Thank youCorporate PartnersFlight Centre Travel GroupAHLArrow Energy

Corporate Donors/SupportersBrazil Family FoundationFlannery FoundationBaintec TechnologiesWIN TVCatlin AustraliaEasternwellEvent Cinemas/AHLAon HewittQueensland RailTransSpecDeloitteCorporate TravellerShine LawyersCSQMy ProjexGrill’dPWCCardnoPaxton HallErnst & YoungMedia FuturesG.E.T AustraliaTIC GroupKPMGICAP

Corporate Event SponsorsSedgmanAon HewittAinslie BullionKIAGallagher BassettGM HoldenOldfield HoldenInprintCorporate TravellerTrade EnvelopesTranspacificBrennan ITWormaldSouthern Cross 10IsuzuEdmen GroupPure Source RecruitmentKadän BorissSharpe Workplace SolutionsTelstraInfinity PowerANZKPMGRemServProtectabag Brisbane International Airport

GrantsQueensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Queensland Country Credit UnionEasternwell Community Fund

Bequests and TrustsEstate of Brian Joseph AskewEstate of Eileen BichelEstate of Marion Gunter BraunEstate of Thomas ClarkeEstate of Daphne Margaret DowdleEstate of Mervyn Owen DruryEstate of Alistair William GoldinEstate of Helena ZagalskiKenneth Gordon Anderson & Edith Anderson Memorial TrustCatherine Ellen Carter Memorial FundThe Lesley Dickinson Charitable EndowmentThe Hart Family Perpetual TrustThe Ira Josey, Peace Mary Keidge and Ashley Josey Keidge Perpetual Charitable TrustIan McIntyre Trust FundRussell McKimmin Charitable TrustQueensland Community Fund - Endeavour Foundation Perpetual FundRenouf Family Perpetual FundEdith Lewis Trust

Featured cover artworks by the talented artists with a disability employed at Endeavour Foundation’s QArt Studio based in Kew, Melbourne.

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Endeavour Foundation - Our Story