07/08 07/08 a n n u a l re p o r t 0 7 / 0 8

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1 07/08 07/08 annual report 07/08

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3 if you can see things clearly chairperson s report I am pleased to present the LifeWorks Annual Report for Once again, LifeWorks has continued to offer individuals, couples and families a range of counselling and mediation services in a wide network of locations at a cost that is either offset by government funding, employer funds or scaled to client income or affordability. This is a substantial contribution to the wellbeing of the Victorian community. The Board is conscious of the highly skilled work of LifeWorks counsellors who listen and respond in depth to the experiences, and often shattered dreams, of partners and parents, children and employees. We are rightly proud of LifeWorks long track record in marriage preparation courses and in developments in the educational offerings which embrace the changes to relationships, marriage and family patterns of recent decades. We appreciate the regard in which our Family Violence Prevention strategies, and the Men s Behaviour Change Programs, are held in the profession and the community. We see the crucial importance of reducing violence in families and of mediating just outcomes in disputes between people who are separating or seeking to co-parent after a divorce. This is the daily work for which the Board has oversight of the infrastructure that makes it possible. The Board continues to hold Ms Kaye Swanton, CEO, and her senior management team in the highest regard. We are grateful to the many people within the organisation who carry out their responsibilities with dedication, sometimes even going the extra mile that can make a difference and which demonstrates a commitment beyond the ordinary. All these people and the synergy of their efforts make LifeWorks an organisation Board members are pleased to serve. This year, two long standing Board members retired and we recorded our gratitude for their service in our minutes. Mr Ian Curry served as Chair of the Finance Committee and as Deputy Chair of the Board. Ian s professional knowledge and skills have placed our governance systems and the finances in a sound position and his personal support of me and of Kaye Swanton has enhanced our roles substantially. Mrs Beryl Gregory, Principal of Christ Church Grammar School, brought a very grounded and contemporary perspective on family life from her experience with children and parents. Beryl s wisdom and astute questions made her contribution to the Board s discussions a consistently valuable one. We are most fortunate in having been able to appoint very competent new people to the Board. Mr Peter Harcourt and Mr Andrew Brookes bring business and financial skills while Ms Christine Clough and Ms Judith Pierce bring legal skills from their practices in family law. Dr Muriel Porter OAM comes to the Board as a well known journalist and writer in religious affairs and is a prominent lay woman in the Australian Church. LifeWorks can be rightly pleased the Board attracts people of this calibre. The importance of healthy relationships as a foundation of wellbeing in the community is more evident than ever. LifeWorks serves that need well in demanding and complex times. It is a privilege to be part of this organisation and to present the Annual Report for The Reverend Canon Dr Colleen O Reilly

4 chief executive officer's report if we work together 2 The reporting period has seen a consolidation and affirmation of our very successful partnership with the Family Mediation Centre (FMC). During , LifeWorks and the FMC successfully tendered for and won the Chadstone Family Relationship Centre and the associated Early Intervention Services and, similarly, the Broadmeadows Early Intervention Services. This is a very exciting development for both organisations and a very welcome opportunity to extend our services and expertise to these other communities. Much has been written about working in partnership and collaborating across organisational boundaries; about what makes them successful or what might limit their progress. Such partnerships reflect, in many ways, the same challenges that our clients face in forming and maintaining relationships. At the heart of these inter-organisational working relations, is the need to value difference and diversity; to understand that solid relationships are not necessarily built on sameness, but a healthy regard for the differences that attract us to each other in the first place; a respectfulness that allows us to value each others differing skill set, knowledge and expertise. The dynamic and human aspects of these alliances, as for our clients, colour the possibilities that we can construct for ourselves and each other. As the management adviser, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, has observed, Like romances, alliances are built on hopes and dreams and what can happen if we dare to pursue the opportunities. In forming a partnership, a new and potential space opens up to the parties that otherwise would not be possible operating alone. Through the collaboration, transactional tasks are completed but, more importantly, a transformation is achieved through the sharing of scarce resources and a blending of practice wisdom that creates a higher order capacity to serve our clients. In this way, as Kanter has suggested, relationships between organisations begin, grow and develop or fail much like relationships between our clients. In this same way our clients benefit from the comfort that can be offered during difficult times and, where relationships do fail, through the resolutions offered by the combined understanding of our own partnership. At LifeWorks, our knowledge of human relations, whether at home or work, is a most wonderful and exciting contribution to make to the many communities which we seek to serve; especially in these new and emerging times. Thank you everyone for your contributions throughout the reporting year. A special acknowledgement to all of our clients, at whatever stage of their relationship formation or development, who have the courage to take time out, to seek assistance and to reflect on those aspects of our being and partnering that either enhance or limit our lives. Kaye Swanton

5 if your voice is heard The LifeWorks website and intranet continue to evolve and have become the medium of choice for clients and staff. We have also recently arranged for our 1300lifeworks phone number which will provide for us an effective way of assessing the success of specific marketing. marketing manager's report Although, the core of our marketing focus is still Yellow Pages advertising, print and online, we have extended our strategies to include advertising with the Victorian Police Association, the ALSO foundation, a number of school newsletters and calendars, mx newspapers, local branch papers and The Melbourne Anglican newspaper. Bar mats, advertising LifeWorks, can also be found at The Point Cook RAAF base. Presentations to family law practitioners, celebrants, grandparents and the general public have been held from North East Victoria to metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong and Frankston. The success of these can only be measured by the repeated requests we have to deliver more. We have also sponsored a number of significant events throughout the reporting period, including the Darebin International Women s Day celebrations through to the International Symposium on Couple and Family Relationships held in Melbourne, by Deakin University. Most significantly, we recognise that the very best promotion for LifeWorks is the very positive word of mouth referrals and recommendations made by our clients to their friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues. We maintain this referral source through the delivery of only the very best of services to you our clients and the broader community. 3 Sally Cant

6 if you can find the right people human resources report During the reporting year we implemented the Human Resources Information System for LifeWorks employees via our Payroll system ADP. Equal Opportunity in the Workplace training was conducted for all LifeWorks employees which included presentations from the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission and the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI). The respective training covered our obligations as an Employer under the Equal Opportunity Act. A study looking at LifeWorks attrition rate for was completed, with further statistics to be compiled at the end of An ongoing project called Attention to Retention has commenced to assess the attrition statistics with a view to developing best practice retention strategies. All Position Descriptions are currently being reviewed to incorporate Key Performance Indicators reflective of our expanding funding and service diversity. Performance Review and Development Training was conducted for all LifeWorks Managers and Supervisors. An OHS & Green Sustainability Committee was established and a detailed OHS Audit for all branches was completed ensuring LifeWorks compliance with the OHS Act and all Family Relationship Service Program quality assurance standards. Ongoing recruitment during the reporting period has seen 19 permanent and approximately 8 casual employees engaged. Monique McCarthy 4

7 if you think about it This has been a year of growth, innovation and development for LifeWorks Client Services. The range of services being offered by LifeWorks to clients includes counselling, education, dispute resolution, employee assistance programs and training services. client service report Excitingly, during the reporting period, LifeWorks has gone through its second external quality assurance audit and passed with flying colours! We were found to be fully compliant against all seven quality criteria and the 15 associated standards. The audit was commissioned by the commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) as part of their approval requirements for all organisations funded through the Family Relationship Services Program. This external validation of our practices offers our clients, and the broader community, the assurance they deserve in engaging highly sensitive clinical and educative interventions. During the reporting period we also won funding through FaHCSIA s Indigenous Co-ordination Unit to ensure our services culturally extend to Indigenous clients and, for our EAP services, Indigenous employers in particular. LifeWorks Employee Assistance Programs have provided services for small to very large state wide companies through to large Government agencies. These services have included individual counselling, workplace mediation and on site critical incident debriefing. We have also extended our fee-forservice training to include group relations, team leader development, change management and clinical supervision in human services. LifeWorks staff has also presented at a number of conferences and forums. Funding was also won from the state Department of Human Services, the Glen-Eira City Council and Melbourne City Council and we are grateful to all of our supporters. 5 Gina Ralston

8 if you can just work it out dispute resolution service report There has been a significant increase in the complexity of the families being referred to LifeWorks, particularly in the area of family law and separation. LifeWorks is privileged to have an expert team of Dispute Resolution Practitioners, many of whom are also Family Relationship Counsellors and Child Consultants. This multi-disciplinary team provide a full suite of integrated, tailored, innovative and flexible services to parents and children that include child consultations, dispute resolution, concurrent counselling and participation in parenting after separation groups. education service report lifeworks... if we are prepared to learn Our education program continues to expand and respond to community needs including the roll out of group and community events in Wangaratta in response to the needs of drought affected families, and a grand parenting forum in Geelong. LifeWorks education programs range from single two hour sessions through to 13 week Men s Behaviour Change Programs. Our programs reflect the breadth of issues that clients are seeking support for at all stages of relationship formation, development, enhancement and, sometimes, separation. Gina Ralston 6

9 when you have someone to talk to counselling report LifeWorks offers a range of counselling services through its ten branches in metropolitan Melbourne and country Victoria. Our Employee Assistance Programs, which offer counselling to employees, funded by their employer, has continued to grow throughout the year as our reputation increases. We continue to provide our clinical staff with many professional development opportunities ranging from workshops and forums through to external, internal and peer supervision. This focus on professional development ensures we offer only the highest quality services, across the many clinical modalities offered by LifeWorks, to our clients Our clinicians are wonderfully supported by our team leaders, and support staff, who ensure that each branch and staff member feels connected to the organisation as a whole. LifeWorks now has the equivalent of 35 full time counsellors, offering a wide range of expertise and practice wisdom across the agency. Our recruitment of counsellors ensures we have only tertiary qualified and experienced staff specialising individual, couple and relationship counselling, family therapy, grief counselling, mental health, domestic violence, drug and alcohol, and children s specialist services. The breadth of these services, operating alongside other programs, ensures we can offer continuity and seamless services, to our clients. Bruce Hart 7

10 without violence LifeWorks Family Violence Prevention Program again operated at multiple locations. Our Men s Behaviour Change Programs were facilitated at Wyndham, Melbourne City, Moorabbin and Frankston locations. These programs consist of working with men around their violent and abusive behaviours, in a group setting, and also conducting partner and ex-partner contact to ensure the safety and support of the women and children affected by the men s behaviour. During the reporting period, LifeWorks continued to work with students who have family violence prevention report completed the Swinburne Graduate Certificate of Male Family Violence (Group Facilitation) for practical placements. This has proved fruitful both for the students in their learning and for the agency in terms of ensuring our practices against most current standards of delivery, and also, to assist in workforce development of qualified program facilitators. Research, funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, is being conducted, in conjunction with the Brighton Rotary Club and Monash University, into the efficacy of our Men s Behaviour Change Programs and other forms of clinical interventions addressing violence in intimate relationships. LifeWorks has again conducted agency-wide training into working with family violence. We continue to offer support, secondary consultations and training for staff around the issues that may arise in relation to family violence. This training includes information pertaining to the new state Family Violence Protection Act 2008 which will impact on our work. LifeWorks continues to offer an internal training program so that counsellors or facilitators already working for LifeWorks, who are interested in facilitating Men s Behaviour Change Programs, can observe and learn from experienced facilitators before beginning to co-facilitate programs themselves. 8 Leah Vincent

11 if you are thinking what I am thinking 9 relationship education report The LifeWorks Are You Thinking What I m Thinking suite of programs has been successfully delivered throughout the year. Couples have worked with LifeWorks trained facilitators in either individual or group-based programs. Client program evaluations have provided positive and constructive feedback that has enabled LifeWorks to undertake on-going quality assurance resulting in programs that meet the ever-changing needs of clients and reflect the latest evidence-based practice. The pre-marriage team of facilitators at LifeWorks has been strengthened during 2008 by the addition of several counselling staff who underwent training earlier this year. The richness and depth that the counselling staff bring to the pre-marriage team has many benefits including a solid, broad range of expertise being offered to the community. The opportunity for peer learning has also occurred at regular professional development seminars and team meetings. The addition of counselling staff to the pre-marriage team has also facilitated the expansion of the program, resulting in a greater geographical coverage that now extends to Wyndham in the west and Wangaratta in northern Victoria. The Code of Practice for Civil Celebrants legislates that Celebrants must be familiar with relationship support services in the community and must supply every couple with up to date and relevant information. With more than 63% of all weddings now being conducted by Civil Celebrants an important focus for LifeWorks, has been to develop strong relationships with Celebrant training organisations and Celebrants themselves. This both improves LifeWorks community profile and builds relationships with potential referrers. Throughout the year, LifeWorks has delivered several information seminars and compulsory professional development units to Celebrants. During these sessions Celebrants are informed of the range of services and content of programs, along with a discussion on how to broach the subject with their clients. Cheryl Dakis

12 in the bush! north-east victorian rural men's leadership & mentor development program report Two new Men s Mentor Groups have been established in Wangaratta as part of a Local Answers project funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). Four more groups will be established in early 2009 as this project gains momentum. These groups are aimed at providing men with an opportunity for self development and support. As part of the Local Answers project, LifeWorks staff have also facilitated a series of workshops, at a family focused event, aimed at increasing awareness of service providers within the rural community. This event was conducted in partnership with thirteen agencies, including Anglicare, Rural Ambulance Service, Centrelink, Rural City of Wangaratta and the Country Fire Authority. Several other similar community building initiatives are currently in the planning phase. The team at LifeWorks Wangaratta have also been busy attending to our ongoing counselling and education services. Client referrals have been steadily increasing through the reporting period. This is in part due to the efforts of all local staff in networking with other agencies to increase the Wangaratta profile. Further development of the Wangaratta site will include the addition of dispute resolution services in 2009 which other service providers have identified as under-serviced within Wangaratta and surrounding centres. Richard Brown 10

13 if you can get things to add up finance & administration report Every financial year brings new challenges and in we had many. During the financial year we relocated and setup our new Wangaratta office. This has meant that we can provide better service and training to clients in the North East region of Victoria. We also completed a major review, and commenced a major upgrade, of our Information Technology infrastructure. This upgrade, which is currently underway, will see the introduction of a fully networked environment for LifeWorks. It will be the first time that all LifeWorks branches will be connected and will open the way to implement a range of new technology initiatives which will lead to improved efficiencies in the organisation and better client service. income. This change came from continuing growth in our Employee Assistance Program client base and an increase in training delivery to the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. During our community grants rose by 99% and our state government funding also increased by 72%. I look forward to the continuing growth of LifeWorks and to our role in enabling LifeWorks to provide programs which promote positive relationships in the community and workplace. Peter Holmes The reporting period also saw the introduction of a new web site for LifeWorks and an intranet for our staff. These two initiatives have greatly enhanced our ability to provide up to date information to our staff and clients. The new internet site is also e-commerce enabled and this means that our education clients can now view all our courses, book a place and pay for the course all in one online transaction. EFTPOS facilities were also introduced to all our branches in the reporting period. This has provided instant and easier payment methods for our clients as well as increased effectiveness of our payment processing procedures. Financially, we continued to grow during and our end of year surplus was $51,074. This was $42,328 higher than our budgetted surplus of $8,747 and $37,625 or 279% higher than our result. 11 During we experienced a 7.4% growth in revenue from $2,869,851 to $3,077,042. Much of this growth came from a 217% increase in our consultancy and fee-for-service

14 if you can get things to add up Income statement for financial year ended 30 June Note $ $ 12 This summarised financial information has been extracted from the Annual Audited Financial Statements of LifeWorks. A copy of the full statements is available upon request. Peter Holmes Revenue 3 3,077,042 2,869,851 Employee benefit expenses (2,133,582) (1,950,555) Advertising and marketing expenses (62,605) (63,930) Consulting expenses (80,101) (101,846) Consortium expenses (136,744) (133,941) Depreciation expenses (33,960) (28,143) Employee development and training expenses (15,744) (15,631) Occupancy expenses (302,541) (281,184) Other expenses (260,691) (281,172) Surplus/(deficit) 4 51,074 13,449 Incometax expenses 1(a) - - Surplus after tax 51,074 13,449 Balance sheet as at 30 June 2008 Current assets Note $ $ Cash and cash equivalents 5 391, ,418 Trade and other receivables 6 114,255 71,656 Total current assets 506, ,074 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 7 91,898 66,277 Total non-current assets 91,898 66,277 Total assets 598, ,351 Current liabilities Trade and other payables 8 259, ,682 Provisions 9 161, ,338 Total current liabilities 420, ,020 Non-current liailities Provisions 9 22,971 14,634 Total non-current liabilities 22,971 14,634 Total liabilities 443, ,654 Net assets 154, ,697 Members funds Accumulated 154, ,697 Total members funds 154, ,697

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16 LifeWorks is a not-for-profit organisation approved by the Federal Attorney-General s Department under provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 and partially funded by the Australian Government. LifeWorks provides professional counselling, dispute resolution and education for individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents. LifeWorks also provides counselling and dispute resolution for employers and employees, as well as Employee Assistance Programs for organisations. LifeWorks counsellors, dispute resolution practioners and facilitators are highly qualified and experienced. 07/08 LifeWorks Head Office Level 5, 227 Collins Street Melbourne VIC /08 Ph. (03) F. (03) E. lifeworks@lifeworks.com.au ACN ABN