Message from the Chairman
It’s been a positive year for Sylvanvale, yielding significant results and a strong financial performance, despite uncertainty in the sector.
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review, which followed ten years in operation, were both necessary and wanted. They highlight clear gaps in how as a society we are failing people with disability. While the way forward is being decided, the sector is facing a period of uncertainty.
Part of the key to Sylvanvale’s success this year has been our continuing focus on reducing the number of labour hire agency staff we utilise, which has meant an increase in permanent and consistent staff to ensure greater quality care for our clients.
The people we support, their families and carers are key to Sylvanvale succeeding in its purpose. Throughout the year, we continued to make sure their voices were heard through our Facing Forward Customer Consultative Committee. The sessions have played an important role in contributing to our organisation-wide and service-specific decision making.
This financial year, we were pleased to offer more housing choices for the people we support, by expanding our Individual Apartment Living (IAL) offering. In September 2023, we began providing on-call support at our stunning new site, ‘Regent’, in Kogarah. We are also close to opening a new site with breathtaking views at the brand-new waterfront community of Woolooware Bay.
I am grateful to our talented staff for their hard work and ongoing commitment to ensuring that the people we support achieve positive outcomes. Thank you to my fellow Board members and to Chief Executive Officer, Leanne Fretten, and the entire Sylvanvale management team, for your tremendous dedication to what we do.
Above all else, my thanks to the people we support, our families and carers, for your continuing support and your belief in our organisation.
Jeff McCarthy
Chairman