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Our vision and mission
To be a leader in breaking down barriers so people can live the life of their choosing.
Our purpose
Life without limits.
Our values
Our values.
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Our Clients come first in everything we do.
We believe everyone should have access to the support and tools required to live a free and independent life.
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Lead with head and heart.
Forever focused on our purpose and mission, we combine care and careful planning to deliver successes worth celebrating.
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Never stop exploring.
We’re fearlessly creative. We’ve always asked and answered the tough questions and if there’s a better way, we’ll find it.
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Walk the talk.
The buck stops with us. So we keep our word and keep going, no matter what.
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Lift each other.
From a guiding hand to a high five, we unleash and acknowledge everyone’s potential.
Key messages.
A message from our Interim CEO.
Adapting for a future with impact.
As 2022 draws to a close, I’m immensely proud to present our Financial Year 2021-2022 Annual Report on behalf of Guide Dogs Victoria and to look back at the impact our work has had.
Our Clients and our community are the core of our organisation – they’re the reason we continue to strive for better outcomes, better initiatives and better opportunities.
After another challenging year and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to stop, reflect and appreciate the work we have done, and continue to do. We’re also looking to the future, which is full of exciting and inspiring opportunities for all.
We’re incredibly excited to have our teams working together again after the disruptions of the pandemic and have taken on board many learnings to make our workplace a more accessible and inclusive place – including hybrid working models and a flexible approach to delivering our services.
This will become even more evident when our much-anticipated Kew Campus opens in the second half of 2023. This amazing new space has been designed with our people, for our people, to ensure their physical and sensory needs are met.
The Kew Campus will include an on-site Vetcare specialist that will provide services for our wonderful dogs. The Campus also houses Kennels, a dog training facility, a community education space, administration offices and most importantly, a residential accommodation space for Clients to develop independent living skills. The Campus will also host an immersive experience for our stakeholders to understand better the challenges of our Clients.
I know this will be a welcome change after the disconnection experienced throughout the pandemic – a widespread feeling we worked hard to combat with the launch of our community hub, Catch Up. This online platform enables a supportive community for people with low vision or blindness through articles, videos, discussion forums and social groups – something we are so proud of.
Finally, we took our message to new audiences this year, promoting Guide Dogs’ important work via our ‘Born to Lead’ docuseries hosted on the Bondi Vet YouTube channel. The brilliant eight-part series took a behind-the-scenes look at everything from our life-changing dogs to the dedicated volunteers, professional trainers and everyday Australians who live with low vision or blindness.
To everyone who has contributed to the Guide Dogs cause this last year, including our valued donors, bequestors, volunteers and staff, we say a tremendous thank you.
We are eternally grateful for your ongoing support in helping make our world a more accessible and inclusive place for those living with low vision or blindness. We cannot wait to create an even bigger impact in the future and help all those in our community live a life without limits.
Iain Edwards
Interim CEO
Guide Dogs Victoria
A message from our Interim CEO.
Adapting for a future with impact.
A message from our Chair.
Our ongoing committment.
A message from our Chair.
Our ongoing committment.
It’s been a big year for the Guide Dogs Victoria community. The COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting impact and the ongoing economic challenges have made it a testing time for all not-for-profits.
Following the resignation of our CEO in May we were extremely grateful that our Chair, Iain Edwards, stepped up as Interim CEO. We thank Iain for his tireless work in furthering our values and his commitment to our community.
At Guide Dogs Victoria, we remain absolutely focused on supporting the people who need our support, day in and day out. To break down barriers, overcome challenges and transform lives. We are committed to making sure that we can provide quality services and support that assist the changing needs of our Clients, both now and for generations to come.
The redevelopment of our Kew Campus has meant additional difficulties in coordinating our teams and services – but like many, we’ve adapted and introduced new ways of working that will set us on the right path for the future. We’re evolving a contemporary Service Model that will support our new five year strategic plan.
As all Chairs and Boards do, we acknowledge the responsibility we have to create, maintain, refine and adapt a strong governance framework. Over the last financial year we have reviewed and improved our already strong governance framework in a number of specific areas.
This has meant tightening our governance processes and focusing on new policies, staff training and Board and Leadership team interactions. There are new and enhanced policies on the most appropriate way to thank and acknowledge volunteers, donors and supporters and how the Board, and employees can express their support towards individuals and organisations.
There are also improvements to the ambassador and the whistle blower programs. In addition, tighter arrangements will be introduced around branding, grants and donations, media and social media arrangements, and government interactions.
I want to reassure you that that Guide Dogs Victoria is absolutely committed to our important work as a charitable organisation in line with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) regulations. We have been liaising with the ACNC and they are comfortable with the approach we are taking to strengthen our organisation’s governance processes.
As mentioned, we have developed our new strategic plan which sets out a roadmap for the future and reflects our mission to be a leader in breaking down barriers so people can live the life of their choosing. This roadmap will engender a new confidence and align with our new purpose; life without limits.
Our strategic priorities are sixfold. Make a positive difference by providing a personalised Client experience. Grow our Client reach and impact. Transform our digital capability to drive efficiencies and maximise Client outcomes. Deliver an accessible, vibrant and world leading campus experience. Be a great place to work and volunteer through a culture of inclusion, learning and high performance. Strengthen financial sustainability through diversification and efficiency.
By enacting these strategic priorities, there will be a renewed focus on the people we serve, helping them to achieve their goals.
This work would not be possible without the incredible kindness of thousands of people who have so generously supported Guide Dogs Victoria over many years. We are fortunate to have an ongoing community of volunteers and supporters who have remained firmly in our corner throughout every step of our 65-year journey, to ensure we can make a real difference in the lives of Victorians living with low vision or blindness now and into the future.
Dr David Cochrane
Chair, Board of Directors
Guide Dogs Victoria
A message from our Patron.
As Patron, I am once again proud to acknowledge the work of Guide Dogs Victoria.
A message from our Patron.
As Patron, I am once again proud to acknowledge the work of Guide Dogs Victoria.
As Patron, I am once again proud to acknowledge the work of Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV).
Across the last financial year, GDV has continued to provide wide-ranging support, advocacy, services and resources for Victorians with low vision or blindness.
I congratulate GDV for this tireless work, which builds on 65 years of commitment. I particularly congratulate and thank GDV for its resilience amidst, and following upon, the disruption of the pandemic.
On behalf of all Victorians, I thank everyone involved at Guide Dogs Victoria, including staff, volunteers, and supporters, for all that they have achieved and for their contribution to – in the words of our State motto – Victoria’s ongoing Peace and Prosperity.
The Honourable Linda Dessau AC
Governor of Victoria
Meet Ezra
Supporting Ezra's development.
Our Clients.
28,349 hours of Client Services delivered including 5,671 for regional Clients.
Our Clients are always at the heart of everything we do. With reduced lockdowns over the year we provided more face to face services. We continued to work through telepractice, allowing for flexible delivery of services.1,285 Client lives positively impacted through delivery of services.
2,930 Client Programs delivered.
76 Net Promoter Score.
Our Clients have told us they would recommend or highly recommend Guide Dogs Victoria and we attained a Net Promotor Score of 76, placing us in the top category of excellence.Guide Dogs has continued to support us with everything and are always checking up on Ezra and us to see what support we need.
Laura
Mum to Ezra (GDV Client)
Ezra's Story
Ezra was just one year of age when he was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (underdeveloped optic nerves) and Septo-Optic Dysplasia (a combination of underdeveloped optic nerves and pituitary gland dysfunction). Ezra’s mum, Laura, shared with us her family’s journey from despair to hope, and the transformation in her son from the moment he was connected with Guide Dogs.
Ezra received support from Guide Dogs Early Childhood Practitioner, Rebecca, who visited his home and kindergarten to ensure his environments were set up for Ezra to navigate, explore and thrive safely in preparation for his transition into primary school next year.
Laura told us: “We are so proud of how Ezra is going. He has been working hard on recognising letters and learning how to dress himself, all of which helps Ezra become more independent now and in the future.”
Although there have been challenges along the way, from struggling to adapt to remote speech therapy sessions due to COVID-19, to a hospital visit and ongoing vision assessments, Ezra is thriving.
“Guide Dogs has continued to support us with everything and are always checking up on Ezra and us to see what support we need.” – Laura, Ezra’s mum.
Ezra will have access to our children’s programs and camps, and as he gets older our Yapper’s (young adult) programs and camps. These enable the learning of life skills in a fun and supportive environment as well as providing vital peer connections.
Services breakdown by type.
The way we deliver our Services continues to evolve.
Many Clients have found that various technology tools have enabled them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
Guide Dogs Victoria provides services which match people and their goals to suitable technology solutions. This is done predominantly through our Assistive Technology, a community-based service which has grown as new solutions emerge and people embrace new ways of accessing information and completing tasks.
Of 28,349 hours of Services Delivered:
- Adult Mobility Services — 25%
- Children's Mobility Services — 10%
- Occupational Therapy — 13%
- Orthoptists — 6%
- Support Coordination — 10%
- Group Programs — 5%
- Early Childhood Services — 4%
- Assistive Technology — 6%
- Guide Dogs Services — 21%
We supported Clients to greater independence and connection with:
62 participants across 14 Early Childhood and Children’s Mobility Group Programs.
44 participants across 13 Young Adult Mobility Group Programs.
10 participants in our Adult Mobility Group Program.
11 Access Consulting services provided across 10 sites.
Our dogs.
6,070 hours of dog training sessions.
Dogs are our heritage and a significant part of our Client support. Approximately 21% of services provided to Clients was via our Dogs Team. Our Guide Dogs make a profound difference to the lives of their Handlers, families and support network. Our Therapy Dog Program has grown immensely this year, with Therapy Dogs now placed with a diverse range of individuals and facilities including schools. We are proud of the advances we’ve made with our Therapy Dog program.145 puppies born at Cute HQ.
244 working Guide Dogs in the community.
We matched 81 dogs with their new Handlers including:
40
Qualified Guide Dogs.
21
Therapy Dogs.
12
Breeding Stock Dogs.
One
Ambassador Dog.
Three
Companion Dogs.
Four
Dogs for External Training.
A star is born.
Meet Luka-Barkley.
The gorgeous dog Luka –Barkley has led a star-studded life after making a star appearance in our docuseries ‘Born to Lead’ Episode Two.
Now he is bringing his star presence to Carey Baptist Grammar School as a Therapy Dog whose job is to give unconditional affection and support to students visiting the Student Development Department.
Each morning Luka-Barkely eagerly greets all visitors – students and staff alike – with a wagging tail and a big smile. At times, he also accompanies students in their one-on-one sessions with a psychologist, sitting at their feet and providing a calming presence.
If a student arrives distressed, Luka-Barkley will sit with the student and gladly accept the pats and tears with calm, non-judgmental support.
“Luka-Barkley is blissfully unaware of the broader impact he’s having in helping to destigmatise visits to Student Development,” staff at the school say.
Our people.
Work Readiness Program.
Learning and development for employment.
Towards the end of 2021 a philanthropic grant allowed Guide Dogs Victoria to hire two Support Coordinator Trainees – Kate and Kimberley.
Towards the end of 2021 a philanthropic grant allowed Guide Dogs Victoria to hire two Support Coordinator Trainees – Kate and Kimberley.
Kate is a long-standing Client of Guide Dogs Victoria and a Young Adults Program (YAP) participant with a commitment to helping others and developing within the community services sector.
Kate had already completed earlier qualifications and spent significant time volunteering and assisting with various community groups ranging from Headspace Youth Advisory Committees right through to aged care support.
“I’m grateful to be a part of a team where I feel valued, supported and encouraged. I will always do my best to create a positive and supportive environment for those who need it. I have a purpose, and that is to support people and celebrate their achievements no matter how big or small” said Kate.
Another long term client and YAP participant who was already known to quite a number of our staff, Kim also had broad experience in community engagement and volunteering. Whether it was volunteering for SWISH with Blind Sports Victoria, a youth committee member for Blind Citizens Australia or as a production assistant in radio, Kim had tried her hand at many things!
“When I saw the opportunity to study and work in this traineeship, I saw great potential and truly believed I could offer something of value. I’m loving having that sense of purpose and learning heaps along the way. The team culture has been one of the best aspects of the experience. I can honestly say I feel comfortable, valued and supported” said Kimberley.
The Trainee Program was designed to incorporate a blended learning model, where the trainees receive on the job training three days per week within the wider Support Coordinator team. The remaining two days are allocated to engaging with and completing a Certificate IV in Disability Studies with Box Hill Institute of TAFE.
Our experienced Support Coordinators, Alex and Russell, both with low vision, volunteered to be mentors for the trainees for the duration of the 12 month program. There is no doubt that Kate and Kimberley have benefited greatly from having such highly skilled and well-respected practitioners as mentors. And we are fortunate to have Kate and Kimberley as part of the team.
Guide Dogs Victoria operates with the support of:
152
employees including 41 new starters.
1.3m+
volunteer hours.
446
volunteers, including over 150 Puppy Raisers.
Service recognition.
Staff Service Recognition. Staff with over 25 years of service:
- Jenny Black – 33 years
- Ron Heal – 25 years
Staff Service Recognition. Staff with over 20 years of service:
- Janice Aldred – 24 years
- Kerrie Matthews – 24 years
- Naomi Wallace – 21 years
Thank you to these staff for their dedication and service.
Our reach.
51.6m impressions across all Guide Dogs Australia social media channels.
Since nationalising our social media channels in 2021 we have been able to share Guide Dogs stories from around Australia with our audience.1.7m+ engagements across all Guide Dogs Australia social media channels.
150k+ followers across all Guide Dogs Australia social media channels.
279m media reach.
154,946
visits to the Guide Dogs Victoria website.
49,998
actions taken on Guide Dogs Victoria website.
↑ 17.06%
increase from FY20-21.
Guide Dogs Victoria Governance
Guide Dogs Victoria continues to publish a Governance Commitment Statement to promote fairness, transparency and accountability. The statement describes our key governance obligations and describes our commitment to leading standards. Our broader governance web page contains our key Board policies and further information on those who govern our organisation. These structures articulate how decision making is guided to meet stakeholder expectations of sound corporate governance, meeting Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Governance Standards and acknowledging our responsibilities to members, donors, Clients, staff, volunteers and the communities in which we operate.
Our Board of Directors.
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Dr David Cochrane
Chair
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Nick MescherVice Chair
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Bruce BrookBoard Member
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Anthony KearnsBoard member
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Lisa TepperBoard Member
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Charles ThompsonBoard Member
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Jenna WattsBoard Member
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Harish RaoBoard Member
Chair
Dr David Cochrane
David joined the Board in March 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Business Administration.
David is the Director of Cloudstreet Economics, a recently established consulting company. Prior this this he spent nine years at Ernst & Young, where he was a partner and the inaugural national leader for the Economics, Regulation and Policy practice. He has also spent over 30 years at PWC in various roles including audit, business management and strategy, corporate finance and economics.
David is an economist and accountant with over 35 year’s practical experience in both disciplines with extensive experience in: advising Government and the private sector on commercial, economic and financial policy. He also has extensive experience in public land management, water, environment and natural resources, tourism and infrastructure.
Board member
Nick Mescher
Joining the Guide Dogs Victoria board in early 2019, Nick has been an Executive in the Technology and Services industries for startups, ASX-listed companies and multinational corporations with national and global leadership roles.
With more than 30 years of consulting experience, Nick is passionate about innovation and the impact of digital transformation across all sectors to help grow organisations whilst ensuring that clients needs are at the forefront of strategy.
Nick has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Monash University and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nick enjoys an active lifestyle with his adult family, including endless walks on the beach with his golden retriever, Monty.
Board member
Bruce Brook
Appointed to the GDV Board in 2018, Bruce is currently a Non-executive Director of CSL Limited, Incitec Pivot Limited and Newmont Mining Corporation.
Mr. Brook has previously been Chairman of Programmed Maintenance Services Limited, Chairman of Energy Developments Limited and a Non-executive Director of Boart Longyear, Lihir Gold, Snowy Hydro, EFIC and Consolidated Minerals Limited. During his executive career, he was Chief Financial Officer of WMC Resources Limited and prior to that the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the ANZ Banking Group.
Board memer
Anthony Kearns
Anthony Kearns is the Managing Consultant, Strategy Performance and Leadership at global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. He works within the firm and with the firm’s strategic clients to design and implement strategy, develop leadership capability and unlock performance.
Anthony commenced his career as a lawyer working in large multinational firms for 6 years. Since then he has held executive leadership roles and had the opportunity to develop expertise across a number of different disciplines and industries. In the last 15 years, Anthony has focused his career on developing deep expertise in strategy facilitation, adult learning and executive coaching and is now an acclaimed keynote speaker and lecturer throughout the world. He has completed a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, is studying a Doctor of Philosophy, Education and Positive Psychology, is trained in facilitating design thinking and has worked with a number of universities including Harvard Law School to develop innovative programs.
Anthony has had a long association with Guide Dogs Victoria having fostered guide dogs, provided pro-bono services and as the father of Gabriel, a client of Child Mobility Services.
Board member
Lisa Tepper
Lisa joined the board in April 2020. She is currently Executive Director of the Digital Strategy and Transformation branch within the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet. In this role Lisa leads the whole of Victorian Government IT Strategy, Cyber Security Unit, ICT Dashboard and associated digital capability uplift programs. Lisa brings a wealth of experience in digital strategy and delivery, after an 18 year international career at Accenture where she led strategy development, business and digital transformations, and most recently the innovation program. Lisa is passionate about inclusion and diversity in driving digital transformation.
Lisa holds Bachelors of Engineering and Science, and a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne, and is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Board Member
Charles Thompson - Commercial Adviser, AICD, B.LLB (Hons.) / B.Econ, Monash University, Melbourne Australia
Charles is a former mergers and acquisitions lawyer and management consultant. He has worked as a CEO, senior executive and leader with several leading listed and unlisted corporates, in both M&A and Strategy functions as well as a P&L line manager in substantial international e-commerce operations. He has extensive experience working with Boards in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors and now runs his own strategy and investment advisory business, as well an ecotourism operation. He has extensive not-for-profit experience and is a former Chair of Guide Dogs Victoria. Read more at his LinkedIn profile.
Board member
Jenna Watts
Jenna joined the Board in February 2020. Her career started out in the Australian Army. After soldier training, Jenna specialised in logistics.
Jenna has over ten years of experience working throughout Australia and overseas in commercial marketing for organisations including the Brisbane Lions, Channel Nine, Tennis Australia, Melbourne Racing Club and new media platforms including Esports.
Jenna has had extensive experience working for companies of all sizes as well as heading up her own business. Outside of the corporate world, Jenna has represented Australia around the world as an accomplished triathlete and has successfully developed and launched her own Podcast ‘21st Century Women’ on which she has conducted insightful and moving interviews with over 100 incredible, inspiring women. In 2019 Jenna became a mum, which everyone tells her is the biggest challenge of all.
Thank you
We extend our deepest thanks and sincere gratitude to Harish Rao, who served on the Guide Dogs Victoria Board of Directors from October 2018 to March 2022.
Born to Lead.
Guide Dogs launches docuseries
The Future is in Sight.
At Guide Dogs Victoria, we are committed to creating the world’s first sensory campus that is both welcoming and inspiring for every member of the Guide Dogs Victoria community.
In the last Financial Year, the much-anticipated new home for Guide Dogs Victoria has moved ahead in leaps and bounds. After five years of planning and building, the redevelopment of the Kew campus will, weather permitting, finally reach its conclusion by the end of next year.
Through the rain and mud, the Administration Building and Betty Amsden Education Centre now have a complete footprint.
Across the road, in Building 2 we have enjoyed using the café space for get togethers and meetings. A tenant will take over this space in the first half of 2023, in line with the Administration Building and Education Centre opening, to provide café services to Clients, staff, volunteers, visitors and the local community alike.
Our Vet tenant, Advanced Vetcare, are loving their new space and have spent the past few months using the facility every Monday and Tuesday. They anticipate ramping up their operations at Kew in November.
Once this happens, Advanced Vetcare will provide GP veterinary services for our own magnificent dog colony and specialist and emergency care for the local community.
Advanced Vetcare’s fit-out includes a surgical unit, six consulting rooms, three operating theatres, radiology (CT scan and X-ray), internal medicine, oncology and ward space for 40 dogs and 10 cats.
The new development will, once again, bring all Guide Dogs staff together across our 10-acre site. While Guide Dogs Services has remained on site during the construction phase, all administration staff have been working in temporary off site offices and can’t wait to be reunited with the rest of the team in the first half of 2023.
In addition to the completed stages of the Campus Redevelopment, the Carpark, Workshop, Warehouse, Veterinary Clinic and Café, there will be a dog training precinct, administration building, residential accommodation for Clients to develop independent living skills, an Education Centre and Experiential Centre.
This new development will also enable us to meet the rapidly rising demand for vision and children’s services. Ensuring we can support people of all ages with low vision or blindness in new and better ways.
The new Client residential accommodation will allow us to increase peer connection and create a true sense of community. There will be a shared kitchen, dining space and several sensory breakout rooms.
This building will accommodate learning, development, and social interactions in a safe and supportive environment. Ensuite bedrooms and a training apartment means, that for the first time, we can accommodate adults, children, young adults, couples and families.
Once complete, the Kew Campus will be the world’s first fully accessible, sensory campus. It has been designed to engender a feeling of warmth, support and community, and our hope is that it will inspire people to embrace change and empower them to achieve their goals.
Kew Campus Redevelopment.
Slide
of
Our Progress
| Construction Package and Project Stage | Time frame | Percentage of Stage Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Package 1: May Construction Stage 1: Sunken Carpark, Building 1-Workshop |
March 2020-May 2020 (Completed January 2021) | 100% |
| Package 2: 2Construct Stage 2: Building 2 – Veterinary Clinic and Café |
March 2021 (Completed June 22) | 100% |
| Demolition: 2Construct
Demolition of Arnold Cook House, rear of Administration Building. |
December 2021 (Completed February 22) | 100% |
| Demolition of Telemarketing Building. | November 2022 (Completed November 22) | |
| Package 3: 2Construct | ||
| Building 3 – Administration and Education Centre | April 2022 – March 2023 | 58% |
| Building 4 – Residential Client Services, Reception, Experiential Centre | January 2023 – December 2023 | |
| Building 5 – Dog Training Plaza | TBC pending B4 scope change | |
| Building 6. | February 2023 – June 2023 (to be confirmed) | |
| Civil Works – Completion and construction of all access roads and perimeter carparks | August 2023 – December 2023 | |
| Package 4: Landscape Contractor
Landscaping including sensory gardens and integration of old and new footpaths |
August 2023 – December 2023 |
For more detailed information, please download the PDF file.
Access and Advocacy.
At Guide Dogs Victoria, our Access and Advocacy Teams work tirelessly to remove barriers, ensuring people with low vision or blindness can experience the world with freedom and independence. In 2021/22 we:
- Completed five major Access Consulting appraisals aimed at increasing accessibility of playgrounds, skate parks and the CBD for people with differing abilities including low vision and blindness. Key stakeholders included Playce (Playground architects) and City of Melbourne (Braille Street signage project).
- Completed six major Projects aimed at assisting ease of access through an environment. This involved roll out and maintenance of Beacon, TGSIs and secondary mobility aid technology. Key stakeholders included The Department of Transport – Metro trains and City of Moreland recreational centres and the Department of Transport.
Peer Support.
Providing opportunities for Clients to connect.
Peer support
Our Connection and Engagement groups offer social connection opportunities.
This year our Client Services Team broke new ground in providing opportunities for our Clients and those in the broader low vision and blind community to share their experiences and make real connections.
Our Clients have told us they want to be better connected to each other and to their communities. Our Connection and Engagement groups offer social connection opportunities including our popular Assistive Technology (AT) Connect groups, in which Clients connect with each other to share the emotional journey of transition from using print to screen reader technology as their vision declines.
In the last financial year:
- There were 286 attendees at 30 Group Programs.
- 116 individual Clients participated in a Group Program.
CatchUp.
In early 2022 we launched our most powerful tool for connection yet – CatchUp.
CatchUp
One of the most profound experiences of COVID-19 was people’s disconnection from each other and their usual support networks. We took the learnings from this experience and in early 2022 launched our most powerful tool for connection yet – CatchUp.
CatchUp, is a dedicated, online community platform for people with low vision or blindness, their support networks, Guide Dogs staff, practitioners, volunteers, and anyone with a connection to living with low vision or blindness.
On it you will find articles, videos and information, written by experts in the field, and relevant to the low vision and blindness community with topics such as employment, professional and personal development, leadership, assistive technology, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). There are also reviews of activities, places, books, engaging Client stories, and much more. Information is impactful, relevant and informative.
CatchUp is not just about education and professional development, there is a wealth of opportunity for personal development, connection and fun. Online communities are developing through social and private group discussions which are location or theme based, such as travel, assistive technology, cooking, hobbies and games.
You’ll find out about upcoming events, with everything from blind sports and audio described performances to social get togethers and conferences.
We believe that CatchUp will play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission to support people with low vision or blindness to be independent and achieve their life goals.
Want to know more? Join the CatchUp community.
CatchUp has:
- Over 650 members
- 20 different social and private groups
- Over 380 articles
- Over 550 events posted
Connected Together Project
The 'Connected Together' Project supported social connections throughout all Guide Dogs Australia states and territories.
Project Leader
Last year, Guide Dogs Victoria was successful in securing a grant through the Department of Social Services, Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Social and Community Participation grant stream. This ILC grant became the “Connected Together” project, managed by GDV on behalf of Guide Dogs Australia, to support social connections throughout all Guide Dogs Australia states and territories.
Earlier this year, based on input from many months of Clients and peer leader engagement, an inaugural funding round was opened to support existing community or peer groups to help bring new ideas to life. The funding opportunity offered grants within three streams; Sport and Recreation, Arts and Culture, and Social and Community.
Nationally, 39 applications were received with close to 2,000 people with low vision or blindness expected to participate in group activities. Over $115,000 was distributed, with all groups being successful in receiving grants ranging from $1,000-$5,000.
Activities range from blind sports including cricket, football, bowls, golf, tandem cycling and table tennis – to arts including card and origami making, knitting and painting – to outings in the community including accessible theatre shows and choir, inclusive hikes and tours, even building a community sensory garden!
The National groups and activities awarded were:
- Australian Blind Football – come and try camp including a women’s blind football recruitment drive.
- Art play in the kitchen – a new group of early childhood families doing as the name suggests.
- Victorian Goalball Association Inc – 40th Australian Goalball Championships.
- Albinism Fellowship of Australia – a national conference.
- Blind Bowls NSW ACT – national Australian Blind Bowls Championships (aka ABBA).
- Dog Guide Handlers Australia – extending the DGHA membership base.
- Blind Golf Australia – Come and Try Days.
And in Victoria:
- Low vision drama club – blind and low vision acting intensive workshop.
- Live it up – accessible theatre shows, lunches and tours.
- Vision Impaired People’s Aid Foundation – social outings and local community events.
- Choices Voices Choir – choir for all abilities including low vision participants.
- Frankston Vision Impaired Table Tennis – a new club for the Mornington Peninsula area.
- Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria – origami making and a special partnership with Very Special Kids.
- Victorian Vision Impaired Table Tennis Association – a new vision impaired table tennis table for Moreland.
- Our Vision Works – an exhibition for artists who are blind or have low vision.
- Achilles Melbourne – a regional parkrun in Bendigo with a First Nations guide.
- VIP Women of Bendigo: Creative Circle and Coffee Groups – craft exhibitions and day trips.
- DIVAS – meetings and an array of community activities.
- Victorian Blind Cricket Association – 100th anniversary regional exhibition match.
Moving forward, these groups will provide the basis of an accessible directory of peer groups and a peer-driven calendar of events that people with low vision or blindness can easily link in to on CatchUp! Our goal is to build on the momentum that the project has built to provide increased opportunities for our Clients to connect in community.
Born to Lead.
Guide Dogs docuseries
An online docuseries that gave viewers an emotive insight into the life of our iconic and much-loved Guide Dogs.
The most exciting communications project this year, produced in collaboration with Guide Dogs in other states, told the world about the valuable work Guide Dogs does.
This project was ‘Born to Lead’ – an online docuseries hosted on Bondi Vet’s YouTube channel and providing a behind the scenes look at the emotive life of our iconic and much-loved Guide Dogs.
The eight-part series showcases the inner workings of Guide Dogs. From the dogs themselves, to the dedicated volunteers and professional trainers who play a special role in each dog’s development, to finally those Australians living with low vision or blindness who are matched with these life-changing Guide Dogs.
This series, filmed by WTFN and supported by our Nation Partner PETstock was a phenomenal success, by September 2022 achieving:
- More than 2.6 million views.
- Reaching 8.1 million people.
- Media coverage included an interview spot on Studio 10 on Channel 10.
- Excellent feedback on audio described version, in particular from Clients and international Guide Dog Handler social media groups.
International Guide Dog Day 2022
This year's campaign theme was 'Rethink Refusal.'
A survey conducted by Guide Dogs in the lead-up to International Guide Dog Day (IGDD) 2022 found that over a third of Guide Dog Handlers had been denied access to a public venue or form of transport in the past year because of their Guide Dog.
In response, we launched our ‘Rethink Refusal’ campaign; educating businesses, industries and the community on how a Guide Dog refusal – illegal in the first place – can have further implications for the immediate safety of a person with low vision or blindness. The campaign shared a video and other resources that highlighted the importance of educating people within service industries about their legal obligations to Guide Dog Handlers.
International White Cane Day 2021
International White Cane Day 2021
'Keep Clear and Carry On.'
In the lead-up to International White Cane Day 2021, we conducted a survey that found 70% of white cane users had been put in danger by ‘everyday’ objects like cars parked across driveways, bins left out on footpaths, dumped bikes or scooter. Even by people distracted by mobile devices.
In response, we launched ‘Keep Clear and Carry On’ to educate the public on the simple steps they can take to create a more accessible environment for everyone.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
On International Day of People with Disability (IDoPwD) 2021, we gifted 1000 inclusive dolls with white canes or Guide Dogs to young Australians with low vision or blindness. The initiative, conducted in collaboration with both Kmart Australia and Guide Dogs Ambassador/Paralympic medallist Jaryd Clifford, sought to normalise disability and highlight the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
Revenue
| Income | $'000 |
|---|---|
| Fundraising and gift in wills | 11,296 |
| Fundraising for capital purposes | 4,957 |
| Revenue from the provision of dogs and orientation and mobility services | 5,205 |
| Rental revenue | 48 |
| Finance and investment (losses)/gains | (2) |
| Other income | 4 |
| Total Revenue | 21,508 |
Percentage of Income
- Fundraising and gifts in wills — 52%
- Fundraising for capital purposes — 23%
- Revenue from the provision of dogs and Orientation Mobility services — 24%
- Rental revenue and other income — 1%
Expenses
| Expenditure | $'000 |
|---|---|
| Fundraising gifts in Wills | 2,837 |
| Cost of provision of dogs and orientation and mobility Services | 13,897 |
| Community information and public education | 959 |
| Corporate services | 718 |
| Other expenses | 119 |
| Total Expenditure | 18,530 |
Percentage of Expenditure
- Fundraising gift in wills — 15%
- Cost of provision of dogs and mobility services — 75%
- Community information and public education — 5%
- Corporate services — 4%
- Other expenses — 1%
Gifts in Wills.
Thank you for your generosity.
Gifts in Wills.
Thank you for your generosity.
In grateful memory of our very special friends whom we cannot thank in person and whose life-changing gifts were received during the past year.
A-K
- Ada Withers
- Aileen McDonald
- Alan Varey
- Alfred Curphey
- Amelia Holland
- Annie Matthews
- Barbara Howard
- Beatrice Williams
- Bettey Haywood
- Betty Spinks
- Brian Connor
- Brian Entwisle
- Bruce McDonald
- Claire Trevare
- Derek Grantham
- Donald Leith
- Douglas McDade
- Edith Kemp
- Edith Nagy
- Edna Curwen-Walker
- Edna Olson
- Elena Paukstys
- Elizabeth Powell
- Emilie Brown
- Eveline Campain
- Florence Watts
- Francis Abrahams
- Franko Vatta
- Geoffrey Hayes
- Giovanni D’Amore
- Gladys Stephens
- Gregory Mellor
- Gwenneth Miller
- Hazel Luke
- Heather Boulton
- Heather Phiddian
- Helen Burgess
- Henrietta Schefferle
- Hollis Callinan
- Ian Dodd
- Inez Drury
- Irene Moran
- Ivy King
- Jacqueline Stephens
- James Alford
- James Hunter
- Jane Kuchins
- Jean Lefebure
- Jennifer Harte
- Joan Hutchinson
- Joan Rockall
- Joe White
- John Kosch
- John Simpson
- John Tingate
- Joseph Mason
- Joy Bossini
- Joyce Leslie
- Joyce Morse
- Kathleen White
- Kenneth Martin
L-Z
- Len Grasso
- Lillias Beale
- Lily Bridger
- Linda Brown
- Lola Poynton
- Margaret Titulaer
- Marie De Bavay
- Marjorie Hayes
- Marlene Nitschke
- Mary Jones
- Mavis McArthur
- Maxine Porter
- Mioko Wood
- Murray Chisholm
- Myra Calio
- Neville and Rita Brown
- Norma Roddick
- Norman Morris
- Oswald Hearne
- Patricia Holmes
- Patricia Thornburgh
- Patricia White
- Peter Billing
- Peter Jarman
- Rita Thompson
- Robert Brown
- Roger Cook
- Ronald White
- Rose Pratt
- Rosemary Williams
- Russell Vontom
- Ruth and Harry Taafe
- Sandra Dennis
- Shirley Le Gassick
- Susan Lissenden
- Sylvia Dungan
- Valerie Falk
- Victor Pittman
- Wendy Coghill
- Wilfred and Ruby Bird
- William and Dorothy Higgins
- William Shipperlee
- Wilma Anastasiu-Geraads
Our supporters.
$16.5m+ raised from over 27,000 donors and lottery program supporters.
116 new Otus Fellowship members.
27,000+ donors.
Trusts and Foundations.
Thank you for your generosity.
Trusts and Foundations.
We would like to thank the following Trusts and Foundations for their generous support*:
- Aged Persons Welfare Foundation
- Amanda Joy Dickson Endowment Fund
- Australian Philanthropic Services
- Barr Family Foundation
- Blackbaud Giving Fund – YourCause
- Bowness Family Foundation
- Collier Charitable Fund
- Department of Social Services
- Gaudry Foundation
- Geok Wong Charitable Trust
- Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
- Ian Potter Foundation
- Isaacson Davis Foundation
- JBWere Charitable Endowment Fund
- Kel & Rosie Day Foundation
- L87 Foundation – SymAsia
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund – Eldon and Anne Foote
- Lynx Charitable Foundation
- Mandy Deam Foundation
- Myer Foundation
- Orloff Family Charitable Trust
- Patricia McIntyre Foundation
- Perpetual – Brian J Sutton
- Perpetual – Impact Philanthropy
- Russell Foundation
- Shine On Foundation
- State Trustees Australia Foundation
- Sun Foundation
- Teele Family Foundation
*Trusts and Foundations that donated $5,000 and above in FY21-22.
Supporter spotlight.
Honouring a special partnership through the gift of independence.
Gerry has been a supporter of Guide Dogs for over 30 years. Having lived in Kew, and close to our campus, Gerry fondly recalls seeing our trainers out with Guide Dogs in training and could not help but be inspired by our iconic dogs.
Having sadly lost his partner, Gerry was searching for a way to honour his partner and make a difference. He decided there was no better way to do that than supporting the work of Guide Dogs by becoming a Guide Dog Partner.
Gerry said “I have named a Guide Dog puppy in training Greg in memory of my partner Greg, who gave me so much. I hope Guide Dog puppy Greg can give someone as much as my partner Greg gave me. I admire the work that Guide Dogs does and I just wanted to give something back and support people with low vision or blindness.”
By becoming a Guide Dog Partner, Gerry is directly supporting the breeding, training and development of our world class Guide Dogs, and giving independence to Victorians with low vision or blindness. Thank you Gerry.
Long-time supporter Noel.
Supporting in a multitude of ways.
When long-time Guide Dogs volunteer and supporter Noel first signed her Volunteer Application Form in May of 2000, little did she realise the wonderful journey she would take with Guide Dogs Victoria.
Not only has Noel been a valued volunteer for over two decades but she has been a donor for over 34 years. She is a Puppy Pal supporter, a Puppy Nurturer and even an unofficial Guide Dogs Victoria tour guide!
Between 2000 and 2022, Noel Puppy Raised 19 dogs, including ten Working Guide Dogs, one Companion Dog, one Pets as Therapy Dog, four reclassified dogs, and one Breeding Stock Dog.
The latter, Beth, had four litters – 40 pups all up – and is now a great-grandmother with her good genes still being passed on through the Guide Dogs Victoria Breeding Program.
We are so proud to call Noel a part of the Guide Dogs Victoria family, she is so passionate about the work we do, she has made the decision to leave a gift to Guide Dogs Victoria in her Will.
“Volunteering with Guide Dogs Victoria has been, and still is, a continuing pleasure. It has been 20 plus years of wonderful continuing friendships. I have always been fascinated by how Guide Dogs are trained and by their absolute devotion and loyalty to their Handler. I want to help ensure the proud tradition of Guide Dog work continues in the future, so I am pleased to be able to leave a lasting legacy in my Will.” Says Noel.
Our National Corporate Partners.
We are so fortunate to have the support of a passionate group of National Corporate Partners who assist us through donations, products and services in kind, volunteering, and workplace giving. We are proud to partner with the following organisations:
Some of the incredible contributions made by our National Corporate Partners throughout the last year include:
-
ADVANCE™
As one of Guide Dogs Australia’s longest-standing partners, ADVANCE™ supports the health of our growing Guide Dogs through the donation of super premium dog food for our colony of dogs. In 2021 alone they donated 107 tonnes of food.
-
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia has provided complete preventative health support for our puppies and adult dogs, with over 4,000 vaccine doses and over 36,000 doses of parasite protection, including NexGard SPECTRA®, in the last financial year alone.
-
Coles
Thanks to the generous support of Coles customers, our network of Donation Dogs in Coles stores have raised over $12 million since 1982. $1 million from Donation Dogs, community bag sales and customer donations has been provided in this financial year alone.
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Greenstone Financial Services
One of our valued National Partners since 2018, Greenstone Financial Services supports Guide Dogs Australia through the provision of Guide Dogs Pet Insurance, which offers insurance for dogs, cats, and Registered Guide Dogs to help cover unexpected veterinary costs.
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IDEXX
As a valued supporter of Guide Dogs Australia for more than 10 years, IDEXX provides complimentary pathology test profiles to support the health of our growing Guide Dogs puppies, performing 2,930 test profiles over the past financial year.
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KONG
KONG Company has partnered with Guide Dogs since 2018 to make sure our dogs’ development is supported through their iconic toys and expert enrichment advice.
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PAW by Blackmores
Partnering with Guide Dogs since 2018, PAW by Blackmores supports the health and wellbeing of our Guide Dogs through the complimentary provision of their range of natural pet healthcare products scientifically developed by vets and inspired by nature.
-
Petspiration Foundation
Providing support to Guide Dogs Australia since 2014, Petspiration Foundation (formerly PETstock Assist) have raised more than $500,000 through workplace giving, in-store activities, and their annual Guide Dogs’ Month.
-
Ugly Fish
Ugly Fish is a leading Aussie eyewear label who have supported PAWGUST and additionally provide support to Guide Dogs through the sale of eyewear.
-
Woolworths
For many years Woolworths supermarkets have hosted our iconic Donation Dogs to facilitate customer donations. Over the years these have played a vital role in raising millions of dollars to support our charity with an estimated $321,000 raised in the last financial year alone.
We thank all of our partners.
We thank all of our partners for their ongoing commitment to our important work and their passion for supporting Australians living with low vision or blindness to reach their full potential.
Become a Puppy Pal today
Donate monthly to follow the newest litter of pups, name future Guide Dog puppies and more!
