Annual report 2012 2013 by Sharon Austin

Annual Report 2012-2013 The Peer Support Foundation Limited 2 Grosvenor Place, Brookvale NSW 2100 Phone: 02 9905 3499 Fax: 02 9905 5134 Email: peeroz@peersupport.edu.au Website: www.peersupport.edu.au

peer support

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Page 1 The Peer Support Program Page 2 Major Achievements Page 4 Professional Development Page 5 Future Directions Page 6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Staff Photos Page 7 Chairman’s Report Page 8 General Manager’s Report Page 9 Our Supporters Page 10 Directors’ Report Page 11-14 Financial Reports Page 15-39

MISSION Peer Support Australia provides school communities with an evidence based, peer led approach to enhance the mental, social and emotional wellbeing of young people. Our vision is that this will enable young people to make informed and skilled contributions to their communities. Peer Support Australia would not be able to achieve these objectives without the support of: Founder: The Late Elizabeth Campbell AM, BSc, TNDC Chairman: Jennifer Dalitz BA, MBA, CPA Deputy Chairman: Lorraine Walker BA Dip Ed, Grad Cert RE Vice Regal Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Honorary Directors: Phillip Leonard Cox FCPA, DipComm Rhonda Denise Dunn FRCSA, MAICD (appointed 6.2.13) Brian Halstead BE (Chem), BEc, CPA (resigned 30.4.13) Cheryl Hayman BCom Timothy Malcolm Kitching BA (CSU), Dip Fin Planning, CCP, JP (appointed 6.2.13) David A Stanton FIA Staff: (as at 30.6.13) Sharon Austin General Manager Kristin Bell Education Project Coordinator (part-time) Sara de Vries Education Consultant Jessica Charlton Administration Assistant (part-time) Josie Gallagher Training and Marketing Administrator Lindsey Grenet Education Consultant Peter Tanswell Systems Accountant The Peer Support Foundation was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1983, following the early development and introduction of the Peer Support Program by Elizabeth Campbell in the1970s.

MISSION

The Foundation is accepted by the Australian Taxation Office as a Public Benevolent Institution. The Peer Support Foundation has been trading as Peer Support Australia since September 2007. ABN: 40 002 634 853

THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM The Peer Support Program • • • • • • • •

is a peer led, skills based, experiential learning program. is integrated into curricula and sustained throughout all year groups. provides students with a supportive learning environment in which to develop the skills, understandings, attitudes and strategies to make healthy life decisions. enhances peer connections throughout the school. develops and maintains positive relationships within the school community. develops skills in resilience, assertiveness, decision making, problem solving and leadership. operates in over 1000 primary and secondary schools across all states and sectors. develops key concepts: • sense of Self • resilience • connectedness • sense of possibility.

THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

How the Peer Support Program works • The Peer Support Program empowers young people to support each other and contribute positively to society. • In primary schools, Peer Leaders work with multi age groups of 8-10 younger students for 8 sessions. • In secondary schools, Peer Leaders work with groups of 8-10 students from the entry year group for 8 sessions. • Both primary and secondary students are trained as Peer Leaders through a 2 day leadership training program.

How the Peer Support Program support other initiatives • • • •

The Peer Support Program is outcomes based and designed to integrate into school curricula. The Program supports complementary initiatives such as student wellbeing, pastoral care, buddy programs and anti-bullying. It enhances a positive school culture. Many educational initiatives and strategies are promoted, emphasising the adoption of a whole school approach to include teachers, parents and students. It is flexible enough to accommodate school and community needs.

Available modules include: Primary Schools • • • • • •

Getting Started - Orientation Keeping Friends - Relationships Living Positively - Optimism Moving Forward - Resilience Promoting Harmony - Values Speaking Up - Anti-bullying

Secondary Schools • • • •

Framework for Orientation - Transition Facing our Challenges - Resilience Behaving with Integrity - Values Working through Conflict - Anti-bullying

THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

Workshops • Teacher Workshops include: • Implementation Workshop for establishing and maintaining the Peer Support Program, • Anti-bullying Workshop, • SRC Leadership Workshop. • Peer Support Australia provides comprehensive learning materials to train student leaders and to conduct peer led sessions. These materials are regularly updated.

Avalon Public School

Chatswood High School 3

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2012 - 2013 • Publication of Primary School Resilience Module (Moving Forward) • Redevelopment and publication of the Secondary Peer Leaders’ Training • Redevelopment and publication of the Primary Schools’ Manual • Redevelopment and publication of Getting Started – Primary School Module focusing on Orientation • Redevelopment and publication of the Secondary Schools’ Manual • Redevelopment and publication of Framework for Orientation – Secondary School Module focusing on Transition • Finalised the redevelopment of Implementation Workshop incorporating outcomes of evaluation

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2012 - 2013

• Development of online evaluation package • Board Evaluation • 2 new Board members recruited and appointed • Education Consultant recruited and appointed • Corporate partnership strategy developed • Government funding to 2014 secured • Dr Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy) appointed as Ambassador • Continued public relations campaign resulting in 17 interviews from a variety of media

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2012 - 2013 Staff members attended the following seminars and conferences; • Cavill and Co – Corporate Partnerships Masterclass – 16 July 2012 • The Australian Curriculum – Toorak College, Melbourne • ACER Research Conference on School Improvement – What does research tell us about effective strategies? • Suicide Prevention Service Provider Workshop • National Compact Consultation Meeting • Not for Profit Social Media Forum – Connecting Up

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2012 - 2013

• Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), 10 Year Anniversary Cocktail Party • The Nest National Summit • The Children’s Hospital Education Research Institute - Promoting Resilience: Stacking the Odds in Kids’ Favour • Network of alcohol and other drugs agencies (NADA) Member Forum: Outsourcing to the NGO Sector: Opportunity for growth or a dangerous development? • What you need to know about the ACNC • Mental Health Commission Afternoon Tea • Resilience workshop – Dr Tim Sharp • Sydney Opera House – Martin Seligman: On wellbeing and happiness – 17 February 2013 • One Day Certificate in Positive Education – 7 March 2013 • Young Minds 17-18 June 2013 • MHCC Virtual Classroom – Human Resources – 3 April 2013 • MHCC Virtual Classroom – Finance – 1 May 2013 • National Mental Health State Consultation Workshop – 3 April 2013 • QIC Review Cycle Preparation and Management Training • Advanced Diploma in Community Management – 2 staff • The Student Wellbeing Action Network (SWAN) Symposium – 3 May 2013 • NSW Institute of Teachers, Session for endorsed providers • 2013 MHCC Member CEO and Senior Management Forum – 7 May 2013 • Positive Schools 2013 – 6-7 June 2013

FUTURE DIRECTIONS • 30th Anniversary Celebration • Development of Secondary Resilience Module • Redevelop anti-bullying flexible delivery training package for primary and secondary schools

FUTURE DIRECTIONS (Strategic Cycle 2012-2015)

• Redevelop anti-bullying modules for primary and secondary schools • Redevelop SRC Student Leadership Training for primary and secondary schools • Accreditation review • Redevelop website • Replace current IT infrastructure • Develop new Intranet • Source and appoint celebrity Ambassador • Recruitment of Education Consultant • Increase participation in Peer Support Program • Secure continued government funding • Develop corporate relationships • Continue to seek opportunities to increase the profile of Peer Support Australia • Continue to develop links with external, not for profit organisations and educational sectors • Continue to make Government and Political links

Jessica C harlt on

Josie Gal lagher

Kr ist in Bel l

STAFF PHOTOS

Lindsey Grenet

Peter Tanswell

Sara de Vr ies

CHAIRMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REPORT As 2013 marks the 30th year of operations for Peer Support Australia, it is my great pleasure to present the 2012-13 Annual Report to our many and varied supporters and contributors. When the very first Peer Support Program was first imagined by the late Elizabeth Campbell AM back in 1973, it was premised on a self-sustaining model based on developing a core of trained and skilled teachers, who would lead the involvement of the whole school. This remains the foundation of our Program and is a fundamental advantage of the Peer Support Program over other wellbeing programs that have come along since.

CHAIRMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REPORT

Over the past 30 years our Program has expanded in reach to include all States of Australia with over 1,000 schools currently running our program, and more than 300,000 students participating every year in our Program to build their resilience, leadership skills, student relationships and skills for countering the ever present threat of bullying. Our committed team of educators, supported by a dedicated administration team and under the guidance of our longstanding General Manager, Sharon Austin, live and breathe the Peer Support Program. Together this team is Peer Support Australia; and they are collectively responsible for the positive impact that our Program has on the school, the teachers, the families and the broader communities of those students who participate. With the passing of time has come a changing of the guards, and with many fond memories the Peer Support family said farewell to Brian Halstead who retired from the Board after some thirteen years of service. We welcomed two new directors in Tim Kitching and Rhonda Dunn, who bring many current and relevant skills and experience to the Board, for which we are thankful. Of course a program like ours could not exist without the financial backing we value so much, and to this end I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our financial contributors. In particular, I acknowledge the ongoing support of Department of Health and Ageing, which enables us to maintain our geographical reach, NSW Health Department who have supported the Peer Support Program since the seventies, and our long-term philanthropic partners, the Raymond E Purves Foundation, the Woodend Foundation and the James N Kirby Foundation. As we begin our second thirty years of operations, I invite you to join us in celebrating the contribution and difference that Peer Support makes in the lives of Australian children. We look forward to continuing our work into the future. 8

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

This has been a year of change for Peer Support Australia. In September, Sam Chadwick, our Education Manager, left after 17 years employment. Sam is now employed as Manager, Health Internship Program for the Australasian College of Health Management and we wish her well for the future. We were very saddened by the death of John Morley Phillips, a long-term supporter. John died in October 2012 aged 80 years. Our thoughts are with his family. Brian Halstead, past chairman and long serving director retired from the Board in April 2013. Brian served on the Board since 1999 and made a significant contribution to the organisation during that time. We all miss his wise counsel and guidance and wish him a long and healthy retirement.

I would like to welcome Rhonda Dunn and Tim Kitching, our two new directors. Rhonda and Tim bring a wealth of experience to the Board. We are also very excited to welcome Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy) as an Ambassador for the Peer Support Program. We look forward to working with him to promote the philosophy of positive psychology in Australian schools.

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

On a very positive note, this has been an unprecedented year for training and module development to assist schools in implementing the Peer Support Program. The Education Team has published a range of resources and support material, and positive feedback has been received for all. The Implementation Workshop piloted in 2011/2012 is now in regular use. Previous evaluations identified that participants not familiar with the Peer Support Program rated the workshop less positively than those who were familiar. This has now been addressed and the difference is now almost negligible with an average rating of 9.4 out of 10. A visit by the Japanese Peer Support Association on 15 March 2013 was hosted by North Sydney Girls High School and Riverside Girls High School. The group consisted of 23 delegates of the Association who work with schools and universities in Japan as Psychologists, Researchers, Teachers and Professors. The group were interested in learning about the structure and implementation of the Peer Support Program in Australian schools. The schools presented information about how Peer Support fits into their overall Student Welfare structure which provided useful context for the visitors. Our slides were translated into Japanese and a student from North Sydney Girls High School presented to the group in Japanese. It was wonderful to have the opportunity this year to meet with Annie Hawke. Annie wrote a letter to a local publication recounting her experiences with the Peer Support Program. Annie is 84 and one of the first teachers involved in the Program. It was very interesting to talk with her and we hope to meet with her again to share experiences at our 30th Anniversary Celebration at Parliament House in October. Another person who will attend our celebration is Angela Koulouris who is School Captain and Peer Leader at Strathfield Girls High School. Angela won an iPad, generously donated by Ricoh, with her entry in our Peer Leader Competition held in March. The standard of competition was high and we congratulate Angela on her success. It is obvious that there a many thousands of wonderful Peer Leaders in Australia and I wish we could have a prize for them all.

OUR SUPPORTERS Peer Support Australia thanks the following people and organisations for their support. Government, Corporate and Philanthropic Sponsors 2012-2013 Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing NSW Department of Health Manly Council Warringah Council Catholic Church Insurances James N Kirby Foundation Raymond E Purves Foundation Woodend Pty Ltd Japanese Peer Support Association Registered Clubs Many registered clubs throughout NSW and ACT kindly assist Peer Support Australia with donations through the Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) scheme, providing complimentary room and equipment hire. Members

OUR SUPPORTERS

Thank you for the continued support of our members. It is your support that ensures the long-lasting sustainability of this organisation. â&#x20AC;&#x192;

DIRECTORS REPORT

FINANCIAL REPORT