This year could be best described as a year of significant progress and putting in place the building blocks for the years ahead.

We were pleased to welcome our new CEO, Julia Canty-Waldron. Julia started with us in December 2022 and after a short period of “getting to know us” she immersed herself with the Board in developing the new strategic plan for Alkira for the next 3 years to 2026.

The plan has 3 key areas of focus with us: Partnering for Life, Partnering with our Participants, Partnering with our community. The plan highlights the key enablers to achieve this are having the best workforce and facilities together with access to appropriate technology and data. We look forward to the opportunity to further discuss this plan with you all in the months ahead.

Operationally, we remain steadfast on delivering excellent services to Participants to ensure they have a rich and diverse experience at Alkira. The challenge for us all is to deliver this in a cost effective manner given the challenges as we navigate the NDIS and ongoing effects of COVID. Whilst the financial statements show our deficit has reduced to $345k we remain determined to return to a surplus in the near future.

From a Board perspective, we have seen retirements from Ron Walker, Lynn Scoles and Chris Miller. Ron, Lynn and Chris have made significant contributions to Alkira and the Board and I take this opportunity of thanking them for their service. In seeking replacements on our Board we are being guided by the recommendations from our Board Skills Matrix review and in that respect we are pleased to welcome Katie Bayley to the Board.

Finally, I want to thank all Participants and the families for choosing Alkira to make your lives more fulfilling. Furthermore, I want to thank Julia, her leadership team and all our staff for navigating the challenges of the year and helping us to shape Alkira in the years to come.

I’m delighted to present my first Alkira Annual Report for the year 2022-2023. Serving in this role has been a tremendous privilege, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome I’ve received from the Alkira team, the unwavering support of the Alkira board, and the incredible participants who make our mission come alive.

This year we have made remarkable progress, aligning our organisation for the future. One of the standout achievements is the development of a new strategic plan. This plan is a blueprint for driving internal transformations that will enable us to grow and have a lasting impact. At its core, our new Strategy is about the power of partnering – with individuals, organisations, and the communities we serve. We are committed to enhancing our ability to provide the high-quality support our participants require and deserve.

Another significant milestone is the successful return to full services post-COVID. This accomplishment demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of our entire team. It has been made possible through the collective efforts of our Senior Management Team and the Board, who have worked closely together to pave the way.

I also want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing CEO, Laura Ubavin, for her many years of work at Alkira and support during my transition phase. Her leadership has been instrumental in preparing Alkira for this exciting new chapter.

Furthermore, I must acknowledge the vital role played by the participants Alkira serves. Their creativity, determination, and expectations inspire us daily. Alkira is committed to increasing their voices in our decision-making.

As I reflect on the past year, I’m genuinely excited about the future. Continuing our commitment to partnering with participants and the community – together we will make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve, fostering a more inclusive and brighter future for all.

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and partnership in Alkira’s shared mission.

Many people admire Chloe for her unwavering commitment to every task she undertakes. She enthusiastically embraces the opportunity to learn new skills, constantly challenging herself to enhance her independence.

Fuelled by her entrepreneurial spirit, Chloe founded ‘Chloe’s Creations,’ a blossoming small business. As a student in the Alkira Networks program, Chloe benefits from its pre-accredited courses, which emphasize education and community integration, with a strong focus on employment pathways leading to permanent work.

Chloe’s journey from passion to business was made possible through her tireless effort, dedication, and the unwavering support of her family, friends, and Alkira support workers. ‘Chloe’s Creations’ produces vibrant geometric handmade jewellery and dog blankets. Since March 2023, Chloe has been a regular presence at markets, starting her journey at the Mount Waverley Village Market. Despite the challenges posed by the long hours and Melbourne’s unpredictable weather, Chloe has persevered, demonstrating her resilience.

We are thrilled for Chloe as she paves her way to achieve her aspirations. Her business venture not only showcases her remarkable talent and unwavering determination but also highlights the importance of supporting local businesses within our community. The success she has achieved at the markets is a testament not only to her exceptional craftsmanship but also to her sales and visual merchandising skills.

Chloe’s story is genuinely inspiring—she has transformed her passion for craft into a means of achieving financial independence.

The Alkira Op Shop has emerged as an invaluable resource for our participants, who make the most of the experience. Open from 10 am to 2 pm on weekdays, it serves as a valuable resource for our participants who eagerly embrace the experience.

We opened the relocated store in late July 2022. Reopening posed significant challenges due to a series of unfortunate events such as flooding, building damages, and COVID lockdowns and restrictions. Despite these challenges, the new store now stands as a splendid addition to our community, with the news quickly spreading among the locals about our charming op shop. Alkira takes pride in offering high quality second-hand items at affordable prices, a characteristic not found in all op shops nowadays. Our op shop customers have testified to the quality and affordability of our products.

The Op Shop is entirely operated by teams of Alkira participants, across our School Leavers Employment Support (SLES), Connections Thurston, Momentum, and Networks programs who are supported by Alkira staff. This arrangement enables these participants to develop a diverse range of real-world retail skills, including money handling, customer service, visual merchandising, and pricing strategies. Week after week, we observe the remarkable growth and increasing confidence of our participants.

Our SLES participants are essential members of our Op Shop team. In addition to their one day a week working in the store, they initially played a significant role in transforming the store before its reopening. They worked determinedly to ensure all displays were presentable and that items were priced before our reopening.

The participants find joy working at the Op Shop, particularly when utilising the visual point of sale machine and the cash register to process sales. Our point of sale system is designed with visual prompts, ensuring simplicity and an enhanced user experience. In addition to handling sales, the participants maintain the store meticulously. Organising clothes with precision, stacks books and DVDs neatly, and researching fair pricing strategies using Google Lens.

Luca, a Networks student and Participant Committee member, works at the store one day a week. He has demonstrated exceptional customer service skills and has significantly boosted his confidence in handling phone inquiries. Luca exhibited great initiative in customer service, using his problem-solving skills to bridge a communication gap with Mandarin-speaking customers. Utilising his mobile for translation, he effectively communicated the store’s opening times to them.

We look forward to the Op Shop bringing more learning experiences as participants continue to enhance their skills and confidence in the future.

Megan, a Networks student, has experienced a truly remarkable year, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life. In March 2023, she obtained her learner’s permit and commenced driving lessons. Megan expressed a newfound sense of independence and achievement as she progressed through her driving lessons.

Moreover, Megan has successfully secured a part-time position in the hospitality industry. Initially, she gained experience at Coles through our Independent Me service, focusing on work placements and training. This opportunity enhanced her skills in food safety and bolstered her confidence, emphasizing her meticulous skills and strong work ethic, which eventually led to her permanent employment.

Starting her permanent part-time job in May this year, Megan works twice a week at a restaurant in Heathmont. Her role includes decanting food, carefully packing it into containers, and labelling each item. Through this position, she has honed invaluable skills in food handling, food preparation, and food safety. Megan’s dedication, enthusiasm, and attention to detail have quickly made her an essential part of the team.

The hospitality industry demands precision, hygiene, and efficiency, making it a challenging yet rewarding environment. Megan’s ability to excel in these aspects highlights her resilience and capability. Her success story reinforces the importance of providing tailored training and support, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can fully and meaningfully participate in the workforce.

In addition to her impressive achievements, Megan reached a significant milestone in June when she moved out of her family home and into a shared 3-bedroom unit with two housemates. She now lives independently without in-home support, managing her own travel, shopping, and cooking. Megan has expressed her enjoyment in living independently and has described 2023 as a great year filled with pride in her accomplishments.

We are thrilled for Megan for achieving these outstanding milestones. Gaining permanent employment, moving into her own home, and learning to drive are significant accomplishments that truly reflect her determination, perseverance, and hard work. Megan’s journey toward independence and personal growth is incredibly influential, demonstrating the transformative impact someone can have on their own life.

Robbie has taken a significant step towards independence by moving out of his family home and into Alkira Specialised Disability Accommodation.

Robbie participated in a trial living arrangement at Alkira’s Short Term Accommodation, where he lived with his two friends for three months. During this trial period, the participants experienced life outside their family homes and identified the necessary skills for a longer-term arrangement.

Upon reflecting on this experience, Robbie, with his Support Coordinator, Vehra, started the process of applying for suitable Specialised Disability Accommodation housing. With unwavering support from his family, Robbie made the transition to his new home in March this year. This move represents a leap forward, providing Robbie with his own space where he can live life more independently.

Our Specialised Disability Accommodation offers a safe and supportive environment tailored to individual needs. Robbie has been actively developing his independent living skills, for instance doing his own laundry. Robbie has shown an interest in cooking – helping with dinners with his housemates and also preparing his own lunch for his days at Thurston street. Since moving in, Robbie has been getting along well with his housemates and personalised his room, showcasing family pictures on the wall, a comfy armchair, his own music system and TV. He also takes pride in organising his clothes and shoes.

Robbie’s family expressed their gratitude for the support they’ve received throughout this process. Robbie’s parents Wendy and Joe said, “We started our journey of looking at independent living options for Robbie several years ago. After considering a few options we wanted to make sure he was ready for the next step. We wanted Robbie to experience a trial of independent living to make sure that he was ready. Alkira were very accommodating and after the trial we were convinced that given the right environment, Robbie was ready to take the next step.

We looked at various options and none ticked all the boxes. What we were looking for was a shared accommodation model similar to Perkins House, which is staffed by Alkira personnel. We were looking for seamless care from day classes to after hour care at his new home. 

A position at Shady Grove became available and this was similar to the shared accommodation model we were looking for.

The support staff at Alkira have been very positive throughout this process. A special thank you goes out to Vehra who was determined to find the right place for Robbie and to the Shady Grove staff who made the transition seamless. We are very pleased with the outcome and Robbie loves his new home.”