ANNUAL REPORT 17/18
TABLE OF CONTENTS Who we are ……………………………………………..…….. 1 What we do .…………………………………………………… 2 Our Team ……………………………………………………….. 3 Chairperson’s Report …………………………………..…. 4 Coordinator’s Report ……………………………………... 5 Community + Social Development ……………….... 7 Workshops + Info Sessions …………………………..…. 9 Business Support + Development ……………..…... 10 Accounts + Finance Report …………………………..... 12 Auditor’s Report ……………………………………………...17
WHO WE ARE We are a team of enthusiastic locals providing our community with resources. We're a not-for-profit organisation contracted and partly funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to provide a range of services to assist personal, community, economic and business development in Quairading. We’re also funded through various other state government contracts, user pay services, membership fees and one-off grants for specific projects. This enables us to offer a five day a week service to our local community from our rented facility at 1 Parker Street, Quairading. We have a passion for delivering proactive initiatives and events in response to identified community needs. We thrive on empowering locals to utilise and enhance their unique skill sets to contribute to our community. Where possible, we engage regional partners to compliment and boost our capacity, and are always seeking new ideas, collaborations and feedback. We offer a wide range of services including; free online access to state and local government information via our Government Access Point, regular business and social development activities and Department of Human Services Access Point. Additionally we provide a range of professional printing and desktop publishing services. We are proud members of Linkwest (peak body for CRCs) and we are incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987 (WA). Quairading CRC supports hundreds of residents and visitors of the Shire of Quairading each year.
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WHAT WE DO Building community connections
Economic & business development support
Social development support
Services and products
Access to government services
Communication strategies including the weekly newsletter ‘The Passion Sheet’ and monthly paper ‘The Banksia Bulletin’, our website and social media pages. Social community events. Engagement with community via feedback, surveys and community group meetings.
Referral services to business development and employment support services. Facilitate business development initiatives. Production of biannual residents and businesses phone book Employment of a trainee each year. Information, support, and workshops.
Referral services to social support services. Facilitate social development activities, seminars and initiatives. Information and support. Assistance to groups and clubs.
Social enterprise approach to provide access to services and products which have strong local demand but are not economically viable to deliver in a forprofit business model.
Access to local and state government information and services. Video conference services. Department of Human Services Access Point. Information and support.
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OUR TEAM Our team comprises of three part-time staff members, one full time trainee and a volunteer management committee of five. Our diverse mix of age, experience and community involvement is instrumental in understanding our changing community and adapting to its needs. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chairperson | Jo Hayes Farm Office Manager, Certificate III in Business via RPL, Governance training, 2012 Quairading Citizen of the Year, Treasurer – Quairading Tennis Club. Vice Chairperson | Robyn Richards Farm Office Manager, Certificate III in Business via RPL, Governance Training, Chairperson Local Health Advisory Group, Board Member Quairading Farmer’s Cooperative, Secretary Qdg Football Club, Life Member Quairading Hockey Club, Small business owner Secretary + Treasurer | Lisa Powell School Teacher, Farm office manager, Diploma Agribusiness via RPL, HACCP trained., Quairading Gym Committee coordinator. Committee Member | Shae Johnston Teacher at Cunderdin Agricultural College, Small Business Owner, past State Rural Ambassador, New Committee Member Committee Member | Rowlie Mellor Retired principal of Quairading DHS, Quairading Citizen of the Year, Friends of the Quairading Nature Reserve committee member, New Committee Member STAFF Coordinator | Jill Hayes Bachelor of Commerce– Management (Curtin), Secretary of Quairading Ag Society, Owner of JILL HAYES communications, committee member of Quairading Curtain Raisers, committee member of Quairading Rainmakers Inc, media relations for Quairading Football Club. Accounts Officer | Sharon Richards Previous experience in a range of office and community positions, Small Business Owner, Ambulance Officer, member Quilters of Quairading, Association Delegate for AVLGA (Golf). Finance Officer | Melanie Mills Bachelor of Commerce—Accounting and Corporate Administration RSM 1999—2003, Bookkeeper, Farm Office Managaer, various committee roles of local clubs and organisations. Receptionist + Trainee | Tamara Spark Certicicate 3 Tourism Retail Travel Sales, Diploma in Counselling, previous Manager Dowerin Roadhouse & Caravan/ Motel Park, Belles netball Coordinator & Captain, committee member of Quairading Rainmakers Inc.
OUR MEMBERS Our membership base as at June 30 2018 is: 35 local businesses 35 local clubs and organisation 114 families or individuals Being an incorporated association, we’re only as strong as our membership base. Although our members receive member benefits we greatly appreciate their financial support. It speaks volumes of their regard of our efforts on behalf of them and their community.
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CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT It gives me great pleasure to present our 17/18 Annual Report for your perusal, after both a challenging and rewarding year. In August 2017 the first budget of the McGowan government showed a 38.5% cut to the CRC program from 1/7/19 in the forward estimates. This came after our newly awarded 3 year contracts were cut to 18 months with an option (for the government) to extend a further 15 months, after the findings of a review into the function and location of the CRC program. Much water has passed under the bridge since then with our community showing great support of our CRC, the CRC Network gaining a stronger identity and an improved appreciation at all levels of government of the important role of place based, grass root, community led organisations in creating strong local communities. I’d like to acknowledge the unwaivering support of our CRC staff, committee, community and clients along with the Shire of Quairading, Wheatbelt Business Network, Linkwest, DPIRD staff and other entities during this uncertain time. Despite the unrest, our CRC team carried on in their usual professional, considered manner and continued to deliver quality events, activities, workshops and support to our community and businesses, as well as being involved in training and collaboration themselves. Without bias, I can confidently say that our CRC and CRC team is highly regarded across the district, network and beyond. We have welcomed aboard this year our newest trainee, Tamara Spark, who has provided us with the ability to deliver even more to our community with her efficient, caring and patient manner. Also joining us was Melanie Mills in a job share role, in order for Sharon to reduce her load. A fresh pair of eyes overlooking our still new-ish change to Xero has been very beneficial, with a few tweaks to the system and this year’s financial audit finding very few issues. Our annual lock-in day for staff and committee continues to be very worthwhile, providing the opportunity for brain storming, planning, reviewing, discussing and sharing. The nurturing of relationships with stakeholders, partners and clients along with the willingness to go the extra mile by our team (capably led by our coordinator Jill) when it comes to providing a high level of service, including quality catering, never ceases to amaze me. Thank you all for continually caring and striving. It is of benefit to not only our CRC, but also our ‘backyard’ we call Quairading. Going forward I believe our challenges include ensuring that we do not assume knowledge of us and what we do and grasping opportunities for alternative revenue streams, both of which will ensure our ongoing value and sustainability. Next year we turn 21 – a milestone certainly worth celebrating. I look forward to all the year has to offer and sincerely thank our whole CRC team for their passion, time and effort during this last 12 months. Jo Hayes | Chairperson Quairading Community Resource Centre PAGE 4
COORDINATOR’S REPORT In my humble opinion, the Quairading CRC moved from strength to strength in the 17/18 financial year. We welcomed Tamara Spark and Melanie Mills to the team who have both brought with them experience, skills, initiative, ideas for our constant need to improve and heaps of good vibes. I’ve said it more than once and I’ll say it again; the Quairading CRC is such a great place to work! The start of October 2017 saw the commencement of our new contract with DPIRD and a new approach to planning, implementing and reporting for contracted activities. Reporting became less arduous and far more rewarding, as we further develop evidence of our impact on our community in stats, cementing many of the beliefs we hold. The turmoil caused by the potential funding cuts put us through our paces but also gave us the opportunity to reflect on our purpose and passion and the recent news that our funding will continue for the coming years has given our team a rejuvenated motivation to continue to deliver a top notch service to our community and region. We found success again this year in crowd favourites such as movie afternoons and our Bike Week event ‘Tour de Quairading’ and as always, added new offerings to the mix such as webinars and niche workshops. We continued to thrive from the challenges of meeting the ever changing needs of the community in which we each live and serve. We’re especially grateful for the support our community has provided us over the past 12 months. Looking ahead, our priorities are to remain proactive and ensure our community knows and benefits from our value. We also look forward to collaborating with local organisations and jumping into a number of new tourism focussed activities—as we believe this is integral to boosting community and economic development. Cheers, Jill. Jill Hayes | Coordinator Quairading Community Resource Centre
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A SNAP SHOT of some of our event marketing from the 17/18 financial year.
COMMUNITY + SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT In the last financial year we delivered over 20 events and programs aimed at improving community participation and social development. These included:
School Holiday Movie Arvos Ag Show Activity Trail Come & Try Gym Day (Seniors Week 2017) Cuppa with a Copper Mental Health Movie Afternoon Open House Tour de Quairading (Bike Week 2018) BeConnected Morning Tea Thank-a-Volunteer Sundowner (National Volunteer Week 2017) Black Swan Theatre Simulcast ABCD Training Drumbeat Workshops Girls Empowerment Workshops Community Campout
TOP LEFT: Thank-A-Volunteer Sundowner. May 2018 BOTTOM LEFT: ABCD Training with Noel Mason. April 2018. TOP RIGHT: Tour de Quairading. March 2018. MIDDLE RIGHT: Black Swan Theatre Simulcast. May 2018. BOTTOM RIGHT: Community Campout. June 2018. PAGE 7
HIGHLIGHT: Banksia Bulletin There is one common denominator in every activity we do for our community, be it focused on community development, business support or other: our Banksia Bulletin. The Banksia Bulletin is our community’s monthly local paper, produced and printed by the Quairading CRC. It’s our local bible, and for many people perhaps their one connection to the community around them. It contains event posters and post event reports, sporting club updates and fixtures, articles and media releases, photos galore, death notices and birthdays, congratulatory notes and celebratory messages. It’s in hard copy form and online and it’s a vessel for not only the Quairading CRC to share information and messages with community members, but for community members to share with each other. Being very aware of the trends of print media in the world around us and the decline in readerships across the country, this year we made refreshed efforts to boost our humble local rag and maintain it’s pride of place on kitchen tables across our region. We did this by giving the design a refresh, through training and consultation with Brent Acie from Team Digital. We kept those elements that were quintessential to the Banksia Bulletin and added new ones to keep it relevant to the contemporary market we wanted to grow. We created new types of content; our staff wrote editorials and articles about issues in their lives and our community and we invited community members to do the same. We now enjoy regular contributions of book reviews, recipes and witty recaps of the goings on of the golf course. Our number of hard copy sales has been maintained since the redesign and online reads have increased 50% to an average of 328 online readers per edition, spending on average 7 minutes reading our publication. These improvements (and the stats to support them) are great for the viability and reputation of the Banksia Bulletin but also have tangible flow on benefits to participation rates across our community and quality of connections.
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WORKSHOPS + INFORMATION SESSIONS Providing information and training opportunities can take on many facets throughout the year and is all about keeping dynamic and flexible.
Travel Info Night (with MTA Travel) Networking Bus to Dowerin Field Days Facebook for Oldies Workshop Employability Workshop Wills Workshop (via CLEO WA) Seniors Legal Info Session (via CLEO WA) Excel for Beginner’s Workshop
HIGHLIGHT: Tech Club With the launch of the Federal government’s campaign to get every Australian online, the Quairading CRC became a network partner of the BeConnected program in April 2018. We held an afternoon tea info session to gauge the interests of our community members in regards to what online skills they wanted to develop and how they think would be best to learn valuably. From this, Tech Club was born. A fortnightly time and place where digitally inexperienced community members could come to the Quairading CRC with any of their devices, get online and have dedicated one-on-one and group assistance. The name and the concept were developed by the community members, for the community members. As each session progressed we added specific training areas such as how to store photos and how to spot online scams. These sessions were further enhanced with live webinars provided through BeConnected by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Tech Club encourages active and social aging and keeps our locals adaptable and capable of not only surviving, but contributing to the digital landscape around us. PAGE 9
BUSINESS SUPPORT + DEVELOPMENT Over 100 local business people and employees attended more than ten different activities aimed at upskilling and building capacity. These included:
Facebook for Business Workshop Business After Hours: 60 Minute Business Makeovers Valuing Visitors Training with Jurek Leon Thrive to Survive (Enterprising Communities Program) Small Business Christmas Shopping Day Accredited Pilot Training Women’s Business Truck Driver Training Shop Local Campaign Grain Marketing Workshop Agrimaster Workshop
HIGHLIGHT: Women’s Business Our staff and committee of the Quairading Community Resource Centre were extremely pleased with the response to and feedback from, their event "Women's Business". With funding from the Department of Communities Grants for Women Program and CBH Group Grassroots Fund along with sponsorship from Valenti Lawyers, Quairading Earthmoving, CSBP, Plum Grove, West Civil and Countrywide Insurance Brokers—participants were treated to a high quality day out. Women are the unsung driving forces of many a Wheatbelt business or work place. And whilst our Wheatbelt women are generally thriving in the face of the constant change, compromise, and challenges a business environment throws at them, we are concerned they continue to be vulnerable when it comes to their own finances, driven primarily by a lack of confidence around financial matters. From the very informative Samantha Hamilton (Key Choice Financial Solutions) to the inspiring Claire Gray (Rabobank) and emotively thought provoking Wendy Carter - all were very well received and set in motion the empowerment of every woman in the room. The crowd was delighted to receive Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC Governor of Western Australia, whose sentiments regarding gender diversity echoed those of other speakers perfectly, “Women often lack confidence to apply for roles, believing that they don’t have all the necessary attributes. Something we can all do is to help, support and mentor other women, and to give them confidence to take opportunities and to apply for new roles if they are interested.” Showcasing the economic diversity of the Wheatbelt, the women behind the successes of Manavi Farm Pastured Eggs, Rustic Events, Bee Buzzy Wraps and Whitney Consulting graced the stage, sharing an insight into their small businesses and offering inspiration to anyone considering turning their passion PAGE 10
into a business. There was also much interest in Maree Gooch's information regarding Faster Internet for the Wheatbelt. The Quairading CRC—like many Community Resource Centres across the state—is an integral part of the community. On a tight budget we provide incredible and varied services, information, activities, initiatives, training, support and events; which Women’s Business was just one of. A selection of feedback from the day “The program you delivered, the care you gave to the event promotion & location and the energy and comraderie that you generated were extraordinary!!” Wendy Newman, CEO Wheatbelt Development Commission. "The importance of determining a goal first in your financial planning really resonated, as did the themes of backing yourself into roles that are usually male dominated." Hayley Hobbs, Plum Grove. "It was fantastic! A great balance of serious business talks intertwined with personal stories and amazing guests and food. It had a nice personal touch, wasn't too formal or overwhelming." Amy Fuchsbichler, CBH. "Amazing - so complementary to each other, on point. Light & shade, a perfect blend." Jill Dawson, South Perth. "Food, venue superb. Speakers great. Panel fabulous. Loved the whole vibe, great group of women from around our fabulous Wheatbelt - strong amazing women.” Lisa Fischer, Merredin. Suggestions of topics for future events was also excellent and the Quairading CRC team looks forward to planning their next regional event. Photos by Strange Images Photography.
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ACCOUNTS & FINANCE REPORT 2017/18 saw a full financial year completed on Xero, not without its trials and tribulations but we are making headway. Staff have gained valuable hands on experience and some have attended a training course with Carbon Group in Perth, as well as online webinars. Training is still ongoing as we would like to use the program to its full capacity and get the most value for money. We are still all learning but feel we have gained a lot from transferring to the system. Over the next twelve months, we hope to have the knowledge and experience to cease our contract with Carbon Group for ongoing support and save the Quairading CRC further money. Xero has allowed us off site access which has been extremely beneficial for those that have access and has allowed for pay runs to be completed from the other side of the country! The proposed funding cuts saw us reviewing our income and expenditure, producing a number of budgets with different scenarios ie: reduced opening hours, wages and ways of increasing our revenue through grants and decreasing costs. Thankfully these scenarios have not had to be implemented due to the reversal of these proposed cuts. However, we are still working hard constantly reviewing our processes in order to provide the best possible services at a competitive price for our community. Wages and Salaries are still our largest expenditure item and Service Income is our highest revenue source. This year we have reviewed our coding of some items in our profit and loss, hence some large discrepancies between income and expenditure codes. We once again engaged Graham Sheriff for our annual audit, we appreciate Graham’s expertise and experience and his knowledge of CRCs is invaluable. We are constantly striving to ensure our systems and practices are secure and can be followed by all staff members. Our term deposits provide for equipment replacement (Computers, printers, copiers, software etc) and Staff Leave Liabilities plus a degree of financial security. As at the 30th June 2018 – Annual Leave Liability = $5213.00, Personal/Carers Leave liability = $7286.50 and Long Service Leave Liability $NIL. As of the 1st July 2018 Long Service Leave is being calculated as a recommendation from the Auditor.
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Total Trading Income: $298,234.00 Contract Income
CRC Project Income
Donations Received
Grants Received
Interest Income
Service Income
41% 48%
5%
5%
1% 0%
Total Operating Expenses: $271,117.00 Ba nk Fees Cle aning Consulting & Accounting Customer Jobs Fe es Permits & Subs Ge neral Expenses Ins urance Minor Equipment Purchases <$20,000 Other Employment Expenses Project Catering Re pairs and Maintenance Superannuation Tra vel - National
Bank Merchant Fees Consultants - Trainers CRC Projects Depreciation Freight & Courier Grant Expenses Loss on Disposal of Assets Office Expenses Printing & Stationery Rent & Cleaning Room Hire Expense Telephone & Internet Wages and Salaries
0% 0%
1%
1% 3%
15% 42% 7%
4%
2%
1% 6%
0%
1%
1% 4%
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1%
1%
2%
0%3% 2% 0% 2%
1%
0%
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Quairading CRC 1 Parker Street Quairading WA 6383 Phone: (08) 9645 0096 Fax: (08) 9645 0098 Email: quairading@crc.net.au Website: www.quairading.crc.net.au Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Just over the railway line!