The AGM was attended by staff, Management Committee members, clients, volunteers and supporters. All expressed commitment to FDN’s values and objectives –the care and wellbeing of people who are aged or frail or living with a disability.
Phyllis Sequeira, FDN President, spoke of challenges ahead in relation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). “We are currently in the process of completing an application for Disability Service Standards Accreditation,” she said. “Achievement of the Home And Community Care (HACC) standards and the Disability Service Standards will put us in a good position to be eligible for ongoing government funding, as well as ensure that we are continually reviewing and improving our systems and operational processes in line with best practice.”
Under the NDIS, clients with a disability will be allocated funding packages directly, and organisations like FDN will have to compete to provide services. “We understand that transitional funding will be available to us until June 2016,” Ms Sequeira said.
The FDN Management Committee has been exploring various marketing initiatives, started to identify alternative funding sources and partnerships and has commenced applying for community grants. An updated three-year Strategic Plan has been published at www.fdn.org.
“Feedback from our clients indicates that they continue to find our offering unique and valuable to their diet, overall health and social interaction, inclusion and care. We want and hope to continue to contribute to the community well into the future,” Ms Sequeira said.
Manager Peter Ince thanked volunteers from Redfern (FDN’s former premises) and Botany. “To those who did come over and to the new recruits who have joined our ranks this year I say thank you for your dedication and commitment to our wonderful cause,” he said. “It was important to retain the current client numbers and to increase our clientele over the autumn and winter months. This has been achieved through mailbox drops and liaising with external agencies … FDN currently services in excess of 270 clients.”
Mr Ince, too, spoke about the onset of the NDIS. “This should be a conduit for making sure that the organisation is ready and, more importantly, is fully equipped and able to meet the stringent requirements of the scheme. It will also help to place us at the forefront of like services so that we are the premier and most attractive choice for all clients to receive their fresh produce,” he said.
One client made particular mention of FDN’s revamped bi-monthly newsletter which features good nutritional advice, interesting and easy to prepare recipes, an absorbing quiz and “excellent jokes”.
Guest speaker Kelly Smith highlighted the shared values and concerns of the partner organisations. Secondbite and FDN are committed to providing a healthy variety of fruit and vegetables to those in need. Both see the value of home visits and social interaction for those with mobility or other issues. Both seek to reduce food waste. NSW produces 800,000 tonnes of food waste each year ($12 billion worth of waste according to www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au).
Attendees were encouraged to think creatively about their use of the fruit and vegies in a typical box from FDN. Suggestions included salads, sandwiches, roasts, stir fries, soups and smoothies. Ms Smith assured the meeting that fruit and vegies could be stored safely for many days, “brown spots” removed as necessary, and “limp” vegies used to make soup or freshened-up in a bowl of cold water. “Fruits and vegetables won’t ever make you sick unless they’re mouldy,” she said.
The AGM concluded with refreshments, tea and coffee.
