CTC Reflects On 'A Challenging Year'

20121119 CTC AGM — South Burnett CTC Chief Executive Officer Nina Temperton with retiring Board member Geoff Hosking

November 26, 2012

South Burnett CTC has had a challenging year which has seen programs wound up in Murgon, the purchase of the Nanango Childcare Centre and the launch of an exciting new disability housing project.

CTC members reflected on the year at the group’s Annual General Meeting held at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre in Kingaroy last week.

CEO Nina Temperton said the previous year had been a challenging one for the organisation.

“It’s been the hardest, most difficult, most time-consuming year we’ve ever had. But it’s also been the most successful in terms of outcomes for our clients,” she said.

“We’ve needed to negotiate with all levels of government to get our projects off the ground. And the amount of work that’s gone into our services has been exceptional.”

Ms Temperton thanked CTC’s 220 staff for their dedication and ongoing support. “Every single manager, every single team leader and every single staff member has worked their butts off,” she said.

Ms Temperton also reflected on the impending loss of the group’s Diversionary Services programs next month, which has been brought about by State Government budget cuts.

“Without exception all of our programs are proactive and necessary,” she said.

“It costs $200,000 a year to keep a young person in juvenile detention. But I’m certain our programs have helped keep many, many young people stay out of the correctional system over the years. So we fail to see any benefit (to the State’s finances) in taking away the funds from our services in Murgon.”

Auditors Peter Mortimer and Danielle Maudsley presented the group’s 2011-12 financial report, noting that CTC was in “very stable” position despite State Government funding cutbacks in the last few months.

“The diversity of programs allows them to use their resources effectively,” Ms Maudsley said, adding that in the last year CTC had also made many financial management changes to ensure money is spent effectively.

CTC chairman Howard Leisemann said he was sure the coming year would be a positive one.

One major project the group was looking forward to was building disability housing units in Nanango on land the South Burnett Regional Council has leased to CTC for 99 years.

CTC already has enough funding to build two units and ultimately hopes to have six on the property.

The group’s annual report highlighted many other achievements for 2011-12, including:

Delivering 38 programs across a wide range of services including employment, youth, disability and children’s services
Providing 24 x 7 care and support services for 12 children and young people living in CTC’s residential homes
Increasing caseloads to more than 120 children currently in kinship or foster care across the region
Assisting more than 3000 jobseekers across the region
Providing 37,500 hours of support to 87 people living with a disability
Refurbishing Gumnut Place in Murgon
Purchasing the Nanango Childcare Centre
Continuing to operate the Heritage Nanango Community Hub
Running 10 camps and 30 single day activities specifically targeted at particular groups of young people

The meeting also farewelled two long-standing board members – Geoff Hosking, who was presented with an engraved plaque to honour his many years of voluntary service – and Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell, who will be withdrawing from an active role on the board due to the pressure of Council work commitments.

Mr Mark Reinbott from Subway Kingaroy was welcomed as a new board member.

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