Our 2018 AGM and farewell to CEO Vicki Cavalieros

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2018 AGM which also served as a fitting farewell to CEO Vicki Cavalieros.

It was a wonderful night with a robust and thought-provoking panel discussion with industry experts and our members. Our panel discussion Innovation – Removing the blockers and maximising the opportunities was cleverly facilitated by Tony Wilson, CPSN parent member, author and TV and radio personality. Our featured panellists were:

• Marita Walker, Branch Manager, Scheme Innovation at NDIA
• Prof Bruce Bonyhady, CPSN member, Director of Melbourne Disability Institute and architect of NDIS
• Donna Shaw, CPSN parent member, Planning Partners Project Worker at VALID
• Tess Karambelas, CPSN member, Trainer at Women with Disabilities Victoria (WWDA)

When posed with questions such as what have been the ‘game changing’ innovations so far, and what should radical new services look like, the panellists reflected on their own personal and professional experiences.

Most notably, all acknowledged the infancy of the NDIS and that it still has some way to go before it begins to deliver fully on its intended outcomes, but the road ahead is looking promising.

Panelists confirmed that the opportunities for real choice and control are present and available from the Scheme, but processes, complexities in rolling out a national system and developing a skilled workforce to deliver the scheme presented challenges.

NDIA representative, Marita Walker, answered the tough questions from the audience and reflected that the scheme is working to address inefficiencies and inconsistency.  Specific points of interest to the audience were:

• Core support funding can cover a range of activities for participants to access community programs, for example transport to and from for themselves and their support workers
• If participants would like to self-manage they can request a light-touch review to commence the process of self-management

More information can be found in the ‘NDIS Guide to Self-Management’ here.

A special thanks to all who participated in the conversation, and we are looking forward to sharing discussion points from the night.

Our panelists: Donna Shaw,Tess Karambelas, Board Chair Jayne Ward, Marita Walker and Bruce Bonyhady

We also took the opportunity to celebrate outgoing CEO, Vicki Cavalieros, and acknowledged her tenure and achievements with CPSN including;

• Led and grew the organisation from a turnover of $800K 2011 to over $8mill today with nearly 400 employees
• Transformed the organisation through the largest sector reform the NDIS
• Established CPSN as the industry leader in Victoria providing individualised services and supports to people with CP and their families.
• Influenced policy through partnerships development and stakeholder collaborations to achieve positive outcomes for those most marginalised in our community.
• Participated in international research consortiums
• Presented at dozens of sector conference and symposiums

Prior to becoming a CEO, Vicki was a founding member of CPSN. Her, along with several other trail blazing parents, formed a parent support group to share information and connect with others who understood the issues and challenges they faced. Through Vicki’s tireless commitment over the past 20 years, CPSN is well positioned to continue to break new ground well in to the future.

Thank you Vicki and we wish you all the very best for the future.