DOG GUIDE HANDLERS AUSTRALIA (Inc)

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 – 2016.
Dog Guide Handlers Australia (DGHA) is a national association which provides a voice for Australians who are blind or vision impaired who are dog guide handlers.

DGHA is an independent association of dog guide handlers, and is not affiliated with any dog guide school.

KEY OBJECTIVES.
DGHA strives to foster, represent, promote, enhance and protect the interests of Australians who are blind or vision impaired who are dog guide handlers.

DGHA draws on the experiences and varied knowledge of its members, to provide peer support, advocacy and information to dog guide handlers throughout Australia.

CO-PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
This year, like many others has been very busy, but also one of important growth and development of DGHA.  As many of you will be aware, there are significant changes across the disability sector and as MyAgedCare and NDIS reforms roll out this dynamic environment is set to continue.
Acknowledging the importance of this evolution and the pressing need for DGHA to understand and influence outcomes and the implications for us all as Members.  We would like to sincerely thank the other members of the Executive Committee for their willingness to contribute to DGHA’s pursuit of its principal objectives advocating for all of us as Dog Guide Handlers.  We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of general committee members Geraldine Lane and Kate Watkins, who stepped down from the Committee during the year.

Of most pressing demand and a major undertaking that has dominated the Organisation’s thinking and resources has been the planning and delivery of the 2016 National Conference in Adelaide in October.

A sub-group of the Executive Committee was formed and set about the very considerable challenge of planning and delivering a high quality National Conference.  This group comprised Rowena Dowling, David Foran, Joyce Jones, Greg Madson, Nadia Mattiazzo and Erica Webb.  It is anticipated that the 2016 Conference will be a fantastic event and one that clearly reflects the significant planning and effort volunteered by these Members of the group, and which advances the reach and standing of DGHA.  Well done team!.

A key contribution to the 2016 Conference was the successful application for a Federal Department of Social Services Conference Support Grant.  Along with the continued and much appreciated support from Seeing Eye Dogs Australia and Guide Dogs Australia, these strong signs of support are clear indicators of DGHA’s perceived value in the sector and provides an important endorsement of our objectives and approach. 

As such and in support of our National coverage, the staging of future Conferences is to be undertaken in other Capital cities.
  
Exciting initiatives worth noting in the digital realm have included major website development with huge improvements in interactivity, content, and very importantly accessibility.  This has been possible through the relentless efforts of webmaster Greg Madson.  Another of these expansions into the digital environment has been DGHA’s presence on line and in particular our social media footprint.  This essential positioning has been directed and led by social media manager Erika Webb and has provided invaluable visibility for DGHA but also fantastic and creative opportunities for many of us to connect and communicate more freely.  Greg and Erika, thank you both very much for leading and excelling in these critical works essential for our continued growth.

So in wrapping up, I’d like to encourage all DGHA members to build on the achievements of this past year, and consider the variety of ways you can provide further support and momentum to your Organisation.  Committee participation is a good opportunity, and so is simply providing feedback, suggestions, topics for consideration, guest speakers you’d like to hear or specific policy initiatives– the ways you can add value for all of us are boundless.    In short, by getting involved in whatever way you can, strengthens our organisation and benefits us all and allows us to support more members in more ways.

Many thanks for your continued support as we pursue an even more exciting 2017. 

Co-Presidents Rowena Dowling and David Foran.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
Co-Secretaries: Joyce Jones and Erika Webb.

Total DGHA Members up to 30 June 2016

Full:  67
Associate:  10

During 2015 - 2016
Full:  8
Associate:  0

SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT:
Co-Secretary and Social Media Manager: Erika Webb.

DGHA social media activity this year has been as follows:

• We have 184 Facebook members, up from last year’s 151.
• We follow via Twitter 1542 people and groups, up from last year’s 1025.
• We have 1155 Twitter Followers, up from last year’s 722.
• We have tweeted 429 times, up from last year’s 317. 

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Treasurer: Greg Madson.

DGHA Financial Statement 1 July 2015 - 30 June 2016

ANZ Account Balance on 1 July 2015:  $2,128.38

ANZ Account Incoming from 1 July 2015:

Memberships:	$160.00

Total Income into ANZ Account:  $160.00

Outgoing from ANZ account since 1 July 2015:

Deposit Conference Payment Sage Hotel:  $900.00

Total Outgoing from ANZ:  $900.00

Balance of ANZ Account as of 30 June 2016:  $1,388.38

DGHA PayPal Account

PayPal Account balance on 1 July 2015:	  $884.13

Incoming into PayPal Account from 1 July 2015:

Memberships:  $20.00

Total income into PayPal:  $20.00

Outgoing from PayPal Account from 1 July 2015

Gravity Forms Licence:  $ 39.00

PayPal Fees:  $0.82

Total Outgoing from PayPal:  $39.82

PayPal Account Balance as of 30 June 2016:	$864.31

Total balance for Accounts as of 30 June 2016:

ANZ Account:		$1,388.38

PayPal Account:	$864.31

Total Balances:	$2,252.69