Chairperson’s Annual Report, August 2008
The past year has been another one of continued hard work and achievement by your Executive Committee, supported by Coordinator Pam Antill. The Executive Committee established a schedule of bi-monthly meetings in order to progress the work of the Network.
The Forums have continued to be very popular attracting excellent attendances to hear about a range of sector specific topics affecting Auckland based disability service providers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at the Barry Court for their support and consideration.
The relationship with the Ministry of Health’s Northern Regional Office personnel has continued to develop positively with regular meetings being held. These meetings serve two primary purposes, namely, to provide an opportunity for Departmental staff to brief and update ADPN Executive Committee members with regards to recent Government policies, decisions, and actions, and for ADPN Committee members to convey to Ministry personnel details of issues concerning the Auckland based disability provider sector. This dialogue has resulted in a professional, increasingly trusting rapport being formed between the two groups. In this regard I would like to acknowledge Alison Hearn and her team for their willingness to work with us in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
Pam is currently working on some exciting new initiatives which will be announced in the not too distant future. One of these has involved considerable skilled negotiation by Pam and will provide an opportunity for ADPN Financial Members to save significant costs when accessing professional support services – “watch this space”!
The establishment of an office in the Parent & Family Resource Centre, Onehunga was a significant move aim at improving the public profile and awareness of the Network. Coordinator Pam Antill is now well settled into the new surroundings – thank you to Bridget Snedden and her team for their assistance and support.
During the year Bridget Sneddon, Harley Pope, and Stacey Roche resigned from the Committee owing to other commitments. I wish to thank them all for the valuable contribution each has made to the ADPN.
This is my final report as Chair of the ADPN – it is time for new blood to take over and lead the organization. I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the development and ongoing governance of the Network during my time in the Chair – it is you who made it all happen. I strongly encourage people to come forward and offer themselves to work on the ADPN Executive Committee thereby ensuring the interests of Auckland based disability providers are advanced and strengthened. Together we can do it!
Colin Reive
