ASSESSMEN

TTOOL –

Student

Assessment

CHCCDE012 Work within organisation and

government structures to enable community
development outcomes
©Viviana Cohn 2016

www.gesseducation.com.au
Assessment 2– Written Assignment

Choose a community organisation in your local neighborhood that undertakes community

development activities and through reading their publications and interviewing a worker in this
organisation answer the following questions:

1. What is the management structure of this organisation?

Vision Australia provided its Constitution and By Laws which was revised last October 25,
2017. A copy of which states the company’s purpose in the organisation and those are to:
a. to provide assistance to people who are Blind or have Low Vision to gain access to, and
fully participate in, all facets of life they choose, and

b. to remove the barriers that prevent those who are Blind or who have Low Vision from
enjoying equal access, equal opportunities, equal participation and equal mobility within the
community.

The Company may pursue commercial ventures in order to support its purposes.

On another note, it state the details of numbers of directors that can join in the company
which state that a directors should be not less than 6 nor more than 9 and should be in
accordance with the Corporations Act 2021.

Source:

https://www.visionaustralia.org/about-us/governance

2. What community development work does the organisation undertake?

The Vision Australia Organisaion aims to provide a helping hand towards blind and people
with low vision. They particularly focused on Australian Citizen to help them stand in society
despite the deformity they have. They support different ages and life stages or circumstances of
the patient. It has been existing from different capital territory in Australia that would surely
assist those people in need in the country. Aside from that, this is a non profit organisation and
participating or in partner in the international blindness community. Thus, creating an equal
opportunity so people who are blind shall be given a chance to be educated, get a good job ad to
be as independent as they choose to be.

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Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/about-us/who-we-are-and-what-we-do

3. Do the structure, philosophy, purpose, policies and procedures of the organisation

create barriers to community development or support community development
activities?

Yes, Vision Australia through its structure, philosophy, purpose, policies and procedures
support community development. In fact they are alliance with Political Parties and Key
Government Officers since they focused to create a fairer society for people who are blind of
have a low vision that needs to be assist right away to respond injustice in the society we are
living in. With that, as public company, limited by guarantee, Vision Australia complies with the
Corporations Act 2001, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commision Act 2012 as well
as all other practicable laws and statutes.

Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/about-us/advocacy
4. At what level of government does the organisation obtain funding? Is there any
future possible funding for your programs?

The organisation gets several funding options in order to help those people with low vision or
are blind. It was stated in the program that anyone whether seeking for a support at school, at
work or to live independently, the organisation can help make sure that they’ll be aware of any
funding and benefits.

Government funding from the organisation, the benefits system such as Centrelink and
Department of Human Services, can be complicated, so the Vision Australia has created
resources to help the patient navigate the system. Thus, if they met the requirements of legal
blindness, they can be eligible for either Disability Support (Blind) of the Age Pension (Blind).
Other funding are available through Assistive technology funding, Mobility and transport
funding and NSW Spectacles Program- where they can get a government funded glasses.

They actually have a FUND RAISE FOR US as part of their website which offers which
allows you to pick a funding idea or donate.

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Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/referral/benefits-and-funding

https://myvision.visionaustralia.org/
5. Does the organisation engage with government departments? If so which one?

NO. The organisation does not engage with government department/s. In fact, there was an
article which government funding gap leaves millions of older Australians without much-needed
help. They are force to go without life-changing assistive technology as the government fails to
address a funding gap that could POSSIBLY change their lives. With the help of Vision
Australia, those people who are excluded from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are
given access to assistive technology for the many older people with disability.

It was stated in the article that the issue was not addressed in the latest federal budget
announcement, despite the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety including
access to assistive technology as a key part of four separate recommendations. Which
disappoints the Vision Australia manager of government relations and advocacy.

Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/2021-05-20/government-funding-gap-leaves-
millions-older-australians-without-much

6. Does your organisation seek to influence government decisions and policymaking

relating to community issues? If so how? If not, why not?

NO. The Vision Australia organisation does not seek to influence government decisions and
policy making relating to community issues since most of the article that are available in the
website is that government does not fully support the low vision and blind people in the
territory. Thus, there is this one article that catches my attention where footpaths are NOT
SAFE for blind and low vision pedestrians. Which this organisation urges transport ministers
to keep footpaths safe for these people.

It was said that footpaths for the low vision and blind becomes unsafe if the state or
territory governments continue to allow e-scooters and similar vehicles to enchroach them.

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 Hence, I would say that this is not the only issues the Vision Australia encounter but a lot
more in the website that directs to government of what are necessary to be done for these
people with impaired ability.

Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/2020-11-19/vision-australia-urges-transport-
ministers-keep-footpaths-safe-blind-and

7. How do you keep up to date with information regarding your legal obligations as an
organisation?

Vision Australia organisation and with the help of their constitutions and by laws, in
accordance with the corporations act, a board of directors are conducting an annual general
meetings. That means that all the concerns of the company down to its lowest staff shall be
catered and address well. However, an exception would be, if ever there’s an issue that needs to
be addressing ASAP, the company will conduct its Webinar and discuss the matter amongst the
head of the company. In cases of clarification or refreshment from the meeting, you’ll be able to
access the ARCHIVE videos and discussion for you to be able to cope it up. Legal obligations as
an organisation must be well discuss to avoid liabilities in the future. Good thing that this
organisation conducts meeting every now and then.

Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/webinars
https://www.visionaustralia.org/about-us/governance
8. How will you ensure that there is consumer participation in decisions impacting the
program planning process?

When you go on the Get Involved tab you’ll be able to see how a consumer supports or
participate in decisions impacting the program planning process of the organisation. In the page
you’ll see the contributions of the patients that Vision Australia helps them with in changing
their lives. They share stories of themselves and how it was successfully change.

The fund raising tab, you’ll see a different kind of fund raise where a consumer can pick
whether to donate or to sell or to give an items or things that is necessary for these types of
people.

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 In addition thereto, you can also volunteer and contribute your time and skills, working in a
range of capabilities across the organisation. Volunteers are not expecting money in return but a
simple thank you would be enough and sometimes would make the volunteers happy and
satisfied. Their inspiring generosity helps Vision Australia to manage costs and provide a
broader range of services to tens of thousands of people who are blind or have low vision.

And the last one is the support newsletters, where a patient writes a letter which inspires
people with the same condition and as to how they cope up with life, work and to be
independent.

Thus, all of these are available in the website where you can surely say that yes, the
consumer provides a great impact in the organisation through their help as well in supporting the
organisation.

Source:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/get-involved/ways-to-help

https://myvision.visionaustralia.org/

https://www.visionaustralia.org/volunteer

https://www.visionaustralia.org/supporter-newsletters

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