Who we
are and
what we do
The Tipping story
We work
together so
everyone has
a fair go
We know
NDIS
Just ask us!
Introduction
The Tipping Foundation provides disability
and community services across Victoria for
people with a disability and for young people
who are vulnerable.
The services that we provide are focused on
each individual client and their individual
needs and goals.
We work together with you and your family
to plan and deliver a comprehensive range of
support services that enable you to live your
life as you would like to.
The Tipping Foundation provides disability
services in our own accommodation, in your
home and in the community. We also provide
respite services across Victoria and a Day
Service program for adults with a disability in
Morwell, Gippsland.
In addition to disability services The Tipping
Foundation also provides out of home care
(residential) services to children who are
vulnerable, that have experienced some sort
of family breakdown.
The services
we provide
are focused on
each individual
client and their
individual
needs and
goals.
We work
together with
people with
disability
Raj and his support
worker Danielle
Cover - Ortenzia and her
support worker Karina
2
The Tipping Foundation history
Then and now
E.W. (Bill) Tipping was a prominent journalist
with The Herald in the 1950s and 60s. He
wrote about a wide range of topics from
world events through to home grown social
justice issues. Bill was also the father of a
son Peter, with a disability. For a short time his
son was institutionalised at Kew Cottages.
Bill wrote about the unacceptable conditions
he found his son in. He passionately believed
that more could be done and that people
with a disability deserved better. Through
his column he garnered community support
and tapped into the vulnerability of families
who have a loved one with a disability. He
understood that people did, and still do want
an answer to the heart-rending question,
‘what will happen to my family member
when I am no longer able to care for them?’
Bill passionately
believed that
more could
be done and
that people
with a disability
deserved better.
Many people felt passionately about this
and close to 1700 people turned up at a
meeting at Melbourne Town Hall in 1970
to collaborate and discuss. As a result The
Tipping Foundation was born. While society
and its attitude towards people
with a disability have progressed since
that time The Tipping Foundation has
continuously demanded and delivered
quality community services.
We work
together with
children who
are vulnerable
We work
together
with families
Who we are and what we do. The Tipping story.
3
Our strategic plan
Our Strategic Plan 2016-20 clearly outlines
our plans for the future and the strategies
that we will put in place to work towards
realising our vision of ‘inclusive communities
where everyone has a fair go’.
As well as working towards this vision our
Strategic Plan firmly puts the power where
it should be and that is with you, our clients.
We want to be a provider of choice and by
that we mean two things. One, we want to
be the community service organisation that
everyone chooses to provide their services
and two perhaps more importantly is that
we want you to have more choice. We want
our clients to have a say in the way that we
do things. Our vision is achieved by working
together respectfully.
The Plan was developed in consultation and
with the expertise of our clients and their
families across Victoria.
For a copy of the Strategic Plan visit our
website www.tipping.org.au
Creating
inclusive
communities
where everyone
has a fair go.
Julie and her
support worker Sonya
4
Disability
services
Children who
are vulnerable
The Tipping Foundation provides a range
of quality, flexible disability support
services. Please contact us to discuss your
specific needs so that we can provide
recommendations and advice with regard
to your specific circumstances.
The Tipping Foundation provides residential
support services, otherwise known as out
of home care to young people who for one
reason or another have experienced a family
breakdown. The young people live with us
in one of our residential facilities until more
permanent arrangements can be put in place.
We provide services in our homes, otherwise
known as residential accommodation, and
in your home, known as in community
support. How your service delivery will look is
dependent on your needs and how you would
like to tailor your support.
Whilst in our care we work with the young
person to provide access to the full range of
support and community services.
Support in your
own home - in
community support
We are able to provide you with a range
of in home supports. We can, by working
together with you understand what your
exact requirements are, develop a care plan in
consultation with you to ensure that you can
achieve everything you plan to.
In home support is very flexible and works
differently for each client. Some clients
require a small amount of attendant care
to start their day and others require greater
assistance. We are able to assist in a range of
ways and recommend a range of approaches
to accommodate your situation.
In home support can be funded through
the NDIS, an Individual Support Plan (ISP),
Traffic Accident Commission funding (TAC) or
privately funded.
Residential
accommodation
We have close to 40 residential
accommodation houses across Victoria that
many of our clients call home. Broadly these
houses are set up like a share house that
caters for up to six residents. Support staff
work with each of the residents to ensure
that everyone’s needs are met and provide
general assistance with the running of
the household.
We work
together
with children
who are
vulnerable
If you are interested in residential
accommodation support please contact
your local office to discuss your situation.
(Our office contact details are on
the back cover)
Who we are and what we do. The Tipping story.
5
Case studies
Kieran’s story
Louise’s story
Sarah’s story
Kieran is an avid football fan, or more to
the point a Tigers fan. His room is decked
out in yellow and black, stuffed tigers and
scarves draped around, demonstrating his
passionate dyed in the wool commitment to
the Richmond Football Club. And he wouldn’t
have it any other way.
Lou is a character that’s for sure. She has a
cheeky glint in her eye. When we first started
working with Louise she was homeless
and living under a bridge. We were able to
advocate on her behalf for the services that
she needed as well as for accommodation.
She now has a place to call home and
works with her direct support worker Nina in
developing her independent living skills and
getting involved in her local community.
We work together with young people, who for
one reason or another, have been removed
from their family home. This is known as out
of home care.
Kieran has lived in a shared supported
accommodation house run by The Tipping
Foundation for close to 14 years. He loves
his independence. He has a twin brother,
Sean and they are the youngest out of a
total of eight children. Once all of Kieran’s
siblings had moved out of home his
parents recognised that Kieran needed his
independence too.
Kieran works with John and over time
they have developed a very close working
relationship. There’s a lot of give and take on
both sides. When describing the relationship
between Kieran and his direct support worker
John, Kieran’s mother, Joan, suggested they
were more like brothers because of the trust
and bond that they share.
And John is smart enough to leave the room
if the Tigers kick too many behinds!
Watch Kieran’s story www.tipping.org.au/kieran
Nina and Lou have worked together for a
couple of years and they have a relationship
which is based on honesty and respect.
Sometimes, Nina tells it like it is but Lou
appreciates that someone cares enough
to do this.
Considering that life has been pretty tough
at times for Lou, she offers this sterling piece
of advice, “Be yourself, be who you are but
don’t be scared to ask for help because there
is always someone out in the community who
will help you out.”
Watch Louise’s story www.tipping.org.au/louise
Sarah* a 15 year old girl was a resident in our
out of home care program. She has a very
complex story and had a history of high risk
behaviours. Prior to entering care Sarah ran
away from home and was missing for close to
two months. She had dropped out of school,
had mental health issues, was engaging in
underage sex work and using illicit drugs.
It’s probably fair to say that Sarah’s future
wasn’t looking so bright. With some guidance
and support from staff who she grew to trust,
she put in the very hard yards and completely
turned her life around. Sarah no longer uses
drugs, she no longer engages in high risk
behaviours, she has returned to school fulltime and has even secured a part-time job at
a nearby supermarket.
Sarah is also a very talented artist. By
really looking at and understanding the
consequences to her decisions Sarah has
been able to paint a bright new future for
herself. The world of possibilities is now open
to her. The artwork above was painted by
Sarah whilst in our care. Sarah has since left
our care and is doing really well in an ongoing
home based care arrangement.
*Sarah’s name has been changed to protect
her privacy.
6
Raj’s story
Simone’s story
After a lovely holiday in the USA with his two
daughters Raj couldn’t have imagined how
much his life was going to change. Raj had a
stroke shortly after arriving home as a result
of developing DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
on the long flight home.
Simone is a very upbeat person. It’s hard to
imagine much getting her down because she
has such a positive outlook on life. From a
very young age she knew that she wanted to
be independent. It took her a little while to
achieve this goal but she was eventually able
to secure her own unit and take charge of
her life.
Instantly everything about his life changed
with the left side of his body impacted from
the stroke. Raj spent a year in rehabilitation
learning how to do things for himself with his
changed mobility. He now lives in a Tipping
house and describes that he needs “a little bit
of help with his daily living”. He works closely
with his support worker Danielle.
Simone works for Victoria Advocacy League
for people with Intellectual Disabilities
(VALID) as their media representative. She is a
passionate advocate and regularly appears in
the media as a spokesperson on the rights of
people with a disability.
Raj and Danielle work together to whip up
a storm in the kitchen. Prior to his stroke Raj
owned two successful Indian restaurants.
Cooking remains Raj’s passion so you can
imagine on the nights when it is his turn to
cook for his housemates they all look forward
to sampling some tasty Indian dishes.
Simone has been with Tipping since 2011
and Kathy has been her longest serving direct
support worker. They work well together
because over time they have developed
a good working relationship based on two
important principles. Respect and
belly laughs!
Watch Raj’s story www.tipping.org.au/raj
Simone was part of the NDIS trials in Barwon.
“Be yourself,
be who you
are but don’t
be scared
to ask for
help because
there is
always
someone
out in the
community
who will help
you out.”
Louise, see her story on
the opposite page
Watch Simone’s story www.tipping.org.au/simone
Who we are and what we do. The Tipping story.
7
Our offices
Metropolitan offices
Central & South-East
1036 Dandenong Road,
Carnegie, Victoria 3163
Telephone 03 9564 1000
North-West
263 High Street,
Preston, Victoria 3072
Telephone 03 9487 8100
Regional offices
Barwon
Suite 2, Ground Floor
170 Little Malop Street,
Geelong, Victoria 3220
Telephone 03 5228 0100
To access our brochures
online, go to:
www.tipping.org.au
We know
We work
together so
everyone has
a fair go
NDIS
Just ask us!
Gippsland
58–60 Commercial Road,
Morwell, Victoria 3840
Telephone 03 5135 4300
68a Macleod Street,
Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875
Telephone 03 5152 7680
Grampians
42 Eastwood Street,
Ballarat, Victoria 3350
Telephone 03 5320 0300
50a McLachlan Street,
Horsham, Victoria 3400
Telephone 03 5381 2825
Loddon Mallee
168 High Street,
Bendigo, Victoria 3550
Telephone 03 5442 8441
50 McCallum Street,
Swan Hill, Victoria 3585
Telephone 03 5033 0204
Hume
90-100 Ovens Street,
Wangaratta, Victoria 3677
Telephone 03 5721 3344
The Tipping Foundation
acknowledges the support of
the Victorian Government.