For the past 50 years, focus (formerly known as the Kindilan Society) has been steadfastly providing exceptional disability support services to individuals on the Mornington Peninsula.
For the past 50 years, focus (formerly known as the Kindilan Society) has been steadfastly providing exceptional disability support services to individuals on the Mornington Peninsula.
Initially founded in 1972 as a small residential school catering to children with intellectual disabilities, The Kindilan Society has since evolved into an organisation that offers comprehensive disability support services. Over the years, our commitment to providing accommodation and training has expanded to accommodate a growing number of individuals. Today, focus proudly support over 100 adults with disabilities across the Mornington Peninsula and its surrounding areas, ensuring they receive the compassionate care and dedicated support they deserve.
Our Vision, Mission & Values
A Zero Tolerance Approach
focus adopts a Zero Tolerance approach to ensuring people with disability can exercise choice and control whilst remaining safe from risk of abuse, exploitation and neglect.
The Zero Tolerance commitment is a determination to recognise, raise and respond to any deviation from the human rights of people using disability services. It is a personal and organisational commitment to always have our eyes open and always be doing better to support rights. This aligns our policies, procedures and practice with our obligations as set out in the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Code of Conduct, which can be accessed via this link.
Policies and Procedures
Click on the links below to read through our policies regarding prevention and response to abuse, neglect and exploitation:
Easy Read – Your right to Complain
Information Brochure – Incidents and Complaints
Easy Read Advocacy Policy
Our Policies and Procedures
Easy Read – Client Rights
Easy Read – Our Policies
Executive Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
Toni Stewart Ph: 03 5981 5100
e: toni@focuslife.com.au
Executive Manager People, Culture & Safety
Jayne Gillespie
e: gillespiej@focuslife.com.au
Executive Manager Finance
Mark Schwartz
e:schwartzm@focuslife.com.au
Executive Manager Quality & Operations
Fran Cashman
e: cashmanf@focuslife.com.au
Board Members
Chairperson: Paul Thomson
B Commerce, Accounting; Associate, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Paul is a Senior Partner at KPMG. He brings a deep experience in working with government and an understanding of the need to balance policy, financial and social objectives. His skills will support the Board to guide the organisation through the transition to the NDIS and beyond.
Board
Paul Hardy-Smith
Sally Harrop
Michael Negri
Wendy Waddell
Belinda Scott
Nichola Lefroy
Founder & Patron
Emil . A . Negri
Tony Negri has been involved with Kindilan Society since a group of parents got together in 1970; to discuss the idea of establishing a school for children with an intellectual disability. At that time services in Victoria for anyone with an intellectual disability were extremely limited.
Three of those parents, Tony and the late Allan Steele and Richard Case, were asked to provide operational advice to the parents. By August 1971 Tony was Chair of the Committee, where he remained for the next 45years.
It was Tony’s vision for the organisation that made it all possible. He had seen other organisations in his travels and he knew exactly what he wanted for his daughter Jane and the children of the other parents. Tony is the first person to be made Patron of Kindilan Society.
Publications
2023 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
Click the date to download the issue
Summer 2023
2022 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2021 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2020 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2019 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2018 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2017 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2016 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
2015 Focus Life Magazines | Disability support services
Strategic Plan
focus Individualised Disability Support Services will plan for sustainable growth in the area of our greatest expertise; providing permanent Supported Independent Living for adults with a disability.
We will continue to:
- Specialise in delivering quality care and support for adults with moderate to complex disabilities.
- Support adults living with a disability to access and participate in their local community.
- Create new and better ways for people to receive the support they require.
- Ensure that our services are responsive to individual needs and exceed expectations.
- Be sustainable for the long term.
Annual Reports
The organisation provides a full Annual Report at the end of the financial year. These can be found below: