Annual Report 2023 – 24

Kia ora koutou

It is with great pride that we reflect on the past year and recognise the outstanding efforts of our team. The Board has witnessed many examples of dedication and cohesion across the organisation, all working towards our vision: Disabled people thriving, living the lives they choose in their communities. This commitment has been evident in the successful implementation and continual monitoring of our strategy.

We remain committed to our vision and the journey ahead, while staying true to our mātāpono | values and tuāpapa | foundations. Our team’s determination, resilience and dedication have ensured Your Way | Kia Roha continues striving for better outcomes for disabled people. This steadfast approach has enabled us to navigate challenges and realise opportunities for sustainable growth in the years ahead.

We’d like to share with you the highlights of our achievements within each of our strategic goals.

Leaders in the new disability system

We measure our leadership through community feedback, gathering voices through surveys, evaluations, and our disability leadership groups. Our team’s focus on quality and continuous improvement has seen excellent results, as reported in this annual report.

Your Way | Kia Roha has taken a leadership role in shaping a more robust and stable disability support system. This has included engaging with the Minister, representation on the sector CE panel, and chairing the New Zealand Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Association (NZNASCA).

Meeting unmet need and building responsiveness to Māori and Pasifika

We’ve made significant strides in addressing unmet needs and growing our responsiveness to Māori and Pasifika communities. Our outreach efforts on marae and in Pasifika spaces have resulted in increased engagement and positive feedback on our culturally appropriate services.

Thanks to our Senior Cultural Advisors, Dr. Pouroto Ngaropo and Dr. Taima Fagaloa, our team has deepened their understanding and connection with mātauranga Māori and Pasifika cultures.

Growth in disability leadership

Our commitment to ensuring the disabled voice guides us throughout our organisation continues to strengthen. As a disabled-led organisation, our Board members all have personal lived experience of disability, with the majority identifying as disabled people.

We also have a national disability leadership group, six local disability leadership groups, autism advisory group and a team members’ disability group. These groups play a crucial role in guiding Your Way | Kia Roha, holding us to account, and advocating for change in the community.

Health of our organisation

We’ve prioritised developing fit-for-purpose policies, processes, and systems to provide a solid platform for future growth. Our Business Support and People & Culture teams have implemented best practices, focusing on team wellbeing, safety, and maintaining strong community visibility.

The growth in engagement and team wellbeing, benchmarking with top-performing organisations, affirms we are headed in the right direction.

We have achieved all of this while remaining sustainable as an organisation.

Responding to change

Our values and strong foundations are crucial as we navigate a changing environment. The Board acknowledges the impact of recent government changes on our team and the community we support. With our strong foundations, Your Way | Kia Roha is well-equipped to adapt to these changes in a value-aligned manner.

The Board is actively monitoring and responding to these changes and will make any necessary adjustments to our direction. We are confident in our ability to navigate change.

As we look ahead, we are excited about the opportunities and the potential for change. We aim to continue making a positive difference in the lives of disabled people, helping them thrive and live the lives they choose in their communities. We look forward to the year ahead and sharing our success in next year’s report. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to our purpose.