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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-22 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

Novita Children's Services

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:07): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: This being my maiden ministerial statement, I ask for the courtesy of the house not to be interrupted.

The SPEAKER: No such convention exists; feel free.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Conventions have to start somewhere. Tomorrow the iconic South Australian charitable organisation, Novita Children's Services, will celebrate its 75th anniversary of caring for South Australian children living with disability and other special needs. Over the past few decades there have been vast amounts of change in our understanding of disabilities, our collective sense of social responsibility and, importantly, the recognition that as a society we must ensure every child is given every opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

Novita has been at the forefront of this change and has a strong history of innovation and willingness to step into the future. Novita Children's Services began in 1939 and was then known as the Crippled Children's Association of South Australia, until 2004 when it changed its name to Novita Children's Services. Novita, being a combination of two Latin words: 'nova' meaning new and 'vita' meaning life, presents a more contemporary view of disability.

The SPEAKER: Point of order. This isn't a delayed point of order from private member's time when so many members on the opposition side were reading their speeches?

Mr WILLIAMS: No, sir. I believe it is the practice of the house when a minister seeks leave to make a ministerial statement that they provide a copy of the statement so that members can read along. Notwithstanding that it is the minister's maiden ministerial statement, it appears that he has overlooked that convention of the house.

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop is absolutely right.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Apologies, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Accepted.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: The Crippled Children's Association was formed to care for children affected by the polio epidemic of the time. The establishment of the association was made possible following a gift of £50,000 by British industrialist William Morris—from the famous Morris Motors Ltd, who later became Lord Nuffield—to the commonwealth government to assist our nation to care for Australia's children with disability.

This gift was gratefully received by former Governor-General of the commonwealth, His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Isaac Isaacs, who also happened to be the first Australian-born Governor-General. This gift assisted not only South Australia but many other states to establish organisations similar in origin to Novita Children's Services.

At the heart of Novita's history and indeed the present is its dedication to providing a better quality of life for children with disability. Novita's key strength is its ability to evolve, grow and continue providing and improving the services it delivers to South Australia's children and young people.

I would like to acknowledge the work of the CEO of Novita, Mr Glenn Rappensberg, who has been at the helm of Novita for the last 15 years. He had led enormous change and implemented a range of new services not only to prepare Novita for the rollout of the NDIS but also to ensure that it is one of the most respected organisations in the not-for-profit sector.

As the leading service provider of child development, rehabilitation and disability services, Novita is at the forefront of continuing to provide the opportunity for children living with disability to reach the developmental milestones that we expect of any child. I would also like to acknowledge the board of directors and all the employees of Novita who help this organisation in being held in such high regard by the community.

Anniversary occasions like this remind us to remember the many children and their families this organisation has helped in the community over the last 75 years. It is also important that we acknowledge the South Australian community for its philanthropic support of Novita. I am confident that Novita will only grow stronger with the continued rollout of the NDIS.

The Premier (the member for Cheltenham) will be attending a celebration tomorrow at Government House. Novita supporters, staff, families and children will also gather in Rundle Mall from 10.30am to celebrate the 75th birthday with free activities, including painting a large memory mural. The Premier and local children will come together at 11.45am to release 75 balloons.

I encourage the house to continue to support Novita's work in making a positive difference in the lives of young people with disability and their families throughout South Australia. I would like to wish Novita, its staff, clients, the families and carers all the best for the future.

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