Endeavour (organisation)
Encyclopedia
Endeavour Foundation is non-Government, not-for-profit organisation
based in Queensland
, Australia
that provides services and support for people with disabilities and their families. It is one of the largest non-government organisations in Australia supporting and providing opportunities for people with a disability.
Endeavour supports around 3000 people with a disability through a mix of services and businesses at over 220 locations in Australia.
. Schonell was Endeavour's first President and extended his research interest in education for people with disabilities by creating the Remedial Education Centre (now known as the Fred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Research Centre), one of the first of its kind in the world.
In its first two years of operation, the organisation registered 300 children with intellectual disabilities. The Association's first school and support group were established in a member's home, but moved to a large property in Bowen Hills
in Brisbane
in 1955. Endeavour's Head Office, one regional office and a non-vocational day service remain based at the location, now known as Schonell House in Jordan Terrace.
By 1954, the Association had grown beyond Brisbane, with the formation of the first regional sub-committees in Toowoomba
and Ipswich
. The organisation continued to expand rapidly, opening its first service for adults, a sheltered workshop in Bowen Hills, and its first accommodation service in Toowoomba in 1964.
In 1982 the Association voted to enact a change of name from the Queensland Sub-Normal Children's Welfare Association to the Endeavour Foundation, reflecting a change in societal attitudes towards people with disabilities and the organisation's growth.
By 1984 the organisation had grown to provide services to 3440 people in 19 non-vocational day services for adults, 25 schools, 12 sheltered workshops, 6 farms, 34 adult residential homes, 24 group homes and 13 clinics across the state. In 1986 the provision of education to children was taken over by the Queensland Department of Education, and Endeavour's focus moved to services for adults.
Through the 1980s and 1990s Endeavour continued to grow, despite recognition that the organisation was losing thousands of dollars per week through the provision of services to people without indiviualised funding packages by the Queensland Government. This resulted in the shedding of major property assets by the organisation, and the movement and closure of some services.
Currently, Endeavour is divided into five geographical Areas for administrative purposes, North (incorporating Far North Queensland
down to Townsville), Central (Bundaberg down to Gympie
), Sunshine Coast
, South East (including Brisbane and the Gold Coast
) and South West (from Ipswich
west to the Northern Territory
border). The organisation is governed by an elected board.
In September 2009, Endeavour Foundation acquired Cumberland Industries of western Sydney, providing employment for a further 610 people with a disability; making Endeavour the largest non-government provider of direct disability employment in Australia.
, autism spectrum disorders, Fragile X syndrome
and non-specific intellectual disabilities. Endeavour is the largest non-government provider of direct community services (to any group) in Australia.
Employees with intellectual disabilities were granted coverage
by the Endeavour Foundation Enterprise Award in 2005, receiving equitable pay and conditions of service for the first time.
Endeavour also runs 37 Recycled Clothing Stores throughout Queensland, originally known as Endo's, although with recent changes to Branding, are now called ERC Stores. These stores sell new and recycled clothing, furniture, books, manchester and bric-a-brac.
Endeavour also owns and operates 3 Business Services in New South Wales.
In 2000 and 2001, Endeavour attracted major controversy when it decided to cut case management services, with some staff discovering their positions had been made redundant through the press. In 2004, Endeavour was again subject to criticism for its decision to cut the Specialist Services team, an innovative service supporting staff to support service users with challenging (aggressive and assaultive) behaviour, only to announce in October 2005 that it would be reinstating the staff support service in a reduced form (though the employment of Disability Advisors) and combining abuse response and advocacy functions.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
based in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
that provides services and support for people with disabilities and their families. It is one of the largest non-government organisations in Australia supporting and providing opportunities for people with a disability.
Endeavour supports around 3000 people with a disability through a mix of services and businesses at over 220 locations in Australia.
History
Endeavour Foundation was founded in 1951 by a group of parents of children with intellectual disabilities . Initially called the Queensland Sub-Normal Children's Welfare Association, the group received the patronage of Sir Fred Schonell, the first Professor of Education and later Vice-Chancellor of the University of QueenslandUniversity of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. Schonell was Endeavour's first President and extended his research interest in education for people with disabilities by creating the Remedial Education Centre (now known as the Fred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Research Centre), one of the first of its kind in the world.
In its first two years of operation, the organisation registered 300 children with intellectual disabilities. The Association's first school and support group were established in a member's home, but moved to a large property in Bowen Hills
Bowen Hills, Queensland
Bowen Hills is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km northeast of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.-History:...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1955. Endeavour's Head Office, one regional office and a non-vocational day service remain based at the location, now known as Schonell House in Jordan Terrace.
By 1954, the Association had grown beyond Brisbane, with the formation of the first regional sub-committees in Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
and Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
. The organisation continued to expand rapidly, opening its first service for adults, a sheltered workshop in Bowen Hills, and its first accommodation service in Toowoomba in 1964.
In 1982 the Association voted to enact a change of name from the Queensland Sub-Normal Children's Welfare Association to the Endeavour Foundation, reflecting a change in societal attitudes towards people with disabilities and the organisation's growth.
By 1984 the organisation had grown to provide services to 3440 people in 19 non-vocational day services for adults, 25 schools, 12 sheltered workshops, 6 farms, 34 adult residential homes, 24 group homes and 13 clinics across the state. In 1986 the provision of education to children was taken over by the Queensland Department of Education, and Endeavour's focus moved to services for adults.
Through the 1980s and 1990s Endeavour continued to grow, despite recognition that the organisation was losing thousands of dollars per week through the provision of services to people without indiviualised funding packages by the Queensland Government. This resulted in the shedding of major property assets by the organisation, and the movement and closure of some services.
Currently, Endeavour is divided into five geographical Areas for administrative purposes, North (incorporating Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
down to Townsville), Central (Bundaberg down to Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
), Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
, South East (including Brisbane and the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
) and South West (from Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
west to the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
border). The organisation is governed by an elected board.
In September 2009, Endeavour Foundation acquired Cumberland Industries of western Sydney, providing employment for a further 610 people with a disability; making Endeavour the largest non-government provider of direct disability employment in Australia.
Services provided
Endeavour currently provides services to 4500 people throughout Queensland, with 1780 staff. Most service users are adults with Down syndromeDown syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
, autism spectrum disorders, Fragile X syndrome
Fragile X syndrome
Fragile X syndrome , Martin–Bell syndrome, or Escalante's syndrome , is a genetic syndrome that is the most commonly known single-gene cause of autism and the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability...
and non-specific intellectual disabilities. Endeavour is the largest non-government provider of direct community services (to any group) in Australia.
Disability Services
The Disability Services arm of Endeavour supports people to live in residential accommodation and group homes (housing three to 26 people), respite accommodation, with home and community support (supporting people to live semi-independently in their own homes), and in non-vocational day services (providing activities and education in life skills). A new and innovative program, Latch On was developed by the University of Queensland, with the rights to this program being owned by Endeavour. This program is a continued education opportunity for young people with a disability and provides education in computer, literacy and technology with some focus on fitness and community awareness.Business Services, manufacturing and retail operations
The Business Services arm of Endeavour supports people to find and retain integrated employment in the general workforce and through the provision of specialist employment and training in segregated business services (supported employment). People with disabilities in Endeavour Business Services are involved in the manufacture of timber furniture and other wood products, sheet-metal fabrication, agriculture (through nurseries, farms and orchards), mailing and packaging services (including food packaging), and rag-making, as well as Kingaroy Kitchen Fine Foods, selling a large and delicious range of home-style jams, chutneys, biscuits, etc.Employees with intellectual disabilities were granted coverage
Award (Australian industrial relations)
An award is a ruling handed down by either Fair Work Australia or by a state industrial relations commission which grants all wage earners in one industry the same conditions of employment and wages....
by the Endeavour Foundation Enterprise Award in 2005, receiving equitable pay and conditions of service for the first time.
Endeavour also runs 37 Recycled Clothing Stores throughout Queensland, originally known as Endo's, although with recent changes to Branding, are now called ERC Stores. These stores sell new and recycled clothing, furniture, books, manchester and bric-a-brac.
Endeavour also owns and operates 3 Business Services in New South Wales.
Criticism and controversy
Endeavour has been subject to some criticism for its large size, conservatism, and influence on government policy. Since 2000, the organisation has been shedding property assets and closing some services.In 2000 and 2001, Endeavour attracted major controversy when it decided to cut case management services, with some staff discovering their positions had been made redundant through the press. In 2004, Endeavour was again subject to criticism for its decision to cut the Specialist Services team, an innovative service supporting staff to support service users with challenging (aggressive and assaultive) behaviour, only to announce in October 2005 that it would be reinstating the staff support service in a reduced form (though the employment of Disability Advisors) and combining abuse response and advocacy functions.