
‘I’ is for Innovation
In the fast-changing NDIS world, we need to challenge the status quo and find new ways to improve our customers’ lives.

Innovating to stay ahead of the curve
In the rapidly changing world of the NDIS, it’s more important than ever to stay one step ahead. This year we were excited to launch a new Innovation Hub, dedicated to helping our organisation adapt, respond, and evolve.
Over the past two years, we have been exploring the role of innovation in our organisation, and have enthusiastically concluded that we want to try new stuff and be ready for the future. It’s of great importance — especially given the sector’s current transformation. The question was, how do we develop and embed strategic thinking about the future and its implications?
Our solution was to create a House with No Steps Strategic Innovation Hub, dedicated to learning about change, responding to strategic risk, and creating options for the future. The hub’s focus is to build strategic innovation capability and foster innovation at all levels of the organisation so we can continue delivering our services in a relevant and sustainable way. After all, the world is changing around us, and we recognise that we must change with it.
Led by two new Strategic Innovation Leads, our team will be working hard over the next two years to develop a portfolio of strategic options and a strategic risk reporting system.
It’s been great to see the team get off to a flying start, with three strategic options developed already since January 2017.

One of these options was developed through a five-week Strategic Innovation secondment program that four staff took part in. Designed to give staff the opportunity to broaden and develop their strategic thinking and knowledge, as well as grow their leadership skills, this secondment clearly had the desired impact; both in delivering an exciting strategic option and in taking what they learned back to their teams.
In addition to developing new options, our Innovation team will also be looking externally to build new relationships with people and organisations we can learn from, within our sector and beyond. We can’t wait to see where the journey leads.

Celebrating the human rights of our diverse customers
In December 2016, we were proud to hold our first Human Rights Conference: a day dedicated to championing the rights of people with a disability.
At House with No Steps, we’re passionate about advocating equal rights for each and every one of our customers.
Attended by over 80 people, our first Human Rights Conference focused on exploring the issues that really matter to our customers, from the NDIS, to accommodation, self-advocacy, technology, and sexuality.

We heard from a wide range of speakers, including our House with No Steps Peer Mentors, staff members, and some inspiring guests, who shared their different perspectives and experiences. Amongst the most noteworthy guests was Robert Strike, who recently received an Order of Australia in recognition of a lifetime of advocacy for people with a disability. He was joined by Rachel Wotton, recent winner of the Churchill Fellowship, who addressed the little-discussed but important topics of intimacy and connection.
The day was an enormous success, with attendees appreciating the chance to participate in thought-provoking discussion, while also having some fun. We’re looking forward to hosting a second conference in December 2017, and plan to make it even better than the first!


