BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
ABN 90 006 985 226
FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

-1-

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
DIRECTORS' REPORT

The directors of Blind Citizens Australia (the Company) hereby present their report together with the statement of financial position and the statement of financial performance for the year ended 30 June 2006.

Directors
The names and particulars of qualifications, experience and special responsibilities of the directors of the Company in office at the date of this report are:

NameQualifications and ExperienceSpecial Responsibilities
Robert Altamore
  • BA, LLB
  • Senior Legal Officer
  • Board member Australian Federation of Disability Organisations,
  • Print Handicapped Radio of ACT
  • President
  • Member of Finance & Audit Committee
Susan Thompson
  • Data Processing Certificate
  • Commonwealth Public Servant (until August 2006)
  • Vice-President
Natale Cutri
(appointed 12 December 2005)
  • BA, Grad Dip Accounting
  • Finance Officer
  • Chair of Finance & Audit Committee

-2-

NameQualifications and ExperienceSpecial Responsibilities
Jayson Hanrahan
(appointed 12 December 2005)
  • B Bus (Marketing), Certificate in Direct Marketing
  • Marketing & Communications Manager
  • Chair of Fundraising Committee
  • Member of Finance & Audit Committee
Craig Magill
(appointed 10 October 2005)
  • B Info Tech, MACS
  • Senior Software Engineer
  • Board member of Radio 1RPH
 
Robyn McKenzie
(appointed 12 December 2005)
  • Certificate 4 in Community Services (Disability Studies), Certificate 4 in Workplace Assessment & Training
  • Manager Employment Services
  • Member of Fundraising Committee

-3-

NameQualifications and ExperienceSpecial Responsibilities
Tony Starkey
  • Manager Access & Policy Project
  • Board member Blind Welfare Association of SA, Disability Advisory Council of SA
  • Member of Australian Communications Industry Forum Disability Advisory Board

Unless otherwise indicated, all directors held their position as a director throughout the entire financial year and up to the date of this report.

In addition to the special responsibilities detailed above, each director acts as a member of the National Policy & Development Council for the entire period of their directorship.

The following people were directors of the Company during the financial year:
Karen Knight (resigned 10 October 2005)
Greg Madson (resigned 10 October 2005)
John Simpson (resigned 10 October 2005)
Theresa Smith (resigned 12 December 2005)

Directors' benefits
During, or since the end of, the financial year, no director of the Company has received, or become entitled to receive, a benefit because of a contract that the director, or a firm of which the director is a member, or an entity in which the director has a substantial financial interest, made with the Company or an entity that the Company controlled, or a body corporate that was related to the Company, when the contract was made or when the director

-4-

received or became entitled to receive, the benefit other than a benefit arising through a contractual relationship with entities in which the directors have a financial interest as detailed in note 12.

Directors' meetings
There were two Board committees in existence during the financial year; the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) and the Fundraising Committee (FC).

Each director attended the following Board and Committee meetings during the financial year whilst a member of the Board:

Director Board meetings held whilst a director No. of Board meetings attended FAC meetings held whilst a member No of FAC meetings attended FC meetings held whilst a member No of FC meetings attended
Robert Altamore151544  
Susan Thompson1512    
Natale Cutri8844  
Jayson Hanrahan854422
Craig Magill1111    
Robyn McKenzie88  22
Tony Starkey1512    

-5-

Director Board meetings held whilst a director No. of Board meetings attended FAC meetings held whilst a member No of FAC meetings attended FC meetings held whilst a member No of FC meetings attended
Karen Knight4444  
Greg Madson44    
John Simpson44    
Theresa Smith85    

Karen Knight has continued to act as a member of the FAC since resigning as a director.

Directors' remuneration
The Company receives funding from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (the Department) for participation in the Australian Communications Industry Forum Disability Advisory Board. Tony Starkey, a Director of the Company, acts as the Company's representative member of the Disability Advisory Board. In this capacity, he received sitting fees of $3,036 for the year ended 30 June 2006. This amount was the full amount of funding received from the Department.

Other than these sitting fees, no director received any remuneration from the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2006.

-6-

Company Secretaries
Nadia Mattiazzo - BA Majors Journalism/Politics (appointed 23 January 2006)
Ms Mattiazzo has worked within the blindness sector for eleven years, both in the service provision and advocacy/information fields. Prior to her time in the blindness sector, she held a number of roles in the Victorian Public Service. In 2005, she successfully participated in the Leadership Plus Program, an innovative program which is aimed at developing leadership skills of people with disabilities.

Mary Latham - B Fin Admin, CA, ASIA (appointed 23 January 2006)
Ms Latham has held various senior finance roles over ten years in various financial services firms and also worked for eight years in chartered accounting practices.

Ms Latham is the alternate Company Secretary and acts as the Company Secretary if ever the incumbent is either absent or incapacitated.

Operating result
The operating result of the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2006 was a deficit of $101,900 (2005 surplus of $15,786). The Company is exempt from income tax as detailed in Note 1(d).

Principal activities
The principal activities of the Company during the financial year ended 30 June were the provision of information and advocacy services for blind and vision impaired people in Australia. There was no significant change in the nature of this activity during the financial year.

Review of operations
The Company continued to provide information and advocacy services for blind and vision impaired people in Australia.

-7-

Significant changes in the state of affairs
During the financial year there were no significant changes in the state of the Company's affairs.

Matters subsequent to the end of the financial year
No matter or circumstance has arisen since the end of the financial year that has significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Company, the results of those operations or the state of affairs of the Company in future financial years.

Future developments
The Company's operations will continue to be the provision of information and advocacy services for blind and vision impaired people in Australia. It is not possible to comment on the future results of these operations as the Company's income includes donations, grants and other items which are difficult to predict.

Indemnification
During the financial year, the Company paid a premium to insure the officers of the Company. The Company has not otherwise, during or since the end of the financial year, indemnified or agreed to indemnify an officer or auditor of the Company or of any related body corporate against a liability incurred as such an officer or auditor.

Proceedings on behalf of the Company
No person has applied to a court for leave to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company, or to intervene in any proceedings to which the Company is a party, for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company for all or any part of those proceedings.

The Company was not party to any such proceedings during the financial year.

-8-

Auditors' independence declaration
The auditors' independence declaration as required under section 307 of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on the following page.

Environmental issues
The Company's operations are not regulated by any significant environmental regulation under a law of the Federal Government or of a State or Territory.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors.

R Altamore
President
21 August 2006

-9-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
AUDITORS' INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION
UNDER SECTION 307C OF THE CORPORATIONS ACT 2001

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the financial year ended 30 June 2006 there have been:

(i)no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and
(ii)no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

McDonnell Cunneen & Associates
Registered Company Auditors

Brent Murphy
Partner
21 August 2006

-10-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2006

 Note20062005
  $$
Revenues from ordinary activities2468,153700,589
Expenses from ordinary activities 570,053684,803
   
Surplus/(deficit) from ordinary activities before income tax expense (101,900)15,786
Income tax expense1 (d)--
Surplus/(deficit) attributable to members (101,900)15,786

The above statement of financial performance should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

-11-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 30 JUNE 2006

 Note20062005
 $$
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash assets4126,338232,761
Receivables524,569293
Other assets61,280-
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS152,187233,054
 
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Property, plant & equipment712,38020,630
   
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS12,38020,630
   
TOTAL ASSETS164,567253,684
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables817,19020,764
Provisions930,19612,882
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES47,38633,646
 
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables82,7043,661
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES2,7043,661
   
TOTAL LIABILITIES50,09037,307
   
NET ASSETS114,477216,377
 
MEMBERS' FUNDS
Retained surplus10114,477216,377
TOTAL MEMBERS' FUNDS114,477216,377

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

-12-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2006

 Note20062005
 $$
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Receipts from operating activities438,963767,441
Interest received4,9142,722
Payments to suppliers & employees(550,300)(779,930)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities11(106,423)(9,767)
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Plant & equipment purchased-(2,735)
  
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities-(2,735)
 
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash Held(106,423)(12,502)
Cash at the beginning of the financial period232,761245,263
Cash at the end of the Financial Period4126,338232,761

The above statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

-13-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2006

1. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General system of accounting underlying the financial report
This financial report is a general purpose financial report which has been prepared in accordance with Accounting Standards, Urgent Issues Group Consensus Views and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.

The financial report covers Blind Citizens Australia (the Company) as an individual entity. It is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. The financial report has been prepared on an accrual basis, is based on historical cost and does not take into account changing money values or current valuations of non-current assets. Cost is based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

Set out below is a summary of the material accounting policies adopted by the Company in the preparation of the financial report. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless stated otherwise.

First-time adoption of Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards
The financial report complies with Australian Accounting Standards, which include Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS). Compliance with AIFRS ensures that the financial report, comprising the financial statements and notes thereto, complies with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

This is the first financial report prepared based on AIFRS and comparatives for the financial year ended 30 June 2006 have been restated accordingly. Reconciliations of AIFRS equity and profit for 30 June 2005 to the balances reported in the 30 June 2005 financial report are detailed in note 1(e) below.

-14-

a) Revenue recognition
Revenues are recognised at fair value of the consideration received, net of the amount of goods and services tax. Revenue is recognised when the Company obtains control over the assets comprising the revenue.

b) Goods and services tax (GST)
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). In these circumstances, the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or part of the item of the expense. Receivables and payables are stated with the amount of GST included.

The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the ATO is included as a current asset or liability in the balance sheet. Cash flows are included in the cash flow statement on a gross basis. The GST components of cash flows arising from investing and financing activities, which are recoverable from, or payable to, the ATO, are classified as operating cash flows.

c) Cash
For the purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash includes cash on hand and at call deposits with banks or financial institutions.

d) Income tax
The Company is exempt from income tax in accordance with endorsement by the ATO as an income tax exempt charitable entity under Subdivision 50-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

-15-

e) Impact of the adoption of AIFRS
There have been no changes to prior year opening retained earnings or to the profit and loss comparatives as a result of the introduction of AIFRS.

f) Property, plant and equipment
Acquisitions
Items of property, plant and equipment are initially recorded at cost and are depreciated as outlined below.

Depreciation
Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives at rates of 5% to 37.5%.

Valuation
Items of property, plant and equipment are measured on a fair value basis. At each balance date, the value of the assets is reviewed to ensure it does not differ materially from the fair value at that date.

g) Employee entitlements
Liabilities for annual leave and long service leave benefits that are expected to be settled within 12 months are measured at the amount expected to be paid when they are settled.

Liabilities for annual leave and long service leave benefits that are not expected to be settled within 12 months are discounted using rates attaching to Commonwealth Government securities which most closely match the terms of maturity of the related liabilities at balance date. This liability represents the present value of the estimated future cash flows to be made by the employer resulting from employees' service provided up to balance date.

-16-

In determining the liability for employee entitlements, consideration has been given to future increases in wages and salary rate and experience with employee departures.

Contributions are made to employee superannuation funds and are charged as an expense when incurred. The Company has no legal obligation to provide benefits to employees on retirement.

h) Members' undertaking
The Company is a company limited by guarantee. In the event of the Company being wound up, the members' liability is limited to $2.

 20062005
 $$
2. REVENUE
Revenue from operating activities
Government funding277,430251,898
Grants66,26075,180
Fundraising65,486176,205
Conventions42,34726,527
Interest4,9142,722
Projects2,355133,973
Other operating activities9,36134,084
 468,153700,589

3. AUDITORS' REMUNERATION
Audit services3,5005,030

4. CASH ASSETS
Cash on hand1117
Cash at bank126,227232,754
 126,338232,761

-17-


 20062005
 $$
5. CURRENT RECEIVABLES
Trade debtors24,569293

6. OTHER ASSETS
Deposits and prepayments1,280-

7. PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT
Furniture & fittings at cost13,30013,300
Accumulated depreciation(8,696)(8,068)
 4,6045,232
 
Plant & equipment at cost116,883116,485
Accumulated depreciation(110,770)(105,308)
 6,11311,177
 
Computer equipment at cost46,10546,503
Accumulated depreciation(44,442)(42,282)
 1,6634,221
 
Total property, plant & equipment12,38020,630

8. PAYABLES
Current
Creditors9,26315,081
Superannuation payable2,7512,054
GST payable2,0611,435
PAYG tax payable3,1152,194
 17,19020,764
 
Non-current
Finance lease2,7043,661

-18-


 20062005
 $$
9. PROVISIONS
Provision for annual leave20,10312,882
Provision for long service leave10,093-
 30,19612,882
 
 No.No.
Number of employees98

 20062005
 $$
10. RETAINED SURPLUS
Retained surplus at the beginning of the financial year216,377200,591
Surplus/(deficit) for the year(101,900)15,786
Retained surplus at the end of the financial year114,477216,377

-19-

11. RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO OPERATING RESULTS
Surplus/(deficit) as reported in the Statement of Financial Performance(101,900)15,786
 
Non cash movements in surplus/(deficit) from operating activities 
Depreciation8,25014,741
 
Changes in assets & liabilities during the financial year 
(Increase)/decrease in trade debtors(24,276)8,784
(Increase)/decrease in deposits & prepayments(1,280)682
(Decrease) in creditors(5,818)(13,113)
Increase in superannuation payable697-
Increase in GST payable626-
Increase in PAYG tax payable921-
Increase/(decrease) in employee entitlements17,314(2,612)
(Decrease) in finance lease(957)-
(Decrease) in other liabilities-(34,035)
 
Net cash used in operating activities(106,423)(9,767)

12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the period that he was a director of the Company, Mr John Simpson received, or became entitled to receive, benefits in respect of a contractual relationship between the Company and Information Alternatives Pty Ltd, of which Mr Simpson is a director and shareholder.

-20-

13. DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION
The Company receives funding from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (the Department) for participation in the Australian Communications Industry Forum Disability Advisory Board. Tony Starkey, a Director of the Company, acts as the Company's representative member of the Disability Advisory Board. In this capacity, he received sitting fees of $3,036 for the year ended 30 June 2006. This amount was the full amount of funding received from the Department.

Other than these sitting fees, no director received any remuneration during the year.

14. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company operates in a non-profit capacity as a public benevolent institution.

The Company operates solely within Australia.

-21-

15. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

a) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk refers to the risk that a financial instrument's value will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates. The following table details the Company's interest rate risk as at the reporting date.

  Weighted average effective interest rate Floating interest rate Non-interest bearing
 2006
%
2006
$
2005
$
2006
$
2005
$
Cash assets 0.64%126,338232,76124,569 293
Receivables
Total financial assets 126,338232,76124,569 293

The weighted average interest rate for the prior year is not available.

b) Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default in its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Company. The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the Statement of Financial Position represent the Company's maximum exposure to credit risk. The Company does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty.

c) Net fair value
The carrying amount of financial assets and financial liabilities recorded in the financial statements represent their respective net fair values as determined in accordance with the accounting policies disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements.

-22-

Back to top of Page

BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA
DIRECTORS' DECLARATION

In the directors' opinion:

a) the financial statements and notes set out on pages 11 to 22 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i) complying with Accounting Standards, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional reporting requirements; and

(ii) giving a true and fair view of the Company's financial position as at 30 June 2006 and its performance for the year ended on that date;

and

b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the directors.

R Altamore
President
21 August 2006

-23-

Back to top of Page

INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF
BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA

Scope
We have audited the general purpose financial report of Blind Citizens Australia for the financial year ended 30 June 2006, set out on pages 11 to 23. The directors are responsible for the financial report. We have conducted an independent audit of the financial report in order to express an opinion on it to the members of Blind Citizens Australia.

Our audit has been conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards to provide reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free of material misstatement. Our procedures included examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting the amounts and other disclosures in the financial report, and the evaluation of accounting policies and significant accounting estimates. These procedures have been undertaken to form an opinion whether, in all material respects, the financial report is presented fairly in accordance with Accounting Standards and other mandatory professional reporting requirements, in Australia, so as to present a view which is consistent with our understanding of the Blind Citizens Australia's financial position, and performance, as represented by the results of its operations and its cash flows.

The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.

-24-

Audit Opinion
In our opinion, the financial report of Blind Citizens Australia presents a true and fair view in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and other mandatory professional reporting requirements in Australia of the financial position of Blind Citizen Australia as at 30 June 2006 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended.

McDonell Cunneen & Associates

Brent Murphy
Registered Company Auditor
21 August 2006

-25-

Back to top of Page