The Sunbury Adult Unit Incorporated (Unit) officially commenced in May 1985, supporting 15 participants. The organisation was set up as an Incorporated Association, operating from a site in Goonawarra.
1985
1987
Services now included education as well as vocational training. The Unit then expanded into employment services in Glenroy.
Roe's Garden Service and the Eagle Hand Car Wash employment businesses were established. The first Client Council was formed.
1989
1993
We became Able Community Services Incorporated. Total participant numbers were now 50, with total revenue at $727,000.
Precise Mowing Service employment business was established. Participant numbers grew to 69, with total revenue topping $1.275 million.
1997
1999
Able Community Services merged with / acquired the MBM Association Incorporation to become Distinctive Options. A public company limited by guarantee.
Distinctive Options meets international standards of quality with ISO 9001:2000 certification in Quality Management Systems and also to the National Disability Standards. Sunbury support services were now known as Lifestyles, with 65 participants and total revenue of $2.823 million.
2004
2011
Distinctive Options now supports 88 participants. Total revenue had soared to $4.035 million through the growth in employment services.
Total revenue reaches a new high of $4.222 million, with support services providing support to 89 participants.
2012
2014
Distinctive Options focuses on support services only after losing its open employment contract following a tendering process. Participant numbers are at 95. Total revenue falls to $2.215 million.
Participant numbers increased to 165. Total revenue grew to just on $4.132 million due to an expansion of services. Service growth included at Lifestyles, Outreach plus the new Bendigo services, along with After School Care. The first participant transitions into the NDIS.
2017
2018
Total revenue tops $5.587 million with participant numbers a new record at 234. 170 participants moved from State DHHS funding into the NDIS and new Aged Care packages.
An organisation restructure is conducted to realign management, group and individualised support services. Participant numbers now reached 301, with total annual support hours at 171,138 or an average of 14,261 per month. Total revenue grew to $8.282 million, including Distinctive Options winning a $2m tender to deliver Outside School Hours care in Bendigo and Sunshine.
2019
2020
COVID-19 impacts deliver widespread changes to service delivery and support hours. Despite this, the organisation end the financial year with 309 participants, receiving average monthly support hours of 15,778 or 189,336 per annum. Total revenue still grew to just under $9.063 million.
The impact of the pandemic on services and the community continued. Total revenue peaked at $10.868 million, with participant support hours maintained during restrictions at 178,704 for the year, or an average of 14,892 per month. No COVID cases for participants or staff are recorded.