CEO’s Report

Stephanie Soter, Chief Executive Officer

This year at EPIC has been about more than strategies, structures, or systems. It has been about people – the participants who inspire us every day, the staff who show up with care and resilience, and the communities across regional WA who remind us why our mission matters.

When I look back on 2024/25, I see a year of renewal – a year where we listened deeply, invested boldly, and recommitted to empowering people and communities in everything we do.

Walking Beside Our Communities

Across every town we serve – from Kalgoorlie to Karratha – we’ve seen what happens when people are given the right support. At the Karratha Career Expo, young people with disabilities stepped into conversations about their futures with confidence. Through EPiCafe, 22 barista graduates not only learned new skills, but built friendships, dignity, and pathways to work.

Partnerships with Aboriginal organisations and local schools have reminded us that real change happens when communities work together – and that inclusion is not just a value, but a daily practice.

Strengthening Our Foundation

This year we launched the EPIC 2024–2029 Strategic Plan. It’s more than a document – it’s a shared vision created with participants, staff, community partners, and our Board. Its four pillars – housing, workforce, partnerships, and cultural leadership – are already shaping how we operate and make decisions.

Housing, in particular, has been an urgent priority. In the Pilbara and Goldfields, both staff and participants have struggled to find safe, affordable accommodation. Our EPIC Housing Strategy is changing that story, with properties already secured and plans underway for supported housing and staff homes. These steps may seem practical, but they mean something far greater: stability, safety, and a sense of belonging.

Holding Ourselves to the Highest Standards

One of our proudest achievements this year was achieving zero non-conformities in our NDIS Full Term Audit. This result belongs to every staff member who goes above and beyond to ensure safety, quality, and dignity for our participants.

Behind the scenes, our Quality Committee has maintained a steady focus on compliance and continuous improvement. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s the backbone of trust – trust from families, trust from regulators, and trust from the people we support.

Reviving Culture, Renewing Leadership

In March, we began something deeply important – our Cultural Revival Program. This wasn’t about changing who we are, but about reconnecting with our founding values and purpose.

We introduced new ways to recognise and reward staff, equipped leaders with tools to guide with clarity, and opened spaces for shared learning through our Lunch n Learn sessions. The results have been tangible: staff report feeling more connected, more valued, and more certain of EPIC’s direction and identity.

Facing Challenges with Courage

Yes, there were challenges. Workforce shortages in the regions tested us. Our financial result showed a deficit of $377,000, and we forecast another for 2025/26 as we continue investing in housing and fleet. But every dollar has been spent with intention – to build the infrastructure and opportunities that ensure long-term sustainability.

We could choose short-term balance. Instead, we are choosing long-term impact.

Looking Forward

Next year, our focus remains firmly on people:

• Delivering new housing in Karratha and Kalgoorlie
  • Continuing our cultural revival and leadership programs to inspire pride and accountability
  • Introducing electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce costs and our environmental footprint
  • Building stronger workforce pipelines so local people can step into meaningful careers with EPIC

To our participants and families – thank you for trusting us with your journeys.
To our staff – your care and resilience are the reason EPIC stands strong.
To our Board – your guidance ensures we never lose sight of our mission.

And to the communities of regional WA – thank you for reminding us that inclusion is built one relationship, one opportunity, and one act of trust at a time.

Together, we are not just delivering services – we are building futures.