STAR Tasmania

Managers at STAR supervise 16 centres, all of which provide high level supports and operate within their own semi-autonomous environment but with the same values of “listening with heart”, “achieving dreams” and “celebrating life”.
 

Each site operates in unique ways, catering in a bespoke manner for individuals or a group of people with disabilities.
 

STAR ‘s CEO, Mr Ralph Doedens, says he's proud of the fact the organisation has been able to support people in the community. They can now live full and valued lives in the community," he said.

In this video: STAR Tasmania CEO, Ralph Doedens explaining the challenge in the paper-based human resources management and implementing Hitachi Finger Vein Systems. (1min, 29s).

“We also provide respite services – which offers overnight support for people with disabilities – and provides their main carers with a much needed break.” But Mr Doedens knows that he needs to continually look at introducing more efficient systems to reduce overhead costs, otherwise the organisation’s ongoing financial viability might be threatened and hundreds of people might miss out on accessing support services.
 

“We’re always running on very tight margins as an organisation so if there’s a small surplus you’re happy. If there’s a deficit this will impact on the quality of service that can be provided to people with disabilities and their families...”
 

An experienced for-profit business manager, Mr Doedens identified human resources management as one of the organisation’s biggest challenges.

“That’s money and time that we’ve lost that we could spend supporting the people we’re actually here to support,” he said.
 

On the next page, we will explain why was Hitachi the right technology to choose?

STAR acquired Hitachi H-1 USB Finger Vein Biometric Scanners and installed them, along with computers, at all of its facilities.
 

All of the organisation's staff now scan their fingers on arrival at work, and also when they leave. This information is linked into the roster and timesheet system.
 

“It just automatically authorises it so there’s no issue with spending time checking those sheets,” Mr Doedens said. STAR’s staff also use the system to access other payroll information including accrued sick and annual leave entitlements.

In this video: STAR Tasmania CEO, Ralph Doedens discusses how STAR Tasmania boosts disability services with Hitachi Finger Vein Scanners. (1min, 13s).

Originally designed for PC log-on or to replace computer passwords, Hitachi's PCT-KC8203 Finger Vein Biometric Scanner was first designed for PC logins and replacing passwords. It’s now integrated into a wide range of applications, from banking to health care.
 

The scanners are an accurate method of user authentication that eliminates the need for passwords – which can often be forgotten.
 

The scanning device connects to any PC via a USB port, and uses near-infrared light to read and record the blood veins within your finger, which differ even for identical twins.
 

Hitachi's scanning innovation now lets STAR’s workforce to log-in securely to the organisation's management systems from any of the organisation's centres.

On the next page, we look at the how Hitachi solutions enables cost savings and improved services for disability services.

Mr Doedens is already saving more than $100,000 in human resources costs per year, in addition to the benefits of correct time sheets and correct staffing payments.
 

“lt has reduced a lot of time wasted dealing with administration tasks.”
 

Staff now have more time to support people. “Clients now get more quality time, and they have staff that are not bogged down with paperwork, sending it back and forth, or chasing up issues with their pay,’ he says.

In this video: STAR Tasmania CEO, Ralph Doedens discusses how Hitachi solutions enables cost savings and improved services for disability services.(1min, 05s).

“Managers can actually manage client support more than paperwork. We’ve got much more time to actually provide improvements in our quality of service to clients.’
 

There was also an unexpected cultural benefit that flowed from the introduction of Hitachi’s finger vein scanners.
 

Mr Doedens says his employees were largely computer illiterate before they were introduced to this new technology, but many of them have now taken a step toward computers in general, adding further efficiencies.
 

He calls it a revolution in the way people think about how they use technology.
 

“I had one of the staff members, who actually has been opposed to computers for some time, actually ask me when are we going to introduce an intranet!’

The system also helps track support workers as they visit multiple sites.

“The Hitachi vein scanner will just recognise their vein scan at each location and it will tie it to the roster that’s applicable to that location. Meanwhile, staff morale is improving. "It has actually made their lives a lot easier.”
 

“They don’t come to work to process paperwork, they come here to support people with disabilities,” Mr Doedens said. “So if we can take all that paper away, it’s a great thing and a great outcome for their job satisfaction, for their staff morale, it also increases their confidence that everything’s happening as it should be. You get staff that are actually now feeling comfortable with their payslips as they arrive, not having to go through them with a fine tooth comb to see if we’ve made an error’
 

On the next page, we look at the opportunity of accessing to large sets of heterogenous data. Can it helps researchers solve some of our most intractable medical and social problems?

The STAR CEO says he's now looking at new ways to use the Hitachi infrastructure, including its ability to support an imminent merger with another Tasmanian not-for-profit organisation. After the merger the combined group will support a total of 21 locations.
 

Mr Doedens’ new tech-savvy workforce has the opportunity to innovate and improve various elements of their jobs.

In this video: STAR Tasmania CEO, Ralph Doedens discusses about looking ahead at new ways to use the Hitachi infrastructure and Hitachi Finger Vein. (1min, 22s).

“We’re now starting to develop an intranet and a client relationship management system that all staff can access. We do have a client system but we’re now wanting all staff to be able to access it – and we can do all of that now because they have now got used to the idea that modern technology does make their life easier.”

He credits the Hitachi vein scanner as starting a “revolution” within the organisation that will ultimately improve the lives of the people STAR supports.

View the STAR Tasmania Case Study in PDF (PDF format, 558 kBytes)