2019-Wesley-Mission-Annual-Report - Flipbook - Page 5
Journeying together
Welcome from the Chair
Everyone wants to thrive, but not
everyone has had that opportunity.
Each year, more than 200,000
people walk through our doors in
need of support.
In 2017/18 we completed the
second year of Wesley Mission’s
five-year business plan to achieve
fifty per cent growth.
Our diversity is our strength. We operate in more
than 120 areas of community service and we’re
continually expanding. As new needs arise, we rise
to meet them. This is possible, thanks to the support
of our staff, volunteers, donors, congregations and
partners. And at the heart of it all is our Christian
faith which continues to guide everything we do.
We understand that every person we walk with is as
individual as we ourselves are, so we listen, really
listen, to what people have to say. Then, using our
deep knowledge of our own challenges, we offer–
without judgement–wraparound support to help
each person reach their next step. Then the next.
We connect with the many faces of Australia–from
children, families and the elderly, to those struggling
with homelessness, mental illness, addiction,
financial or domestic challenges. Each person’s
safety is ensured, their privacy protected and their
dignity respected.
We’re committed to walking alongside everyone
who needs us on their journey, because every
life matters.
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This report outlines the achievements and highlights
of the past financial year. It demonstrates the impact
of the changes the Board has implemented to
ensure continued growth in line with our mission
with a particular focus on serving those who are
most vulnerable. The progress that has been made
to date, positions us towards achieving our target.
In my first full year as Chair, the members of the
Board have worked with management to take an
increasingly integrated approach to strategy. We
have further developed our risk-intelligent culture
within Wesley Mission, assessing strategic
decisions against our risk profile, so that risk
exposure is managed and the safety of our clients
and staff remains paramount.
We are setting in place the foundations for
successful growth into the future. Our strategic
property investment plan will ensure that all of our
properties are fit for purpose, and that we are
achieving maximum use of our assets while
maintaining a safe physical environment. We are
encouraged by the successes of the past year, such
as the expansion of our disability accommodation
offering and substantial refurbishment of our
community housing stock.
Investment in technology and infrastructure
empowers joined up thinking and practice.
Improved access to business intelligence enables
executives to manage progress towards strategic
outcomes. With increased data comes greater
responsibility, driving continuous improvement of
security standards, processes and practices.
Increasing the diversity of our funding streams
ensures we can continue to do all the good we can.
The last year has seen the Board approve a new
fundraising strategy focused on the generation of
vital untied revenue, which gives flexibility to explore
new and innovative solutions to significant areas of
systemic need in our community.
On behalf of the Board, I thank Wesley Mission’s
CEO and Superintendent the Rev Keith Garner and
the Executive Leadership Team he leads for their
professionalism and their willingness to take on new
challenges and embrace a renewed strategic
direction. We are confident that we have the right
team in place to create the agile, learning culture
that is necessary to keep pace with the everchanging nature of the not-for-profit sector.
On behalf of the Board I would also like to
acknowledge outgoing board members Robert
McSkimming, Johnny Teong, the Rev Jane Fry and
Sam Donnelly, and thank them sincerely for their
contribution to the success of Wesley Mission. We
extend a warm welcome to our new members Jill
Pretty and Mark Northern as they add to the
strength and expertise of our Board.
Wesley Mission is a modern and forward thinking
organisation, underpinned by our commitment to
the Christian faith. The traits I see in our staff,
volunteers and congregations—enthusiasm,
generosity, compassion and resilience—ring true
with our espoused aim to actively seek to help
those most in need.
Michael Anderson
Chair
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