ACWA 2024 AGM
ACWA’s Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday November 26 on Gadigal Land in central Sydney, with over 70 guests joining us both in person and online to reflect on and celebrate an exceptionally dynamic year for both the team and the sector.
Following a poignant Welcome to Country delivered by Uncle Allen Madden, ACWA Board Chair, Nigel Lindsay and Treasurer, Ollie Parker, delivered their reports, noting the year’s challenges and successes, which included navigating an emerging reform agenda and hosting ACWA’s first major international conference in 6 years.
A highlight of the AGM was a panel session on ‘Reforms—empowering communities across the continuum’ facilitated by ACWA Board Director and CEO of Karitane, Grainne O’Loughlin.
The audience was treated to a rich discussion led by proud Wangkumarra and Barkindji man, Sean Gordon, who attended as an inaugural board member of the Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE). After sharing his deeply personal story of displacement from family and intergenerational trauma, Sean spoke about the importance of community-led responses and keeping decision-making as close as possible to the people impacted, particularly for Aboriginal communities.
Peakcare Qld CEO, Tom Allsop, and Child and Family Focus SA CEO, Melissa Gibson, shared their learnings and insights on empowering and working alongside communities across the care continuum, with particular reference to initiatives underway in each of their jurisdictions.
In her CEO’s report, Maree Walk especially thanked workers in out-of-home care and family preservation services for their dedication and flexibility as the sector navigated a year of significant reform and uncertainty. She went on to highlight one of ACWA CCWT’s great achievements this year in delivering our Industry Placement Program and was pleased to publicly recognise the valuable contribution of 8 agency representatives in coaching and supervising both staff and students involved in the program.
- Matt Hooey – Barnardos
- Lisa Gardiner – Key Assets Australia
- Rebecca Sendt – LWB
- Anna Leeson – MacKillop Family Services
- Lisa Godwin – Uniting
- Horatio O’Shea – Wesley Mission
- Deb Cornale – ACWA
- Tracie Fleming – ACWA
The final business of the event was to confirm and warmly welcome our new and returning Board Directors for 2025:
Dr Robyn Miller, MacKillop Family Services
Dr Lisa J. Griffiths, OzChild
Claire Robbs, Life Without Barriers
Courtney Pay, Pathfinders Ltd
Finally, we were thrilled to raise a toast to Simone Czech, who has recently departed the Department of Communities and Justice after many years, including 5 in the role of Deputy Secretary. In her farewell address, Maree recognised Simone’s passionate contribution to the child and family sector and wished her well for the future.
Thank you to our Board, members, staff and sector partners for a tremendous year of responsiveness, collaboration and support. We’re grateful for the opportunity to reflect as a group on the challenges and highlights of the past year, and to look ahead with renewed commitment to continued collaboration and partnership in 2025.
