Uniting Vic. Tas

With a long and proud history, we care for and support disadvantaged and vulnerable Victorians through a range of community-based services. We also advocate for a more just society, using our voice to influence community attitudes and government policy.

Disability – community programs, residential and respite care for people living with disability.

Children, youth and family – care and support for children and young people who can no longer live at home

Crisis and homelessness – housing, food, financial aid and support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Aged care – group activities, social support, respite and independent accommodation for older people

Lifeline – 24-hour telephone crisis support

Employment – we help job seekers to find work and employers to find job-ready workers.

Please help children in state protection to experience joy.

Each night, Wesley Mission Victoria (Wesley) cares for approximately 300 children from around 5-17 years, who cannot live with their parents. Often, this is a result of serious physical or sexual abuse or chronic neglect.  Most of these children are living in a foster or kinship arrangement. However, if neither of those options are a possibility for a child, they are placed in a residential house owned by the Department of Health and Human Services, and managed by Wesley.

While Wesley is provided state Government funding for the basic necessities to care for kids in residential care (housing and small clothing and food budget), activities such as performances, concerts, sporting activities, trips to the movies etc.  are available if funded philanthropically. Wesley Mission Victoria is seeking support to help provide life affirming activities for children in which to participate. If you think you can help please email

fundraising@wesley.org.au   or call (03) 9662 2355.

Thank you.

Andrew Hilson
General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services

Rob Ward
General Manager, Advocacy and Relationships

Kelly Stanton
General Manager, Youth and Community Services

Becc Hodges
General Manager, People & Culture

Wesley is incorporated as a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee and is classified as a Public Benevolent Institution. It pursues charitable purposes only and applies all of its income to achieve these purposes. The Wesley Mission Victoria Board sets policy and strategic goals that guide our work.

Our Board is made up of nine independent Directors who are appointed by the Company Members: six from nominees of the Synod and three from nominees of Wesley Church Melbourne. The Board consists of these Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and the Minister of the Mission – neither of whom has voting rights.

There are four Board Committees, as follows:

• Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Finance and Property Committee
• Client Service and Social Policy Committee
• Remunerations and Nomination Committee

All Directors are members of one or more of the Committees, which are also attended by executive officers and external co-optees, as appropriate.

Chairperson

Sherene Devanesen
MB BS, Dip Obst RACOG, FRACMA, FCHSE, FAIM, FHKCCM
Dr Sherene Devanesen has 25 years’ experience in health administration and is the Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Health which is one of the public health services in Melbourne. She is a member of the Board of Health Information Systems and also a member of the Victorian Quality Council – both bodies that are set up under the auspices of the Department of Human Services in Victoria. Dr Devanesen is a past President of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and she is also a surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Dr Devanesen brings to the Board her experience in health service administration in the public sector. She also has a commitment to enhancing service quality and to providing good education and training for service deliverers. Dr Devanesen is currently the Chairperson of the Victorian Quality Council.

Deputy Chairperson

Sue Norman
BBus, BA, Dip Ed, FAICD, CPA
Ms Sue Norman has been appointed to the Board from the February 2010 Board meeting.
Ms Norman is an experienced company director with over 25 years’ experience in finance and the not for profit sector. She previously held the position of Executive Director of UCA Funds Management and prior to that worked in chartered accounting and in community services. She has served on many Uniting Church boards and committees and on the board of the Kensington and Flemington Community Health Centres. Ms Norman is a member of the MCD University and the Environment Victoria Trust.

Rev (Deacon) Andy Calder
Rev Calder is a Uniting Church minister working in the area of disability inclusion, and is located in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. He has worked in this area of ministry for the past 16 years. During this time he has held chaplaincy positions at both Prahran Mission and Epworth HealthCare. Prior to ministry he worked in a range of community settings, as well as both local and state government. Rev Calder has served on a range of Uniting Church committees and Working Groups. He has previously served on the Collingwood Community Health Centre, was a Board member of Road Trauma Support Services Victoria and is a voluntary Community Guardian with the Office of the Public Advocate. He is also an accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor.

David Stannard
FCA , FCPA
Mr David Stannard has over 40 years experience as a partner in public accounting working with private and public sectors, through a combination of tax advice, investment management, mergers and acquisitions advice, forensic accounting and valuation engagements. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants.

Robert Ewing
LLB
Mr Rob Ewing was a Partner and is now a Consultant at Russell Kennedy and has practised in Commercial Litigation for more than 40 years. Rob is a member of the Property Boards/Trusts of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. He is a member of the Assembly Legal Reference Committee and of the Synod Legal Reference Committee and is the legal adviser to the Synod Committee for Discipline. He has recently retired as a Board member of UnitingCare Community Options having completed his permitted period of membership.

Jill Linklater
RN RM BScN MHA GDipHlth and MedLaw FRCNA AFCHSM MAICD
Ms Jill Linklater is a registered nurse and experienced health executive currently working as a Health and Aged Services COnsultant, a Quality Manager for Alzheimer’s in Australia and internationally. She is currently working as a Health and Aged Care Consultant, a Quality Manager, and a consultant surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Jill is a member of the Boards of Uniting Aged Care (Vic and Tas) and a Governor with the Windermere Foundation Limited. Jill is also a member of the Positive Ageing Reference Group with Monash Council and the Community Advisory Committee of the Board of Eastern Health. In 2001 she was awarded the Centenary Medal for her work in medicine and the community.

Gladys Hu
BA, LLB. LLM. FAICD
Ms Gladys Hu is a corporate commercial lawyer with 28 years’ experience in large law offices and as corporate counsel in various industries. Until recently Ms Hu was General Counsel of Pearson Australia Group. Ms Hu has broad legal expertise that includes corporate governance, intellectual property, infrastructure, commercial property and public laws. A member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, Defence Industry Course Association and the Australian Red Cross, Gladys is committed to being of service to the public and has extensive experience in providing pro bono legal and voluntary community services.

Bronwyn Pike

Ms Bronwyn Pike began her career as a secondary school teacher in Adelaide and Darwin before becoming the Director of Justice and Social Responsibility for the Victorian Uniting Church. In this role, she oversaw the welfare services delivered by more than 100 UnitingCare agencies, and was an active member of the Victorian Council of Social Services.
In 1999, Ms Pike was elected to the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Melbourne. As the longest serving female minister in Victoria’s history, Ms Pike held portfolios of Housing, Aged Care, Community Services, Health and Education. Following her departure from Parliament in 2012, she was appointed Chair of the South Australian Urban Renewal Authority and became a board member for Wesley Mission Victoria.
Ms Pike has significant expertise in public policy and currently works as a consultant to improve the quality and strategic focus of service delivery. Her extensive experience with Government, non-Government, business and academic sectors across a range of policy areas provides a strong foundation for her work.

A gift of Hope for Future Generations

Remember Wesley in your Will and become a partner in our life-changing work. A bequest to Wesley Mission Victoria is a gift of hope. Every year more and more Victorians, who thought they would never need help, are turning to Wesley.

Together We Can and Will Make a Difference

You can be confident your gift to Wesley will change lives. Established in 1893, Wesley Mission Victoria has been helping the most vulnerable people in our community each and every day since then.

Bequests made to Wesley are vital to our planning, and are used to support our services which operate at over 90 sites around Melbourne and regional Victoria.

We provide a wide range of services aimed at assisting people in crisis: the homeless and unemployed; teenagers at risk suffering from depression and despair; disadvantaged children and adults; isolated older people; people who have physical or intellectual disabilities, and Lifeline Melbourne, the 24/7 telephone counselling service. And you can be sure, Wesley will continue to advocate and work for a more just, compassionate and inclusive society.

Your Will Is Important

A Will is an important document and it is advisable to seek qualified legal advice to ensure that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes.

Wesley Mission Victoria is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as an Income Exempt Charitable Entity and a Deductible Gift Recipient. All Bequests remain strictly confidential unless express permission is given to mention your planned gift.

To discuss further, or for more information about our vital services, please call our Donor Liaison Officer on 1300 493 753 or (03) 9662 2355.

Thank you for your interest in our work.

For more information email fundraising@wesley.org.au

Donate now

To make a one off donation to Wesley Mission Victoria, please go to www.wesley.org.au and click on ‘Donate Now’

Regular Giving

There are many ways you can get involved and support our innovative work, ensuring we can continue to assist people who are disadvantaged to live fulfilling lives. For more information on becoming a regular donor call (03) 9662 2355 or email fundraising@wesley.org.au

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference and be involved in your community. Wesley Mission Victoria relies on the valuable support of 1,500 volunteers throughout Victoria who help us everyday to create an Australia where all belong.

Our volunteers are of all ages, and come from different cultural backgrounds and professions.

To find out about current volunteering oppportunities, please visit www.wesley.org.au and follow the tabs under ‘Get Involved’.

We also have opportunities for seasonal and corporate volunteering – email fundraising@wesley.org.au