CEO’s Foreword

It has been an incredibly rewarding year at Relationships Australia Tasmania (RA Tas).

It’s not to say that we haven’t been faced with ongoing challenges as we continue to adapt and evolve as an organisation in response to COVID-19. The reward comes in the way that we have responded. I have seen many examples right across the organisation of people living our values. The care, compassion and commitment that is shown to staff and clients alike is something that I have been incredibly proud to see.

There are countless examples where this has occurred and it’s not just the people within our organisation who have noticed this. This year we successfully completed our re-accreditation for the National Standards for Mental Health Care Services. The auditors commented that one of the things that they had been particularly impressed with was the culture and the feel that they had when visiting our sites. This happens because of what every member of the team contributes to the organisation every day.

When we talk about People Matter we often use this to describe our approach to our clients, showing kindness and compassion and respecting lived and living experience. This year we have continued to make a difference in our client’s lives, seeing 7074 clients throughout the year. The high-quality support we provide to people across Tasmania would simply not be possible without our skilled and professional staff.

This year we have invested in developing an understanding of the needs of our staff and how we can best provide opportunities for a rich and rewarding career at RA Tas. Investing in our people is one of the best things we can do to ensure we continue to serve our clients well. This year we have committed to developing our People Strategy and the establishment of the working group will see that implementing this in a meaningful way will remain a key focus into the future.

Investing in our people is one of the best things we can do to ensure we continue to serve our clients well.

The first iteration of our Leadership Development Program (LDP) was launched this year. We have developed this program with the intention of identifying and developing future leaders within the organisation. It was a pleasure to get to know some of the participants better through the mentoring aspect of the program and being part of the group sharing their projects at the end. I am proud of all of those graduating and what they have achieved so far.

In February we said farewell to Jules Carroll after over nine years of service to RA Tas. Jules has held many roles at RA Tas and has always been a great support to myself, and the organisation more broadly. Jules has been instrumental in the progressing of our staff conference, operational plans and being part of ensuring that we arrive at our desired destination. We have benefited immensely from Jules’ experience, skills and expertise and wish her all the very best as she embarks on the journey into semi-retirement.

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that Mel Harback (formerly the Director of Family Law Services) has been able to transition into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) following Jules’ departure. This shift has also seen Michelle Ewington move into the role of Director of Family Law Services. We have continued to fine tune our organisational structure to ensure that we are well positioned to respond to current and future challenges and provide appropriate support to staff. The implementation of the Team Leader role occurred during the year to support managers and staff.

We have been looking at our structure alongside the programs and supports we provide across the state. We have continued to set the bar high, refining the suite of programs that we offer to ensure that they are of the highest quality. We farewelled some programs (Gamblers Help and Short-Term Psychological Intervention) and welcomed new programs with the launch of the SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Junior Sports Program and the Women’s Support Service. These programs both leverage off our existing skill sets while allowing us to expand into new ways of empowering communities.

This year we undertook the mid-term review of our strategic plan. This was a great opportunity to reflect on everything that has happened since 2019, and to sharpen our focus on where we will be in 2024. The mid-term review really highlighted the achievements that we were able to make whilst contending with COVID-19 and provided the opportunity to all staff to contribute to the refinement of the existing plan.

This year we undertook the mid-term review of our strategic plan. This was a great opportunity to reflect on everything that has happened since 2019, and to sharpen our focus on where we will be in 2024.

This year has seen us continue to put the pieces together with improvements to our service delivery sites across the state. After much anticipation we have successfully co-located our Launceston services at Paterson Street. This brings about increased opportunities for collaboration across programs enabling us to deliver a more cohesive suite of services to our clients. The Devonport re-development project has seen the installation of purpose-built client rooms and the refurbishment of our reception area. We have also completed a refurbishment of the Clare St reception along with adding an accessible parking space and bicycle parking. These updates help us create an accessible, warm and professional experience for everyone who visits our sites.

Not only have our service delivery sites been updated, we have also invested in our internal systems implementing a new payroll and HR management system. Ensuring the resources we use are fit for purpose now, and into the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your contribution to RA Tas this year. What you do makes a difference in the lives of people every day. I would also like to thank the Leadership Group and Management Team for the ongoing contribution they make to our organisation. Thanks to Mel Harback for the support she provided me since stepping into the COO role. I would also like to thank Rick Marton and the RA Tas Board for the contribution they make to our organisation.

I look forward to 2022-23 as we continue to find ways to support our staff, and in turn our clients, to achieve their best.

Dr. Michael Kelly