ABOUT US

An Australia where vulnerable young people and children have hope for a successful and positive life.

Our People

Our Executive Team

Judth Atkinson

Chief Executive Officer

Judith joined Concern Australia in May 2023. She is passionate about providing opportunities for young people to transform their lives and live to the fullest.

She has held leadership roles in nonprofit, government and faith-based organisations in the UK, USA and Australia. She is a graduate of the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She brings a genuine care for at-risk and disadvantaged young people, and a commitment to the development of high quality, co-designed, innovative services.

Before joining Concern Australia, Judith’s most recent roles were with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.

Andrea Greenwood

General Manager, Service Delivery

Andrea joined the Concern Australia team in 2015 as the General Manager of Service Delivery. She leads and supports the Service Delivery teams to provide high quality services to children and young people whist building respectful relationships with families and fellow stakeholders.

Andrea has over 25 years in the community sector working with young people in child protection and youth justice. This has seen her delivering innovative services to some of Victoria’s most vulnerable young people, whether that be in case management, accommodation, housing, or mentoring programs. Her extensive experience has seen her strive to see the delivery of services where every young person has the best possible chance to succeed.

She is passionate young people and building capacity into a generation of workers and leaders that strengthen community and hold hope for the most vulnerable.

Georgette Wardan

General Manager, Business Operations

Georgette Wardan joined Concern Australia in April 2016 as the Business Operations Manager. Joining Concern Australia has allowed her personal and professional life to be aligned in the core values held by the ethos of this long-standing organisation.

Georgette brings to the team more than 30 years’ experience from the world of corporate, not for profit and the education sectors. Georgette’s breadth of management experience has included finance, human resources, quality, risk and improvement, compliance and administration. Managing the teams at Concern Australia is a privilege to be able to support the wonderful programs being delivered for the community by our multicultural community members.

Our People

Our Board

Jon Ma

Board Chair

Jon has thirty years’ experience as a management consultant in strategy and business transformation, in Australia and internationally. He has a collaborative style and has worked with a wide range of corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations. He was previously the Melbourne leader of Deloitte’s consulting practice. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Master of Chemistry degree from Oxford University.

Jon is married with two teenage children, is an active member of a vibrant church and is passionate about Concern Australia’s work with young people.

Nathan Linton

Deputy Chair

Nathan has extensive experience in programs and services for young people and a particular passion for the wellbeing of young people with diverse gender identities and sexual orientation. He brings skills and experience in international development, youth programming, child safe practice and volunteer engagement.

Nathan’s previous roles include as Operations Manager (Youth and Children) at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Victorian State Director / Head of Impact for Oaktree, Australia’s largest youth-run international development organisation and Youth Ministry Co-ordinator. Nathan has a Master of International Development Practice and a Bachelor of Arts. Voluntary positions before Concern Australia include being a Tearfund Ambassador and participation in the Yarra Ranges Shire Council’s Youth Reference Group.

As well as serving as Deputy Chair to the Board, he chairs Concern Australia’s Impact and Evaluation Committee.

Stephanie Armstrong

Company Secretary

Stephanie joined the Concern Australia Board in late 2020 after a period as a Youth Observer, and has taken on the responsibility of Company Secretary. Stephanie is a lawyer by day, where she helps charities, small businesses, and their founders with navigating their everyday legal issues.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Law and International Relations. She has a breadth of experience in paid and voluntary roles raising the voice of young people and supporting work for social change.

Jamie Munton

Treasurer

Jamie comes to Concern Australia with over 15 years of experience in the Financial Services and Banking industry having worked across retail and corporate teams as a mortgage broker and in capital and risk management. In the last decade Jamie transitioned into a career in law, including several years with ASIC and in private practice.

Originally from Adelaide, he now lives in Melbourne with his wife, two children and their dog Bailey. When not working he’s usually driving his children to and from the basketball stadium.

Michelle Paterson

Ordinary Member

Michelle is a marketing and communications executive with over 25 years of experience across a range of industries.

She is currently General Manager, Marketing and Communications at MACSEYE (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education). Before her current role, Michelle led the brand strategy that established Scope as the leading disability provider in Victoria.

Michelle joined Concern Australia’s Board in 2016 and as well as professional guidance brings her passion and commitment to making a difference in the community. She has a BA majoring in Communication Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sneh Paul

Ordinary Member

With over 20 years’ industry experience as a Human Resource professional building organizational effectiveness through people, Sneh has worked across multiple geographies and diverse groups. She has enjoyed evolving her career over the past 2 decades within financial and professional services, technology, engineering, aviation, public and not-for-profit sectors.

With an MBA from Monash Mt Eliza Business School and a Certificate in Strategic HR Management (Cornell) Sneh has kept herself relevant. Studying Social Work at an earlier stage in her career, Sneh was able to contribute to communities in India through various development programs focused on children, youth and women in particular.

Strategic Direction & Annual Reports

Review the past and planning for the future

Strategic Direction

Download here

Previous Annual Reports

Our Story

Concern Australia grew out of the work of
the Rev. Dr. John Smith

FOUNDER OF CONCERMN AUSTRALIA

The Rev. Dr. John Smith
(1942-2019)

Concern Australia grew out of the work of the Rev. Dr. John Smith, the God’s Squad Motorcycle Club and others which began in the 1970s.

From the outset, the vision was for an Australia that nurtures all its children and young people. From the 1970s onwards, we have been delivering high quality, innovative programs where we partner with vulnerable young people and children, aged 5-25 years, creating opportunities for full and meaningful lives.

The Rev. Dr. John Smith (1942-2019) – also known as ‘Smithy’ and ‘Bullfrog’ – was for many decades one of Australia’s best known Christian leaders and speakers. From the 1970s onwards he travelled widely in Australia and internationally, speaking to diverse audiences, advocating for justice and marginalised communities. As well as founder and Executive Director of Concern Australia, he was the inaugural president of the Melbourne Chapter of the God’s Squad Motorcycle Club and Minister of St. Martin’s Community Church in Collingwood, Victoria.

“With the passing of John Smith, we lost a giant of the Australian Christian community. Throughout his life, John’s prophetic voice challenged injustice and his boundless energy saw him establish the [Melbourne Chapter] God’s Squad MC and Concern Australia as vehicles for transforming lives of marginalised Australia. John was an insightful commentator and an inspiring preacher who deeply impacted the lives of so many people.”

David Eldridge, former Chair of Concern Australia

With your support, we will sustain and build on John’s Smith’s pioneering work and together offer hope to the young people who come into our care.

what we stand for

Vision, Mission & Purpose, Values

Vision

An Australia where vulnerable young people and children have hope for a successful and positive life.

Mission & Purpose

Concern Australia works in partnership with young people, children and their families to create positive life opportunities.

Our services are hopeful and focused on enabling young people to be successful in navigating their futures.

As part of this, we:

  • Centre young people’s voices and experiences
  • Deliver culturally informed services
  • Provide inclusive, trauma-informed programs
  • Foster a strong organisational culture, investing in staff and volunteers
  • Build strong partnerships
  • Leverage research and best practice, measure social impact
  • Maintain high standards of governance and financial health

Please see our Strategic Plan 2024-27 for more details.

Values

Belonging – Faith – Integrity – Respect

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Concern Australia is developing a
Reconciliation Action Plan

Concern Australia is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan, a process which is taking place across our organisation and which includes staff, volunteers, young people and supporters.

For more information on this process, please see: Reconciliation Action Plans – Reconciliation Australia

Concern Australia adheres to the ten principles outlined in the Victorian Statement of Recognition Act 2023, embedding culturally safe processes and service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Acknowledgement of country

Concern Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, and we pay respect to Elders past and present. We acknowledge and respect the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across the nation.

We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the ongoing impacts of colonisation and dispossession on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

We recognise the strengths and resilience of Australia’s First Peoples and champion a reconciled, just and equitable Australia. We believe in the sovereignty and right of Australia’s First Peoples to determine their own future.

SNAICC Conference

Koori Heritage Centre

Partnershp with the Warlpiri Community and the Central Desert Land Council in Yuendumu

Child Safety

We are committed to providing child safe and protected environments in all our activities and programs

Concern Australia is committed to providing child safe and protected environments in all its activities and programs and has a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse or exploitation. Contact and working with children is a critical responsibility. Children have the right to be safe and protected.

Concern Australia adheres to the ten principles outlined in the Victorian Statement of Recognition Act 2023, embedding culturally safe processes and service delivery for Aboriginal children and families. Concern Australia conducts biannual reviews of our Child Safe practices in fulfilment of Standard 10 of the Child Safe Standards: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved. We welcome any feedback or suggestions from our clients, their families and the broader community.

Delegated authority at Concern Australia

What to do if you are concerned about a child

Providing feedback or making a complaint

Operational Excellence

Policies

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

Complaints Policy

Privacy Policy