EACH YEAR WE CONNECT WITH
30,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH

Concern Australia works with vulnerable young people and children, aged 5-25 years, creating opportunities for them to enjoy full and meaningful lives.

Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers connects with approximately 30,000 vulnerable young people and children Australia wide each year, through six innovative programs focusing on

Living, Learning & Earning

Housing & Homelessness

Youth Justice

Concern Australia’s unique approach makes a difference.

VISION

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

MISSION

Concern Australia works in partnership with young people and children, creating opportunities for them to enjoy full and meaningful lives.

VALUES

Faith

Integrity

Respect

Belonging

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Chief Executive Officer

Judith Atkinson

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.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

~ Mary Oliver (The Summer Day)

General Manager, Service Delivery

Andrea Greenwood

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.

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

~ Maya Angelou

General Manager,
Business Operations

Georgette Wardan

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.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

~ Maya Angelou

OUR BOARD

Board Chair

Jon Ma

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.

Deputy Chair

Nathan Linton

Nathan joins the Concern Australia Board as a vital voice for young adults, with 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.

Previously Victorian State Director for Oaktree, Australia’s largest youth-run international development organisation, Nathan has recently moved into a new role as Head of International Engagement at the organisation. Nathan has a Masters of International Development Practice and Bachelor of Arts. He volunteers as a Tearfund Ambassador, has participated in the Yarra Ranges Shire Council’s Youth Reference Group, and is part of the Ashburton Baptist Church community.

Company Secretary

Stephanie Armstrong

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.

Treasurer

Jamie Munton

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.

Ordinary Member

Michelle Paterson

Michelle has 20 years’ experience in communications, marketing, public relations and stakeholder relations roles, spanning a diverse range of sectors including not-for-profit, government, professional services and public relations consulting.

Michelle is currently the Marketing & Communications Manager at Scope, one of Australia’s largest providers of disability support services. She has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communication Management.

Ordinary Member

Sneh Paul

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.

ANNUAL REPORTS

Annual Report 2023-24

We are pleased to share with you our Annual Report 2023-24. This has been an exciting and productive year for Concern Australia, with much activity across all our programs. We hope that you enjoy reading some of the highlights.

Download a PDF of the 2023-24 Annual Report.

Previous Annual Reports

Annual Report 2022-23

Annual Report 2021-22

Annual Report 2020-21

Annual Report 2019-20

Annual Report 2018-19

Annual Report 2017-18

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Concern Australia is proud to announce the achievement of the “Service Excellence Certificate” against the Australian Service Excellence Standards (ASES).

“ASES ensures that organisations are operating confidently and efficiently in actively applying sound management to meet legislative, industry and government guidelines. Organisations will also be confident that they have effective communication, strong partnerships and a safe and healthy environment for staff and consumers. Consumers can feel confident in the service provision, make informed decisions and play an integral role in the development and planning of services.”

POLICIES

Child Safety Commitment

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

Concern Australia will ensure the safety and wellbeing of the victim of abuse, including supporting referral and access to external services
Concern Australia will comply with all relevant legislation and statutory requirements
Concern Australia has appointed the “CEO” as the “Child Safety Representative” to ensure Concern Australia is committed to providing and maintaining child safe environments, a code of conduct policy and good practices to protected children.

Our CEO, Judith Atkinson, can be contacted by phone: 03 9470 2972 or via email: judith.atkinson@concernaustralia.org.au

Protective concerns

You are concerned about a child because you have:

received a disclosure from a child about abuse or neglect
observed indicators of abuse or neglect
been made aware of possible harm via your involvement in the community external to your professional role.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, in a life-threatening situation or you have sufficient information to form a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed against a child, please contact the police immediately by dialling 000
If you have a reason to suspect a child is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, please report your concerns to the local provider or Child Protection Emergency Service, Call 13 12 78 – (24 hours/7 days)
Have notes ready with the observations and child family details.

Providing feedback or making a complaint

Concern Australia is committed to providing safe and effective services and to continuous improvement of those services. Feedback and complaints provide valuable information and give us opportunities to learn and improve. You can provide feedback or make a complaint about our services by posting, emailing or calling us.

Call us on: 03 9470 2972

Email us on: feedback@concernaustralia.org.au

Send postal communication to: Quality, Risk and Compliance Officer, Concern Australia, PO Box 1040, Robinson VIC 3019

You also have the option to take your complaint to one of the following organisations:
Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission
Commission for Children and Young People
eSafety Commissioner
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission