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 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, Living, Learning & Earning
Before joining Concern Australia, he was overseeing the learning, training and education for The Salvation Army Australia.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
~ Ferris Bueller
“The great illusion of leadership is to think that people can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.”
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
General Manager, Service Delivery
Andrea has managed some of the Victoria’s most complex, marginalised and vulnerable young people delivering responsive and assertive case management, accommodation and mentoring programs. Her extensive experience has seen the delivery of more creative, therapeutic and supportive models of service that ensure every young person has the best chance possible to be safe, secure and succeed.
Thriving in the context of partnerships, stakeholder engagement and policy change, her passion has seen her hold positions on Government statewide reference groups, strategic leadership groups and reference panels. Her innovative thinking is well regarded within the community sector as a change agent. She holds a strong passion for leadership development and building a generation of workers that strengthen community, create life options 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 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 has over twenty years’ experience as a management consultant, in Australia and internationally, in strategy and business transformation. He has a collaborative style and has worked with a wide range of corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations. He is a Partner at Deloitte, where he is the Melbourne office leader of Deloitte’s consulting practice, and holds a Master of Chemistry degree from Oxford University.
Jon is married with two young children, is an active member of a vibrant church and is passionate about Concern Australia’s work with young people.
Deputy Chair
He was born in Wynyard on the north-west Coast of Tasmania. A proud member and descendent of the Narrunga people from the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, Brendan’s mother was born and raised in the Aboriginal community of Point Pearce.
Brendan brings to Concern Australia an immense range of experience and skills, including leading highly successful national programs with a focus on employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and supporting organisations to design and implement Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP). Brendan currently sits on the Westpac Indigenous Advisory Committee and the Australia Post RAP Working Group.
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. She is currently working as a Law Graduate at Lewis Holdway Lawyers. 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 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 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
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.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Annual Report 2022-23
Our 2022-23 Annual Report highlights our impact during a challenging time influenced by the difficult cost of living situation, and the complex hurdles faced by young people. We hope you enjoy reading what our programs have been up to this year.
Previous Annual Reports
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 has conducted a review of our Child Safe practices in fulfilment of Standard 10 of the Child Safe Standards, and the results will be published here very shortly. 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
