EACH YEAR WE CONNECT WITH
30,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH

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

Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers connects with 30,000 vulnerable young people and children Australia wide, through five 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
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Michelle Crawford

Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and experience garnered over 30 years working, leading and inspiring others in the community sector. She is highly regarded for the energy and commitment she brings to working in partnership with a diverse and complex range of stakeholders, including corporates, governments, philanthropists, donors and community organisations.

Michelle is passionate about discovering fresh, sustainable and innovative solutions that address the needs of our most marginalised young people, developed and delivered by community, for community. She has decades of experience working collaboratively with purpose-driven organisations addressing injustice and inequality, work she sees as fundamental and necessary for fairer and inclusive communities of today and tomorrow.

Michelle holds a Masters in Social Science, Graduate Diploma in Adult Education and Bachelor of Business. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and currently serves as a Director on the Board of First Nations Foundation. Michelle is an Alumnus of Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program and Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. She is also an active Rotarian.

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

~ Joel A Barker

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

~ Proverbs 29:18

General Manager, Service Delivery

Andrea Greenwood

Andrea Greenwood joined the Concern Australia team in February 2015 as the General Manager of Service Delivery. Having the privilege of working alongside some of the programs within Concern, she was drawn to the initiative, passion and unconditional support shown to young people by the Organisation (so jumped on board) !Her background includes 20 years’ experience working with adolescents initially within a church setting and then moving into the youth justice and child protection systems of DHHS.

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,
Living, Learning and Earning

Geoff Manton

Geoff brings to Concern Australia a depth of knowledge and breadth of experience in the not-for-profit sector. He has been working and advocating for social change for more than 30 years, with a particular focus on services for the deaf community nationally.

Before joining Concern Australia, Geoff was CEO of Northern Support Services for three years, where he led the organisation’s transition to the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the north-eastern metropolitan area.

Much of Geoff’s career has been about scaling and optimising services, entering new markets and building sustainable and innovative programs that make a difference. As part of the Executive Team, Geoff’s role includes responsibility for growing the life-changing work of our education programs, Hand Brake Turn and Values for Life.

Geoff holds a Bachelor of Arts (Disability Studies), a Diploma in Auditor Quality Management, a Diploma in Front Line Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Geoff sits on the board of both the National Employment Services Association and ECKA Kindergarten Association.

“There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

~ Leonard Cohen

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 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

Terrence Baxter

Terrence Baxter has served on the Concern Australia Board since early 2013, and is the CEO of MMM Australia as well as serving as a credentialed Minister with the Apostolic Church Australia.

Terrence has over 30 years’ experience in business, in the IT Industry with some of the world’s largest service providers. In 2009 Terrence branched out into his own business as a consultant, specialising in Service Delivery and Strategic Planning prior to taking up the role as Chief Executive at MMM Australia. Active on several Christian ministries Boards, Terrence has balanced a busy work life with ministry in all parts of Australia across a broad cross section of Christian Churches as well as a sports chaplain for an EFL Club.

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. 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.

Ordinary Member

Kathleen Williams AM

Kathleen (Kathy) Williams AM brings a strong background in the areas of finance and governance.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2015 Australia Day Honours list for her service on the Board of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) between 1999 and 2002 (the last two years as Chair), her continued service as Treasurer of the ATA until 2014 with crowning achievements in the development of the ATA’s national headquarters in Canberra and the national truck safety standard, TruckSafe.

Kathy also served as a member on the Board of the Collections Council of Australia (2004-2010). She also serves on the Board of Synod of the Uniting Church of Australia.

Ordinary Member

Priscilla Robinson

Priscilla Robinson is a Member of the Board who has had training in nursing, communicable diseases and disaster management. She works as an epidemiologist and public health teacher at La Trobe University.

Priscilla has a passion for people and works for equal access to education for all. She is keen to see the students she has trained transfer their knowledge and skills to other parts of our wonderful world. In 2016 Priscilla became an Honorary Associate Professor at La Trobe University.

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

Brendan Littlechild

Brendan Littlechild is the CEO of Indigenous Workforce Consulting (IWC). IWC partners with major Australian and international companies and organisations to help them develop best practice engagement activities and programs, including employment, social procurement, social impact policy and strategies.

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.

Ordinary Member

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.

Ordinary Member

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.

ANNUAL REPORTS

Annual Report 2019-20: Resilience and Opportunity

Our 2019-20 Annual Report outlines our critical work in Education, Housing & Homelessness, and Youth Justice in what has been a disrupted year. It includes reflections on the first three quarters of the year along with our response as the pandemic emerged, noting the silver linings that have appeared amidst the challenges.

Download a PDF of the 2019-20 Annual Report.

Previous Annual Reports

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.

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, Michelle Crawford, can be contacted by phone: 03 9470 2972 or via email: michelle.crawford@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
Australian Skills Quality Authority
Commission for Children and Young People
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission