4
BUSHkids has had to absorb funding
cuts this year, but our core funding
streams are assured. It is important to
remind ourselves, at this point, that
every single dollar of government
funding to BUSHkids is directed to
frontline staff and services. We work
very hard to match that investment,
dollar-for-dollar, from our fundraising
efforts and other community support,
which enables us to equip and main-
tain our Centres and underscore their
operation. Part of our behind-the-
scenes work, this past 12 months, has
been to adjust both income streams
to ensure that each Centre is broadly
supported by both government and
community funding. This improved
allocation of resources has evened out
disparities, minimised operational
stresses and increased efficiencies.
In addition to the ramping-up of
federal oversight, through the ACNC
framework, in 2012 we have also seen
major changes at a state and local
level, following the elections in March/
April. We managed the transformation
in the political landscape smoothly and,
we believe, effectively, forging open
and direct relationships at all levels and
with all key stakeholders. BUSHkids
is, of course, an apolitical organisation
which exists to serve the needs of the
children and families across regional
and remote Queensland, and our
organisation has seen many such
changes in its three-quarter-century
history.
As we look ahead to 2013, there are
some exciting prospects and projects
in store. Foremost are our people, and
we are looking forward to extending
and rewarding their skills and loyalty.
Part of our review in 2012 identified
some opportunities to extend existing
BUSHkids expertise into such fields
as early intervention treatments for
children with autism. In the context
of our reference group pathways and
refocused operational efficiencies, we
are looking forward to this natural
progression of our teams’ capabilities.
In return, and acknowledging that
the nonprofit sector inevitably attracts
passionate people who simply cannot
be remunerated as competitively as in
other healthcare fields, BUSHkids is in
the process of developing changes to
leave entitlements and flexibility in
work practices to enhance BUSHkids’
reputation as a good place to work.
We will further support their efforts
with an investment of more than a
quarter of a million dollars in a new
IT system, improving both day-to-day
operations and record-keeping and our
mechanisms to meet the challenges of
our responsibilities to our funders and
supporters. As part of this package, we
will also be empowered to build and
extend our intranet, enabling faster
electronic communication, document
management, and enhancing our
ability to develop our people’s profes-
sional skills with online learning and
educational resources.
It is thanks to the efforts of our
General Manager that BUSHkids is
the nominated beneficiary of the 2013
‘
Loaves-and-Fishes’ lunch at St John’s
Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane. This
high-profile annual event benefits a
different charity or cause each year,
and we welcome this opportunity to
participate and showcase our work, to
raise both funds and our profile in the
state’s capital.
On the subject of thanks, I want to
acknowledge both the staff who have
left BUSHkids during 2012, as well as
those who continue with us and those
who have joined. The same measure of
appreciation is due to our corporate
and private partners and supporters,
who are acknowledged in more detail
elsewhere in this Annual Report. One
I would like to single out for special
mention joined the extended BUSH-
kids family as a direct result of last
year’s rebranding. A senior manager
of Thiess saw one of our bold, bright
cars on the road in Brisbane and was
motivated to investigate who was
behind this sassy, fun, kid-friendly
wordmark.
In paying tribute to General Manager
Carlton Meyn for his efforts and
boundless enthusiasm for BUSHkids,
and open, passionate communication
style he brings to Council meetings
and all the teams, I will let him tell you
more about this, and other activities of
the year, in more detail, and conclude
with some key acknowledgements.
My warm thanks to the Governor of
Queensland, Her Excellency Penelope
Wensley ac, for her ongoing support
of our organisation. As our Patron, she
takes a keen interest in BUSHkids and
we are most grateful for this.
In state government circles, I want to
particularly acknowledge the Premier
of Queensland, Mr Campbell Newman
mp, who conveyed his administration’s
regard for the work which we do across
this great state on many occasions.
The two ministers with whom we have
had most dealings in 2012, Mr John-
Paul Langbroek mp (Education) and
Mr Lawrence Springborg mp (Health)
are due our thanks for not only their
departments’ financial provisions to
our service but also their recognition
of the vital importance of our work in
regional and remote communities.
In paying tribute to the head office
team here in Brisbane, I am equally
mindful of the tremendous efforts
made daily by every frontline staff
member at our centres; to catch up
with you all at the annual conference is
an inspiring and humbling privilege for
both me and the Council members.
Dr Neil J Bartels
MBBS LL.M Grad.Cert.Leg.Med.
FACRRM
Chairman
…
Chairman