CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE
ALAN GIBSON
It is a privilege to present this report to our
members on the 2015-16 financial year on behalf of
your Board.
Stability, cohesion and determination in our
Executive team over the last two years has
facilitated pleasing progress against all five pillars
of our strategic plan. Our Services, Staff, Funding,
Relationships and Meeting our Responsibilities are
all in good shape, but challenges are ahead.
The 2016 “Future Focus of the Family Law Services”
Attorney-General’s Department Commissioned
KPMG Report sets out the expected landscape for
the Family Law Services sector in Australia. The
report looks to increased service collaboration and
reform to address the sustainability of long-term
funding and flexibility to improve outcomes for
clients. A “personal budgets model”, would provide
each departmental client with a personal budget
to utilise on whichever family law or socio legal
services they may choose.
Agencies with excellent services, staff, quality,
efficiency, flexibility, technology, reputation, and
collaborative relationships will perform well in such
an environment. Interrelate’s pursuit of excellence
across the breadth of the strategic plan is making
Interrelate fit for this future. The Board’s conscious
and measured investment in budgeting resources
from Interrelate’s reserves for this continuing reform
is important to prepare us for the future funding
environment.
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Board Director Lisa Sweeney has led the process
of digitally capturing the history of Interrelate
in a “History Project” marking 90 years since the
organisation began. The Board hopes that the
stories of the organisation across the last 90 years
will inspire and energise the good work of Interrelate
now and in future generations. My special thanks
to long term staff and members who participated
in interviews for this project. Please refer to www.
interrelate.org.au for more information on our
history.
I regret to inform members that life member,
Graham Seton, passed away on 26 September
2016. Interrelate’s Lower Mid North Coast NSW
centre recently relocated to a newly purchased
building in Merrymen Place Port Macquarie. The
Board was grateful to receive Graham’s consent to
In memoriam Graham Seton