MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
LIZ FORSYTH
The 2015-16 financial year has been one of both reflection and anticipation . We have said goodbye to some long serving and valued staff . We wish them well in the new directions they are forging .
After over 14 years of delivery , we saw the end to our provision of Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring due to funding changes , and have transitioned the program to Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia . We have also sadly seen the closure of our youth services in the North East region of Adelaide , and our organisation holds concerns for the reducing levels of funding provided for the support of young people in South Australia . Important therefore has been our push into strengthening programs that develop young women ’ s leadership , including delivery of our second SHE Leads High Conference to 170 school students and a growing demand for the SHE Leads High Program and Every Girl Program we deliver in schools .
It is also a year that placed violence against women in sharp focus , and we identify strongly the importance of prevention initiatives to support the creation of very necessary social change and the pursuit of real gender equality . We have been excited to take our Rise Above the Pack campaign ’ s Bystander Intervention Workshops into an increasing number of workplaces and see continued interest in the delivery of our respectful relationship education programs in schools . This important work aims to influence attitudes and behaviours that are based on gender
inequality and that lead the prevalence of violence against women in our communities .
In considering endings , it has also been exciting to look to the future . Discussions have continued intensely over the year to explore the possibility of a national merger between the YWCA ’ s across Australia , with the goal of a becoming a stronger and more effective voice for the needs of women and girls within Australia and the region . We have enjoyed the consultation with members undertaken on this to date and encourage members to be involved and have their say on the directions taken by this ever evolving but always progressive organisation . We look to the coming year as potentially one of significant transition and hope you enjoy reflecting on the breadth and depth of our work at the YWCA Adelaide in this report while considering the possible opportunities ahead .
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