2019 TasCOSS Annual General Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, 19 November 2019 at 3:00pm Dorothy Pearce Room, Level 3, 86 Murray Street, Hobart Present: Kym Goodes Alexander McKenzie Ann Hughes Brigid Wilkinson Colleen Johnstone Danny Sutton Josh Dillon Debbie Evans Diana Carter Jacinda Armstrong Janine Arnold Jeddah Barwick Jeremy Pettet John Kirwan

TasCOSS | CEO & Public Officer Wyndarra Centre | Board Life Member Individual Member | Proxy to COTA Palliative Care Tasmania | Board Colony 47 Inc | Board Auditor BDO Lifeline Tasmania | President Individual Member Playgroup Tasmania Inc | Board Individual | Board Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House Inc Uniting (Victoria & Tasmania) Ltd Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania Inc

John Stubley

Hobart City Mission | Treasurer | Individual

Jurek Stopczynski Kath McLean Lesley Mackay Nova Miller Pattie Chugg Paul Quilliam Shirleyann Varney Teresa Grabek Tim Gourlay Lynette Sikkema Amanda French

Mission Australia Individual Member The Smith Family Inc Connect42 Shelter TAS Yourtown Drug Education Network Polish Welfare Office Individual Member Jireh House Dress for Success

Apologies: Alison Lai Andrew Billing Barbara Baker Ben Crothers Chris Oriel Christine Mathieson Connie Digolis Ella Dixon Fiona Girkin Josh Willie MP Karen Frost Kathryn Edmunds Leez Robertson

ATDC St Giles Society The Helping Hands Association Individual Member HOPES Incorporated Expressions Australia Mental Health Council of Tas Individual Member Little Things Consulting Associate Member Independent Living Centre Mersey Community Care Association Inc Womensport & Recreation Tas Inc

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Lisa Coulson Mary Swaffer Nicky Snare Penny Egan Ros Atkinson Sarah Lovell MP Tony Smart Lyndon Stevenson Ella Haddad MP

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Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Yemaya Women’s Support Service Launceston Community Legal Centre Inc Cancer Council Tasmania Youth, Family & Community Connections Associate Member Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation Community Transport Services Transport Tasmania Associate Member

Welcome and Apologies The meeting opened at 3:00pm with President, Debbie Evans, acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and paying respects to their elders past and present.

The President welcomed all members, guests, TasCOSS Board and staff.

A quorum was confirmed. Apologies were noted.

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Confirmation of the minutes of previous meeting It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the AGM held on Tuesday 4 December 2018 be confirmed.

Moved: Ann Hughes

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Seconded: John Stubley

TasCOSS reports a. President’s report: Debbie Evans, outgoing President, noted that this year TasCOSS had taken major steps in its mission to act as both a Peak Body for Tasmania’s Community Sector and to challenge and change systems.

It has been another year of strong growth for the organisation as it continues to both build capacity and partnerships across the Sector and beyond. There is no doubt that TasCOSS is a fast paced and flexible organisation.

Debbie was pleased to report that the organisation finishes again this year in a strong and solid position, not just financially, but also in terms of its public position in advocacy and with a strong foundation in governance and operational performance.

Debbie noted key highlights throughout the year as being the waiving of the Federal Housing Debt; State Government commitment to increasing housing for Tasmanians struggling to find a home and the completion of the ten year Community Services Industry Plan which gives a framework to an Industry that continues to deliver services for those in need. Debbie advised that the well-attended TasCOSS Conference highlighted the voice of the next generation, a strong voice for the youth in Tasmania.

She noted that the work that TasCOSS conducts does not happen in isolation with partnerships and collaborations across the membership and community being critical. These relationships represent what distinguishes the Community Services Sector, working together to strengthen each other across the broadest of skill sets.

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Debbie stated that from a governance perspective, TasCOSS membership is increasing at a steady pace, reflecting that the Sector is the fastest growing in the State and that TasCOSS is viewed as a representative leader of the industry. In the next few weeks TasCOSS membership will reach 200 for the first time in the organisation’s history. Membership uptake from those living on Newstart through to small, medium and large Community Services Organisations, is because this Peak Body has a high level of relevance and is highly valued across the Tasmanian Community.

The TasCOSS Board has once again had a strong focus on the long term viability of the organisation, providing leadership in the consolidation of our financial reporting and assisting the TasCOSS team to view and implement the Strategic Plan from a governance perspective. Debbie confirmed that the Board held two Special General Meetings during the year which made amendments to the Constitution ensuring sustainability or the organisation. Next year a full review of the Constitution will be undertaken, enabling a more contemporary representation of the focus and objectives of TasCOSS. This review will be conducted sensitively to ensure that the important traditional role of TasCOSS as a civil society organisation is not lost.

Debbie advised that this would be her final duty as President of TasCOSS, and the end of a 7 year involvement with the Board. She emphasised that it had been her absolute pleasure to have been involved in the organisation and being able to contribute to the growth and work critical to the Community. Debbie expressed her sincere thanks to her colleagues on the Board for their ongoing commitment to TasCOSS and their support and noted that it had been an honour to have worked with them. Debbie gave particular thanks to John Stubley, Treasurer and Alex McKenzie, Vice President and Chair of Governance, noting that the positions demanded a high level of time and commitment. Debbie also thanked outgoing Board Member, Janine Arnold noting that she had provided the TasCOSS Board with many years of sound advice and commitment.

Debbie advised that it was also her great pleasure to announce that Alex McKenzie had been elected by the Board as the new TasCOSS President. Alex is a civil litigation and criminal defence lawyer in Burnie and serves on a number of Boards and Committees along the North West Coast and has a strong commitment to ensuring there are effective support services for Tasmanians. Debbie congratulated Alex and advised that TasCOSS would be in very sound hands with him as President.

Debbie thanked the CEO Kym Goodes and the staff of TasCOSS who work tirelessly on behalf of the Tasmanian Community Sector membership and for Tasmanians in general, ensuring that vulnerable and disadvantaged Tasmanians have a voice in all of the things that matter in this State.

In closing, Debbie commended the work of TasCOSS in 2018/2019 to the members present, and wished the organisation well into the future.

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b. CEO’s report: CEO, Kym Goodes explained that across the Sector, TasCOSS and Shelter Tasmania, this year will be remembered as the year that the housing debt was waived noting the partnership between Shelter Tasmania and the other Peaks. Kym noted that the work being conducted in partnership throughout the Sector acknowledges that the Sector is driving policy reform agendas across the Government and Community.

Kym outlined the hard work over the last 18 months, collaboratively across the Sector, to progress the ten year Community Services Industry Plan which is now in its final stages. Kym noted that health and social assistance with the largest employer in Tasmania and the work on the Industry Plan will ensure the sector is strong, sustainable and viable for the next ten years.

Kym noted that the TasCOSS policy work was in conjunction with partnerships across the Sector.

TasCOSS is working on ensuring that the needs of those Tasmanians on the lowest incomes are front and centre in the eyes of Government. Work continues with COSSs around Australia on the Centrelink Robodebt and the Raise the Rate Campaign. Kym acknowledged the work that Charlie Burton and her policy team are doing to ensure that the voice of those living on Newstart is front and centre in all submissions that are provided to Government.

Kym advised that a successful TasCOSS State Conference took place in June 2019.

Kym noted that strategic partnerships across the Sector are strong and also those outside the Sector such Government at all levels, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania and the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other Peak Bodies such as the Heart Foundation.

Kym thanked the TasCOSS Management team and staff for their hard and diligent work, noting that they are a wonderful team to work with.

In closing, Kym thanked the TasCOSS Board noting that this year sees the TasCOSS Board President, Debbie Evans, complete her term on the Board. Debbie has been with the TasCOSS Board since 2012, serving as President since 2017. Both professionally and personally, Debbie has been an amazing resource for TasCOSS and its Members and Kym thanked her for her generosity of time and spirit. Kym also expressed her thanks and gratitude to outgoing Board Member Janine Arnold.

Kym thanked all Board Members for the commitment they make to support TasCOSS. It was RESOLVED that the President’s and CEO’s reports be received. c. Auditor’s Report on financial accounts: The 2018-2019 financial accounts have been audited by BDO, TasCOSS approved Auditors.

Treasurer, John Stubley presented his report.

It was RESOLVED that the Treasurer’s Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2018 – 2019 be received.

Moved: Colleen Johnstone

Seconded: Tim Gourlay

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Appointment of Auditor It was RESOLVED that BDO Australia - Hobart, Certified Public Accountant of 8/85 Macquarie Street, Hobart be appointed as auditors for the financial year 2019-20.

Moved: John Stubley

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Seconded: Jacinda Armstrong

Report from the Returning Officer on Board Elections and Declaration of Election Debbie Evans advised that The Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC), Returning Officer reported that an election for the TasCOSS Board had been conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service Inc. The TEC declared the following candidates elected: o o o o

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Member who is a representative from an Organisation: Penny Egan, Cancer Council Tasmania Member holding Individual Membership: John Stubley Member who is a representative from a Peak Body: Connie Digolis, Mental Health Council of Tasmania Representative from Regions North/North West (Individual Member): Alexander McKenzie (elected Unopposed)

TasCOSS Life Membership Awards Kath McLean and Tim Gourlay were both presented with TasCOSS Life Membership Awards. The President, Debbie Evans, explained that a person who is made a Life Member by the Board are entitled to the same voting rights and privileges as a Designated Member, without the requirement to renew their Membership on an annual basis. Kym congratulated Tim and Kath noting their significant and noteworthy contributions made to TasCOSS and the Tasmanian community service industry throughout their long and distinguished careers.

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Other Business The newly elected President, Alexander (Alex) McKenzie, was invited to the floor. Alex thanked the outgoing President, Debbie Evans, for her fearless, sound and sensible leadership of the Board and noted that she would be sorely missed. Alex also thanked outgoing Board Member, Janine Arnold, for her service on the TasCOSS Board. Alex indicated that Kym’s work in leading as CEO has placed TasCOSS, with the support of the staff and Board, at the very heart of Tasmania in that it is consistently seen as the organisation that speaks for the Tasmanian heart. He thanked Kym and the TasCOSS staff for their efforts over the year.

The AGM closed at 3:40pm

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