Thinking Positive Annual Report 2022

ANNUAL REPORT

20 22

TABLE OF CONTENTS

03 From the Chair 04 About Us 05 Our Partners 06 Highlights 11 Financial Snapshot 13 Meet the Team 16 Acknowledgments

FROM THE CHAIR

In comparison to last year, it has been so refreshing to see so many of our partners organise more events. It has been great to see the community reemerging again!

In the fourth year of operation, Thinking Positive A Brighter Future for Australian Youth launched it's website, increased our online presence via social media and endorsed a sixth organisation.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our donors throughout FY21/22. Donations to our beneficiaries increased by 51% this year which is a fantastic result given the rates of inflation.

Next year I look forward to increasing our reach supporting Australian Youth by supporting more beneficiaries and growing the Thinking Positive Board.

James Dods DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR

ABOUT US

Thinking Positive a Brighter Future for Australian Youth is a registered health promotion charity established to promote activities supporting the positive mental health of young Australians.

We partner with organisations that deliver programs to schools, individuals and families across Australia. The programs aim to build resilience

and

responsibility

in

Australian

youth

and

improve

relationships between care givers and young adults.

Many such organisations are run by passionate and caring people, on volunteer power and with limited resources. Our DGR status enables us to collect funds and distribute grants to our partners to free up their resources to do what they do best and increase their impact.

What our partners do Our partners are responding in diverse ways to address the mental health crisis faced by our young people. Programs and activities include: · transformational Rites of Passage programs with young people and their parents/care givers · school seminars · one on one mentoring · online parenting workshops · online leadership development workshops · campaigning and advocacy.

OUR PARTNERS

We are proud to endorse these organisations

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial year 2021/22 was the most challenging 12 months that The Rites of Passage Institute has ever faced. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions and the NSW floods, their programs and training workshops were severely impacted. Even their equipment suffered! The container storing all of their camping equipment was swept on to the equipment shed in the floods and everything was destroyed.

But the teams spirit and the support of their community got them back on their feet and their camps were up and running within 5 weeks!

Despite all of the challenges, The Rites of Passage Institute had: developed and delivered new programs started working with a large Aboriginal Community in Woorabinda trained over 100 new leaders mentored many boys and girls delivered countless webinars and podcasts; and worked with Youth Leaders from around the country.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Royal Hood took a quality over quantity approach to their program offering during FY21/22. Offering three Royal Hood programs over the year they hosted 26 young people that journeyed through the mentoring programs.

In partnership with Philip Island CYC, The Royal Hood piloted a Year 11 & 12 Leadership Hood. Hosting 50 young leaders the program focused on leadership development, mental health, and positive choices.

The preteen holiday events connected and engaged their network of Australian youth in positive social activities and hi-energy games. The activities, such as basketball and go-karting were are at no cost to the participants, to remove any financial barriers to connecting with one another.

Here is a quote from one of their participants: "To my parents, I commit to doing what I am asked, to do all I can to uphold our relationship, I promise to make time to spend with you because our relationship means the world to me!” Riley W.

HIGHLIGHTS

Teach Us Consent is a movement founded by activist Chanel Contos lobbying for and providing holistic consent and sexuality education.

Teach Us Consent created a petition for consent to be included in Australian schools' sex education earlier. The organisation's core focus was to create petitions, safely collect testimonies and influence key persons to mandate holistic and age appropriate consent and sexuality education.

After bringing this conversation into the mainstream media, the organisation then worked with academics and experts to help draft and comment on the proposed curriculum. Further advocacy work ensured that this was discussed and approved at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.

As a result, the curriculum spans to all children and young people between kindergarten and year 10, over 4 million people. What a fantastic outcome!

HIGHLIGHTS

As Radiant Woman is a face to face, transformational program, Covid-19 created significant challenges for the organisation. However the team ran a program in July of this year to great success and it was fantastic to see them back in action.

The program goals of the Radiant Woman retreats are: improved communication and relationships increased sense of connection improved self-worth and confidence clearer sense of identity and purpose Here is a quote from one of their participants: "I really enjoyed spending quality time with my Mum and bonding with other young women, sharing stories and getting to know one another."

Kate, 17

HIGHLIGHTS

iyarn was established to connect people through simple, powerful and flexible check ins. Purposeful check ins encourage expression and provide others with the opportunity to understand.

Each year, new research shows increasing levels of stress, anxiety, isolation and depression in society. The problem is growing and yet the research is clear: better connection and stronger social relationships are the way forward. iyarn was inspired from the word Liyarn of the Western Kimberley Saltwater people on the Dampier Peninsula, who ‘yarn’ together and connect through conversation.

When the community connects they ask, “How is your liyarn” a path leading into a deeper conversation that can be explained in a variety of ways. iyarn

has

developed

strong

partnerships throughout the year: Uber The Rites of Passage Institute University of Technology, Sydney ABC news, to name a few.

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT 21/22

Profit and Loss at 30 June 2022

Balance Sheet

OUR IMPACT Some of the words used to describe the benefit of attending our beneficiaries programs

51% increase in giving over the past year

Our costs

$300,000

$0.04

$200,000

per dollar raised

$100,000

20 22 FY

20 21 FY

20 20 FY

20 19 FY

$0

MEET THE TEAM

James Dods - Director/Board Chair James has been a well- known member of the Byron Shire local and business communities for over 25 years, serving as a board member and director of a range of Schools and not for profit organisations during this time.

Recently retired following 5 years as Board Chair of the Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School, James has also served as Chair/Board member and a co-founder of Uplifting Australia, a registered harm prevention charity dedicated to strengthening the emotional resilience and wellbeing of children and families.

Dr Mac Cohen - Director Marc is a medical doctor, university professor and wellness trailblazer who has spent more than 30 years practicing and researching holistic health.

Marc has published more than 100 peerreviewed scientific papers and many books and technical texts on wellness and natural medicine, including the illustrated children’s book “The Beautiful Mare" and "The Boy Who Gave Thanks“. He is the Founder of the Extreme Wellness Institute. Co-Founder of the Bathe the World Foundation and and is the Medical Director of the Peninsula Hot Springs Group.

Jack Dods - Director Jack is a design professional specialising in architecture and urban design. Having studied at the University of Sydney and Columbia University in New York, he now practices in his home town of Byron Bay. Jack is a member of a number of Byron Shire Council advisory groups, where he helps to ensure public spaces are designed to accommodate the needs of local youth.

Jack has had a long involvement with Rites of Passage work, both as a participant as a boy and then as a young man and mentor to other boys during programs. He is especially passionate about the effects of father absence on our society, and sees modern Rites of Passage work as a crucial component in ensuring we develop strong, connected, sustainable communities.

Jacqui Knight - Company Secretary With 15 years' experience across multiple industries supporting Australian companies Jacqui made the move to a virtual career in 2021.

Jacqui supports several not-for-profit organisations across Australia using her corporate knowledge to develop policies, procedures and ensuring their boards have good governance.

Jacqui is excited to be a new member of the Thinking Positive Board and is looking forward to growing the organisation.

Tash Skews - Finance and Donations Manager Tash is a CPA and registered BAS agent. Her professional career includes over 20 years of experience, and spans a range of managerial and financial accounting roles, primarily in the mining and oil and gas industries. Her roles in multi-national organisations have added international finance and tax experience across the Asia Pacific region. After stepping away from corporate roles and taking a career break, she started her own business providing virtual consulting services to small and medium businesses.

Tash has recently set up an Indigenous Corporation, a registered DGR, which will operate to provide training opportunities for disadvantaged youth. Through this, as well as work with other charity and not-for-profit entities, she brings experience with ACNC and the governance surrounding charities to her role with Thinking Positive.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We acknowledge all of the people who have donated to Thinking Positive and the individuals and families who have taken part in programs this year.

Thanks to the generosity of the following people and organisations who have contributed to the success of Thinking Positive this year: Troy from Trekk NR Advisory Jay and Joseph from Herbert Smith Freehills Suzy from Admin Thing Ben from Rochdale Accounting & Advisory

Thinking Positive a Brighter Future for Australian Youth Ltd

PO Box 308, Byron Bay NSW 2481 admin@thinking-positive.org thinking-positive.org