QV Women's Centre Annual Report 2007-2008 by Jett Barker

QUEEN VICTORIA WOMEN’S CENTRE

2007/08 ANNUAL REPORT

A vibrant place and space for women

VISION The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre: a vibrant place and space known, valued and used by women to shape the world they want for themselves and for the women of the future.

VALUES The values that underpin this vision are: • Courage and Bravery: taking up the challenges not being addressed by other organisations. We draw our inspiration from the founding women who established the Queen Victoria Hospital and the women who fought to save the building and establish the QVWC • Partnership: working collaboratively with likeminded women’s organisations and other groups to make a bigger impact • Diversity: developing the Centre as a hub for women across ages and cultures and interests • Effectiveness: innovative responses to problems and the focus of our resources and efforts on key strategic areas of activity

CONTENTS

A Message from the Chair

0 02

General Manager’s Report

QVWC – Helping Women Shape the World

Capacity Building Programs

Shilling Wall and Shilling Fund

Building, Venues and Exhibitions

Centre Organisations

Governance

Financial Statements

Auditor’s Statements

Acknowledgements

Index

02 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

A VIBRANT PLACE AND SPACE FOR WOMEN A Place for Women What does it mean to have a place that you can call your own? It might mean to have a place that has become yours over time. It might be the place of your birth, or your work or anywhere you care about. Women have a place that they can all call their own: the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. This place has a long history and was not easily won for women. From the efforts of our Suffrage sisters to establish a hospital by women for women in the late 19th century (which eventually occupied this site), to more recent efforts to save a tower of the Queen Victoria Hospital for women’s use, women have worked hard to preserve a place of their own. A Space for Women What does it mean to have a space for women? Space is the room to think and to reﬂect. Space can be physical – it could mean resting in the foyer on the new red armchairs during a hectic, even worrying day in the city. It could be visiting the Shilling Wall and thinking about the women who have made valuable contributions in their private or public lives. It could mean using a meeting room to talk over an issue affecting women’s lives.

Space can also be virtual. It can be about connecting with other women and organisations through sharing information and building knowledge. Shilling Wall and Shilling Fund The latest milestone in the proud history of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC) was the launch of the Shilling Wall in May 2008. The first two glass panels honouring 304 amazing women were installed at the front of the building. The Trust took the opportunity to celebrate women from our past, including Dr Constance Stone and social worker Annette Bear Crawford who founded Australia’s first women’s hospital in Melbourne. The Wall was launched by the Hon Maxine Morand MP, Minister for Women’s Affairs. Our MC was proud indigenous woman and sports administrator Belinda Jaykiel. A full report on this major project is included later in this report. The tributes to the Shilling Wall have created the Shilling Fund. This will give the Centre more capacity to initiate and leverage projects that benefit women and women’s organisations. For example, this year QVWC has upgraded the IT capability that supports Centre programs and other women’s organisations and is to embark on planning for a larger project, the Women’s Organisations’ Website. We are currently seeking a major partner in this important work.

Strategic Direction One of the key governance roles of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust is setting the strategic direction for the Centre. By its nature, the Centre activities involve a combination of capacity building programs and use by women’s groups of the Centre’s facilities. However, there is scope to review the resourcing and priorities of various aspects of the Centre’s work. In 2008, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust began a strategic planning process that will continue through the next financial year. At a meeting in March 2008, the Trust reaffirmed its vision for the Centre as a vibrant place and space known, valued and used by women to shape the world they want for themselves and for the women of the future. The Trust reflected on the tradition of courageous women demonstrating leadership for women and agreed to more tightly focus its work in programs to increase its impact in this regard. The Centre will be focusing on several key areas of concern where we can play a useful role. One current project is about improving women’s Financial Literacy – this is a partnership with the Victorian Government, and acknowledges that financial wellbeing is still an area of significant inequality.

Another critical project relates to Young women, body image and the digital age. We are keen to move on to the second step of our work in this area. The pilot project, conducted in 2007/08, reached 700 young women and helped demystify digital image enhancement and encourage a healthier body image. Increasing Impact Over the coming year, the QVWC wants to help more women’s organisations achieve their missions. This will be achieved by acting upon a capacity building survey of women’s organisations, which is already underway. Ten wonderful women’s organisations share the Centre with us and we will continue to work with them on shared projects. This year, we were very pleased to co-host Anne Summers as guest speaker of the International Women’s Day event with WIRE and also valued the support of the City of Melbourne for a joint IWD cocktail party and an information market for women in the QV Square.

A master planning process will be undertaken in 2008/09 to identify practical and creative ways to increase the Centre’s profile and usage. We will be building up the art exhibition program on the ground floor, reviewing the use of public space within the Centre, and investigating the feasibility of creating a children’s playground in the Centre’s grounds. We greatly appreciate the continued support of the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Hon Maxine Morand MP, and the Victorian Government through the Office of Women’s Policy. It is an honour to Chair the Trust and to work with the wonderful women on the Trust and in the Centre’s management team and staff, led by Margaret Burdeu. We invite women and friends to visit the Centre when you are next in Melbourne – it’s your place.

Catherine Brown Chair, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

Over the coming year, the QVWC wants to help more women’s organisations achieve their missions. This will be achieved by acting upon a capacity building survey of women’s organisations, which is already underway.

04 GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

A PLACE AND SPACE FOR WOMEN TO CREATE THE FUTURE Working at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre you are reminded daily of the awe-inspiring achievements of the women of the past. The founders of the Queen Victoria Hospital struggled to provide desperately needed health care for women in a compassionate and caring space and place. The founders kept their dream of a health service alive by being resourceful, strategic and passionate, and with the support of other women. Today, we continue to work to create a place in which women can focus on important issues and shape the world they want for themselves and for the women of the future. This calls for boldness and courage. The team at QVWC is doing this by focussing on a smaller number of challenging issues facing women – those that can engage a diverse range of women and are not yet fully addressed by other organisations. These include helping women’s organisations increase their skills and capacities, extending our work on body image and young women, and helping women take steps towards managing their money more effectively.

This more strategic approach is accompanied by the diversiﬁcation and growth of the Centre’s resource base. This year the donations supporting tributes to inspiring women on the Shilling Wall have outstripped both our previous achievement and our expectations. Around $110,000 is being invested by the Centre in helping make a difference to the lives of women in this year and next. New resources have been brought to the Centre to support delivery of a state-wide project, Taking Steps to Securing Your Financial Future, with regional practical workshops and informative seminars run at the Centre. This initiative is a partnership with the Ofﬁce of Women’s Policy (which has also provided funding) and WIRE – Women’s Information. In line with new Centre directions, our staff team has been refreshed and their work more targeted on key objectives. At the heart of these changes is work on identifying and addressing the capacity building needs of women’s organisations – a core mandate. Communications and marketing efforts have been redoubled, including work to improve the QVWC website and InfoHub function, promotion of the Centre, take up of topical

women’s issues, and to keep our stakeholders informed about our projects and events. At the same time, a single ﬁnance and property operations point of contact has been created, to streamline support to women’s organisations based at the Centre. Extending and strengthening partnerships is another key objective. By way of example, the Centre joined with the City of Melbourne and women’s organisations to celebrate International Women’s Day in the city. Everyone at the QVWC – trustees and staff members alike – have this year worked tirelessly to enable the Centre to develop, and grow, and give back to the women it exists to support. It is a joy to be part of this team. I would like to thank the Chair, Catherine Brown and other Trust members who have given me great encouragement and my staff who have faced much unchartered terrain this year with commitment, conviction and good humour. The future looks bright.

Margaret Burdeu General Manager, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

Photo by Janina Green

QVWC – HELPING WOMEN SHAPE THE WORLD 07

BUILDING ON A PROUD HISTORY The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is a monument to the stamina, history and heritage of Victorian women. It is the only women’s centre of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The QVWC Trust holds this significant heritage building in trust for all women and provides a range of initiatives, services and facilities for women and women’s organisations. The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre building has witnessed many of the hard won efforts by women to put their rights on the agenda. Although the Queen Victoria Women’s Hospital moved to the Lonsdale Street building in 1946, the spirit of the hospital continued a tradition dating from the late 1800s when Australia’s first women doctors raised funds from women through the first Shilling Fund and established the first women’s hospital in Australia to provide services for women, by women.

Photo by Janina Green

The building was a women’s hospital for many years, often pioneering treatments for women and infants. Throughout its proud history, the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital was a feminist tribute to the spirit and determination of women working together. In 1982 the government announced it would move the medical services to Monash, demolish the building and sell the land. The transfer of hospital services occurred in 1989. With courage and determination, women took up the ﬁght to preserve this signiﬁcant historical site for future generations of women. Fifteen years later the land was given to women by the Victorian Government through the passing of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Act in 1994.

Since then, the tower has been restored by a committed group of conservation architects, and opened in 2004. Now it is home to eleven women’s organisations. The Victorian Government has provided important support along the journey, through refurbishments, programs, and partnerships.

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre continues a lively tradition as a place and space for women’s discussions and celebrations, organising and action.

08 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

In 2007/08 the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre undertook a range of programs to beneﬁt women from many sectors, communities and age groups, often in partnership with other women’s and community organisations, as well as local and State government.

This year’s highlights included the launch of the International Women’s Day celebrations, capacity building initiatives, Entwine Crafting Cultural Connections workshops and exhibition, and laying the foundations for Women’s Financial Literacy workshops and seminars, to be rolled out over the coming year.

for their right to vote, for a decent wage, and for an end of child labour and sweat shops, and cautioned that while there have been great advances for women not all women have shared in these advances.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2008

This highly successful IWD event was enjoyed by all, new friends were made and old ones reconnected. The QVWC and WIRE look forward to women having a clear and loud voice throughout 2008 and into the future.

Lunch and Oratory – Women: Connecting to Our Past, Creating Our Future

A full transcript of Dr Summers’ speech is available from www.qvwc.org.au

“It is important that women’s voices are heard when it comes to deciding policies and programs that will impact on their rights and all aspects of their lives and their well-being. We need to be at the table; we need a say.” Dr Anne Summers, 2008 International Women’s Day 2008 was celebrated at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre with a lunch hosted by the QVWC, in conjunction with WIRE – Women’s Information. Around 80 women gathered at the Centre to mark women’s shared struggles for equality and social justice and to consider our agenda for our future. Dr Anne Summers presented the keynote address “Women – Connecting to our past, creating our future” in which she urged us to take stock and ask how well women in Australia are doing today, and assess what still needs to be done for women to achieve full equality. Dr Summers reminded us that it was 100 years ago that women started marching

Women’s Information Market at QV Square On the 6th March, 2008 hundreds of women visited the QV Square to take part in the very popular Women’s Information Market, a partnership event by the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, City of Melbourne and WIRE – Women’s Information. The Market provided an opportunity for women’s organisations in the building and local area, like the Royal Women’s Hospital, to meet with women in the city and provide information on the services they offer. Female entertainers, including the YWCA’s Sister She group, performed courtesy of the City of Melbourne, which also provided the equipment for the stalls. Around 250 Centre show bags were distributed within 30 minutes! These included a wide range of women’s information and other resources and were ﬁlled by WIRE volunteers.

Samiro Douglas, Dr Anne Summers AO, Catherine Brown, Margaret Burdeu

Women’s Cocktail Party The Centre again partnered with the City of Melbourne to jointly host a Women’s Cocktail Party in the Centre’s Victoria Room, in celebration of International Women’s Day. The cocktail party brought together women from the community and business sectors, and aimed to encourage crossfertilisation and build stronger links between the two networks. The gala event acknowledged the leadership and participation of women in business, civic and community life. Catherine Brown, Chair of the QVWC Trust, welcomed 80 women to the event and talked about the importance of the Centre and its heritage. Councillor Sneddon said the City of Melbourne was proud to be co-hosting the event with the QVWC, and highlighted the many achievements of women and their communities across the City of Melbourne, as well as the strong networks of women’s organisations in the City.

The Sorghum Sisters, a catering concern run by three inspirational African women from Carlton, and the recipient of the City of Melbourne Award in 2006, provided the food. Women’s Financial Literacy Initiative Financial independence and security, now and into the future, remain areas of real concern for women. Women’s ﬁnancial health is adversely affected by continuing trends which see women earning less than men for the same or similar work. Women often have much less invested in superannuation (largely due to time out of the work force for family reasons and lower income) and continue to deal with the ﬁnancial repercussions of juggling the pressures of caring and work responsibilities. In 2007/08, the QVWC General Manager, Margaret Burdeu, cochaired the Women’s Financial Literacy Reference Group that was established with a charter

IWD@QVSquare, 2008

to provide advice to the Victorian Government on development of a major women’s financial literacy program. The other co-chair was the Director of the Office of Women’s Policy. The QVWC was charged with the role of delivering the Steps to Securing Your Financial Future project, as part of the inaugural Victorian Government’s Women & Money Month in September 2008. The Centre has completed planning for the initiative that will recruit around 900 women to participate in 27 state-wide practical workshops, as well as 12 informative seminars to be run at the Centre. The project is being conducted in partnership with WIRE, which will train the facilitators, Victorian Government and the Office of Women’s Policy, which is funding the project and developing the facilitator training and workshop materials.

10 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Developing Resources Since the establishment of the QVWC, building the capacity of women and women’s organisations so they are better skilled and better resourced to achieve their objectives has been a key mandate. This year has seen increased focus on this crucial work in programs conducted by the Centre – through the delivery of seminars and workshops, the preparation of capacity building information kits in two key issue areas, and the extension of online resources for women though the Infohub. Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Again and again studies tell us that many teenage girls have distorted perceptions about their own body image. Often these perceptions are shaped by the ‘beauty ideal’ presented to young women through various media sources, particularly glossy magazines. For some time the QVWC has been working with students and their mentors to better equip them to deal with this the proliferation of digital imaging techniques and the beauty ideal presented in many magazines today. The program shows how legs are lengthened, hair is thickened, eyebrows are raised and torsos stretched digitally to create impossibly lean, unattainably proportioned bodies and helps them explore why the image of ‘beauty’ projected in the media is more unrealistic and unattainable than ever before.

Following on from the success of these activities the QVWC is developing a Women’s Capacity Building Kit: Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age, which will be available on our website in 2008. It will provide information and activities that enable teachers and other mentors of young women to explore digital imaging techniques and empower young women to ﬁlter and understand media images and messages concerning body image and expectations.

The Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age project addresses one of the most troubling issues about the construction of the digitally altered beauty ideal. Many young women who compare themselves to these digitally altered images do not realise the amount of computer-aided tinkering which occurs before photographs go to press.

“The one thing that really got through to us was being shown digitally manipulated images and how women don’t always look a million bucks! ” Year 11 participant, Frankston High School.

Working with Government and Parliament A key challenge for women’s organisations is knowing how best to inﬂuence the agenda of Government and achieve better resourcing for women. With this aim in mind, the QVWC partnered with EMILY’s List Australia to conduct three capacity building breakfast seminars for women’s organisations during November 2007. The seminars covered Understanding Parliament and Government, Lobbying 101 and Getting Media Coverage and included practical information and effective strategies for inﬂuencing political representatives and decision makers. The seminars were attended by many of the women’s organisations housed at the Centre, who reported that they were “empowering for women” and “practical, delivered in a very informative and accessible way”. This series of seminars will be presented to a wider group of women’s organisations as part of the Centre’s celebration of the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in Victoria: Celebrating 100 Years of the Women’s Vote at the QVWC. A women’s capacity building kit: Working with Government and Parliament is being completed and will be available on our web site in 2008.

Throughout 2008, the QVWC is reviewing the Centre’s virtual communications and planning for their future development, including the role of the InfoHub and the feasibility of a women’s organisations’ website (WOW). A survey of the capacity building needs of women’s organisations will inform the scope of proposed enhancements and modiﬁcations to the Centre’s online communications materials. www.qvwc.org.au Women’s Public Transport Safety Series

Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age

Website and InfoHub The QVWC website provided information on the Centre’s programs and facilities including the Infohub, a central online hub of reliable and reputable information, resources and support for women and women’s organisations. The Infohub was established in 2006 with topic areas on Health and Wellbeing, Violence Against Women, Work and Family Balance, Getting the Balance Right and Better Balance Better Business. Over 2007/08 the Infohub grew with the addition of two more topics: Positive Body Image and Women and Disabilities. Content in each topic area was reviewed and selected by independent expert women’s network panels who acted as the ‘gatekeepers’

and editors to ensure reliability of information in their respective topic areas. The Positive Body Image page was developed to offer easily accessible information about body image, self esteem, eating disorders, and digital imaging. The new webpage targets the needs of students, teachers and other young women’s mentors. The ‘Women and Disabilities’ InfoHub page offers information to women with a disability, and for their friends, family and carers. The resources provide links to peak bodies, information about independent living options, travel and accommodation, as well as community and legal resources.

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust was awarded the Lord Mayor’s City Safety Award Certiﬁcate of Merit on 15th October, 2007 in recognition of a series of seminars that provided public transport safety information for women from Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. A number of CALD women’s organisations collaborated on the project, addressing the fear faced by many newly-arrived migrant and refugee women navigating the city’s public transport system. The project was supported by a Community Services City Safety Grant from the City of Melbourne.

12 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Entwine: Crafting Cultural Connections Entwine began as the ‘Crafting Cultural Connections’ project and was the culmination of a series of craft workshops for refugee and migrant women held at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, over a period of three months. African refugee and migrant women from Muslim Women’s Support Group (MWSG) and Creative Women’s Circle, a group of professional artists and craftspeople collaborated on the workshops. Through the workshops, women gathered to share their wisdom, skills, experiences and culture resulting in the creation of beautiful,

One participant was Eritrean, and came to Melbourne from Sudan with her four children to join her brother and two sisters in 2000. She spoke no English. Her husband joined them in 2004, and by the end of this year all of their children will have ﬁnished university. She joined Entwine to learn new craft skills, and became involved in shaping the evolution of the craft group, especially the knitting and the jewellery workshops. She says that she looks forward to experimenting with the new techniques and processes she has learned, and to selling the products she and her friends make in the future.

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contemporary craft objects. Participants also learned about how to prepare an exhibition and establish small craft-based businesses, drawing on the experiences of workshop leaders.

Entwine was an important opportunity for the workshop participants to exhibit as artists and to celebrate and share their successes and their stories with families, friends and community. The project demonstrated craft as a tool to overcome isolation and gain skills. Each of the artists shared her own story of crossing geographic and cultural boundaries, of creating home in a new place. Some are refugees who have ﬂed conﬂict situations and migrants who, like so many before, came to Australia seeking greater opportunities and improved lives for themselves and their families. Many of these individual accounts of perseverance, family and home were described throughout the exhibition. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence In November 2007, the Centre played a central role in the organisation and promotion of events advocating for the elimination of violence against women. Activities around the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence and White Ribbon Day attracted strong interest, with 130 people attending the Young Women’s and Young Men’s Secure Welfare Exhibition and over 100 business women and men, community workers and

White Ribbon Day banner hanging from the Queen Vic Women’s Centre

volunteers coming along to a SleepSafe breakfast on the 21st November, 2007. The SleepSafe breakfast, held annually in support of White Ribbon Day, sought to raise public awareness of the prevalence and impact of domestic violence and to help eradicate domestic violence in our communities. Guests at the breakfast were invited to donate pyjamas for women and children ﬂeeing domestic violence, a call to action which resulted in 250 pairs of pyjamas being distributed to women’s refuges across the city and country, with the able assistance the QVWC-based service Domestic Violence Victoria.

Entwine workshop

14 SHILLING WALL AND GARDEN AND SHILLING FUND

mother was surprised to ﬁnd that she had been nominated by her daughters for a tribute on the Wall. A young man spoke of the importance of celebrating his mother who after immigrating to Australia had struggled to raise him and his siblings on her own while working in a hospital. Others talked of the contributions of their friends to the advancement of women and the ﬁght to save the QVWC for the women of the future. The statements that accompanied the nominations of women to the Wall by families, friends and supporters are soon to feature on the QVWC website. Maxine Morand (Minister for Women’s Affairs), Dimity Reed (with her granddaughter), Catherine Brown (Chair QVWCT), Belinda Jaykiel, Jane McAloon (BHP) Photo by Lucy Aulrich

Shilling Wall and Garden Launch and Open Day The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre’s beautiful glass Shilling Wall and Shilling Wall Garden at the front of the building were launched in May 2008 by Minister for Women’s Affairs, Maxine Morand MP. The Shilling Wall commemorates amazing women from all walks of life. Tributes for the names of the inaugural 304 women nominees are now on the ﬁrst two glass panels of the Wall that is being built in stages in the Centre’s new Shilling Wall Garden. The Shilling Wall concept is intended to celebrate the contribution of women in every aspect of their lives: with their families, friends and in the community. The Wall features prominent and lesser known women, from all sorts of backgrounds and types of contributions.

The Minister said the Shilling Wall was an important addition to the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre and provided an opportunity to honour Victorian women through donations. “This is a great project that honours the work of the inspirational members of the original Shilling Fund but also ensures that the women we love, respect and admire today will be remembered in the future.” The launch was chaired by inspirational indigenous woman Belinda Jaykiel. Well known architect, Professor Dimity Reed shared her perspective of why she has placed all ﬁve generations of female members of her family on the wall – from her grandmother to her granddaughter, while Jane McAloon from BHP Billiton, QVWC’s next door neighbour that has funded the planting of the new Shilling Wall Garden, talked about the importance of being part of the local community and

The Shilling Fund contributing to the development of community organisations.

WOMEN AWARDED ON THE WALL

The Shilling Wall and Garden synthesises the proud history of the original Shilling Fund which allowed for the establishment of the ﬁrst women’s hospital more than 100 years ago, with an acknowledgement of women’s contributions past and present. It is a beautiful public artwork by a talented female architect (Cassandra Fahey) that is linked to innovative fundraising and effective resourcing of important projects that help women. The project was driven by the passion and commitment of an impressive team of people – mainly women. These include former Trust Chairs Kay Setches, Susan Brennan and Helen Hewitt, as well as a number of expert advisors who gave their time to the project.

One way that women are using Shilling Wall tributes to celebrate women is through using the tribute as an award. For example, women working in the Victorian ICT sector decided to give Shilling Wall tributes as prizes in their annual awards. VicICT for Women Chairperson Michelle Beveridge explained: “Instead of something that would be kept at home or in their work places with limited visibility, we decided to have their names etched on the Shilling Wall as a permanent and public token of our respect for their achievements.

The project involved designers, artists, engineers, landscape designers, project managers, donors and a major partnership with the Victorian Government – in the form of a capital works grant of $770,000 that supported improvements to the centre’s building, grounds and venues. Cassandra Fahey’s beautiful and unique design of a green “hedge” made of glass was chosen from a competitive ﬁeld. Groups of families and friends came to an Open Day at the Centre during May to celebrate and show their appreciation of the ﬁrst women on the Wall, to learn more about the Centre’s work and share their inspiring accounts of the women that have been nominated for the wall. Each tribute imprinted on the wall represents an emotional and personal journey for those who donate, and the visitors to Open Day shared their own story. One

Members of the public are invited to nominate an inspirational woman for the Shilling Wall, by making a donation of $150 or more to the Shilling Fund. Donors simply submit a completed Shilling Fund form nominating the women they would like to celebrate and names go onto the glass wall in the next installation process. An innovation during 2007/08 means that donations can now also be made by groups who would like to jointly nominate a woman for the Wall. With these options, members of the public are invited to nominate an inspirational woman and make a donation to the QVWC Shilling Fund.

16 BUILDING, VENUES AND EXHIBITIONS

Continuing a proud tradition and role in the lives of Victorian women, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre provides a place for women to get together to meet, discuss, reflect, organise and provide a wide range of services to women. Building The Centre is a heritage-listed building and is widely recognised as a key site of women’s history. The QVWC Trust manages the Centre and ensures it is maintained, conserved, accessible to and effectively used by women. The QVWC provides a vibrant place for women through its tenanted office spaces, building refurbishments, venues for hire and exhibition spaces. The QVWC Trust prides itself on developing and improving this important space for women. During 2007/08 a range of capital and maintenance works were completed, including upgrading the Centre building, landscaping and construction of the Shilling Wall, upgrading venues, improvements to plumbing, fire safety and electrical works and improved access to the Centre.

Venues The top two floors of the Centre house specialist conference rooms: the Victoria Room on the fourth floor and the Atrium and Terrace on the fifth floor. The centre completed a refurbishment of the venues this year, including upgrading both the Victoria Room and the Atrium, installing an audio visual system to support delivery of training and conduct of events, as well as replacing all furnishings. These improved conference rooms provide inviting, practical spaces for women and other organisations in a central city location. They are a key centre of women’s capacity building work undertaken by the QVWC Trust and other women’s organisations, including those at the centre. This year, 80% of the organisations participating in training, events and programs at the QVWC were not-for-profit women’s and other organisations, including the QVWC itself and other QVWC tenants. The venues provided a hub for training and development activities, presentations and discussions, events and planning activities, along with a range of launches and celebrations. The QVWC has used the venues to support the conduct of the Entwine workshops and exhibition, activities around the 16 Days of Gender Violence, the SleepSafe Breakfast, and International Women’s Day events.

Further, the QVWC supported the work of a range of other organisations throughout the year by providing free access to space for activities including: the VIRWC’s Women Power Forums, WIRE’s free seminar series, and the Secure Welfare Program.

Art therapist Rebekah Oppenheim said, “Body Mapping is a very effective therapeutic intervention. It allows the artist to explore their journey from violence or crisis into a more positive future. We ask the young person to begin by tracing their full-body silhouette onto large sheets of paper. Then, each young person is asked speciﬁc questions about their experiences and represents those artistically within the Body Map”.

Exhibitions The QVWC Trust encourages women’s artistic expressions of their many and varied experiences through provision of free innercity exhibition space to emerging women artists. Throughout 2007/08 new artists had the opportunity to promote their work and publicise their talents in a well-trafﬁcked, central location. The ground ﬂoor lobby saw more than 12 exhibitions throughout the year, with women working in various media and formats from photojournalism to palliative care exhibitions. Exhibition highlights during 2007/08 included:

Entwine: Crafting Cultural Connections The Entwine exhibition opened on 27th August 2007 to coincide with Migrant and Refugee Sunday. Entwine was an important opportunity for the workshop participants to exhibit as artists and to celebrate and share their successes and stories with families, friends and the broader community. The Entwine exhibition culminated the ‘Crafting Cultural Connections’ project, a series of craft workshops for refugee and migrant women held at the QVWC. (see Programs)

Canvassing the Emotions: Women, Creativity and Mental Health in Context

Exhibition poster

Inside Out: Secure Welfare Body Map Exhibition Building on the 2006 exhibition, Inside Out 2007 was held as a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign and featured artworks which traced the private, cultural and gendered dimensions of violence against women and children through ‘body maps’ of the artists. All of the exhibited artworks were created by children aged 10 to 17, as part of the Secure Welfare Unit’s art therapy program. Singer-songwriter Sime Nugent kicked off the gala opening on 29th November 2007 with unique and soulful soundscape before an incredible speech by

Dr Caroline Taylor ofﬁcially opened the exhibition to the public. Dr Taylor shared her personal history as a victim and survivor, and her ongoing work helping other survivors of physical and sexual assault negotiate the legal system, build self esteem and understand trauma’s impacts and healing. This was followed by young artists from the Secure Welfare program, who courageously spoke about their own experiences. The exhibition created a calendar which was sold to raise funds for the program.

Canvassing the Emotions was an innovative exhibition of artworks by women who have experienced mental ill health or trauma. The exhibition opened in February 2008 during the lead up to International Women’s Day. The works in the exhibition were drawn from the Cunningham Dax Collection, which conserves and ethically exhibits creativity and education in mental health. From the 1950s to now, the exhibition explores the intersection of women, creativity and mental health within cultural, socio-economic and political contexts. It illuminates the complexities of being a woman experiencing mental ill health and producing art in Australian society.

18 CENTRE ORGANISATIONS

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is a unique icon for women in Australia. With a proud tradition since the Suffrage movement more than 100 years ago, it provides both space and support programs for women and women’s organisations. Additional to QVWC programs, ten independent women’s organisations are housed in the QVWC, providing a range of programs and services for women, by women.

Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service (AFVPLS) AFVPLS provides free legal, counselling, support, information and referral services to victims/ survivors of family violence and sexual assault. This includes women, men and children and the service can also assist non-Indigenous parents/ carers of Aboriginal children who are victims/survivors of family violence.

Domestic Violence Victoria Domestic Violence Victoria Inc. is a peak advocacy organisation committed to the rights of women and children to live free from violence. Its members are women’s family/domestic violence services operating across the state of Victoria. Domestic Violence Victoria challenges governments and communities to be accountable for the violation of this right. Emily’s List Australia

BreaCan – Gynaecological and Breast Cancer Support BreaCan is a free and conﬁdential information, support and referral service for people with gynaecological or breast cancer, and their families and friends. BreaCan takes a holistic approach to supporting people that responds to their practical, social and emotional needs.

EMILY’s List Australia is a political, ﬁnancial and personal support network for progressive Labor women candidates who are committed to choice, diversity, equity, equal pay and accessible and affordable childcare. Since its inception in 1996, EMILY’s List has provided training and mentoring for candidates, gender gap research and ﬁnancial support to women’s political campaigns.

CASA House CASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault) is part of the Royal Women’s Hospital and provides free and conﬁdential services to victims/survivors of recent and past sexual assault on a 24 hour basis. Services include an immediate crisis response to recent assaults; counselling, support and advocacy; groups; support for families; professional consultations; community education and research and public policy.

URCOT URCOT is an applied research and development centre committed to undertaking rigorous research and development work which can be subjected to independent, professional scrutiny. Its research outcomes are published for trade union, corporate and academic audiences. Established in 1991, URCOT has evolved to become a well respected and innovative research centre conducting a wide range of research and organisational development activities for clients.

Staff members from the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Photo by Lucy Aulrich

Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC) VIRWC is an independent, statewide advocate and representative body for immigrant and refugee women committed to the goals of achieving cultural, social, economic, political, educational and sexual equality. VIRWC works co-operatively with relevant regional, state and national agencies and community organisations on matters of common interest and concern. Vita Natural Health Vita offers the convenience of a complete natural medicine health service from one prominent location, providing expertise in: naturopathy, herbal medicine; nutrition, osteopathy, counselling; massage, acupuncture, pilates and yoga; and health information sessions.

WIRE Women’s Information

YWCA Victoria

WIRE has been listening and giving voice to the experiences of women since 1984. Today, WIRE’s services include a statewide phone information and support service, the women’s information centre, volunteer training program, research and a comprehensive, searchable website, plus information sheets on issues like domestic violence, leaving a relationship, adolescents who are abusive in the home, depression and anxiety.

YWCA Victoria works to provide opportunities for disadvantaged women; to deliver targeted programs to end inequality in individual lives and in the community and to advocate on issues related to women. YWCA Victoria is the longest running women’s organisation in Victoria and continues to create opportunities for leadership, participation and achievement.

20 GOVERNANCE – QUEEN VICTORIA WOMEN’S CENTRE TRUST

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust is the body responsible for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Catherine Brown

Laurie Bebbington

Michelle Beveridge

It is a public, not-for-proﬁt organisation established under the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Act 1994 and is a statutory authority consistent with the meaning of ‘public body’ in section 3 of the Financial Management Act 1994. Functions of the Trust The functions of the Trust are prescribed by the establishing Act, as follows:

Tamara Brezzi

Abigail Burchill

Maree Davidson

• manage the QVWC Trust land and to use it for the purposes of a facility known as the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre • provide on the QVWC Trust land, services and facilities for women including health information services, rest and meeting rooms, and other services and facilities • provide information in relation to the services and facilities provided by the Centre

Gaye Hamilton

Jean Ker Walsh

Vivienne Nguyen

• provide for the management, operation, use and promotion of the Centre • provide for the efﬁcient ﬁnancial management of the QVWCT land and Centre • seek funding for the Centre • undertake any other functions that are conferred on the Trust by the Act.

Kay Setches

Lee Ward

Janet Wood

Trust Meetings and Responsibilities The Trust meets on a monthly basis to manage the affairs of QVWC Trust. Each member of the Trust has a responsibility to ensure they represent the Trust outside of the formal processes of the Trust in a manner that is consistent with the stated directions and the philosophy of the Trust. Trust Audit Process The annual audit is undertaken by the Victorian Auditor General’s Ofﬁce. The audit report is initially presented to the Finance, Audit and Governance Committee and then to the Trust. QVWC Trust Members The Queen Victoria Women’s Trust comprises 12 Members, appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Women’s Affairs. Catherine Brown Chair Catherine is Chair of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust, the body established by legislation to manage the Centre. The Trust plays a key role in setting the Centre’s strategic directions, strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, including the Victorian Government, and ensuring that other governance responsibilities are met. As Chair, Catherine is a member of all Trust Committees. Catherine is a lawyer and consultant with a special interest in philanthropy and the governance of not-for-

profit organisations. She has worked with community foundations across Australia, particularly through her work with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Catherine has consulted to many leading philanthropic foundations including The Myer Foundation, The Ian Potter Foundation, ANZ Trustees and The RE Ross Trust. She has extensive experience supporting the start up of not-forprofits, including foundations, and provides ongoing advice on Board development. Catherine is also Deputy Chair of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and a former Chair of ACROD Victoria. Catherine worked in the not-for-profit sector for 11 years, including three years as CEO of the Brain Foundation, before establishing her own consulting and legal practice. Laurie Bebbington Chair, Programs Committee Laurie is the Commissioner for Law Enforcement Data Security. She has held executive positions in the Departments of Human Services, Premier and Cabinet, and Labour, including the role of CEO at Lakeside Psychiatric Hospital, Ballarat, and managing the state-wide drug treatment services system. Prior to her career in the public service, Laurie worked for the Australian Social Welfare Union. She has just completed a term as Chairwoman of Uniting Care Moreland Hall. Laurie has maintained a commitment to women’s issues and the community throughout her career.

22 GOVERNANCE – QUEEN VICTORIA WOMEN’S CENTRE TRUST

Michelle Beveridge Member, Building Committee, Member Finance, Audit and Governance Committee (Sept 2007 – March 2008). Michelle is a seasoned ICT professional with a strong strategic focus, a track record of delivery and high level skills in change management. She was recently appointed Chief Information Officer for IDP Education Pty Ltd. Michelle holds an MBA qualification from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and is a Certified Practising Accountant. She acts as Chair of the Victorian ICT for Women Network. Tamara Brezzi Chair, Building Committee Tamara is a lawyer and town planner who practises in all aspects of town planning law including major project developments, commercial and residential planning and local government work. She regularly appears in planning hearings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and at Planning Panels Victoria. Tamara takes a practical approach to problems and she is passionate about her chosen field of expertise.

Abigail Burchill Abbie Burchill is Yorta Yorta/ Dja Dja Wrung woman who is employed as a Senior Legal Ofﬁcer by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. She is also the Treasurer of the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria (Tarwirri). Abbie is married with two small children (Antonio and Tessa). She resigned from the QVWC Trust in April 2008. Maree Davidson Chair, Fundraising and Marketing Committee Maree runs a social change, communications and strategic planning consultancy. Maree is Deputy Chair of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival board, an executive member of the National Coalition Against Bullying (NCAB), a member of the Public Transport Ombudsman Board, a member of Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues Board, a Director of The Long Walk and part of the Advisory Committee for the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership.

Gaye Hamilton Member, Finance, Audit and Governance Committee Gaye has a background in education, the environment and cultural sectors. She was Assistant Director, Melbourne Zoo, and Director, Werribee Open Range Zoo with Zoos Victoria before being appointed Director, Scienceworks and Director, Museum Operations, with Museum Victoria. Now retired, Gaye undertakes a range of part time work and sits on several not for proﬁt boards, including the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Seaworks Foundation and Zoos Victoria. Jean Ker Walsh Member, Fundraising and Marketing Committee Jean is the Head of Corporate Relations, Australia at Transurban. She has experience as a broadcast journalist, political and public sector communications manager and strategic communications consultant. Her Transurban role has a strong operational focus which includes communicating through the media on customer and road experience issues. In addition to her Trust role, Jean is currently a Director of Hanover Welfare Services and Council Member of Australian Volunteers International.

Vivienne Nguyen Member, Programs Committee Member, Finance, Audit and Governance Committee (from July 2008 – Nov 2008). Vivienne has strong links with Victoria’s Vietnamese community and has demonstrated solid advocacy skills to support the strengthening of ethnic communities generally. She is currently employed with the ANZ Bank in Risk Management. Previously she was National Manager for AustChoice Financial Services Limited. She holds a Master of Applied Finance and sits on the Australia Day (Victoria) Committee Board. Vivienne is also a Commissioner for the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Kay Setches Member, Fundraising and Marketing Committee Kay was appointed to the Trust in mid-2005. She was born in Collingwood, where she attended state schools and worked in the retail sector. She was the coordinator of a women’s refuge prior to being elected to the Victorian Parliament where she served for over 10 years. As the MP for Ringwood Kay headed the Why Women’s Health? consultation, which helped establish a network of women’s health services in Victoria. Kay was a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992, has served on a number of boards, and was the ﬁrst woman elected to the Victorian Women’s Trust. Kay has worked to get more women elected to Parliament.

Lee Ward Chair, Finance, Audit and Governance Committee

Janet Wood Member, Programs Committee

Lee is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in senior ﬁnancial management positions in industry and providing risk management advisory services. She has worked with both the government and private sectors, including work on corporate governance and compliance with the Financial Management Act. Lee is currently Director Audit and Risk Management at Monash University.

Janet grew up in Ballarat, spent many years outside Victoria and is now a resident of Gisborne. She has been a teacher, an executive director and a member of Commonwealth administrative tribunals. Janet recently completed six years as chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians. Currently she is Chairperson of Uniting Aged Care (Victoria and Tasmania), is a Board member and Policy Council member of COTA (Victoria) and is a chair or member of other health/aged related committees.

Trust Members Appointment Dates and Trust Meetings Attended 2007–08 Trust Member

Total Attendance July 2007 – June 2008*

Catherine Brown

July 2007 – June 2008

Laurie Bebbington

July 2007 – June 2008

Michelle Beveridge

July 2007 – June 2008

Tamara Brezzi

July 2007 – June 2008

Maree Davidson

July 2007 – June 2008

Gaye Hamilton

July 2007 – June 2008

Jean Ker Walsh

July 2007 – June 2008

Vivienne Nguyen

July 2007 – June 2008

Kay Setches

July 2007 – June 2008

Lee Ward

July 2007 – June 2008

Janet Wood

July 2007 – June 2008

Abigail Burchil

July 2007 – April 2008

*Please note that the March 20 Meeting was rescheduled making it difﬁcult for a number of members to attend.

24 GOVERNANCE

Trust Committees

Stakeholder Relationships

BHP Billiton

Members of the QVWC Trust also meet as committees on a monthly basis, to assist the Trust to meet its governance responsibilities and to oversee the implementation of the Trust strategy. There are currently four committees with responsibilities to monitor the implementation of relevant strategic areas of the business plan, develop policies for approval by the Trust and provide expert advice and reports to the Trust:

The Trust is committed to developing and building on strategic relationships and alliances to meet its vision and goals, including the women’s organisations in the Centre (see page 18).

The QVWC appreciates the support of BHP Billiton, one of our neighbors in Lonsdale Street in funding the planting of the Shilling Wall Garden.

1 Finance, Audit and Governance 2 Building 3 Marketing and Fundraising

Victorian Government The QVWC Trust is in the third year of a four year Funding and Service Agreement (FSA) with the Victorian Government through the Ofﬁce of Women’s Policy. The FSA sets out Key Performance Indicators across all areas of the Trust’s operations.

External members of Committees this year were:

The Government has also provided the Centre with funding support for the Steps to Securing Your Financial Future practical workshops and topical seminars – a partnership with the OWP and WIRE and Centenary of Suffrage projects.

Finance, Audit and Governance Committee Samantha Gill (Nov 2007 – June 2008) Karen Lauf (July 2007 – Oct 2008)

The Trust appreciates the support of the Government and meets regularly with the Ofﬁce of Women’s policy for formal reporting and on a range of other matters.

Building Committee Kate Grey Catherine Heggen

City of Melbourne

4 Programs Each committee includes at least two Trust members and may invite external members with suitable expertise to participate.

Programs Committee Robyn Charlesworth

The Trust has appreciated the extended working relationship with the City of Melbourne in 2007/08 through our very successful joint International Women’s Day Activities.

QVWC Staff Following a Trust Strategic Planning Process in the ﬁrst half of 2008, new General Manager Margaret Burdeu restructured the staff to enable a greater focus on capacity building of women’s organisations, communications and marketing and ﬁnance property operations. Margaret commenced in January 2008 and other new staff started in May 2008. The Centre now employs 5.6 FTE staff.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE Objectives

Performance Outcomes

Targets 2007-08

Actuals 2007-08

Status

1. Increase Women’s Participation and Capacity Building

Number of virtual organisations participating in the virtual centre

Exceeded

Number of women participating in events, training and programs

3850

4052

Exceeded

Number of women’s organisations usage of room hire, participation in activites, events, distribution of information

100

104

Exceeded

Trafﬁc to website (unique visitors)

7000

27,607

Exceeded

Satisfaction rating for programs and events

85%

Met* (based on informal feedback from participants)

Achieve and maintain 85% occupancy rates for lettable ﬂoor space (excluding function rooms)

85%

100%

Achieved

Achieve and maintain hire of functions facilities†

$55,000

$45,488

Achieved 83% of target

Raise cash funds through fund raising efforts

$65,000

$126,253

Exceeded (195% of target)

Secure sponsorships and grants

4 gained

4 secured

Achieved

Submit the Annual Report to government for tabling in Parliament as required by the Act

Sep-07

Achieved

Submit an Annual Business Plan to Government

Jun-08

Achieved

Achieve a 5% variance budget surplus /deﬁcit (excluding the depreciated costs measured in the QVWCT’s budget)

No more than 5% variance in budget surplus /deﬁcit (excluding the depreciated costs measured in the QVWCT’s budget)

Income KPI met for exceeded expenditure budget by 11% Income Expenditure exceeded exceeded target budget by 5%

2. Property & Tenancy Management

Organisational Chart Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

General Manager

Capacity Building and Programs Building and Venues

Corporate Services and Communications

3. Increase Fund Raising 4. Financial Management & Governance

† The Centre has found it difﬁcult to meet this target in 2007/08 due to disruption to the business during the upgrade of the venues and the noise created by the Shilling Wall and Garden project and refurbishment of the building over the period July – November 2007. Use of the venues out of hours and on weekends when the Centre is not normally open requires special arrangements and the Trust is now reviewing access and security arrangements for these times.

* Note a formal process for evaluation of events and programs will be put in place for 2008–09.

26 GOVERNANCE

Whistleblowers Act 2001 This section of the report contains information that is required to be published annually under section 104 of the Whistleblowers Act 2001. The current procedures established by the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust under Part 6 of the Act are available on request from the Trust. The Trust has received no disclosures during the year. The Trust has not referred any disclosures to the Ombudsman for determination as to whether they are public interest disclosures during the year. The Ombudsman has not referred any disclosed matters to the Trust during the year The Trust has not referred any disclosed matters to the Ombudsman to investigate during the year. The Ombudsman has not taken over any investigation of disclosed matters from the Trust during the year • The Trust has made no request under section 74 of the Act to the Ombudsman to investigate disclosed matters during the year • The Trust has not declined to investigate a disclosed matter during the year • There have been no disclosed matters that were substantiated on Investigation. There has been no action required to be taken arising from an investigation since there have been no investigations • The Ombudsman has not made any recommendation under the Act that relates to the Trust.

Alternative Contact Person A disclosure about improper conduct or detrimental action by the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust or employees of the Trust may also be made to: The Ombudsman Victoria Level 9, 459 Collins Street Melbourne Vic 3000 (DX 210174) Tel: (03) 9613 6222 Toll Free: 1800 806 314 Internet: www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au Ombudsman, Mr George Brouwer Tel: (03) 9613 6222

Protected Disclosure Officer The protected disclosure officer is Alexandra White. Confidentiality The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust will take all reasonable steps to protect the identity of the whistleblower. Maintaining confidentiality is crucial in ensuring there are no reprisals against a whistleblower. Privacy Act The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust complies with the Privacy Act. Freedom of Information Act The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust received no request for information under the Freedom of Information Act in this year.

Merit and Equity

Industrial Relations

Community Inclusiveness

Contracts below $100,000

The Trust is committed to ensuring that that all decisions in the organisation are based on merit, that equal opportunity is provided in employment and that staff are provided with reasonable avenues of redress against unfair or unreasonable treatment. Staff is expected to provide responsive service that meets the needs of women, women’s organisations and other members of the public, act impartially, display integrity including and avoiding real or apparent conﬂicts of interest, and show accountability for their actions.

The Trust is committed to the fair and reasonable treatment of staff with staff performance and development reviewed on a regular basis. It is in the process of reviewing all policies and procedures within the Centre including those relating to dispute resolution. No time was lost due to industrial accidents and disputes in 2007/08.

A broad range of strategies are taken by to promote the inclusiveness of QVWC activities for women. The Trust’s primary role is to provide support to women and women’s organisations. It also ensures its activities, services and programs conducted or supported by the Trust are welcoming to those from diverse cultures, young people and indigenous communities with a number of activities and services are designed to address the speciﬁc needs of disadvantaged and other sectors of the community.

Provision of ICT Support, ICT Matters

$13,860

Contract management of ICT Infrastructure upgrade, ICT Matters

$12,120

Total

$25,980

Availability of Other Information

Catherine Brown Chair, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust 31st July 2008

Occupational Health and Safety The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre continues its commitment to complying with occupational health and safety requirements and to the health and wellbeing of staff and the safety of building users. Occupational health and safety is discussed by staff and the General Manager regularly and incidents are tracked, investigated and action taken to address problems identiﬁed. A number of improvements to the building and staff amenities were made this year to address risks including those associated with entry and egress to the building, manual handing and ofﬁce environments.

Building Act The Trust takes a continuous improvement approach to ensuring it is compliance with the building and maintenance provision of the Building Act 1993 including the maintenance of air conditioning systems and lifts, building safety and compliance with the building code of Australia as it applies to heritage buildings. National Competition Policy Competitive neutrality seeks to enable fair competition between government and private sector businesses. Any advantages or disadvantages that government businesses may experience, simply as a result of government ownership, should be neutralised. The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre continues to implement & apply this principle in its business undertakings.

Information relevant to Financial Reporting Direction 22B of the FMA 1994 is held at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre’s ofﬁce & is available on request, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Government Compliance In accordance with the FMA 1994, I am pleased to present the Report of Operations for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre for the year ending 30th June 2008.

028A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 29

QUEEN VICTORIA WOMEN’S CENTRE TRUST ABN: 61 006 499 231 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008

CONTENTS • Income Statement • Balance Sheet • Statement of Changes in Equity • Cash Flow Statement • Notes to the Annual Financial Report • Accountable Officer’s Declaration • Auditor-General’s Report This financial report covers the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust as a single entity. The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre was established under the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Act 1994. Its principal address is: Queen Victoria Women’s Centre 210 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel: 03 8668 8100 Email: finance@qvwc.org.au

The Bellacize dancing divas, who practice at the QVWC ©Newxpix image by Rebecca Michael

I, Catherine Brown certify that the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre has risk management processes in place consistent with the Australian/New Zealand Risk Management Standard and an internal control system is in place that enables the executive to understand, manage and satisfactorily control risk exposures. The Finance, Audit and Governance Committee veriﬁes this assurance that the risk proﬁle of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre has been critically reviewed within the last 12 months.

Catherine Brown Chair, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust 31 July 2008

30 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INCOME STATEMENT for the ﬁnancial year ended 30 June 2008

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY for the ﬁnancial year ended 30 June 2008 Note

2008 $

2007 $

Revenue from Government

367,547

340,000

Other revenue

550,753

483,920

918,300

823,920

2008

Note

Total

Revenue

Total revenue Expenditure Employee

(397,153)

(415,752)

Depreciation

(209,681)

(479,963)

Supplies and services

(261,215)

(395,116)

(868,049)

(1,290,831)

50,251

(466,911)

Total expenditure Surplus/(deﬁcit) for the period BALANCE SHEET as at 30 June 2008 Note

2008 $

2007 $

Current assets Cash and cash equivalents

405,225

425,544

Trade and other receivables

37,424

72,712

15,551

250,671

458,200

748,927

18,027,894

16,731,000

Prepayments Total current assets Non-current assets 8

Plant, equipment and furniture

256,005

269,647

Total non-current assets

18,283,898

17,000,647

Total assets

18,742,098

17,749,574

60,913

62,231

20,159

20,959

Current liabilities Trade and other payables

Trust funds and deposits Unearned income

1,426

–

Provision for employee entitlements

10,288

20,870

Total current liabilities

92,787

104,060

Total liabilities

92,787

104,060

18,649,311

17,645,515

Net assets Equity Contributed equity

4,200,000

4,021,455

Reserves

16,314,548

15,416,962

Accumulated deﬁcit

(1,865,237)

(1,792,902)

18,649,311

17,645,515

Total equity

Carried Carried Contributed Forward Forward Capital Grant Donations Monies Monies Reserve Reserve

2008 $

Balance at beginning of the ﬁnancial year

17,645,515

(1,792,902)

15,416,962

–

4,021,455

Net amount transferred to reserves

122,586

–

51,086

71,500

–

Net asset revaluation increment/(decrement)

775,000

–

775,000

–

897,586

–

775,000

51,086

71,500

–

Net income recognised directly in equity Surplus/(deﬁcit) for the year

50,251

–

Net transfer to reserves

(122,586)

–

825,251

(72,335)

775,000

51,086

71,500

Total recognised income and expense Capital contributed during the year

178,545

–

178,545

Balance at end of ﬁnancial year

18,649,311

(1,865,237)

16,191,962

51,086

71,500

4,200,000

Note

Total

2007

Land and buildings

Accumulated Asset Deﬁcit Revaluation Reserve

2007 $ Balance at beginning of the ﬁnancial year

Net amount transferred to reserves Net asset revaluation increment/(decrement)

Net income recognised directly in equity Surplus/(deﬁcit) for the year

Total recognised income and expense

Accumulated Asset Surplus Revaluation Reserve

Carried Carried Contributed Forward Forward Capital Grant Donations Monies Monies Reserve Reserve

2007 $

(1,325,991)

17,181,098

–

(1,764,136)

–

(1,764,136)

–

(1,764,136)

–

(1,764,136)

–

(466,911)

–

(2,231,047)

(466,911)

–

19,355,107

(1,764,136)

2007 $ 3,500,000

Capital contributed during the year

521,455

–

521,455

Balance at end of ﬁnancial year

17,645,515

(1,792,902)

15,416,962

–

4,021,455

32 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the ﬁnancial year ended 30 June 2008

(d) Receivables Note

2008 $

2007 $

Receipts from Government

367,547

340,000

Receipts in the course of operations

525,954

411,616

(404,521)

(988,766)

Cash ﬂows from operating activities

Payments to suppliers and employees Interest received

30,087

25,457

519,067

(211,693)

Payments for property, plant and equipment

(717,932)

(178,727)

Net cash inﬂow/(outﬂow) from investing activities

(717,932)

(178,727)

Net cash inﬂow/(outﬂow) from operating activities

Cash ﬂows from investing activities

Cash ﬂows from ﬁnancing activities Receipts from Government

178,545

521,455

178,545

521,455

Net increase/(decrease) in cash held

(20,319)

131,034

Cash at the beginning of the ﬁnancial year

425,544

294,510

405,225

425,544

Cash at the end of the ﬁnancial year

NOTES TO THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT For the year ended 30 June 2008 NOTE 1 Summary of accounting policies

Statement of compliance This financial report is a general purpose financial report that consists of an Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, Cash Flow Statement, and notes accompanying these financial statements. The general purpose financial report complies with Australian Accounting Standards.

Basis of Accounting This ﬁnancial report has been prepared on the accrual and going concern basis under the convention of historical cost accounting, with the exception referred to in note 1(e). (a) Cash For purposes of the cash ﬂow statement, cash includes short-

term deposits that are readily convertible to cash on hand and are subject to an insigniﬁcant risk of changes in value, net of outstanding cheques yet to be presented by the Trust’s suppliers and creditors. (b) Revenue recognition Revenues are recognised at fair value of the consideration received net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST). Grant revenue Grants are recognised as revenue when the Trust obtains control over the assets comprising these receipts. Rental income Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the lease, except where an alternative basis is more representative of the pattern of service rendered through the provision of the leased asset.

Donations in kind During the year the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust was the grateful recipient of pro bono support from individuals and companies. This nominal allocation to revenue has an offsetting expense item. (c) Goods and services tax Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of GST except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable, in which case it is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of an asset or part of an item of expense. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is included as part of receivables or payables in the Balance Sheet. Cash flows are included in the cash flow statement on a gross basis. The GST component of cash flows arising from investing and financing activities which is recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is classified as operating cash flows.

All debtors are recognised at the amounts receivable as they are due for settlement in no more than 30 days from the date of recognition. Collectability of debtors is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Debts that are known to be uncollectible are written off. A provision for doubtful debts is raised when some doubt as to collection exists. (e) Non-current assets Subsequent to the initial recognition as assets, noncurrent physical assets, other than plant and equipment, are measured at fair value. Plant and equipment are measured at cost. Revaluations are made with sufﬁcient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount of each asset does not differ materially from its fair value at the reporting date. Revaluations are assessed annually and supplemented by independent assessments, at least every three years. Revaluations are conducted in accordance with the Victorian Government Policy. In 2008 a policy decision was made by the trust to carry out a thorough review of all physical assets was. Following this review the assets in the balance sheet have been adjusted to reﬂect the accuracy of the Asset Register.

– Revaluation of Non-Current Physical Assets. Revaluation increments are credited directly to the asset revaluation reserve, except that, to the extent that an increment reverses a revaluation decrement in respect of that class of asset previously recognised as an expense in the net result, the increment is recognised immediately as revenue in the net result.

Revaluation decrements are recognised immediately as expenses in the net result, except that, to the extent that a credit balance exists in the asset revaluation reserve in respect of the same class of assets, they are debited directly to the asset revaluation reserve. Revaluation increments and decrements are offset against one another within a class of non-current assets. (f) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment Depreciation is calculated on a straight line basis to write off the net cost of each item of property (excluding land) over its expected useful life to the Trust. Estimates of the remaining useful lives for all assets are reviewed at least annually. Effective from July 1 2007 the useful life of the building was changed from 40 years to 100 years. The expected useful lives for the ﬁnancial years ending 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2007 are as follows: 2008 Buildings

100 years

2007 40 years

Plant and 3-15 years 3-15 years equipment Where items of plant and equipment have separately identifiable components which are subject to regular replacement, those components are assigned useful lives distinct from the item of plant and equipment to which they relate. Major spares purchased specifically for particular plant are capitalised and depreciated on the same basis as the plant to which they relate. (g) Trade and other creditors These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Trust prior to the end of the financial year and

which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of recognition. (h) Employee beneﬁts

(i) Wages, salaries and annual leave Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary beneﬁts, annual leave and accumulating sick leave expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are recognised as current liabilities and measured at the rates paid or payable. (ii) Superannuation The amount charged to the Income Statement in respect of superannuation represents the contributions made by the Trust to the superannuation fund. (i) Contributed capital Consistent with Interpretation 1038 Contributions by Owners Made to Wholly-Owned Public Sector Entities appropriations for additions to net assets have been designated as contributed capital. Other transfers that are in the nature of contributions or distributions have also been designated as contributed capital. (j) Income tax The income of the Trust is exempt from income tax under Subsection 50-25 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (as amended). (k) Financial Instruments Disclosures Consistent with the Interpretation of the Financial Instruments Disclosures any risk arising from the Trust’s credit risk exposure on accounts receivables and changes to interest rate risk on deposits and accounts payables are reported and analysed in these ﬁnancial statements.

34 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT for the ﬁnancial year ended 30 June 2008 2008

2007

Note 7 Trade and other receivables

Revenue from Government Project revenue

2008

2007

Note 2 Revenue

Trade debtors 59,547

40,000

GST Recoverable

33,136

55,966

6,169

29,868

Grant revenue from Ofﬁce of Women's Policy

308,000

300,000

Less: Provision for doubtful debts

(1,881)

(13,122)

Total revenue from Government

367,547

340,000

Total trade and other receivables

37,424

72,712

342,684

337,205

38,167

26,209

–

3,100.000

Other revenue Rental from leased ofﬁce space Rental from room hire Other income Council grants

5,000

23,000

128,024

60,790

8,089

5,474

28,789

31,242

Total other revenue

550,753

483,920

Total revenue

918,300

823,920

Donations Sundry income Interest

Note 3 Employee expenses Salaries and wages

Note 8 Land and Buildings Land At independent valuation 30 June2007 At management valuation 30 June2008

3,875,000

–

Total land

3,875,000

3,100,000

13,631,000

405,542

–

96,394

–

Buildings At independent valuation as at 30 June 2007 Add: Improvements to building Add: Shilling Wall Add: Shilling Wall gardens Less: Accumulated depreciation

167,297

–

(147,339)

–

14,152,894

13,631,000

18,027,894

16,731,000

474,397

295,670

48,699

178,727

294,202

299,390

Superannuation and workcover expenses

33,678

27,348

Contractors and outplacement fees

27,343

41,676

Sitting fees

26,129

26,179

Directors/Volunteers insurance

9,136

9,986

Staff training & recruitment

6,664

11,173

397,153

415,752

147,339

429,042

62,342

50,921

209,681

479,963

Ofﬁce costs

32,846

51,294

Superannuation liability for employees

Events and marketing cash expenses

76,147

60,310

Net GST payable

6,083

–

Professional services

11,919

13,931

PAYG withholding

6,569

8,394

139,104

123,098

Accrued salaries

8,074

4,550

133,361

Accrued fringe beneﬁts tax liabilities

513

21,220

1,200

13,122

60,913

62,231

261,215

395,116

Cash and cash equivalents

405,225

425,544

Asset revaluation reserve at beginning of ﬁnancial year

15,416,962

17,181,098

Total cash and cash equivalents

405,225

425,544

Increment/(decrement) – land

Total employee expenses

Plant and equipment Total depreciation Note 5 Supplies and services

Building and maintenance Project expenses Doubtful debts Total supplies and services expenses

Note 9 Plant, equipment and furniture Ofﬁce equipment and furniture at cost at beginning of year Add Additions during the year Less Disposals Less: Accumulated depreciation Total plant, equipment and furniture

Note 4 Depreciation Buildings

Total land and buildings

(63,432)

–

(203,660)

(204,750)

256,005

269,647

Note 10 Payables Trade creditors

13,665

8,767

Accrued expenses

6,411

9,070

Provision for Audit

10,000

10,230

9,598

–

Total payables Note 11 Equity and movements in equity (a) Asset revaluation reserve

Note 6 Cash and cash equivalents

Increment/(decrement) – buildings Asset revaluation reserve at end of ﬁnancial year

775,000

300,000

–

(2,064,136)

16,191,962

15,416,962

36 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

37 2008

2007

Fixed Rate

Note 11 Equity and movements in equity ––

Transfer from accumulated surplus/deﬁcit

51,086

–

Carried forward grant monies reserve at end of ﬁnancial year

51,086

–

Transfer from accumulated surplus/deﬁcit

71,500

–

Carried forward donation monies reserve at end of ﬁnancial year

71,500

–

16,314,548

15,416,962

4,021,455

3,500,000

178,545

521,455

4,200,000

4,021,4552

Total reserves

Increase during the period Contributed capital at end of financial year Accumulated surplus/(deficit) at beginning of financial year Net result for the period Transfer to carried forward grant and donation monies reserves Accumulated surplus/(deficit) at end of financial year

(1,792,902)

(1,325,991)

50,251

(466,911)

(122,586)

–

(1,865,237)

(1,792,902)

(f) Nature and purpose of reserves Asset revaluation reserve The asset revaluation reserve is used to record increments on the revaluation of land and buildings, as described in accounting policy note l(e). Carried forward grant and donation monies reserves Grants and donations are reported in the Income Statement in the period in which they are received; and to the extent that monies are not spent, carried forward grant and donation monies reserves are used to record grant and donation monies to be matched for management purposes against expenditure in future periods.

2008 $’000

2007 $’000

405

449

405

449

Receivables

–

Provision for doubtful debts

–

(2)

(13)

(2)

(13)

405

449

436

522

Non-interest bearing 2008 2007 $’000 $’000

Total

2008 $’000

2007 $’000

Financial assets Cash and Deposits

Weighted average effective interest rate

–

5.5 – 6% Fixed Rate 2008 $’000

2007 $’000

–

375

439

Financial liabilities Trade Creditors

(e) Accumulated surplus (deﬁcit)

Total

2007 $’000

(d) Contributed capital Contributed capital at beginning of ﬁnancial year

Total

2008 $’000

(b) Carried forward grant monies reserve Carried forward grant monies reserve at beginning of ﬁnancial year

Non-interest bearing 2008 2007 $’000 $’000

Employee Beneﬁts Net ﬁnancial assets (liabilities) Weighted average effective interest rate

0 – 9.5%

(c) Fair value of financial assets and liabilities The fair value of cash and cash equivalents and non-interest bearing monetary financial assets and financial liabilities of the Trust approximates their carrying amounts. (d) Ageing of trade & other receivables The ageing of Trade & Other Receivables at reporting date was: 2008 $

2007 $

Current (not yet overdue)

4,895

37,262

Note 12 Financial instruments

Past due by up to 30 days

14,932

5,310

(a) Credit risk exposure

Past due between 31 and 180 days

2,619

10,513

Past due between 181 and 365 days

10,690

2,882

Total trade & other receivables

33,136

55,966

The credit risk on ﬁnancial assets of the Trust which have been recognised on the Balance Sheet is generally the carrying amount, net of any provisions for doubtful debts. (b) Interest risk exposure The Trust's exposure to interest rate risk-and the effective weighted average interest rate by maturity periods is set out in the following table. Exposures arise predominantly from assets and liabilities bearing variable interest rates as the Trust intends to hold ﬁxed rate assets and liabilities to maturity.

(e) Movement in provision for doubtful debts 2008 $ Balance at the beginning of the year Add: new provisions recognised during the year Less: Amounts already provided for and written off as uncollectable Balance at end of year

13,122 1,200 (12,441) 1,881

38 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 13 Ministers and accountable ofﬁcers

Note 14 Remuneration of auditors

The persons who held position of Minister and Accountable Ofﬁcer in the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust were as follows:

Audit fees paid or payable to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Ofﬁce for audit of the

Minister for Women’s Affairs

The Hon Jacinta Allan MP

June 2008

The Hon Maxine Morand MP

August 2007 to June 2008

Trust’s ﬁnancial report.

to August 2007

Amounts relating to Ministers are reported in the ﬁnancial statements of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

2008 $

2007 $

10,000

10,230

Note 15 Employee beneﬁts

Chairperson

Catherine Brown

June 2007

to June 2008

Members

Provision for employee beneﬁts

Laurie Bebbington

June 2007

to June 2008

Michelle Beveridge

June 2007

to June 2008

Current

10,288

20,870

Aggregate employee beneﬁt liability

10,288

20,870

Tamara Brezzi

June 2007

to June 2008

Abigail Burchill

June 2007

to April 2008

Maree Davidson

June 2007

to June 2008

Number

Gaye Hamilton

June 2007

to June 2008

Jean Ker Walsh

June 2007

to June 2008

Vivienne Nguyen

June 2007

to June 2008

Kay Setches

June 2007

to June 2008

Lee Ward

June 2007

to June 2008

Janet Wood

June 2007

to June 2008

Cheryl Teng

June 2007

to Jan 2008

Margaret Burdeu

Jan 2008

to June 2008

General Managers

Employee Numbers Number of employees at end of ﬁnancial year No amount is assessed for long service leave for 2008 (no amount was assessed for 2007) Employees’ Superannuation Funds Superannuation contributions for the reporting period are included as part of the salaries and associated costs in the Income statement of the Trust. The name and details of the major employee superannuation funds and contributions made by the Trust are as follows: Contributions outstanding at year end 2008 2007 $ $

Remuneration Remuneration received or receivable by Responsible Persons in connection with the management of the Trust during the reporting period was in the ranges:

$0 – $9,999

2008 No.

2007 No.

$10,000 – $19,999 $20,000 – $29,999 $40,000 – $49,999

$50,000 – $59,999 $60,000 – $69,999

Fund Aus Superannuation

7,879

2,478

517

–

Asgard Superannuation

4,179

4,307

(305)

Health Super

382

–

Care Super

750

–

556

–

Hesta

$30,000 – $39,999

$70,000 – $79,999

12,152

17,121

(1,143)

MTAA Superannuation

436

–

249

–

Recruitment Super

632

–

347

–

UniSuper

914

–

254

–

VicSuper

16,428

–

7,467

–

Vision Super

$80,000 – $89,999 $90,000 – $99,999

Number of persons

Total remuneration

$134,535

$131,899

Other transactions Other related transactions and loans requiring disclosure under the Directions of the Minister for Finance have been considered and there are no matters to report.

Contributions for the year end 2008 2007 $ $

Total

957

–

43,815

24,863

9,598

(1,448)

The bases for contributions are determined by the various schemes. The above amounts were measured as at 30 June of each year, or in the case of employer contributions they relate to the years ended 30 June.

40 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

041

Note 16 Reconciliation of result to net cash ﬂow from operating actvities

Net result for the period

2008 $

2007 $

50,251

(466,911)

Depreciation

209,681

479,963

Increase/(decrease) in provision for doubtful debts

(11,241)

–

Change in operating assets and liabilities (Increase)/decrease in debtors and receivables (Increase)/decrease in prepayments

46,529

(2,931)

235,120

(241,261)

Increase/(decrease) in creditors and accruals

5,468

3,528

Increase/(decrease) in employee beneﬁts

2,540

15,919

Increase/(decrease) in other operating liabilities

(19,281)

–

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

519,067

(211,693)

Note 17 Contingent liabilities and contingent assets There were no contingent liabilities or contingent assets as at the reporting date. Note 18 Operating lease commitments At balance date, the total revenue contracted but not yet recognised in the ﬁnancial report is as follows: 2008 $

2007 $

– No later than one year

351,485

343,242

– Later than one year but no later than ﬁve years

362,030

351,823

713,515

695,065

Operating lease commitments receivable:

ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER’S AND GENERAL MANAGER’S DECLARATION We certify that the attached financial statements for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust have been prepared in accordance with Standing Direction 4.2 of the Financial Management Act 1994, applicable Financial Reporting Directions and Australian accounting standards. We further state that, in our opinion, the information set out in the income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, cash flow statement and notes to and forming part of the financial statements, presents fairly the financial transactions during the year ended 30 June 2008 and the financial position of the Trust as at 30 June 2008. We are not aware of any circumstance that would render any particulars included in the financial statements to be misleading or inaccurate.

Margaret Burdeu General Manager Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Level 1, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

Catherine Brown Chairperson Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Level 1, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 43 Shilling Fund Donors 2007–08

The QVWC Trust thanks all those who have given generously to the Shilling Fund in 2007-08, helping the Centre to support women as together, we create and shape the future. Yvonne Abolins, ACM-W, Marguerita Adamson, Fiona Adamson, Jenk Akyalcin, Akyalcin family, Alfred Hospital Social Workers, Jacinta Allan, Christine Allen, David Allen, Katerina Angelopoulos, Andrea Appleby, Shelley Archer, Judith Arnott, Australia Post–Victoria/Tasmania, Australian Education Union Victoria Branch, Australian Workers Union Victorian Branch, Julie Badger, Jim Badger, Jo Bailey, Sari Baird, Ruth Bartle, Kirsten Bauer, Edwin Beacham, Jennifer Beacham, Jo Beaumont, Laurie Bebbington, Therese Bell, Ava Beryman, Thomas Beryman, Michelle Beveridge, Liz Billings, Jason Blake, Marilyn Born, Ralda Bourne, Mary Brabenec, Tiani Bradilovic, Frances Brady, Tim Brady, Peter Brady, Mary Brady, Lynne Breese, Tamara Brezzi, Viki Briggs, Candy Broad, Anne Brooks, Susan Louise Brookes, Jillian Brookes, Catherine Brown, Janet Brown, Maryann Brown, Marshall Browne, Brunswick Women's Choir, Melinda Buckland, Helen Burbery, Margaret Burdeu, Christine Camillen, Valerie Campbell, Annette Carey, Iris Carlin, CEPU Plumbing Division Victorian Branch, Anne Champness, Ginetta Chiodo, Catherine Clancy, Susan Clarke, John Cleghorn, Lucille Clements, Jenni Colwill, Community & Public Sector Union SPSF Group Victorian Branch, Josie Conway, Gary Conway, Margaret Cosgriff, Pam Cowell, Cheryl Cox, Maryanne Craker, Helen Creed, May Emma Cunningham, Dalice Dalton, Kaye Darveniza, Cheryl Davenport, Terry Davey, Maree Davidson, Davidson family, Robert Davie, Susan Margaret Davies, Amanda De Lacy, Marion de Laine, Stephen de Laine, Ian de Laine, Geoff de Laine, Mary Delahunty, Jesse Di Campli San Vito, Claire Dickson, Peter Dixon, Loutini Douveas, Dromkeen, Joanne Duncan, Judy Durr, Julie Ellerton, Ken Farnes, Sue Farrant, Beatrice Faust, Jill Fenton Taylor, Finance Sector Union of Australia Victoria/Tasmanian Branch, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Patricia Flores, Flores family, Marray Frazer, Elita Frazer, Buttons at IWD stalls, 2008 Photo by Bindi Cole

Georgina Frazer, Beryl Gabb, Tonia Galvin, John Gault, Janina M Gawler, Sharon Gibbard, Linelle Gibson, Patricia Gillard, Alistair Gillard, Alexander Gillard, Julian Gillard, Xavier Gillard, Samuel Gillard, Judith Graley, Shirley Gray, Kerry Greenwood, Helen Grieger, Kylie Grieger, Marija Groen, Peter Gunn, Vivien Gunn, Manfred Hacker, Jane Haley, Susan Halliday, Gaye Hamilton, Roy Hamilton, Kathy Hancock, Monica Haring, Julie Hartney, Hawthorn Community House, Marleen Hengeveld, Martin Hengeveld, Janelle Hickey, Jean Hodges, Christopher Hodges, Alastair Hodges, Karla Hogg, Kaye Holz, Andrea Hull, Hutch Hatice Hussein, Diane Indrans, Margaret Jackson, Sharryn Jackson, Sally Jennings, Barbara Jennings, Bonnie Jephcott, Chris Jephcott, Louise Joy, Rosemary Joy, Timothy Joy, David Joy, Colleen Jreissati, Elias Jreissati, Jennifer Kamp, Jack Keating, Shirlee Kellett, Sally KentFerguson, Jean Ker Walsh, Jan Kerlin, Ruth Knight, Valerie Korbel, Jordana Kornfeld, Robin Kornfeld, Erin Lalor, Jenny Lalor, John Lalor, Michael Lalor, Peter Lalor, Shirley Lancaster, David Lancaster, Catherine Lang, Craig Langpon, C. Joan Le Messurier, Shaun Leane, Kathleen Leckey, Ruth Lee, Bronwyn Lewis, Wendy Lewis, Susan L'Huillier, Coralie Ling, Morag Loh, Su-Lin Loh, Mei-Lin Loh, Kate Long, Sue Loukomitis, Kate Maclurcan, Peter Maher, Joe Marino, Elaine Marriner, Kirstie Marshall, Maria Marshall, Rhonda McCarthy, Margaret McHugh, Richard McKenzie, Christine McLennan, Ken McNabb, Judith Meehan, Odelia Messer, Anneliese Messer, Emmalaura Messer, Jenny Mikakos, Catriona Milne, Harold Mitchell, John Mogford, Katrina Mohamed, Toni Molony, Claire Moore, Maxine Morand, Leonie Morgan, Jonnie Morris, Trish Morris, Cathie Muller, Janice Munt, Donato Nardella, Kate Nash, Lisa Neville, Vivienne Nguyen, Paul Nicholls, Cathy Nixon, Wade Noonan, Lucienne Noontil, Elizabeth Norton, Jennifer O'Connell, Elizabeth O'Keeffe, Gerard O'Keeffe, Desmond O'Keeffe, Jeanne O’Neill, Kerry O'Shea, Sharon Osman, Jennifer O'Sullivan, OT Australia Victoria, Karen Overington, Sharon Parkin, Jane Patrick, Robert Peck, Marten Peck, Rachel Peck, Peckvonhartel, Susan Pelka, Monica Persson,

Gabrielle Perversi, Elaine Peterson, Jan Pianella, William Pinder, Patricia Pinkpank, Lothar Pinkpank, Carmelo Pisani, Meredith Pritchard, Jaala Pulford, Queen Victoria Women's Centre Trust, Michelle Quigley, Bruce Ratcliff, Margaret Ray, Christine Ray, Stephen Ray, Philippa Ray, Lynne Rayner, Megan Rayner, Moira Rayner, Melba Recordings, Erin Redmond, Robert Reid, Nikki Reid, Evan Reid, Robbie Riddiford, Coral-Lee Robertson, Daniel Robinson, William Robson, Molly Robson, Mark Rochford, Joan Rofe, Hannah Rose, Louise Rose, William Rose, Dorothy Rose, Ada Rudd, Judith Ryan, Monique Sandor, Lisa Sarmas, Johan Scheffer, Carol Schwartz, Chris Scott, Kay Setches, Denis Setches, Michelle Setches, Helen Shannos, Mukta Sharma, Janet Shaw, Gerard Sheehan, Sheehan family, Helen Shepherd, Vivienne Shepherdson, Biserka Siladi, Ian Silk, Margaret Simons, Naseema Sparks, Maree Stanley, Allan Stokes, Robert Stokes, Donna Stone, Leah Stone, Carol Stuart, Jane Sullivan, Ernest Sumner, Di Surgey, Hal Swerissen, Rosalie Sword, Margaret Tarrant, John Taylor, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia 2004 Victorian Branch, Aline Thompson, Genevieve Timmons, John Torpey, Kathleen Townsend, Margaret Tregoning, Gwen Tregoning, Ann Turnbull, Claire Varley, Matthew Varley, Maxwell Varley, Leonard Vary, Mary Veal, Elizabeth Veldhoven, Vic Wic, Victorian ICT for Women Network, Vietnamese Community in Australia (Vic Chapter), Volunteers and Staff at Breacan, Helen Walker, Howard Walker, Kathleen Walker, Gladice Walton, Carolyn Walton, Dianne Walton, Neil Ward, Gwenyth Watson, Julie Watson, Margaret White, Janet Whiting, Susan Wiffen, Caroline Williams Mora, Heidi Winnen, Women in Super, D'Arcy Wood, Dora Wood, Elizabeth WoodEllem, Michael Wooldridge, Mr & Mrs Marcus Worn, Mr & Mrs Douglas Worn, Tracey Wright, A. Kaye Wright, YWCA, Harriet Ziegler

44 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Volunteers Kate Arch-Deacon, Joanne Baker, Pam Carrasco, Jennifer Chau, Liz Cox, Tashia Dixon, Carol Dobson, Fiona Dyer, Diane Forster, Emma Greenwood, Madeleine Hanley, Dearne Herrenberg, Christina Jonsson Pollyanna Lenkic, Julia Mazur, Candice Molnar, Jennifer Patten, Amanda Shermis-Fox, Raylee Sloane, Rebecca Sloane, Candy Spender, Lillian Tann, Clara Wanatirta, Mona Wong, Lorrin Wyndhall, Louiseann Zahra-King Grants

Victorian Government through Ofﬁce of Women’s Policy – Women’s Financial Literacy Project – Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Grants: Celebrating 100 years of Women’s Vote; and – Celebratory Convoy of the Suffragette Journey, Art Walk by Balanceworks, (auspiced by QVWC) – Victorian Government Multicultural Arts Victoria and the Ofﬁce for Women’s Policy – Women Creating Harmony Grants Program CraftingCultural Connections

City of Melbourne Community Services Grants – Women’s Travel Safe Project In-kind donors ASPECT Studios, Australian Federation of International Students, Business Risks International, City of Melbourne, FLAG, Janina Green, New Court Dry Cleaning and Laundry, Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE, QV Property Management, RMIT Student Legal Service, Travellers’ Aid, Victoria Police Crime Prevention Unit – especially Ofﬁcer Melanie Apps, Victorian Women with a Disability Network, and Vision Australia. Special Mentions A special note of thanks goes to the Victorian Government through the Ofﬁce of Women’s Policy for its continued generous support and commitment to the Centre. We would also like to thank our project partners in The SleepSafe Campaign (part of White Ribbon Day 2008): Project 5-O, a coalition of BPW Australia, Soroptimist International, Zonta International, National Council of Women, Federation of University

Women Australia. Special thanks to Helen Brown, UNIFEM representative and ABC journalist, for her role as Master of Ceremonies at the SleepSafe Breakfast and to keynote speaker Brendon Gale. Our sincere gratitude to Dr Anne Summers, for her inspirational keynote address at International Women’s Day 2008. Also special thanks to the City of Melbourne for its talented project team led by Aly O’Brien, Senior Business Trade Advisor and involving Lainie Berka, Toby Hayes Aenea Himbury and Greg Jacobs. We acknowledge the Entwine project partners, the Multicultural Health and Support Service (MHSS) as well as the Victorian Government through the Ofﬁce of Women’s Policy and the Victorian Multicultural Commission for their support of Crafting Cultural Connections through the Women Creating Harmony grants program 2007. Also to Halima Sheikhdin, Multicultural Health and Support Service and Creative Women's Circle for their partnership and collaboration in Creating Cultural Connections.

The Shilling Wall and Shilling Wall garden project involved designers, artists, engineers, landscape designers, project managers, donors and a major partnership with the Victorian Government, which generously supported the construction of the Shilling Wall and Garden amongst a wider refurbishment program. In a neighbourly gesture, BHP Billiton provided sponsorship of $18,500 for planting of the Shilling Wall Garden. Our sincere appreciation goes to Cassandra Fahey and the team at Cassandra Complex, Aspect Studios, Matthew Bird, BHP Billiton, Melinda Buckland, Belinda Jaykiel, Prof Dimity Reed, AM (and QVWC Patron), Ms Jane McAloon, Group Company Secretary at BHP Billion and last but not least, Joy Wandin Murphy, Aboriginal Elder and community champion.

Disclosure Index The Annual Report of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is prepared in accordance with all relevant Victorian legislation. This index has been prepared to facilitate identiﬁcation of our compliance with these statutory disclosure requirements. Manner of establishment & responsible Minister 2, 22-27, 40 Objectives, functions, powers & duties

22-27

Nature & range of services provided

2-21

Organisational structure, names & functional areas of responsibility of senior ofﬁcers Names of board members

21-27 22, 24-25, 40

Workforce data – 2 year comparison

Merit & equity

Signiﬁcant changes in ﬁnancial position

Nil

Objectives & performance against these objectives

Major changes or factors affecting performance

2-27

Subsequent events which will affect operations in future years

Nil

Details of consultancies > $100,000 & total number & cost of those < $100,000

Nil

Major contracts

Nil

Application & Operation of FOI Act 1982

28-29

Application & Operation of Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001

28-29

Building & maintenance provisions of Building Act 1993 28-29 NCP

28-29

OHS

28-29

Availability of other information 28-29 Victorian Industry Participation Policy

28-29