The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival takes place on THE sacred Aboriginal land of the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Birrabirragal, Darug and Dharawal people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the Sydney Basin.
We pay our respects to Elders both past and present, and extend a special acknowledgement to all Rainbow Elders who - as part of the longest continual culture in the world - form the longest continual queer culture in the world. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, skies, waterways and communities. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.
This Annual Report may contain images and the names of people who are no longer with us.
Co-Chairs’ Report
It is so inspiring to think that only two years ago our annual Festival was marching through the COVID-19 pandemic, to then welcome over one million event attendees in Sydney WorldPride toward finally celebrating a true Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2024 under the poignant and ever-relevant theme Our Future...
On the precipice of the 2024 Festival we were so proud to deliver the biggest, boldest and most community-focused calendar of events in our recent history. As our community will well know, the anticipation was met with a number of unprecedented challenges.
The 2024 Festival was set to the backdrop of some turbulent times, with the tragic publicised death of two community members and the unexpected, forced cancellation of Fair Day – all during a time when it has never been more difficult or expensive to operate within the arts and live events industry. In the face of these challenges, we adapted and made changes to mitigate these risks enabling a Festival that truly lived up to and exceeded our expectations. It was a testament to the power of our communities that even through some of the darkest times we’ve faced – we still found hope and used the Festival as an opportunity to come together, celebrate and unite for 17 days of unforgettable Mardi Gras magic.
This year’s Festival welcomed Festival First Light, Bondi Beach Party, Hot Trans Summer, Diamond Dance and Ultra Violet to the Festival calendar – furthering our commitment to finding opportunities for people from across our communities to feel embraced and at home during the annual celebrations.
We still found a place in the record-books for Sydney Mardi Gras, with Darlinghurst seeing a 20% uplift in foot traffic on the Festival’s weekends, including a 76% jump in interstate visitors.
Sydney’s Oxford Street precinct saw the biggest gains, up 38% across the entire festival and up 74% in the evenings. The 2024 Parade Broadcast on ABC reached a staggering 1.86m viewers, ranking as the #1 program of the evening (OzTam).
The work behind the scenes on our Festival goes year-round and our team of dedicated professionals put their heart and soul into carefully curating experiences for the breadth of our community that are engaging, safe and meaningful. That dedication is shared by our volunteers who make so much possible through their long-term commitment and generosity. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our Mardi Gras Members and volunteers, our beloved 78ers and those who have contributed over 45 years to enrich our organisation, and our government, corporate and community partners who continue to stand side-by-side with us to bring together one of the largest LGBTQIA+ Festivals in the world.
We are incredibly proud of the team at Mardi Gras, our communities and our staunch supporters for the truly superhuman task of delivering a Festival that allowed us to come together to reflect, to grieve, to commemorate, to learn and to celebrate together.
With 2024 behind us, we set our sights on 2025 and beyond. With our 50th anniversary drawing nearer, we remind ourselves that we are custodians of both a great legacy and a great responsibility. We must never lose sight of our true purpose: to provide opportunities for connection, celebration and conversation moving toward a world where true equality is achieved for all LGBTQIA+ people. 4 mardigras.org.au
In 2024 we marched into Our Future... with the first full Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival since before the COVID pandemic. The annual celebration took over the city for 17 days of parties, arts, connection and conversation – and I am so proud to present the journey and end point of a truly remarkable year. Emerging from the enormity of Sydney WorldPride, this year’s Festival was tested by a series of significant challenges that shaped our journey. We entered the season with a mix of anticipation and focus. WorldPride’s legacy cast a long, vibrant shadow - however, if WorldPride was a sprint, Mardi Gras is a marathon. For 46 years we’ve been defining Sydney’s identity as an inclusive and diverse city, so our focus remained on the heart of our mission: celebrating and spotlighting our LGBTQIA+ community.
LAUNCHING INTO OUR FUTURE...
Following the lockout laws, COVID pandemic and enormity of Sydney WorldPride it was clear to us that a return to community was what our Festival needed. With this in mind, Our Future... was born.
This year’s theme was an opportunity for us to come together and envision the future we so rightfully deserve – a future where our library books, drag performers and basic rights aren’t at risk. A future where our trans and gender diverse siblings aren’t facing the harshest laws in NSW out of any Australian state or territory. A future where discrimination, prejudice and harm aren’t protected by law. We welcomed a community cast to the Sydney Mardi Gras family and recreated 10 tarot cards to form our campaign – the Mardi Gras Major Arcana. A world we welcomed you all into with open arms, and hope you enjoy for years to come.
BIGGEST & BOLDEST PROGRAM
Our community focus went beyond the theme and the campaign and into the Festival itself. With 7 new or reimagined events it was our biggest, boldest and most community-focused calendar in our history. The first of these – Festival First Light – was a reverent and incredibly special moment for our organisation, brought to life with the generosity of Aunty Nadeena Dixon, Gadigal, Dharawal, Bidjigal and Dharug Decendant and the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dance Group who welcomed Festival-goers onto the unceded land.
Ultra Violet and Bondi Beach Party – both inherited from Sydney WorldPride – made their Mardi Gras debuts with resounding success, giving thousands of people from our beautiful communities an opportunity to celebrate, connect and witness the wonder of our Festival. Brand new addition Hot Trans Summer truly made a splash as the first trans and gender diverse event Sydney Mardi Gras has ever done – I could not be more proud to welcome this to our annual calendar.
Festival First Light, Ultra Violet, Bondi Beach Party and Hot Trans Summer of course joined all the regular Sydney Mardi Gras favourites – culminating in the 46th annual Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and Mardi Gras Party, which holds a 40+ year legacy as one of the best and most important dancefloors for our communities.
COMING TOGETHER
Through the joy and celebration the 2024 Festival was set to a turbulent backdrop. With the arts and live events industry crumbling, it was clear to us that there was never a more expensive or challenging time to put on a major Festival – it has forced us to innovate and carefully adapt how we deliver our events, something that will stay with us for years to come.
No one could have anticipated the forced cancellation of our beloved Fair Day due to asbestos in Victora Park – the loss of this event in 2024 shook the organisation, with its impact felt across artists and stallholders, our suppliers and supporters. We’re looking forward to welcoming over 90% of the stallholders from 2024, who rolled over their inclusions for 2025.
Our community’s ability to embrace both grief and joy was tested by the tragic loss of two beautiful community members. In a poignant tribute, the Parade featured a moment of silence led by our protectors, the Dykes on Bikes, who offered a space for reflection and honoured Jesse and Luke’s memory. We’re thankful to their families and all those involved to make that moment happen for our communities.
2025 AND BEYOND
Through it all, Sydney Mardi Gras never stops marching. And that is our commitment to you, our communities – the beating heart of everything we do – that we will never stop marching.
The following pages detail one of the most joyous, triumphant and turbulent Festivals we’ve ever seen – and I’m incredibly grateful to the fabulous Mardi Gras staff who work tirelessly to bring our events to life, the volunteers who dedicate hours of their time making everything seamless and our community, government and corporate partners who are by our sides.
The 2024 Festival theme Our Future... was born out of Sydney Mardi Gras HQ, with the staff, our stakeholders and Sydney Mardi Gras family all contributing to the development of one of our most provocative themes in years.
With the goal to spark conversation, define the road ahead and reintroduce Sydney Mardi Gras to the world, Our Future was an open invitation for the global LGBTQIA+ communities to evoke the bright futures for ourselves we so rightfully deserve.
Our Future was designed to be more than a theme – it was a call to action that will live on through the Festival and beyond. The ethos of the theme guided the programming of the Festival – with
2024 being the biggest, boldest and most community-minded calendar of events in recent history.
Throughout the development of the theme, it was clear that iconic visuals were key to standing out. We looked back on the wattle warriors from 1995, the butterflies of evolution and the wondrous worlds of past Sleeze-Balls, and we were determined to deliver an eye-catching creative.
A big, bold, community-minded Festival with a big, bold and community-minded theme needed visuals to match – so we brought to life the Mardi Gras Major Arcana. Ten community members as ten tarot card recreations to take us into Our Future... FU
Ours to define, ours to create, ours to DEMAND and ours to protect. Our future is in danger our future is limitless, our future is beautiful and our future is in our hands.
It’s informed by our past, impacted by our present ours to manifest and full of endless possibilities.
It’s protecting queer children, it’s honouring our pioneers - our future is our calling and our future is unclear.
It’s the time of trans triumphs and the true meaning of free, it’s knowing what always was, always will be.
It’s dance floors and dark halls for all who we’ve lost. It’s freedom through music, love for all at no cost.
It’s our future, no question – our divine intervention.
No matter their plan, debate or delusion – we’ll make it clear so there is no confusion…
We are not Going Anywhere .
Fest ival First Light
16 February
As the sun peaked over the horizon on the first day of the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, we gathered in Taylor Square to celebrate our 46th Festival taking place on the lands of the longest continuous culture in the world. Free to join, the Ceremony saw Aunty Nadeena Dixon Welcoming us to Country with a Smoking Ceremony and dancers from the Buuja BuujaButterfly Dance Group.
Parade
2 March
Over 200 floats from every corner of our communities filled Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade with music and magic for the 46th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
As always, our fearless protectors, Dykes on Bikes, the First Nations Community Float and our beloved 78ers lead the way for over 12,000 marchers as they brought to life the 2024 Festival theme Our Future…
2 March
Diamond Club Club Cindy Ruby Road Sideshow
Diamond Club continued its reign in 2024 as one of the hottest tickets of the Festival and its new expansion ‘Diamond Club Roadside’ meant more people than ever could experience all the premium area has to offer.
Presented by Optus
2 March
With hosts keeping you up to speed with all the tea on the floats that pass by, exclusive bars and amenities – Sideshow is a staple in the Parade experience.
Sideshow was the first Parade Viewing Area to reach SOLD OUT status.
2 March
Club Cindy returned in 2024 as the hottest club on the Mardi Gras Parade strip.
2 March
Ruby Road did not proceed in 2024, with all ticketholders upgraded to Club Cindy.
Fair Day
18 February
The City of Sydney and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announced that Fair Day 2024 in Victoria Park will be cancelled. On Monday 12 February, 2024 following advice from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) about asbestos contamination in mulch, test results found bonded asbestos at Victoria Park. Following a more detailed investigation into
2-3 March
10 hours. 6 venues. 50+ artists. For decades the dancefloors of Mardi Gras Party have taken the world into its hypnotic grip, and 2024 was a whole new chapter in that history. With renowned performers joining acclaimed international and interstate DJsthe biggest overnight LGBTQIA+ party in Australasia showcased the epitome of queer celebration.
Adam Lambert,
plus more.
the safety concerns at Victoria Park, it has become clear to the City of Sydney and Sydney Mardi Gras that an event of the scale of Fair Day was unable to proceed.
Every year over 70,000 people take over Victoria Park for our rampant rainbow extravaganza. Fair Day goes from day-to-night as every corner of our communities come together to celebrate all things LGBTQIA+SB joy. CANCELLED.
Bondi Beach Party
24 February
It was back beaches! The biggest party of the 2024 Festival saw us return to our most iconic shores for Bondi Beach Party – Sydney Mardi Gras edition.
Artists: Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Slayyyter, Lagoon Femshayma, Jay Jay Revlon, Corey Craig, Josh Harrison, Beth Yen, Tyoow, Mama de Leche.
Artists:
CeCe Peniston, Ultra Naté, Patrick Mason, Monki, Moto Blanco, AK Sports,
Ultra Violet
17 February
Making its Sydney Mardi Gras debut in 2024, Ultra Violet was a wondrous world curated by and for LGBTQIA+ women and their nearest and dearest. With three electric stages taking over the National Art School on the opening weekend of the Festival, the atmosphere was pure Mardi Gras magic.
Artists: MAY-A, Angela Hogan, Baby Ruin, BVT, Club Chrome, crescendoll, DJ Sveta, Esteé Louder, Gemma, HipHopHoe, Jacqui Cunningham, Kathryn Williams, KHYA, Kilimi, Kinky D, Mirasia and more.
Curators: Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill
Laneway
3 March
From a few milk crates on Hill Street to the renowned Festival finisher – Laneway is the ultimate way to end the Sydney Mardi Gras celebrations, taking over community favourite The Beresford from top to bottom, and spilling out onto Hill Street.
Artists: Cub Sport, Amanda Louise, Atomic Kiss, Brad James, Charlie Villas, Cliterally, Dan Azzo, Division 4, DJ Eddie, Esteé Louder, FLATLINE, Fragile Future, Jesse Boyd, Tonky, Victoria Anthony and more.
Sissy Ba
24 February
The regal and the ravenous ran wild at Sydney Town Hall for the biggest vogue ball in the Southern Hemisphere: Sissy Ball. Godmother of Australian ballroom Kilia concluded her reign as Curator as houses from across the country battled it out for their 10s.
Queer
Art After Hours
Presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales
28 February
Established as a platform for LGBTQIA+ artists, performers and storytellers, the annual Queer Art After Hours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales Wales saw record-level attendance and was a true testament to to the vibrancy of queer culture in Sydney.
Kaftana Pool Party
21 February
Arguably the most fabulous event of the Festival calendar, Kaftana Pool Party was a smorgasbord of colour and glamour. The ultimate field of fab frocks and locks, drag artists, cabaret performers and divine DJs ran rampant as the palm trees swayed and the cabana cocktails flowed at Sydney’s iconic ivy pool.
Hot Trans Summer
22 February
Curated for trans and gender diverse people, by trans and gender diverse people, and featuring an all trans and gender diverse line up - 2024 was truly a Hot Trans Summer!
The newest addition to the Sydney Mardi Gras calendar was a total trans takeover of Glass Island where guests soaked up the Sydney summer sun on the multi-level, safe and affirming floating oasis.
26 February
The global gathering saw international, interstate and locals meet at the Sydney-favourite ivy Pool Bar. DJs from across the country saw party-goers soak up the summer sun in week two of the Festival.
Paradiso Pool Party Laugh Out Proud
23 February
Off the back of four sold-out years, Laugh Out Proud was back at the Enmore Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s Inner West.
Hosted By: Zoë Coombs Marr
Comedy By: AJ Lamarque · Aurelia St Clair · Bob Downe · Eli Matthewson · Michelle Brasier Steven Oliver · Wandi Cao
Progress Pride Flag
Raising
Ceremony
Presented by City of Sydney 16 February - 3 March
From 16 February until 3 March the progress pride flew atop one of the city’s most iconic buildings – Sydney Town Hall. Everyone was invited to join us outside Sydney Town Hall as we raised the flag to officially mark the beginning of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024.
Diamond Dance
Presented in partnership with Pollys Club and Dykes on Bikes 29 February
Taking over Paddington Town Hall, an instrumental venue in the history of the Festival, Diamond Dance took us on a journey through time as all the classics from the 80s, 90s and early 00s brought together people of all ages, across the LGBTQIA+ communities to dance, dazzle and meet new friends.
Mardi Gras and Partnered Events
• Queer Screen’s 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival 15 - 29 February | Presented by Queer Screen
• Oxtravaganza
15 - 29 February | Presented by Darlinghurst Business Partnership
• Festival First Light 16 February
• Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony
• 16 February | Presented by City of Sydney
• Minus18 Queer Formal
17 February | Presented by Minus18
• Ultra Violet
• 17 February
• Fair Day 18 February [CANCELLED]
• Queer Contemporary
19 February - 9 March | Presented by National Art School
• Kaftana Pool Party
• 21 February
• Hot Trans Summer 22 February
• Laugh Out Proud
• 23 February
• Marks Park Dawn Sunrise Service of Reflection
• 24 February | Presented by Bronte Surf Club, ACON, Waverley Council
• Bondi Beach Party 24 February
• Sissy Ball
• 24 February
• Darlo Big Drag Brunch
February | Presented by Darlinghurst Business Partnership
• Queer Futures
February [CANCELLED]
• Living History Walk: Liberation and Law Reform
February | Presented by Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
• Paradiso Pool Party
• Queer Art After Hours
February | Presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Zoo Walk with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
February | Presented by Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
• Diamond Dance
February | Co-presented with Pollys Club and Dykes on Bikes
• & JULIET Mardi Gras Performance
1 March | Presented by Michael Cassel Group in association with MTM/LeyLine
• 46th annual Sydney Mardi Gras Parade 2 March
• Diamond Club
• Sideshow
March | Presented by Optus
• Club Cindy
• Ruby Road
March [CANCELLED]
• Mardi Gras Party 2 & 3 March
• Laneway 3 March
Grants
In 2024, we continued our program of community grants supported by our valued partners. Two grant programs were delivered, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Grants, supported by Google Australia and the Qantas Regional Grants programme supported by W Hotels. The Grants programme contributed more than $75,000 in cash to our communities, alongside additional value in kind support from Qantas and W Hotels.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Grants Program are designed to fund and support a diverse range of communities, provide grants to individuals and not-for-profit groups to help lift their Mardi Gras Parade entries to a completely new artistic level.
Recipient List: ACON, Trans Pride Australia, Haka for Life, Party Passport, Selamat Datang Community, Building Pride, Australian Asexuals, Tamworth Pride Inc, Autism Spectrum Australia, Queer Arab Alliance, Positive Life NSW, Big Thick Energy, First Peoples Disability Network, and Different Strokes Dragon Boat Club
The Qantas Sydney Mardi Gras Regional Grants program supported by W Hotels provided an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ individuals who live in regional Australia to attend the 2024 Festival and the Parade. The program provided one grant per state/territory to applicants that best demonstrated how they have fostered LGBTQIA+ inclusion in their local communities.
Recipient list
• Racquel Robinson, Port Macquarie, NSW
• Georgia Berechree, Burnie, TAS
• Rebecca Percival, West Busselton, WA
• Zee Parks, Sunshine Coast, QLD
• Roxy Robson, Toorak, VIC
• Thomas Lockyer, South Headland, WA
• David Toro Tole, Darwin, NT
• Sophia Alston, Carnarvon, WA
ACON
First Peoples Disability Network
Selamat Datang Community
Queer Arab Alliance
Tamworth Pride Inc
Building Pride
Positive Life NSW
Big Thick Energy
Trans Pride Australia
Community
Mardi Gras proudly engages a variety of community organisations to both collaborate with and uplift one another’s works for the benefit of our communities.
This year our community partners were:
• ACON
• Australia & New Zealand Tongzhi Rainbow Alliance (ANTRA)
• BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
• Equality Australia
• Minus18
• People With Disability Australia
• Queer Screen
• Rainbow Families
• Twenty10
Some highlights of our work together include:
• Providing connections with our Partners, who in turn provided grants and funding
• Sponsoring Minus18’s Queer Formal® 2024
• Promoting various community partner events and campaigns like ACON’s Memorial Service, Minus18’s Queer Formal Rainbow Families events, workshops and seminars, Queer Screens Film Festival and the work of Equality Australia.
• Many of our community partners also marched in the Parade, proudly spreading a message of love and acceptance!
Committees
78ERS COMMITTEE
The committee is comprised of six representatives elected from our current Mardi Gras 78ers Lifetime Membership who were active at Mardi Gras and other LGBTQIA+ rights events in 1978.
Members:
• Helen Gollan (she/her)
• Karl Zlotkowski (he/him)
• Penny Gulliver (she/her)
• Rebbell Barnes (he/him)
• David Abell (he/him)
PEOPLE AND NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Members:
• Alastair Lawrie
• Diana McManus (she/her)
• Mel Schwerdt (she/her)
• Stacy Warren
• Michael Rolik (he/him)
• Luc Velez (he/him)
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
Members:
• Brandon Bear (he/they)
• Catherine Olivier
• Darwyn Jolly
• Peter Fu
• Felix Feist
• Kyriakos Gold (he/they)
• Kathy Pavlich (she/her)
Corporate Partnerships
Partnerships are important to us, and we value the active engagement of our partners with our LGBTQIA+ communities. The financial support of our partners enables us to hold more events, make them accessible to more community members, and allow us to pay our staff, artists and creatives. Aside their financial support, it’s equally important that our partners align with our values.
For the 2024 Festival all new partners were assessed using our Ethical Charter framework, allowing us to fully understand how partners meet and maintain ethical standards and alignment with our values and those of our communities. Through this process, both potential partners and partners who were the right fit for us were identified, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring value alignment with our organisation and communities.
By developing and fostering strong relationships with government and businesses, we can provide significant resources which increase the accessibility of our events, activities and community involvement in the Festival.
Sydney Mardi Gras cash income in 2024 increased 19% on the previous year, with combined government and corporate investment of $5,726,606. Value-in-kind investment from both government and corporate organisations was an additional $3,285,000.
Sydney Mardi Gras continued its valued partnership with Destination NSW, with the iconic Sydney Mardi Gras Parade marching down it’s now heritage-listed route. The City of Sydney also continued to support Sydney Mardi Gras and LGBTQIA+ communities by providing support to increase patronage to retail and hospitality venues along Oxford Street and the Surry Hills and Darlinghurst areas. In addition, the City of Sydney provided value-in-kind for city flags and the use of Sydney Town Hall. Together, Destination NSW and the City of Sydney provided us with the additional recovery package funding of $1,100,000 during the 2024 Festival following the cancellation of Fair Day. We’re extremely grateful for this support of Sydney Mardi Gras during such a challenging time organisation, demonstrating the integral role Sydney Mardi Gras plays in the cultural fabric of our city.
Sydney Mardi Gras celebrated its third year with American Express as Principal Partner and second year with Coles Group as Presenting Partner.
Sydney Mardi Gras would like to acknowledge and thank all our Partners for their contribution to our organisation, Festival and LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Principal Partner: American Express
• Strategic Sponsor: Destination NSW
• Government Partner: City of Sydney
• Presenting Partner: Coles Group
• Official Broadcast and Media Partner: ABC and triple j
• Major Partners: Deloitte, Little Creatures, Mecca Max, Minter Ellison, Optus, P&G, Qantas, and W Hotels
• Media Partners: Meta, oOh!media, and TikTok
• Supporting Partners: Absolut, Archie Rose, Canva, Casamigos, Durex, Johnnie Walker, &Juliet, MG Motors, Oreo, Red Bull, Solotel, Squealing Pig, and Sydney Airport
• Community Partners: ACON, ANTRA, BLAQ, Equality Australia, Minus18, Out for Australia, People with Disability Australia, Rainbow Families and Twenty10
• Festival Partners: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Darlinghurst Business Partnership, IVE Group, National Art School, Original Spin, Queer Screen, Rock Posters, Torch Media, WHSmith, The University of Sydney, and Woolhara Council.
We’d also like to thank Waverley Council, Fourth Wall, SUBVRT, and Sold Out Events for their incredible work and collaboration during the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.
Volunteers
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras OWES OUR ongoing success to the dedication of volunteers who have been involved since OUR inception. Our volunteer team encompasses a diverse range of roles, including a dedicated medical team originally formed in response to the AIDS crisis.
Each year, we are fortunate to have over 2,000 volunteers who contribute to the success of our Festival that spans from mid-February to early March. Their roles include supporting wristbanding, wayfinding, talent coordination, ticket scanning, ushering, medical first aid, accessibility management, media wall supervision, sunflower lanyard provision, crowd control, operations support, and ECR monitoring, to name just a few.
In 2024, we had 2,156 shifts across the Festival covered by volunteers. We welcomed back 1,520 returning volunteers and introduced 636 new volunteers. We simply couldn’t make the Sydney Mardi Gras happen without our volunteers! We relied on incredibly passionate and committed people to make our 2024 Festival the success it was.
Volunteers with Sydney Mardi Gras are engaged, passionate, and committed to LGBTQIA+ diversity and inclusion. They are uniquely connected, often finding themselves and their chosen family here.
Through the Sydney Mardi Gras volunteer program, we provide online and in-person training. With online training modules including LGBTQIA+ Diversity and Inclusion, First Nations Cultural Awareness, Managing Challenging Behaviours, and Access and Inclusion, as well as event-based modules. Additionally, all volunteers were briefed on the day to ensure our values and commitments were upheld.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who give their whole heart to Sydney Mardi Gras, whether returning or new! We extend a heartfelt thank you and look forward to seeing all your faces next season!
During this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Community Awards, we celebrated and honoured individuals within our communitIES who exhibited exceptional dedication to ensuring the success of the 2024 season. These awards were nominated by volunteers and festival members alike .
• Volunteers of The Year: David Robinson & Lori Chacko
• Excellence in Innovation: Ron Boyd & Peter Cowan
• Excellence in Service: Joel McKinnon & Karla Burrows
• Excellence in Leadership: Rod Dever & Fiona Carter
• Excellence in Teamwork: “JP” John Paul Ciappara & Jan Beattie
• Best Newcomer: Bea Chew & Teaghan Barrish
• ICARE Award: Mihal Guttman-Jones & Ryen Partin
• Special Acknowledgement: Christian Lush & Jen Rogers
• Special Commendation: Alan O’Riordan, Adrian Hinder, Avalon Carnall, Cass Britt-Brewster, Cain Cooper, Daniela Plata Acosta, Eva Schafroth, Rahul Marwah, Jose Arthur Barbosa Mileo, Lyne Woods, Meredith Nigh, Paul McInerney & Vanessa Britt
The Sydney Mardi Gras Hall of Fame Award stands as the most esteemed recognition we bestow each year. This honour is reserved for volunteers, activists, and community champions who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and contribution to the Mardi Gras festivities over an extended period of time.
• Hall of Fame Award inductees:
C.Moore Hardy, Damian Furlong, Doris Fish (aka Philip Mills), Graeme Browning (aka Mitzi Macintosh), John Bridges, Kevin Golding, Lynne O’Brien, Nick Parker, Rob Patmore, Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act) and Vicktor Petroff.
Ryen Partin and Mihal Guttman-Jones- ICARE Award
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Sydney Chapter
Jen Rogers & Christian Lush - Special Acknowledgement
Special Commendation
Lori Chacko and David Robinson - Volunteer of the Year
Joel McKinnon & Karla Burrows - Excellence in Service
Ron Boyd - Excellence in Innovation
“JP” John Paul Ciappara & Jan Beattie Excellence in Teamwork
Bea Chew & Teaghan Barrish - Best Newcomer
Board
Brandon Bear (he/they) CO-CHAIR
Mel Schwerdt (she/her) CO-CHAIR
Giovanni Campolo-Arcidiaco (he/him) CHAIR (RETIRED)
Alice Anderson (they/she) DIRECTOR
Kathy Pavlich (she/her) DIRECTOR
Kyriakos Gold (he/him/they/them) DIRECTOR
Louis Hudson (he/him) DIRECTOR
Luc Velez (he/him) DIRECTOR
Corey Trembath (he/him) DIRECTOR (RETIRED)
Skip Blofield (he/him/they/them) DIRECTOR (RETIRED)
Staff
Gil Beckwith (she/her) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Catherine Walker (she/her)
HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER
Nancy Lai (she/her)
HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER
Rebecca O’Donnell (she/her) FINANCE CONSULTANT
FESTIVAL AND EVENTS
PJ Gahan (he/him) DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Ang Sinnett (she/her) BUSINESS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Bel West (she/her)
WORKFORCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
Cass Looveer (she/her) PARADE PRODUCER
Daniel Cottier (they/them) ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Drew Reddy (they/them)
WORKFORCE AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Emily Santiago (she/her) PARADE / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Eves Dryden (she/they)
STALLS AND ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR
Isaac Broadbent (he/him) FESTIVAL AND EVENTS COORDINATOR
Jakob Tate (he/him) FESTIVAL PRODUCER
Kate Monroe (she/her) ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Lauren Hall (she/her) PARADE MANAGER
Lewis Hickson-Yates (he/him) ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Lisa Martin (she/her) FESTIVAL PRODUCER
Liz Carter (she/her) WORKSHOP MANAGER
Rhianne Evelyn-Ross (she/her) ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Saige Browne (she/they) WORKFORCE AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Tracie Miller (she/her) FESTIVAL PRODUCER
PARTNERSHIPS
Mark Driscoll (he/him) DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
Max Tweedie (he/him) PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Samuel Martin (he/him) PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
Amy Goodhew-Banks (she/her) DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
April Kelly (she/her) FESTIVAL TICKETING AND MARKETING COORDINATOR
Dusty Panuccio Hartland (they/them) STRATEGIC INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Eric Lumogdang (he/him) FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Jake Troncone (he/him) FESTIVAL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Joel De Sá (he/him) SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Peaches Rosé (they/them) FESTIVAL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
CONTRACTORS
Bianca Blancato (she/her) TICKETING ADVISOR
Chloe Melick (she/her) HEADLINE TALENT BOOKER
George Savoulis (he/him)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR (MARDI GRAS PARTY, KAFTANA POOL PARTY, PARADISO POOL PARTY, LANEWAY AND FAIR DAY)
Kilia Tipa (she/her) CURATOR (SISSY BALL)
Kimberley Conner (she/her)
MARDI GRAS FLOAT DESIGNER
Jess Hill (she/her) & Sveta Gilerman CURATORS (ULTRA VIOLET)
Matt Fraser (he/him) PUBLICIST
22 mardigras.org.au
EXTENDED FAMILY
Aaron and the team at IVE Group
ACON’s Pride in Sport
Anthony Carthew
Cat, Marc and the team at Moshtix
Craig Sheridan
Daniel and the team at Rock Posters
Forch, Georgia and the team at Foti International Fireworks
Fourth Wall
Greg Mooney
HumanX
Inner City Legal Centre
Mark and the team at Hamiltons
Mel and the team at Glass Island
Members of the 78ers Committee
Members of the Audit and Risk Committee
Members of the First Nations Advisory Group
Members of the Parade Curatorial Committee
Members of the People and Nominations Committee
Members of the Talent Advisory Panel
Metropolitan Community Church
Michael Corbett
Shannon and the team at Aisle6
Sold Out Events
SUBVRT
Tanya, Corey, Shaun and the team at Waverley Council
The Beresford Hotel
The team at Original Spin
The team at Wats On Events
Todd and team at TFH
Trans Pride Australia
Travis, Garry and the team at ACES Security
And so many more at mardigras.org.au
Treasurer’s Report
After a very successful 2023 Festival partnering with Sydney World Pride (SWP), it was imperative that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras reintroduced itself as the premier Pride Festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
Launching the 2024 Festival with the theme, Our Future, we welcomed our community to embrace what that signifies and how we want our future to be.
The 2024 Festival reflected the SWP legacy by including some legacy events, iconic Bondi Beach Party and Ultra Violet. Whilst also introducing new events into the festival, including Festival First Light, Hot Trans Summer, Diamond Dance , and festival favourites, Kaftana, Paradiso, Sissy Ball ending with Parade, Party and Laneway.
For the financial year ended 30 June 2024, the organisation has delivered a net operating deficit of ($1,242,774) based on a defict budget of ($164,761). When adjusting for the community grants and other support measures of $125,000 provided to our members and broader community, the organisation delivered an underlying operating deficit of ($1,117,774).
The following table and graph shows the results of the organisation over the past 5 years.
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
$8,000,000
$6,000,000
$4,000,000
$2,000,000 $0 -$2,000,000
The unique set of circumstances presented in 2024 challenged the organisation.
The board approved an investment year budget (deficit $164,761) with a vision to develop our festival events and address ongoing restrictions at the Entertainment Quarter. Strong results from Bondi Beach Party during the Sydney WorldPride program and support by key stakeholders warranted investment as an ongoing event for SGLMG, that would allow us to continue to develop high quality celebration events for our communities into the future. Our reserves allowed us to take this risk.
Our planning for Bondi Beach Party (and all events) took into account risks that we have successfully managed in the past, and a series of controls were in place to mitigate issues such as lower than expected ticketing numbers. What we were unable to anticipate was the forced cancellation of another large event – Fair Day.
Four days into the Fair Day bump in and past the ability to up and lift the event to an alternate venue, asbestos was detected in Victoria Park. The cancellation of this event had a compounding effect on the organisation –the sunk costs were immense and the media related to the cancellation impacted our ability to market our other events.
The impact of the Fair Day cancellation rebounded throughout the community. Fair Day is one of the pillars of our festival that provides a safe space to catch up with friends and family, coordinate attending our events, connect with community groups and organisations, and celebrate queer artists and performances.
The following week was tragically marked by the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, an unimaginable act of violence casting a pall across the community and the remaining festival events.
The community and organisation tried to come to terms with these deaths.
The Festival proceeded, the cost of living pressures increased and many other established festivals and events struggled to sell tickets, attract talent and experienced continued rising costs resulting in many closing their doors. The post covid impact on our industry was palpable, the organisation absorbing another increase in production costs of 20-40%. SGLMG’s financial result in 2024 was not insulated from these. Despite this, many of our smaller events exceeded forecast ticket sales.
The organisation has also continued the program of community grants and support funded from both operational surpluses and corporate partnership programs, with $125,000 provided this year in community grants and support, taking the total of community grants and festival support provided since 2016 to over $1,844,184. We provided 15 grants totalling $70,000 to Community Groups contributing to their Parade participation. Another 4 Grants totalling $40,000 were provided to other significant Community Groups to support their community work.
Despite these complications, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras delivered season 2024 for the community while taking necessary action to mitigate the impacts of these shocks. The significant remedial action taken during and post season meant that we were able to not only deliver this festival , but also deliver an unqualified audit report with a reserve of $330k.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The complexity of the financial outcome is summarised below. The challenge is to represent all the detail. The team worked hard to make savings across the organisation to mitigate the financial shortfalls, including liaising with our suppliers, to find discounts and savings where possible. Sadly, we needed to make the challenging decision to cancel some key events to save money and poor ticket sales.
• Revenue (ex contra) for the year was a record $11,125,506 with a positive variance to budget of $10,565,692 (5%). The improvement in revenue is a mix of many different factors due to the complexity of the year:
• Ticket Revenue was $4,097,130, an improvement on budget by $3,332,442. This is due to the inclusion of approved additional events including Bondi Beach Party (BBP). Ticket sales were above budget on our smaller events and were below target on our larger events.
• Licences and Fees revenue of $142,204 was below the budget expectation by ($229,946). This was due to the cancellation of Fair Day.
• Sale of Goods of $225,026 was below the budget expectation by ($234,974). This was due to the cancellation of Fair Day.
• Sponsorship Income of $3,585,423 was below budget expectation by ($464,577). This was due to a slowing economy, the less than expected outcome of the finalisation of the SWP 3-year sponsorship share, and an offset of Sponsorship benefits due to the cancellation of Fair Day.
• Government Income is above budget for the year by $1,300,000 due to support received to deliver the 2024 Festival
• Donations of $14,185 was below the budget expectation by ($120,815). This was due to the cancellation of Fair Day, the organisations only festival event donation driver.
• Other Income received of $168,923 was below budget expectation by ($307,177) mainly due to a reduction of the financial SWP legacy.
• Contra Revenue of $1,225,708 was ($641,292) lower than budgeted due the finalisation of the SWP 3-year sponsorship share.
• Cost of Sales (ex Contra), the direct cost of holding events was $10,051,252 compared to a budget of $8,251,827 (-22%). The increase to budget of $1,799,425 principally relates to:
• The investment in potential growth events and events for emerging communities such as BBP, Ultra Violet, and Hot Trans Summer.
• The cancellation of Fair Day triggered activation of community connections to make savings across all budgeted events of $780,343.00.
• A further $771,785 of savings were made in Cost of Sales across the additional approved investment events.
• Overhead Costs were $2,317,028 which was under budget by $161,598 (7%). Again, this was the organisation responding to and finding savings where possible.
• The Net Operating Deficit of ($1,242,774), is more than the original Approved Budget Deficit of ($164,761). It is a negative variance to budget of ($1,078,013) and reflects the unprecedented turbulent events that impacted the festival. The organisation knew that 2024 would be challenging due to the huge SWP/SGLMG 2023 festival and trying to meet community expectations of a festival post a WorldPride festival, however not to this extent.
REVENUE — ACTUAL VS BUDGET (EXCLUDES CONTRA)
$7,000,000
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
$3,000,000
$2,000,000
$1,000,000 $0
TICKETSALES
COST OF SALES — ACTUAL VS BUDGET (EXCLUDES CONTRA)
$4,000,000
$3,500,000
TICKETINGLICENSE&FEES
OVERHEAD COST — ACTUAL VS BUDGET (EXCLUDES CONTRA)
$2,000,000
$1,800,000
$1,600,000
$1,400,000
$1,200,000
$1,000,000 800,000 600,000
COST OF SALES
SEGMENT REPORTING
Parade Segment
The Parade on Oxford Street was a huge success for participants, and those that joined us on the street or watched the broadcast. The overall deficit outcome of the event was more than the prior year’s Parade by $605,387, reflective of the extra compliance costs for the event. The outcome of the event was a deficit of $1,618,561 (60% increase) compared to $1,013,174 in 2023 and $782,288 in 2022.
Celebration Segment
As noted below, the smaller ticketed events did well. However, the larger events struggled in the economic environment. Cost saving mitigation strategies were implemented to reduce impact of slow ticket sales. Each year the organisation leans into the uniqueness of our events in a highly competitive market whilst remaining true to the DNA of our events.
Overall, excluding the results of BBP, the segment resulted in a deficit of ($158,324) for 2024 compared to a surplus of $152,326 in 2023.
Festival Segment
Festival operations produced a deficit of ($632,509), compared to a surplus of $19,966 in 2023. This shows the impact of the cancellation of Fair Day, a variance of ($652,475)
Community Grants
The organisation continued the grants partnership with Google with $70,000 distributed in Community Grants and Parade Grants nationally. The organisation facilitated a number of smaller community groups receiving community grants through our relationships with our partners, to engage and support their valuable work.
The organisation has now delivered over $1,844,184 in community grants and festival support funded by corporate partnerships with Google, ANZ and Facebook and from the organisation’s own surpluses, since 2016.
Auditor’s independence declaration to the directors of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd
In relation to our audit of the financial report of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd for the financial year ended 30 June 2024 , and in accordance with the requirements of Subdivision 60-C of the Australian Charities and Not -for-profits Commission Act 2012 , to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:
a. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of any applicable code of professional conduct; and
b. No non-audit services provided that contravene any applicable code of professional conduct.
This declaration is in respect of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd and the entities it controlled during the financial year.
Ernst & Young
Daniel Cunningham Partner
Sydney 29 October 2024
Tel: +61 2 9248 5555
Fax: +61 2 9248 5959 ey.com/au
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd
Report on the financial report
Opinion
We have audited the financial report of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd (the Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively the Group), which comprises the consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2024, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes to the financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policy information , and the directors’ declaration.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of the Group is in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 , including:
a. G iving a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 30 June 2024 and of its consolidated financial performance for the year ended on that date; and
b. Complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulations 2022.
Basis
for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board ’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Information other than the financial report and auditor’s report thereon
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information is the directors ’ report accompanying the financial report.
Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial report or our knowledge obtained in the audit o r otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of the directors for the financial report
The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and the Australian Charities and Not -for-profits Commission Act 2012 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group ’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic al ternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor ’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstateme nts can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.
As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
► Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis fo r our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
► Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control.
► Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.
► Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors ’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group ’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opi nion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor ’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern.
► Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
► Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Group to express an opinion on the financial report. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the Group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.
We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Report on the requirements of the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the NSW Charitable Fundraising Regulation
We have audited the financial report as required by Section 24(1) of the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991. Our procedures included obtaining an understanding of the internal control structure for fundraising appeal activities and examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting compliance with the accounting and associated record keeping requirements for fundraising appeal activities pursuant to the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the NSW Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021 .
Because of the inherent limitations of any assurance engagement, it is possible that fraud, error or non-compliance may occur and not be detected. An audit is not designed to detect all instances of non-compliance with the requirements described in the abo ve-mentioned Act and Regulation as an audit is not performed continuously throughout the period and the audit procedures performed in respect of compliance with these requirements are undertaken on a test basis. The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.
Ernst & Young
Daniel Cunningham Partner
Sydney 29 October 2024
Ernst & Young
200 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
GPO Box 2646 Sydney NSW 2001
Tel: +61 2 9248 5555
Fax: +61 2 9248 5959 ey.com/au
Auditor’s independence declaration to the directors of Mardi Gras Arts Ltd
In relation to our audit of the financial report of Mardi Gras Arts Ltd for the financial year ended 30 June 2024, and in accordance with the requirements of Subdivision 60-C of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 , to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been :
a. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of any applicable code of professional conduct; and
b. No non-audit services provided that contravene any applicable code of professional conduct.
Ernst & Young
Daniel Cunningham Partner
Sydney 29 October 2024
Ernst & Young
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia GPO Box 2646 Sydney NSW 2001
Tel: +61 2 9248 5555
Fax: +61 2 9248 5959 ey.com/au
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Mardi Gras Arts Ltd
Report on the financial report
Opinion
We have audited the financial report of Mardi Gras Arts Limited (the Company), which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2024, the statement of profit or loss, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes to the financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policy information , and the directors ’ declaration.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of the Company is in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 , including:
a. G iving a true and fair view of the Company ’s financial position as at 30 June 2024 and of its financial performance for the year ended on that date; and
b. Complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulations 2022.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board ’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Information other than the financial report and auditor’s report thereon
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information is the directors ’ report accompanying the financial report.
Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial report or our knowledge obtained in the audit o r otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of the directors for the financial report
The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and the Australian Charities and Not -for-profits Commission Act 2012 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Company ’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor ’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstateme nts can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.
As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
► Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis fo r our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
► Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control.
► Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.
► Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors ’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company ’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor ’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our o pinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor ’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
► Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Report on the requirements of the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the NSW Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021
We have audited the financial report as required by Section 24(1) of the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991. Our procedures included obtaining an understanding of the internal control structure for fundraising appeal activities and examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting compliance with the accounting and associated record keeping requirements for fundraising appeal activities pursuant to the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 and the NSW Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2021
Because of the inherent limitations of any assurance engagement, it is possible that fraud, error or non-compliance may occur and not be detected. An audit is not designed to detect all instances of non-compliance with the requirements described in the abo ve-mentioned Act and Regulation as an audit is not performed continuously throughout the period and the audit procedures performed in respect of compliance with these requirements are undertaken on a test basis. The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.
Ernst & Young
Daniel Cunningham Partner
Sydney 29 October 2024
DIRECTORS' DECLARATION
The directors of the Company declare that:
1. The financial statements and notes, as set out on pages 9-26, are in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for profits Commission Act 2012 and:
(a) comply with Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosure Requirements and the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Regulations 2022; and
(b) give a true a n d fair view of th e Company's financial position as at 30 June 2024 and of its performance for th e year ended on that da te of t he Company.
2. In the directors' opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.
3. A s an authorised fundraiser:
(a) the Statement of Profit or Loss and Statement of Other Comprehensive Income gives a true and fair view of all income and expenditure of the Company with respect to fundraising appeals, and
(b) the Statement of Financial Position gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company with respect to fundraising appeals conducted by the Company, and
(c) the provisions of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991, the Regulations under the Act and the conditions attached to the authority have been complied with by the Company, and
(d) the internal controls exercised by the Company are appropriate and effective in accounting for all income received and applied b y the Company from all of our fundraising appeals.
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
