As child abuse and neglect remains a concerning issue in Australia, the country’s peak body providing essential services to abused, neglected and at-risk children, Act for Kids, prepares to herald in a new era.
With Chief Executive Officer, Dr Neil Carrington, having been at the helm for the past nine years, the organisation is preparing to transition to a new phase of consolidation and growth with a new CEO in 2020.
Act for Kids Chair, Dr David Hamill AM, said he was delighted that Dr Carrington had decided to stay for another year, to reach a milestone of 10 years as CEO, and was assisting the organisation in its transition to a new CEO from August 2020.
“Neil has been an exemplary leader, overseeing significant growth of the organisation from a Queensland-based charity to now a national organisation with 26 centres and 350 staff providing prevention and treatment services across metropolitan and regional Queensland as well as Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide,” Dr Hamill said.
“We have also extended our reach as far as Perth with our Learn to be safe with Emmy and friends protective behaviours program for 5-7-year olds.
“In the past six years alone, our services to abused, neglected and at-risk children and their carers have increased by 280 per cent and last year we were able to invest 26 per cent more funds into our self-funded Integrated Therapy Services,” Dr Hamill said.
“As we continue to expand our services, we are also mindful that consolidation is important, to ensure our long-term sustainability.
“We will be seeking a CEO who can drive the organisation further, while creating a strong foundation for the future.”
Dr Hamill acknowledged that Dr Carrington had been instrumental in the successful growth of the organisation over the past nine years, including building a solid management team and staff who are equally committed to the organisation’s vision that all kids have a safe and happy childhood, free from abuse and neglect.
“The board is grateful for Neil’s commitment, energy and strategic leadership of Act for Kids over the past nine years,” he said.
In Australia, a child is abused every 11 minutes. Act for Kids has been working with abused, neglected and at-risk children and their carers for over 30 years, providing prevention and therapy services to over 40,000 children and families in 2018 alone.