"Better for clients, better for staff, and better for community”
What a formative year this has been for BHN! As we reflect on the past year, we feel really proud of the growth, transformation, and achievement that BHN has experienced. The organisation moved past its very early amalgamation activities and right into the thick of integration- truly becoming one BHN. It has been exciting to watch BHN’s unique identity emerge as a reflection of our growing workforce, our diverse communities and our many clients.
At this important point in BHN’s journey, we express our sincere thanks to BHN’s inaugural CEO, Damian Ferrie, who led the organisation through its’ first days with vision and care, and we wish him the very best in his next endeavours. At our last AGM, we also farewelled our inaugural Board Chair, Janice Munt, and two Board Directors, Stuart Webb and Anne Garrow. Their efforts and vision were instrumental in bringing BHN to reality, and we are so appreciative for their contributions. Three new Directors joined the Board, and each brought new skills, insights and energy into our governance. Thank you and welcome to Damian Gibney, Kyle Turner and Jim Babalis.
Last year, we introduced you to the BHN Strategic Plan. Through this year, BHN has jumped into the important work of bringing the plan into reality. We have wasted no time in getting started on our four strategic pillars:
- We seek to understand the needs of our communities and we design our services through listening to them.
- We are driven and intentional in measuring our efforts and maximising positive impacts.
- We are sustainable, thriving, and future ready.
- We invest in our workforce as our most important resource; they are supported, engaged, and high performing.
This first year of the Strategic Plan has included the start of multi-year projects which will enable us to:
- Better know and connect with the many communities around us and earn their trust so we can provide an excellent client experiences
- Finish the important work of integration so we can focus ahead on innovating and transforming our ways of working
- Nurture and promote a fantastic, supportive and energizing culture for our staff and volunteer workforce and
- Continue delivering safe and high quality services which meet the needs and priorities of the communities around us.
This year has also been marked by significant operational achievements, including securing our NDIS registration and successfully completing a number of accreditations over a short period of time. These accreditations affirm our capability to deliver on our Purpose: delivering accessible health and wellbeing services that meet the needs of our communities and use our influence to create positive change.
As we move into the second year of our strategic plan, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the highest quality community health, wellbeing, and disability services. Our focus on client-centred care and community wellbeing continues to be at the heart of everything we do. Through the dedication of our team and strong partnerships, we are able to create meaningful outcomes and improve the lives of those who we support. Partnering with clients, communities and organisations is a key part of the BHN Way, being inclusive of all forms of diversity. This has allowed us to strengthen our relationships over the past year and create new ones to benefit clients and community, such as our relationship with Seniors Rights Victoria, as well as to contribute to a seamless health and wellbeing system in Victoria, such as through our ongoing work with the South-East Hospital Services Partnership Governing Council. This remains an area of key focus for us moving forwards.
This brief report contains a few snapshots of the remarkable work that our staff and volunteer workforces have achieved over the past year. We hope you enjoy seeing some of the fantastic work that happens everyday here at BHN.
As always, we are reminded that the achievements of BHN are a credit to everyone in our organisational community. We are grateful to our numerous funding partners for enabling BHN to do our important work. We thank our many partner organisations and our key stakeholders for their expertise, collaboration and shared commitment to community.
To our staff and volunteers, thank you for your innovative thinking, your commitment to excellence, and for all your efforts which have turned BHN into a reality. To our Board of Directors, the task of governing BHN through its’ formation and integration has been significant and reflects your unwavering commitment to our services and communities. And to our clients and the communities who connect with us, thank you for trusting us with your goals and your stories, your care needs and your insights. You are why we are here. As we look towards the coming year, we are confident that we will continue to build on our successes and deliver the high-quality services that our clients and communities deserve.
Amanda Murphy Kirstan Corben
Interim CEO Board Chairperson
