ACFID Council AGM
President election; Vice-President election; Board members
Susan Pascoe AM was elected as the new President of ACFID and will serve a two-year term leading ACFID’s Board which is comprised of leaders from across the peak-body’s membership. Speaking following her appointment, Ms Pascoe said “It is an honour to be appointed as ACFID’s new President. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Sam Mostyn who has been a powerful advocate for Australia’s international aid and development and for Australia to play a leading role in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.” Ms Pascoe has been a long-standing champion of ACFID’s self-regulatory practice, co-launching ACFID’s new code of good practice earlier in 2017 in her role as Commissioner of the ACNC.
Congratulations to all successful candidates and thank you to those ending their service on the Board and the CCC for their hard work and dedication.essful candidates and thank you to those ending their service on the Board and the CCC for their hard work and dedication.
New members
ACFID’s membership was strengthened again with a total of three new full members and four affiliates. The new full members are Heilala, Our Rainbow House, and Partner Housing Australasia.
The new affiliate members are Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Design Innovation, Charles Darwin University’s Menzies School of Health Research, James Cook University’s Cairns Institute, and Queensland University of Technology’s School of Public Health and Social Work.
Congratulations and welcome to all new members.
Resolutions
Several resolutions were passed unanimously at ACFID Council’s Annual General Meeting. This included:
- Support of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, proposed by the chief executives of World Vision Australia and Caritas Australia, passed by over 125 of Australia’s foremost aid and development charities pledging to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for Makaratta through truth, justice and healing and agreement making.
- Condemnation of the Australian Government’s policies in relation to the closing of the Manus Island Detention Centre, stating that refugees detained on Manus and Nauru were the “legal and moral responsibility of the Australian Government” and calling for the Government to provide safe, durable solutions for their resettlement; and
- Advocating for the critical role of civil society in Australia, a resolution proposed by the chief executives of WWF Australia and Oxfam Australia calling on the Australian Government to halt “disturbing developments” which are set to restrict Australian charities’ funding and advocacy and instead use its position on the UN Human Rights Council to become an international champion for civil society.
Annual report
ACFID’s President Sam Mostyn and CEO Marc Purcell reported on the year past. The annual statistical survey showed that 2015-16, community support for development projects – through monetary and non-monetary donations – remained strong, but cuts to the Federal Government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget resulted in a decrease in overall revenue for ACFID’s members.