ABN: 61 006 499 231

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Level 1, 210 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000

www.qvwc.org.au

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

2008/09A vibrant place and space for women

A vibrant place and space for women

AnnuAl RepoRt

Vision

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is 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: we draw our inspiration from the founding women who established the Queen Victoria Hospital and the women who fought to save part of the hospital and establish the QV Women’s Centre

Equality: we are committed to advancing gender equality in all aspects of society

Integrity: we are open, honest and considerate in our relationships and professional and transparent in our actions and decisions

Respect: we are mindful of the diversity of the needs, aspirations and beliefs of the women and others with whom we engage.

Chair’s report 02

General Manager’s report 04

Capacity building and programs 06

Shilling Wall 11

History of the Centre 12

Building management 12

Venues and exhibitions 14

Centre women’s organisations 16

Governance – Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust 19

Centre staff and volunteers 24

Compliance framework 27

Financial Statements 31

Acknowledgements 44

Disclosure index 44

contents

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chair’s reporttaking action in tough times

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is a hub for women to meet, celebrate, learn, obtain services and plan for their own and their children’s futures.

The world has changed in the last 12 months and the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust has responded to the extra challenges that women now face.

Through the downturn in the stock market and the loss of jobs, many women have suffered financially during the Global Financial Crisis. Women already earn less and have less invested in superannuation than men, so tough economic times hit them even harder. The Women’s Financial Literacy Project, which the QV Women’s Centre delivered in Melbourne and country centres, could not have come at a better time. In 2008–09, over 670 women attended 27 workshops and 12 seminars to gain more knowledge and control over their financial futures. As the Global Financial Crisis began to affect Australia more directly, 218 women attended four additional seminars that addressed the practical issues facing women in this tight economic climate.

The Women’s Financial Literacy Project is a partnership with the Office of Women’s Policy (DPCD) and WIRE Women’s Information. It builds on previous work done by

the QV Women’s Centre with WIRE and URCOT, which researched the financial literacy needs of women and the best ways to meet them. Improving women’s financial literacy will remain a key area of work for the QV Women’s Centre over the coming year.

The economic downturn has also affected women’s organisations, particularly those in the not-for-profit sector that are dependent on donations and philanthropic grants to do their work. We have thought hard about ways we can help women’s organisations through difficult economic times. The Centre itself is a unique asset and we want to optimise its use for the benefit of Victorian women. Our initiatives in this area include:

continuing the subsidised • venue-hire rate for not-for-profit organisations

expanding the Women’s Gallery • program to increase the opportunities for women artists to exhibit their work

planning for a women’s capacity • building room, to open in July 2009 and to be available to smaller women’s organisations at very low cost, or free if we can obtain a funding partner

seeking additional funding for • programs through donations to the Shilling Fund and other partners.

Late in 2008, the Centre undertook a Women’s Organisations Capacity Building online survey to help us direct our efforts to the areas where organisations require further backing. Forty-three women’s organisations completed the survey. Funding issues were identified as the highest priority area, with 80% of respondents ranking funding as their top challenge. Respondents indicated that their immediate funding challenges are grant seeking, income generation, fundraising and sponsorship.

Operational issues were identified by 53% of respondents as their second highest priority area. Respondents indicated that their immediate operational challenges are budget planning, business and operational planning, program/project management and financial management. Both communications issues and governance issues were identified by 40% of respondents equally as the third priority area. The QV Women’s Centre is now developing a workshop program, information kits and several other initiatives to respond to these issues.

2008–09 provided some special opportunities to celebrate the achievements of women. We celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting a wonderful women’s market in the QV Square, including entertainers, information stalls,

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women’s social enterprises and community stalls. Cr Susan Riley, Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, was awarded a special tribute on the Shilling Wall for her work advancing the position of women in local government and business.

I had the pleasure of participating in Minister Morand’s Centenary of Suffrage Reference Group and was inspired by the varied activities run by women all around Victoria. At our own Centre, we held an intensive month of activities celebrating the achievement of the women’s vote in Victoria in 1908. It should be noted that Indigenous women did not gain the right to vote until the 1960s. The commitment and determination of the women who fought so long and so hard to gain the right to vote must be kept alive in the memory of the generations of women that follow.

Despite the additional financial challenges, the QV Women’s Centre is determined to remain energised and focused as it works to improve women’s place in all parts of our community. We have reviewed the Victorian Women’s Policy Framework and ensured that our Strategic and Business Plans for the coming year continue to deliver in some way on each of the four key pillars:

justice and safety•

education, work and economic • independence

health, wellbeing and community • strengthening; and

representation and equity – • increasing women’s leadership roles.

The job of the QV Women’s Centre is not being done unless we are increasingly engaging women in the Centre, both through taking part in our own programs and those of the other women’s organisations within the Centre and through using the venues for meetings and events. In 2008–09 we nearly tripled women’s participation in the Centre, with an increase of 195% in the number of women attending Centre seminars, workshops and events, accessing the Women’s Gallery and using Centre venues.

In 2008, to preserve and develop the Centre for future generations of women, we undertook a detailed master planning exercise and implemented the first stage of a greening-the-building program.

I would like to thank Margaret Burdeu, Alexandra White and their energetic staff for the contribution they have made over the last year to enhancing women’s lives and strengthening our organisation. The QV Women’s Centre has enjoyed a very positive relationship with the Hon. Minister Maxine Morand MP and the Office of Women’s Policy and we look forward to this continuing. Our partnership with the City of Melbourne, particularly through our joint celebrations of International Women’s Day, has also strengthened.

Lastly, I would like to thank the wonderful women who share the responsibility of governing the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust with me. The Trust is able to draw on an excellent range of skills and experience and our discussions are always constructive and well informed. All Trust members play an active role in the Trust committees, which are very well chaired by: Maree Davidson, Marketing and Fundraising Committee; Josie Rizza (and formerly Lee Ward), Finance, Audit and Governance Committee; Tamara Brezzi, Building Committee; and Laurie Bebbington (and Janet Wood while Laurie was on leave), Programs Committee. Women’s work is never done!

Catherine Brown Chair

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general manager’s reportQV Women’s centre takes up the challenge

What a difference a year makes! Over the last twelve months the QV Women’s Centre has focused on building a more robust, resilient and responsive Centre that engages a more diverse array of women and women’s organisations in every aspect of its work.

These efforts have set the foundation for the Centre to be a vital hub for women that is accessible and supports women across ages, cultures, interests and localities to lead, to take up issues and ideas and to create the future for themselves and the women of the future.

During the year, the Australian economy has slipped into recession. With this tightening economic climate there is increasing financial pressure on women and the women’s organisations working with them. The QV Women’s Centre is determined to back women and the women’s sector as they face these challenges.

Like other not-for-profit organisations across the country, in the past year the Centre has been tested by the tough economic environment. In response we have taken action to strengthen the Centre’s strategic, programmatic and operational capability.

This has involved a systematic review of our policies, systems and activities, implementation of key strategic projects, conduct of research to inform delivery of programs, targeted grant seeking, and concerted work to deepen and extend our partnerships.

Key strategic outcomes from these efforts include:

delivery of our first state-wide • Women’s Financial Literacy Project in partnership with WIRE and the Office of Women’s Policy

encouragement of women’s • organisations to voice their top challenges through our first capacity building survey, so we could speak with authority on and respond to their needs; and

increased capacity to reach out to • women, women’s organisations, our networks and partners and others interested in the work of the Centre through the development of a stakeholder database that will record, track and report on our activities and events using leading-edge web-based software, generously provided free to the Centre by Salesforce.

At the operational level, we have taken action to reduce costs and invest savings. The restructuring of banking arrangements has offset some of the effects of reduced interest revenue. And the

review of maintenance, cleaning and insurance arrangements has enabled resultant savings to be invested in longer term planning for and improvements to the building. Action has been taken to reduce risk through improved public safety, to deliver future cost savings from reduced water and energy use and to improve preventative maintenance, while the development of a Master Plan has laid the foundation for the longer term sustainable management and development of the building.

Income from the Centre’s venue operations is well above target and has increased by more than 51% over the 2008–09 year. This follows a review in 2008 of the services available to users and venue-hire and service charges.

However, this past year, as with most not-for-profit organisations, our donations have fallen significantly, in contrast with 2007–08 when donations were nearly double our target. Refocused promotional efforts, together with the improved capture of donor information in our new stakeholder database, are expected to bring a much improved position in 2009–10.

Our grant seeking, in contrast, is another success story. In 2008–09 we have been successful in gaining Victorian Government grants via the Office of Women’s Policy for the delivery of the 2008

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trust strategic actions

In early 2009, the Trust reviewed its strategic directions and developed a new Strategic Plan for 2009–12. The Trust renewed its Values and set five key strategic actions to be pursued by the Centre. They are:

1. provide responsible stewardship of the QV Women’s Centre through achieving financial, environmental and organisational sustainability

2. optimise the current and future use of and access to the QV Women’s Centre by women and women’s organisations

3. be recognised as a hub that supports women’s issues, ideas and leadership across ages, cultures, interests and localities

4. work in partnership with women and women’s organisations to develop their capacity; and

5. increase the community’s awareness of and support for the QV Women’s Centre.

Financial Literacy Project state-wide workshops and Centre-based seminars and for a shorter seminar series in early 2009.

The increased profile of the Centre has also led to strong volunteer participation, pro bono support and in-kind donations across Centre activities and programs. This has translated into an estimated $51,300 worth of in-kind sponsorship and support.

Over the last year, our partnerships with women’s and other organisations have been strengthened and extended. The high level of participant satisfaction in response to the Women’s Financial Literacy Project, conducted in collaboration with the Office of Women’s Policy and WIRE Women’s Information, is a testament to each partner’s efforts and our strong working relationships.

Our partnership with the City of Melbourne has also continued to strengthen over the 12 months, with the conduct of our joint IWD Women’s Market and collaboration with the City on the development of the building.

Partnerships will continue to be important for the Centre, to increase its capacity to deliver programs for women and women’s organisations, and going into 2009–10 funding has been secured for:

continued delivery of a second • women’s financial literacy workshop and seminar program in 2009

development of a Business Plan • for a Women’s Virtual Hub under the Victorian Government’s Multimedia Victoria cIIF initiative; and

delivery of a three-year program • of women’s organisations capacity building workshops and supporting online capacity building kits in partnership with the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust.

The transformation of the Centre over the last year is also the result of a great partnership between the Trust and the managers and staff of the Centre.

I would like to thank the Trust Chair, Catherine Brown, for her strategic leadership and support, and the Trust members as a group for the energy, commitment and time they have invested in the Centre.

In closing, my thanks go to Alexandra White for her skilled management, great ideas and sheer get-up-and-go, and the skilled staff of the QV Women’s Centre for their enthusiastic and concerted efforts to make this Centre a vibrant space that is welcoming and engaging for women.

Overall, the QV Women’s Centre has finished this year well geared to support women in tough times.

Margaret Burdeu General Manager

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capacity building and programs

We know that global recessions such as the one we’re in threaten women’s employment, housing, financial security and confidence. We also know that supporting women through these difficult times will stretch the resources of the Victorian women’s sector organisations and networks that are being called on to provide much needed assistance to women.

The QV Women’s Centre is taking up the challenge in four key areas on women’s security, participation, representation and leadership.

boosting Women’s money management knoW-hoW and confidence

As the full impact of the global recession emerges, we can see the adverse affect it is having on women’s financial security and confidence. The QV Women’s Centre is determined to offer women practical information, interactive learning opportunities and useful resources to boost their money management skills and confidence.

The QV Women’s Centre has successfully delivered the first year of the Women’s Financial Literacy Project’s seminars and workshops. These aim to improve women’s financial health and are conducted in partnership with the Victorian Government’s Office of Women’s Policy and WIRE Women’s Information. The responses and stories from the women who have attended our seminars and workshops across Victoria tell us we have achieved the Project’s objective and inspired hundreds of Victorian women to take steps to secure their financial future.

A total of 443 women attended the first series of 12 Steps to securing your financial future seminars held at the QV Women’s Centre in September and October 2008. The seminars focus on practical money management information relevant for women moving through different stages of life. Each of the seminars was designed and presented by a financial planner, identified and secured with the support of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

In addition to the seminars, 228 women from Euroa, Ararat, Geelong, Mildura, Sale and Melbourne participated in the Steps to Securing Your Financial Future workshops during 2008. The workshops focus women’s attention on reviewing and changing their personal financial planning, goal setting and saving. The workshops were run by local facilitators who participated in WIRE’s Train the Trainer sessions. The workshops also involved local financial planners, recruited with the support of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Every woman’s journey towards her financial future is unique and the QV Women’s Centre is delighted to be able to share these stories, which demonstrate the richness of the experiences of the women who participated in the seminars and workshops.

In early 2009 we built on the successes of the 2008 series of seminars to deliver four further seminars, equipping 218 Victorian women to respond to the current economic downturn.Conducted in partnership with the Victorian Government, these seminars focused on the impact the Global Financial Crisis is having on women’s financial

security, as well as on investments in superannuation, shares and property.

For more information see: http://www.qvwc.org.au/qvwc_programs/women_money

rhonda tregent, korumburra

“Women know so much more about money, planning and budgeting than they ever give themselves credit for and I certainly saw that during a recent series of financial literacy workshops I facilitated in Sale in 2008.

The workshops explored women’s thoughts and relationship with money, how they were shaped and how that affected money management. Most of the women started off saying things like, ‘I don’t know much if anything about financial planning’, but they soon discovered how many skills they had.

At one point one of the other facilitators said, ‘a man is not a financial plan’, and that is something I think all women need to understand. Some women said they had ignored their financial security when they married and then years later, found themselves alone and without that security when their marriage failed, or when a partner died. One woman said she doesn’t open her superannuation mail to find out how it is going. I think the workshop participants now understand the importance of being a part of their financial planning.”

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moVing forWard With a clear agenda for capacity building Work With Women’s organisations

In November 2008 the QV Women’s Centre distributed our first ever state-wide Women’s Organisations Capacity Building Survey. The online survey asked women’s organisations to voice their top challenges and tell us what they saw as the big issues that impact on their organisation’s capacity to achieve their objectives. The 43 survey respondents confirmed the geographic, organisational and cultural diversity of the Victorian women’s sector. They reported that at least 3,476

women are actively engaged in their organisations in diverse roles ranging from leadership, paid employment and volunteering to being members, participants and service users. The positive impact of strategic investments and partnerships with women’s organisations is extremely strong for women and for communities.

For a copy of the survey report go to: http://www.qvwc.org.au/qvwc_programs/qvwc_capacity_building_survey_kits

The QV Women’s Centre will build on our existing partnerships and create new opportunities to tackle the top challenges identified by women’s organisations to:

build sustainable, diverse and • creative funding, revenue and sponsorship opportunities

boost operational know-how • focusing on budget, business and program management

participate in networking and • information sharing opportunities

and strengthen organisational marketing and communication strategies; and

engage in strategic board • and leadership development opportunities.

better communications knoW-hoW needed to achieVe better resourcing and outcomes for Women

The QV Women’s Centre commissioned and ran the 2008 women’s capacity building workshop series called Working with Government and Parliament for women’s and women-focused organisations.

The 57 women participants in the workshop series, conducted during the QV Women’s Centre women’s suffrage celebrations in November 2008, represented over 20 women’s organisations. The workshops covered three topics: Understanding government and parliament; Introduction to lobbying; and Getting media coverage. Each topic included extension activities and a resource guide for further information. The Centre worked with EMILY’s List on this project.

In addition to running the hands-on workshops, the QV Women’s Centre has published the findings from the workshops as an online kit. In November 2009 the kit was launched by Hon. Joan Kirner, the first woman state premier in Australia, to be used as a foundation tool for workshops, for group training sessions or for individual women.

A copy of the Working with government and parliament kit can be found at: http://www.qvwc.org.au/qvwc_programs/qvwc_capacity_building_survey_kits

inspiring young Women to get connected, get talking, get media saVVy and lead the positiVe body image moVement

Through collective action with young women, school communities, community organisations, the media and government agencies, the QV Women’s Centre continues to promote positive body image and to influence the media to present healthy, diverse and positive images of women.

clare griffin, fitzroy

Clare Griffin fronted up to the Steps to Securing your Financial Future seminars at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre prepared to turn over a new leaf. She wasn’t a good saver, overused her credit cards and seldom kept track of her spending. Since completing the series of seminars, her approach to money has changed. Step by step, Clare is trying to manage her money in order to achieve the goals she has set.

Clare, 33, is married and would like to have a baby in the next couple of years. Her husband has been studying this year and will return to full-time work next year, which she hopes will enhance their financial situation. But more money coming into the household means greater need for control of spending habits.

The seminars certainly had an impact on Clare, who describes herself as a ‘spender’, not thinking twice about buying something she likes.

“I am the sort of person who gets a loan for something rather than saving to buy it, so I have not been good at managing debt, particularly credit card debt,” said Clare, who lives in Fitzroy. “I am trying to budget, but it is hard because it is unusual for me. Also, we are living off one income at the moment.”

Clare is committed to sticking to the principles and practices she learnt at the seminars in order to achieve her goals. She would like to buy a house and start a family. “I want to save some money so that we are in a position to make choices,” she said.

“Excellent networking – so much useful info! This year was perfect” Market visitor

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The Centre’s capacity building kit Young Women, Body image and the Digital Age was launched at the Eastern Metropolitan Region Secondary Schools’ Women’s Suffrage Centenary Celebrations on 24 October 2008. The event’s keynote speaker was Hon Maxine Morand, MP Minister for Women’s Affairs in Victoria, and the QV

Women’s Centre’s positive body image intern, 21-year-old Erin Young, who launched the kit with an engaging positive body image presentation that prompted a number of questions from the audience of young women.

The kit covers talking about positive body image and getting wise to media messages and digital image manipulation. The information and activities in the kit help peer educators to empower young women to understand and filter media messages concerning body image.

For the kit go to: http://www.qvwc.org.au/qvwc_programs/positive_body_image

The QV Women’s Centre’s Positive Body Community Map harnesses innovative Web 2.0 technology to create an online resource of positive body image projects across Victoria to help young women get connected to the information or support they need.

To get connected, go to: http://www.communitywalk.com/victoria/australia/qvwc_positive_body_image_community_mapping_project/map/321577

international Women’s day market – a place for Women to lead and gather

The QV Women’s Centre celebrated International Women’s Day 2009 by hosting its third IWD Market, declaring a space for all women to gather and celebrate their leadership and participation in economic, civic and community life.

Conducted in partnership with the City of Melbourne, the Market provided a showcase for women’s organisations, businesses and enterprises, as well as creative and lively female performers.

A wet and grey morning didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and by midday the IWD Market and roving performers had engulfed the QV Square. Over 1000 women, local workers and their families browsed the Market, experiencing a range of stalls, performances, information and exhibitions.

The highlight of the IWD Market was the presentation of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust’s first inaugural Shilling Wall tribute; this has been developed to honour an inspiring woman with a Shilling Wall tribute every year to commemorate International Women’s Day. This was awarded by Catherine Brown, Chair of the QV Centre Trust, to Cr Susan Riley, Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, “In recognition of a leading woman within local government, small business and the community who has demonstrated commitment to the advancement of women, particularly through promotion of IWD within our City of Melbourne.”

Congratulations and welcome, Susan, to the ever expanding and inspiring group of Shilling Wall women!

“Good to see diversity and choice” Market visitor

taking part in the iWd market

Dom Design

Dominique Horne embraces traditional arts and crafts as part of a growing global vanguard known as the Slow Movement, rejecting fast-paced, stress-laden contemporary lifestyles for sustainable, environmentally aware products.

Dom’s beautiful bespoke range of fashion and accessories is handmade from recycled and vintage materials including buttons and old lace, doilies, patchwork quilts, liberty cottons and fabrics from the 1950s and 60s. Gorgeous, colourful one-off designs, blending the new with the old, will brighten anyone’s day.

Ishick K

Ishick Mit arrived from Turkey at the end of last year to start her new life in Australia. Initially held back from working in her usual area of employment as a computer technician due to her limited English, Ishick took charge to start her own business while she took steps to improve her English.

Ishick’s style combines traditional Istanbul sewing techniques passed down by her mother with her own background with computer technology, to design unique laptop bags to keep your equipment both safe and fashionable.

Ishick’s small business is a brilliant example of women’s enterprise and ingenuity.

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shilling Wallthe Writing’s on the Wall – Women inspire

For over a year the QV Women’s Centre Shilling Wall and Fund has paid tribute to not only the celebrated but also the unsung women whose actions have inspired others.

The striking Shilling Wall comprises several panels of coloured glass, upon which around 450 imprinted tributes appear. It is a priority of the QV Women’s Centre Trust to ensure the Shilling Wall represents the diversity of women’s interests, cultures and localities and their work, home, community and public contributions. As more tributes are made, additional Shilling Wall panels will be erected. The Wall will have the final capacity to display the names of over 4000 diverse and inspiring women.

Those who nominate a woman to the Shilling Wall (referred to as Shilling Wall donors) have done so for a range of reasons – as a gift, a lasting memorial, a public acknowledgment or an official award. Whatever the reason, all tributes are made out of admiration and respect for the woman nominated. Each tribute is accompanied by a donation starting at $150 and a short tribute statement placed on the Centre’s website, outlining the reason the woman is being celebrated on the Wall.

Just a Wonderful Woman

Last November the QV Women’s Centre proudly launched the tribute statements for the Wall’s first two panels on the QV Women’s Centre website. The launch, Just a Wonderful Woman, was a great success with many Shilling Wall women and their friends, families and colleagues attending. Local performer and writer Jane Clifton officially launched the tribute statements with the blessing of the nominees and donors.

A highlight of the day was the sharing of stories from the Shilling Wall by Jane Sullivan, a well known journalist, and Michelle Beveridge, convenor of the Victorian ICT for Women Network and Trust Member. Jane’s story of her book group told how ten women’s love of literature brought them together and how their growing friendship brought them to acknowledge each other through the Shilling Wall. Michelle told us of the annual Victorian ICT for Women awards that are reflected in Shilling Wall nominations, leaving a perpetual record of the ways that women have helped shape the ICT sector. The inspirational stories of other Shilling Wall women can now be found on our website.

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shilling Wall story – a book group of ‘remarkable Women’

In Melbourne, the newest UNESCO City of Literature, book groups are popular, especially among women. For one group, the shared experience has been immortalised in Shilling Wall tributes to ten remarkable women.

For 19 years the group has delved into fiction, the classics, occasional poetry, biography and crime. They have an annual book group weekend away together. They have also travelled together on much bigger journeys – through illnesses, careers under pressure, relationships that have flourished or floundered, the angst of children growing into adults, frustration in the search for social justice through their community involvements, and the joyous celebrations of personal milestones.

Jean Ker Walsh’s Shilling Wall tribute to her book group friends tries to say it briefly:

This tribute is in gratitude for a friend and friendship strengthened by all we’ve shared in the name of book group, a gathering (since 1990) of women remarkable for their energy, intellect, opinions, and achievement. Always caring and supporting one another.

history of the shilling fund

Today’s Queen Victoria Women’s Centre’s Shilling Wall and Fund was named after the original Shilling Wall that was begun by suffragette Annette Bear-Crawford in 1897 to raise funds to establish the Victoria Hospital as a dedicated women’s hospital.

1897 was the year of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and the Shilling Fund committee sought the Queen’s approval to name their proposed hospital the Queen Victoria Hospital and to ask every woman in the colony of Victoria to donate one shilling to fund a hospital for women and children.

The Shilling Fund raised 3162 pounds, 11 shillings and nine pence – enough to create the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, which inhabited the QV Women’s Centre’s heritage building from 1946 to the 1980s.

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history of the centre building on a proud feminist foundation

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre has a proud connection to the history of Victorian women. In a past life, the Centre’s heritage building was home to the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, the first hospital to be run for women by women in Australia.

In the 1980s, plans were announced to relocate the Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre, with the intention of demolishing all buildings on the Lonsdale Street site and selling the land. Through the determined action of women activists and public outcry, one of

the Hospital towers was retained as a home for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

The ownership of the tower was transferred to the women of Victoria under gifting legislation passed by the Victorian Parliament in 1994 and with the support of the Victorian Government the heritage building was restored.

Today, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre continues to hold true to its heritage as a place and space for women’s discussions and celebrations, planning and action. Ten independent women’s organisations work from the Centre, providing a range of services to women. Many other women and

women’s organisations come together at the Centre around the many issues that affect women’s lives.

The Centre building also has great architectural significance. An iconic brick Edwardian building originally built to house the Melbourne Hospital, it is regarded as the pinnacle of the work of JJ and EJ Clark, prominent architects who helped to shape the 19th and 20th century streetscapes of Melbourne. The building will mark the centenary of its inception in 2010, one hundred years after work commenced on the site in 1910.

building management

Women participate in all aspects of the Centre, whether it is occupying office spaces, hiring venues, exhibiting in the Women’s Gallery or celebrating an inspiring woman on the flourishing Shilling Wall.

The QVWC Trust is committed to managing the Centre so that it is accessible to and used effectively by a wide range of women, now and in the future. Progress has been made on the development of a long term Master Plan for the building, which will enable it to maintain a firm economic and environmentally sustainable base into the future. This has identified a number of options for future development of the building that

will lead to increased use of the venues, improved future viability of the building and reduction of the Centre’s environmental footprint.

We are working in partnership with Professor Rob Adams from the City of Melbourne to develop opportunities identified in the Master Plan, to explore opportunities for energy reduction measures at the Centre, to examine planning options and to look for funding opportunities.

At the same time, the Trust has invested in improved maintenance of the building, including a range of measures designed to cut water and energy use and a significant upgrade of emergency

lighting. Improved public safety is also being supported, through increased engagement of building organisations in building management matters such as participation in the review and testing of updated emergency procedures. We are indebted to Business Risks International, which provides security services to the Centre, for advising on the new procedures and for their ongoing help and assistance to the Centre with emergency safety issues.

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Venues and exhibitionsVenues

The Centre offers two unique venue spaces – the Victoria conference room and the light-filled Atrium on our rooftop. This year we have reviewed our operations and increased the services available to clients. This has been reflected in increased patronage and an expanded range of venue users conducting seminars, workshops, training, launches, meetings and celebrations in our beautiful heritage building.

Once again, the Centre has provided partnership support to numerous organisations so that a diverse range of women is able to participate in events that make the Centre an inviting and vital place.

exhibitions

Our Women’s Gallery provides a vibrant space for women’s creative expression. The Centre supports emerging women artists and organisations who are creatively exploring issues of relevance to women through the provision of exhibition space. The Gallery provides artists and organisations with the opportunity to create, curate, publicise and launch their own high-quality exhibitions in a well-trafficked, city-central gallery space. Some exhibition highlights in 2008–09 include:

‘The ladies have come to stay’ Women of the Royal Melbourne Hospital

This exhibition showcased the role of women in the 160-year history of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. It highlighted women’s struggles, contributions and successes in the various disciplines in the health field and acknowledged the achievements of pioneering women

that have provided inspiration to future generations of women and helped shaped the history of the hospital.

Exhibition by the Russian Women Artists’ Association

On the 20th anniversary of the Melbourne–St Petersburg sister city celebrations, the Centre hosted an exhibition featuring the work of eight talented women from the Russian Women Artists’ Association. The Russian Ethnic Representative Council of Victoria helped establish the Association to link Russian-Australian women from all backgrounds through their creativity, culture and shared love of art.

Law Week exhibition

Showcasing the work of Fern Smith and Ursula Dutkiewicz, the exhibition featured the Women barristers in Victoria panel that tracked key developments in the history of women barristers in Victoria. Produced by the Victoria Law Foundation, this panel illustrated the personal experiences, challenges, significant achievements and contributions to the legal profession made by women. Also featured were a ceramic sculpture of Flos Greig, who was the first woman to graduate with a law degree from Melbourne University (by Ursula Dutkiewicz) and a digital artwork reflecting on QC Joan Rosanove (by Fern Smith), as well as a large body of other artworks produced by Ursula and Fern for the Centenary of the Women’s Vote in Victoria.

Refugee Week exhibition

This exhibition featured a silk quilt created by members of the Refugee Women’s Support Group, established by Victorian Arabic Social Services (VASS) to support newly arrived women refugees. The quilt is a collaboration between the women on Temporary Protection Visas who worked on its production with the artist and quilt designer they inspired, Hala Chamas. Representing the women’s journey to Australia, the quilt tells the story of the risks the women endured at sea, their stay in detention, a country left behind and their dreams for peace and a better life.

Women’s suffrage

In November 2008, the QV Women’s Centre hosted the Celebrating Women’s Participation Festival to mark the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in Victoria. A month-long showcase of women-centred events, it involved a diverse range of women’s organisations, including some from country Victoria. The Victorian Government through the Office of Women’s Policy helped support the festival. Participating organisations were provided with free use of the venues and an event manager developed the calendar for the month that was promoted via a festival poster and flyer.

The festival program included the Melbourne round of consultations with women and women’s organisations on the Productivity Commission‘s Draft recommendations on paid parental leave. Convened by the National Foundation for Australian Women and Security4Women, these consultations enabled women to contribute to debate on this important paper which led to the Federal Government’s commitment to introduce a paid maternity leave scheme in Australia from January 2011.

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centre Women’s organisations

Times of economic hardship place a disproportionate burden on women, increasing the need for strong, robust and well linked women’s organisations. The QV Women’s Centre is proud to continue working with women and women’s organisations to provide an inclusive and vibrant space for them to gather in and shape the world they want for themselves and the women of the future. The Centre is a unique hub for the women of Australia, housing ten independent women’s organisations which provide a range of programs and services for women, by women. These include:

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 which responds to their practical, social and emotional needs.

casa house

CASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault) is part of the Royal Women’s Hospital in Parkville, Victoria, and provides free, 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; support for families; professional consultations; community education; and research and public policy.

domestic Violence Victoria

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

emily’s list australia

EMILY’s List Australia is a political, financial and personal support network for progressive Australian Labor Party 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.

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.

Victorian immigrant and refugee Women’s coalition

VIRWC is an independent, state-wide advocate and representative body for immigrant and refugee women that is 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.

fareWell to fVpls

Having started in a single room at the QV Women’s Centre many years ago, the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service (FVPLS Victoria) this year outgrew its space at the Centre and relocated to Collingwood.

FVPLS Victoria has provided free legal, counselling, support, information and referral services to many victims/survivors of family violence and sexual assault during its time at the QV Women’s Centre and will continue to do so in its new location.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the team of FVPLS staff for their ongoing contributions while part of the QV Women’s Centre community and we look forward to continuing to work together in the near future.

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Vita natural health

Vita brings the convenience of a complete natural-medicine health service from one prominent location, providing expertise in naturopathy, herbal medicine, nutrition, osteopathy, counselling, massage, acupuncture, and health information sessions.

Wire Women’s information

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

yWca Victoria

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.

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goVernance – Queen Victoria Women’s centre trustThe Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust (QVWC Trust) is the body responsible for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

The Trust 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:

manage the QVWC Trust land and • 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

provide for the management, • operation, use and promotion of the Centre

provide for the efficient financial • management of the QVWC Trust land and Centre

seek funding for the Centre•

undertake any other functions • that are conferred on the QVWC Trust by the Act.

trust meetings and responsibilities

The QVWC Trust is responsible for the governance of the Centre. It meets on a monthly basis and also draws on the expertise of Trust committees. Members of the Trust

have a responsibility to ensure that, in representing the Trust outside its formal processes, they promote the Trust’s strategic directions, policies and philosophy.

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.

trust strategic planning

The Trust’s role includes setting the Centre’s strategic directions, strengthening relationships with key stakeholders including the Victorian Government, setting policies, and ensuring that other governance responsibilities are met. The Trust reviewed its Strategic Plan during the year and has put a new Strategic Plan in place for 2009–2012. We thank Heather Wellington for facilitating a dynamic planning day.

trust members

The Trust comprises 12 members, appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Women’s Affairs.

Catherine Brown Chair, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

Catherine was reappointed this year as the Chair of the QVWC Trust by the Minister for Women’s Affairs for a further term of three years.

As Chair, Catherine is an active member of the Trust’s Finance, Audit and Governance Committee and attends other Trust Committee meetings as required. Catherine is a lawyer and consultant with a special interest in philanthropy and board and organisational development of

not-for-profit organisations. She has worked with community foundations across Australia, providing advice about organisational and board development, legal issues and tax reform. Ms Brown has consulted to many leading philanthropic foundations and not-for-profit organisations, including the Myer Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation, ANZ Trustees, the R.E. Ross Trust, United Nations University, Principals Australia, Warddeken Land Management Limited and others.

Catherine was deputy chair of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital for nine years until June 2009 and a former chair of ACROD Victoria (now National Disability Services). She is a Director of Australian Community Philanthropy. Catherine worked in the not-for-profit sector for eleven years, including three years as CEO of the Brain Foundation, before establishing her own consulting firm and legal practice in 1999.

Laurie Bebbington Chair, Programs Committee

Laurie was Commissioner for Law Enforcement Data Security until 2009. She has held executive positions in the Departments of Human Services, Premier and Cabinet, and Labour, including as the CEO of 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 former Australian Social Welfare Union. She is currently Chairwoman of UnitingCare Moreland Hall. Laurie has maintained a commitment to women’s issues and the community throughout her career.

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Michelle Beveridge Member, Building Committee

Michelle is Chief Information Officer (CIO) for IDP Education. Prior to IDP, Michelle was CIO for OAMPS Insurance Brokers and had a long career in various roles with Australia Post. She acts as Chair of the Victorian ICT for Women Network and as Treasurer of the Australian Computer Society Victoria. Michelle holds an MBA qualification from the Australian Graduate School of Management and is a Certified Practising Accountant.

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 projects 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. Tamara is a board member of the International Women’s Development Agency and chairs the IWDA’s governance committee.

Maree Davidson Chair, Marketing and Fundraising Committee Maree runs a social change, communications and strategic planning consultancy. She has a background in education, community development, health promotion and marketing. Maree is on the board of the Melbourne Writers Festival, is an executive member of the National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB), a member of the Public Transport Ombudsman board, a member of the Centre for Multicultural Youth board and is 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, environmental 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 from fulltime work, Gaye undertakes a range of part-time work and sits on several not-for-profit boards, including the Western Bulldogs Football Club, the Seaworks Foundation, the State Sport Centres Trust and Zoos Victoria.

Jean Ker Walsh Member, Marketing and Fundraising Committee

Jean has recently retired from her executive role in corporate relations at Transurban and is focusing time on her grandchildren, her not-for-profit commitments, and occasional project work. Her professional experience is as a broadcast journalist, political and public-sector communications manager and strategic media and communications specialist. In addition to her Trust role, Jean is currently chair of the board of Hanover Welfare Services and council member of Australian Volunteers International.

Vivienne Nguyen Member, Programs Committee

Vivienne has strong links with Victoria’s Vietnamese community and has demonstrated strong advocacy skills to support the strengthening of ethnic communities generally. She currently holds the position of Group Head of Diversity at ANZ, being responsible for diversity strategy at a global level. Previously she held a number of positions at ANZ

including head of risk for margin lending and risk governance. Prior to joining ANZ she was the national sales and marketing manager at AustChoice Master Trusts. Viv holds a Master of Applied Finance from Melbourne University. Outside of work, Viv has a 21-month-old son Alexander Minh-Tri and is involved in Vietnamese community cultural activities.

Josie Rizza (September 2008 – June 2009) Chair, Finance, Audit and Governance Committee

Josie is a chartered accountant and has extensive experience in accounting and strategic financial management. This includes work with Arthur Andersen as a specialist in corporate and international taxation, with Clayton Utz providing advice to the Royal Commission on the collapse of the Tricontinental Bank and with Rio Tinto as a taxation specialist in international corporate tax planning. In addition, Josie has a strong background in corporate governance. Josie has held directorships and/or financial governance roles with the Austin and the Royal Eye and Ear hospitals, Tweddle Child and Family Health Service and the Audit Committee of the Department of Treasury and Finance. Josie also has experience in the not-for-profit sector through her work with Melbourne Cares and the Committee for Melbourne.

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trust members – Dates served and attendance for 2008–09

Trust member Dates served Meetings attended

Catherine Brown (Chair) July 2008 – June 2009 9

Laurie Bebbington July 2008 – June 2009 7

Michelle Beveridge July 2008 – June 2009 10

Tamara Brezzi July 2008 – June 2009 9

Maree Davidson July 2008 – June 2009 8

Gaye Hamilton July 2008 – June 2009 7

Jean Ker Walsh July 2008 – June 2009 9

Vivienne Ngueyn July 2008 – June 2009 7

Josie Rizza September 2008 – June 2009 5

Kay Setches July 2008, September 2008 (reappointed) – June 2009 7

Janet Wood July 2008 – June 2009 10

Lee Ward July 2008 1

Please note: Gaye Hamilton (leave of absence October and November 2008), Laurie Bebbington (leave of absence December 2008–April 2009)Josie Rizza (family leave September–December 2008)

obJectiVes and performance

Objectives Performance outcomesTargets 2008–09 Actual Outcome

1. Increase women’s participation and capacity building

Number of women’s organisations participating in the virtual centre

105 138 Exceeded

Number of women participating in events, training and programs1 4200 7882 Exceeded

(187.7% of target)

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

125 247 Exceeded (197.6% of target)

Traffic to website (unique visitors) 7000 43,351 Exceeded (619.3% of target)

Satisfaction rating for programs and events 85% 85% Met

2. Property and tenancy management

Achieve and maintain 85% occupancy rates for lettable floor space (excluding function rooms) 85% 95% Exceeded

Achieve and maintain hire of function facilities $60,000 $62,285 Exceeded (108.8% of target)

3. Increase fundraising

Raise cash funds through fundraising efforts2 $70,000 $40,416 Not Met (57.7% of target)

Secure sponsorships and grants $50,000 $96,993 Exceeded (194.0% of target)

4. Financial management and governance

Submit the 2007–08 Annual Report to government for tabling in Parliament as required by the Act Sept 2008 Achieved Achieved

Submit an annual Business Plan to government June 2009 Achieved Achieved

1 The number of women in attendance at events is based on estimates provided by venue users. Where users do not give us estimates for women participants in an event, calculations assume that women make up 50% of those in attendance at an activity. Booking forms are being revised to ensure greater reliability of gender balance data at each event.

The number of women visiting the Women’s Gallery is extrapolated from data on gallery use over a two-week period. Again it is assumed that women make up 50% of visitors to the Gallery. A method to increase the accuracy of data on Gallery visitors are being implemented.

2 Like other not-for-profit organisations, the Centre’s donations revenue has been impacted by the Global Financial Crisis.

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tribunals. She recently completed six years as chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians. Janet has recently retired as the chairperson of Uniting Aged Care Victoria & Tasmania, is a board member and Policy Council member of Council On The Ageing (COTA) Victoria and is a chair or member of other health/aged related committees.

trust committees

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 Trust strategy. There are currently four committees with responsibilities to monitor the implementation of relevant areas of the business plan, develop policies for approval by the

Lee Ward (to July 2008) Chair, Finance, Audit and Governance Committee

Lee is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in senior financial management 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.

Janet Wood Acting Chair, Programs Committee (December 2008–April 2009)

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

Kay Setches Member, Marketing and Fundraising 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 as a worker and manager. 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 State 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.

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Trust and provide expert advice to the Trust:

– Finance, Audit and Governance– Building– Marketing and Fundraising– Programs

The role of each committee is set out in its terms of reference. The committees provide regular reports to the Trust meetings, including recommendations to inform strategic directions. Each committee includes at least two Trust members and may invite external members of the public with suitable expertise to participate.

External members of committees this year were:

Finance, Audit and Governance Committee

Samantha Gill

Building Committee

Kate Grey Catherine Heggen

Marketing and Fundraising Committee

Tiz Pittui (May–June 2009)

Programs Committee

Robyn Charlesworth

stakeholder relationships

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 16).

Victorian Government – Office of Women’s Policy

In 2008-09 the QVWC Trust completed a three year Funding and Service Agreement (FSA) with the Victorian Government through the Office of Women’s Policy (OWP), Department of Planning and Community Development. In 2009 it entered into a further three year FSA for 2009-12. The FSA sets out Key Performance Indicators across all areas of the Trust’s operations.

The Government has also provided funding support to the Centre for the delivery of the Steps to Securing Your Financial Future state-wide practical workshops in partnership with the OWP and WIRE Women’s Information, and the delivery of Centre-based topical financial literacy seminars.

The Trust is in regular communication with the OWP and meets with the OWP for formal reporting and on a range of other matters. The QVWC Trust appreciates the support of the Victorian Government and continues to strengthen its relations with OWP.

Victorian Government – Multimedia Victoria

The Trust is pleased to have been selected by Multimedia Victoria for support in development of a Business Plan for a Virtual Women’s Hub using leading-edge Web 2.0 technologies in partnership with the ICT for Women Network and WIRE.

City of Melbourne

This year the Trust has been pleased to further extend its collaboration with the Melbourne City Council. The Council partnered with the Centre for our third very successful International Women’s Day Market, with Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley officiating at the opening. We have also been working closely with Professor Rob Adams, who leads the City’s Design & Urban Environment initiatives, to identify opportunities for further development of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre building, including options for increasing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the building.

in-kind support

The Trust continues to benefit from the generous provision of in-kind support from a range of individuals and organisations listed on page 44.

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The QV Women’s Centre staff team strives to ensure that the Centre is a vibrant and engaging place and space for women and women’s organisations to gather, share ideas, source support and take action.

Margaret Burdeu, General Manager

Margaret’s responsibility is to lead and manage the work of QV Women’s Centre staff in implementing the strategic directions set by the Trust. She also has a key role in providing support to the Trust in its governance role.

Alexandra White Capacity Builder and Programs Manager

Alexandra leads the Centre’s programs to address the top challenges identified by women and women’s organisations. Working in partnership with a range of women’s and other organisations, her responsibilities include development of the women’s organisations capacity building initiatives, and the financial literacy and positive body image projects.

Jett Barker Communications and Marketing

Jett brings her skills to extending the reach of the Centre with women’s organisations and the women of Victoria, building the Centre’s fundraising capacity and promoting the programs and services offered by the Centre.

Mazeena Mahroof Finance and Property Operations

Mazeena is responsible for the Centre’s day-to-day finances, links with women’s organisations on tenancy-related matters and coordination of the work of the Centre’s many service contractors to keep the Centre building well maintained.

Kate Freeman Administration and Customer Service

Kate, who manages our beautiful heritage venues and the Women’s Gallery, is generally the first point of contact for most visitors to the Centre, and brings her passion for the environment to making the Centre’s heritage building more sustainable.

Volunteers

Volunteers play an important role in the work of the QV Women’s Centre and without their help many key outcomes would be hard to achieve. Over this year they have participated in nearly every aspect of the Centre’s activities. This includes membership of Trust committees, working on the development of capacity building and programs initiatives, helping with the conduct of events, working in the office, helping develop policies and procedures, marketing and promotion, and in one case the restoration of the detailed wooden model of the Centre building. We would like to acknowledge the support of these volunteers whose names are listed on page 44 of this Report.

centre staff and Volunteers

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

General Manager

Building Management (Property and Venues)

Centre ManagementCapacity Building and Programs

organisational chart

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compliance frameWork community inclusiVeness

A broad range of strategies are taken to promote the inclusiveness of QV Women’s Centre activities. The Trust’s primary role is to provide support to women and women’s organisations. It also ensures that 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 designed to address the specific needs of the disadvantaged and other sectors of the community.

diVersity

A key value of the QVWC Trust is Respect: defined as being mindful of the diversity of the needs, aspirations and beliefs of women and others with whom we engage. In line with the Government’s emphasis on fostering inclusion and the requirements of the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004, the Centre’s programs, policies and services reflect this commitment in every aspect of its work in providing a vibrant space for women and women’s organisations to gather, exchange ideas, take action and achieve their goals.

merit and eQuity

The Trust is committed to ensuring 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 are expected to provide a responsive service that meets the needs of women, women’s organisations and other members of the public, to act impartially, display integrity

including avoiding real or apparent conflicts of interest, and show accountability for their actions.

employment and conduct principles

The QVWC Trust is committed to applying merit and equity principles when appointing staff. The selection processes ensure that applications are assessed and evaluated fairly and equitably on the basis of the key selection criteria and other accountabilities without discrimination.

occupational health and safety

The health and wellbeing of staff and the safety of building users is a standard agenda item for the Centre’s regular staff meetings, as well as at the regular tenant meetings. Incidents, hazards and potential dangers are tracked, investigated and acted upon to address problems identified. Improvements to the building and staff amenities were continued this year to address risks, including those associated with entry and egress to the building, emergency response, manual handling and the office environment.

building act 1993

The Trust takes a continuous improvement approach to ensuring it is compliant 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.

enVironmental sustainability initiatiVes

The Trust is strongly committed to reducing its carbon footprint. In response to an environmental audit of the QV Women’s Centre undertaken by a student on placement through the Green Steps program, the Trust has a range of initiatives in 2008-09 to reduce our carbon footprint.

The nature of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre building poses a number of challenges in relation to energy use. It is difficult to light as most rooms have high ceilings and limited natural light. The high ceilings also increase the energy output required to heat and cool the building. In the face of these challenge the Trust has taken the following steps in 2008-09 to promote a more efficient use of energy and water use and to reduce waste.

Energy: The number of globes used in the multi-globe light fittings in the Centre office and venues, and the public areas of the building have been reviewed and reduced and time limited light fittings have been installed in most tenant shared facilities.

Water: Flow restrictors have been installed in kitchens and bathrooms in addition to the existing dual flush toilets already installed throughout the Centre building.

Waste reduction: Measures have been taken on both a building wide basis and in the Centre Office to reduce paper use and maximise recycling of paper, bottles and cans.

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The Centre’s estimated paper use is in line with Government targets. Based on information collated by the Centre’s stationer, an estimated 100% of all white A4 and A3 paper purchased by the Centre during period was 100% recycled paper stock. This compares well against the Government target of at least 80 % recycled content by 30 June 2011. Further it is estimated that the Trust used 16.8 units of copy paper per FTE. This compares well with the Government target of 22/FTE units by 2010.

Indicator 2008 – 09

Total units of copy paper used (reams)

101*

Units of copy paper used per FTE (reams/FTE)

16.8*

Percentage of 75–100% recycled content white A4 and A3 copy paper purchased (%)

100%

*estimate based on data collated by our primary stationary supplier

On a building wide basis, separate recycling bins for bottles have been introduced in all kitchens shared by tenants and in the venues. This complements provisions already made for collection of paper for recycling.

priVacy act

The QVWC Trust received no request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 1988 in this year.

WhistlebloWers act 2001

The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 encourages and assists people in making disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies. The Act provides protection to people who make disclosures in accordance with the Act and establishes a system for the matters disclosures in accordance with

the Act and establishes a system from the matters disclosed to be investigated and the rectifying action to be taken.

The QVWC Trust is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct that involves a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or environment. The Trust will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure.

Reporting Procedures

Disclosure of improper conduct or detrimental action by QVWC Trust or its employees may be made to the Protected Disclosure Coordinator or the Ombudsman Victoria.

The Protected Disclosure Coordinator

Margaret Burdeu 210 Lonsdale StreetMelbourne Vic 3000Tel: (03) 98668 8100Email: manager@qvwc.org.au

The Ombudsman Victoria

Mr George BrouwerLevel 9, 459 Collins StreetMelbourne Vic 3000Tel: (03) 9613 6222 Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au

Further Information: Written guidelines outlining the system for reporting disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by the QVWC Trust or its employees are available for public perusal.

freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI)1982 allows the public a right of access to documents held by the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. These include strategic and administrative documentation. An application fee of $22.70 applies at the time of this report’s publication.

A decision to release information under the Act is made by an Authorised Officer. The QVWC Trust has determined that its Authorised Officer is Margaret Burdeu who can be contacted on (03) 8668 8100 or manager@qvwc.org.au”.

For the 12 months ending 30 June 2009, the QVWC Trust received no requests for information under the FOI, no requests went to internal review or are in process with VCAT.

Implementation of the Victorian Industry Participation Policy

In October 2003, the Victorian Parliament passed the Victorian Industry Participation Policy Act (VIPP) 2003 which requires public bodies and departments to report on the implementation of the Policy. Departments and public bodies are required to apply VIPP in all tenders over $3 million in metropolitan Melbourne and $1 million in regional Victoria.

The QVWC Trust entered into no contracts of this kind.

Contracts Below $100,000 (Disclosure Index)

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Provision of ICT system support – ITC Matters

$31,000

Development of ITC management systems and customisation of software to support program and service delivery – ITC Matters

$8,100

Provisions of accounting services – Paul Read

$19,713

Customisation of customer relations software – Stephen Judd

$4,400

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 and apply this principle in business undertakings.

Availability of other information

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

The information is available on request from:

Margaret Burdeu General Manager Phone: 03 8668 8103 E-mail: manager@qvwc.org.au

Additional Trust information available on request

In compliance with the requirements of the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance, details in request of the items listed below have been retained by the QVWC Trust and are available to the

relevant Ministers, Members of Parliament and the public on request (subject to the Freedom of Information requirement):

a) a statement that declarations of pecuniary interests have been duly completed by all relevant officers of the QVWC Trust

b) details of shares held by senior officers as nominee or held beneficially in a statutory authority or subsidiary

c) details of publications produced by the QVWC Trust about the activities of the Trust and where they can be obtained

d) details of any major external reviews carried out in respect of the operation of the QVWC Trust for its services, including services that are administered that are not commercial in confidence

e) details of any major external reviews carried out in respect of the operation of the QVWC Trust

f) details of any other research and development activities undertaken by the QVWC Trust that are not otherwise covered either in the Report of Operations or in a document which contains the financial report and Report of Operations

g) details of overseas trips undertaken, including a summary of the objectives and outcomes of each visit

h) details of major promotional, public relations and marketing activities undertaken by the QVWC Trust to develop community awareness of the services provided by the QVWC Trust

i) details of assessment and measures undertaken to improve the occupational health and safety of employees, not otherwise detailed in the Report of Operations

j) a general statement on industrial relations within the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, the purposes of each committee and the extent to which the purposes have been achieved.

The information is available on request from:

Margaret Burdeu General Manager Phone: 03 8668 8103 E-mail: manager@qvwc.org.au

Government compliance

In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to present the Report of Operations for the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust for the year ending 30 June 2009.

Catherine Brown Chair, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust July 2009

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Queen Victoria Women’s centre trust

ABN: 61 006 499 231

annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009

financial statements 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 Trust was established under the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Act 1994. Its principal address is:

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre210 Lonsdale StreetMelbourne VIC 3000Tel: 03 8668 8100Email: info@qvwc.org.au

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 Centre is undertaking a review of its risk management practices to inform on-going improvements to its risk management framework. 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’sCentre Trust

17 September 2009

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income statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2009

Note 2009 $

2008 $

Revenue

Revenue from Government 2 399,993 367,547

Other revenue 2 536,952 550,753

Total revenue 936,945 918,300

Expenditure

Employee 3 (515,050) (397,153)

Depreciation 4 (234,089) (209,681)

Supplies and services 5 (398,416) (261,215)

Total expenditure (1,147,556) (868,049)

Surplus/(deficit) for the period (210,611) 50,251

balance sheet as at 30 June 2009

Note 2009 $

2008 $

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 6 486,505 405,225

Trade and other receivables 7 49,503 37,424

Prepayments 15,551

Total current assets 536,009 458,200

Non-current assets

Land and buildings 8 17,877,116 18,027,894

Plant, equipment and furniture 9 176,733 256,005

Total non-current assets 18,053,849 18,283,898

Total assets 18,589,858 18,742,098

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 10 84,419 60,913

Trust funds and deposits 20,159 20,159

Unearned income 28,483 1,426

Provision for employee entitlements 17,772 10,288

Total current liabilities 150,833 92,787

Non Current Liabilities

Provision for employee entitlements 325

Total Non Current Liabilities 325 0

Total liabilities 151,158 92,787

Net assets 18,438,700 18,649,311

Equity

Contributed equity 11 4,200,000 4,200,000

Reserves 11 16,286,303 16,314,548

Accumulated deficit 11 (2,047,603) (1,865,237)

Total equity 18,438,700 18,649,311

33

statement of changes in eQuity for the financial year ended 30 June 2009

2009 $

2009 $

2009 $

2009 $

2009 $

2009 $

2009 $

Balance at beginning of the financial year 11 18,649,311 (1,865,237) 16,191,962 51,086 71,500 - 4,200,000

Net amount transferred to/(from) reserves 11 (28,245) - - (51,086) (2,159) 25,000 -

Net asset revaluation increment/(decrement) 11 0 - 0 - - -

Net income recognised directly in equity (28,245) - 0 (51,086) (2,159) 25,000 -

Surplus/(deficit) for the year 11 (210,611) (210,611) - - - - -

Net transfer to reserves 11 28,245 28,245 - - - - -

Total recognised income and expense (210,611) (182,366) 0 (51,086) (2,159) 25,000 -

Capital contributed during the year 11 0 - - - -

Balance at end of financial year 11 18,438,700 (2,047,603) 16,191,962 0 69,341 25,000 4,200,000

2008 $

2008 $

2008 $

2008 $

2008 $

2008 $

2008 $

Balance at beginning of the financial year 11 17,645,515 (1,792,902) 15,416,962 - - - 4,021,455

Net amount transferred to reserves 11 122,586 - - 51,086 71,500 - -

Net asset revaluation increment/(decrement) 11 775,000 - 775,000 - - - -

Net income recognised directly in equity 897,586 - 775,000 51,086 71,500 - -

Surplus/(deficit) for the year 11 50,251 50,251 - - - -

Net transfer to reserves 11 (122,586) (122,586) - - - - -

Total recognised income and expense 825,251 (72,335) 775,000 51,086 71,500 - -

Capital contributed during the year 11 178,545 - - - - - 178,545

Balance at end of financial year 11 18,649,311 (1,865,237) 16,191,962 51,086 71,500 - 4,200,000

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34

cash floW statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2009

Note 2009 $

2008 $

Cash flows from operating activities

Receipts from Government 399,993 367,547

Receipts in the course of operations 536,703 525,954

Payments to suppliers and employees (868,483) (404,521)

Interest received 17,108 30,087

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 16 85,321 519,067

Cash flows from investing activities

Payments for property, plant and equipment (4,040) (717,932)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities (4,040) (717,932)

Cash flows from financing activities

Receipts from Government 0 178,545

0 178,545

Net increase/(decrease) in cash held 81,280 (20,319)

Cash at the beginning of the financial year 405,225 425,544

Cash at the end of the financial year 6 486,505 405,225

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) CashFor 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 recognitionRevenues are recognised at fair value of the consideration received net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST).

grant and sponsorship reVenue

Grants and sponsorships are recognised as revenue when invoices are raised.

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 taxRevenues, 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.

(d) ReceivablesAll debtors are recognised at the amounts receivable as they are due for settlement in no more than 30 days from the date of recognition.

35

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 assetsSubsequent to the initial recognition as assets, non-current 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 tfive years. Revaluations are conducted in accordance with the Victorian Government Policy. - 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 equipmentDepreciation 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 Shilling Wall monument has a remaining life of 40 years effective 1 July 2008. The useful lives for the financial years ending 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2008 are as follows:

2009 2008

Buildings 100 years 100 years

Plant and equipment

3-15 years

3-15 years

Building improvements 10 years

Monument 40 years

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 creditorsThese 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) General ReserveThe Trust has created a General Reserve with an initial allocation of $25,000. The General Reserve has been created to provide for expenditures that cannot be met from normal income sources.

(i) Employee benefits(i) Wages, salaries and annual leaveLiabilities for wages and salaries, including annual 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) SuperannuationThe amount charged to the Income Statement in respect of superannuation represents the contributions made by the Trust to superannuation funds.

(j) Contributed capitalConsistent 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.

(k) Income taxThe income of the Trust is exempt from income tax under Subsection 50-25 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (as amended).

36

notes to the annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009

2009 $

2008 $

Note 2 Revenue

Revenue from Government

Project revenue 84,993 59,547

Grant revenue from Office of Women’s Policy 315,000 308,000

Total revenue from Government 399,993 367,547

Other revenue

Rental from leased office space 349,264 342,684

Rental from room hire 53,289 38,167

Other income

Council grants 5,000

Donations 40,416 128,024

Sundry income 76,874 8,089

Interest 17,108 28,789

Total other revenue 536,952 550,753

Total revenue 936,945 918,300

Note 3 Employee expenses

Salaries and wages 366,047 294,202

Superannuation and workcover expenses 35,519 33,678

Contractors and outplacement fees 77,493 27,343

Sitting fees 26,168 26,129

Directors/Volunteers insurance 3,427 9,136

Staff training & recruitment 6,396 6,664

Total employee expenses 515,050 397,153

Note 4 Depreciation

Buildings 143,286 147,339

Shilling Wall, Garden and Building improvements 7,491

Plant and equipment 83,312 62,342

Total depreciation 234,089 209,681

Note 5 Supplies and services

Office costs 39,616 32,846

Programs, Events & Marketing 213,071 76,147

Professional services 13,088 11,919

Building and maintenance 134,523 139,104

Doubtful debts (1,881) 1,200

Total supplies and services expenses 398,416 261,215

Note 6 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents 486,505 405,225

Total cash and cash equivalents 486,505 405,225

37

notes to the annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009

2009 $

2008 $

Note 7 Trade and other receivables

Trade debtors 44,503 33,136

Other debtors 5,000

GST Recoverable 0 6,169

Less: Provision for doubtful debts 0 (1,881)

Total trade and other receivables 49,503 37,424

Note 8 Land and Buildings

Land

At managment valuation 30 June 2008 3,875,000 3,875,000

Total land 3,875,000 3,875,000

Buildings

At independent valuation as at 30 June 2007 13,631,000 13,631,000

Add: Improvements to building 69,770 405,542

Add: Shilling Building Improvements 335,772

Add: Shilling Wall Garden 167,297 167,297

Less: Accumulated depreciation (295,706) (147,339)

13,908,132 14,056,499

Monument

Add: Shilling Wall 96,394 96,394

Less: Accumulated depreciation (2,410)

93,984 96,394

Total land and buildings 17,877,116 18,027,894

Note 9 Plant, equipment and furniture

Office equipment and furniture at cost at beginning of year 459,664 474,397

Add: Additions during the year 4,040 48,699

Less: Disposals (63,432)

Less: Accumulated depreciation (286,972) (203,660)

Total plant, equipment and furniture 176,733 256,005

Note 10 Payables

Trade creditors 38,844 13,665

Accrued expenses 17,190 6,411

Provision for Audit 5,500 10,000

Superannuation liability for employees 0 9,598

Net GST payable 2,513 6,083

PAYG withholding 9,342 6,569

Accrued salaries 10,518 8,074

Accrued fringe benefits tax liabilities 513 513

Total payables 84,419 60,913

38

notes to the annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009

2009 $

2008 $

Note 11 Equity and movements in equity

(a) Asset revaluation reserve

Asset revaluation reserve at beginning of financial year 16,191,962 15,416,962

Increment/(decrement) - land 775,000

Increment/(decrement) - buildings -

Asset revaluation reserve at end of financial year 16,191,962 16,191,962

(b) Carried forward grant monies reserve

Carried forward grant monies reserve at beginning of financial year 51,086 -

Transfer (to)/from accumulated surplus/deficit (51,086) 51,086

Carried forward grant monies reserve at end of financial year 0 51,086

(c) Carried forward donations monies reserve

Carried forward donation monies reserve at beginning of financial year 71,500 -

Transfer (to)/from accumulated surplus/deficit (2,159) 71,500

Carried forward donation monies reserve at end of financial year 69,341 71,500

(d) General Reserve

General Reserve at beginning of year

Transfer (to)/from accumulated surplus/deficit 25,000

General Reserve at end of financial year 25,000

Total reserves 16,286,303 16,314,548

(d) Contributed capital

Contributed capital at beginning of financial year 4,200,000 4,021,455

Increase during the period 178,545

Contributed capital at end of financial year 4,200,000 4,200,000

(e) Accumulated surplus (deficit)

Accumulated surplus/(deficit) at beginning of financial year (1,865,237) (1,792,902)

Net result for the period (210,611) 50,251

Tranfer to/from Reserves 28,245 (122,586)

Accumulated surplus/(deficit) at end of financial year (2,047,603) (1,865,237)

(f) Nature and purpose of reserves

Asset revaluation reserveThe asset revaluation reserve is used to record increments on the revaluation of land and buildings, as described in accounting policy note 1(e).

Carried forward grant and donation monies reservesGrants 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.

General ReserveThe General Reserve has been created to provide for expenditures that cannot be met from normal income sources.

39

notes to the annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009

2009 $

2008 $

Note 12 Financial instruments

(a) Credit risk exposureThe 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 exposureThe 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.

Fixed Rate Non-Interest Bearing Total Total

2009 $’000

2008 $’000

2009 $’000

2008 $’000

2009 $’000

2008 $’000

Financial assets

Cash and Deposits 487 405 - - 487 405

Receivables - - 45 33 45 33

Provision for doubtful debts - - - (2) - (2)

487 405 45 31 532 436

Weighted average effective interest rate 5.4% 5.5% - 6%

Financial liabilities

Trade Creditors - - 73 48 73 48

- - 73 48 73 48

Net financial assets (liabilities) 459 388

Sensitivity analysis (market risk disclosure)

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust market exposure arises primarily through interest rate risk, and it does not have, or intend to have, exposure to foreign currency risk or other price risk. Interest rate risk may only arise through financial asset holdings held at variable interest rates.

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust considers its financial liabilities to be its payables and other liabilities, and does not currently have any interest bearing liabilities in its balance sheet. These are not subject to market risk.

Taking into account past performance, future expectations, economic forecast and management’s knowledge and experience of the financial markets, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust believes the following movements are reasonably possible over 12 months, assuming a parrallel shift of one percent (100 basis points) in market interest rates from year end.

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust exposure to interest rate risk is set out in the following table:

Interest Rate Risk

Carrying Amount $’000

-1% Net result

$’000

-1% Equity $’000

+1% Net result

$’000

+1% Equity $’000

2009

Cash and deposits 487 (5) (5) 5 5

Receivable 45

Total (decrease)increase 532 (5) (5) 5 5

2008

Cash and deposits 405 (4) (4) 4 4

Receivable 31

Total (decrease)increase 436 (4) (4) 4 4

40

Note 13 Ministers and accountable officers

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

Minister for Women’s Affairs

The Hon Maxine Morand MP July 2008 to June 2009

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

Chairperson Catherine Brown July 2008 to June 2009

Members Laurie Bebbington* July 2008 to June 2009

Michelle Beveridge July 2008 to June 2009

Tamara Brezzi July 2008 to June 2009

Maree Davidson July 2008 to June 2009

Gaye Hamilton July 2008 to June 2009

Jean Ker Walsh July 2008 to June 2009

Vivienne Nguyen July 2008 to June 2009

Josie Rizza Sept 2008 to June 2009

Kay Setches July 2008 to June 2009

Lee Ward July 2008 to Aug 2008

Janet Wood July 2008 to June 2009

General Manager Margaret Burdeu July 2008 to June 2009

*Please note that this person only received income from the Trust for the last 2 months of the year

Remuneration

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

2009 No 2008 No

$0 $9,999 12 11

$10,000 - $19,999

$20,000 - $29,999

$30,000 - $39,999

$40,000 - $49,999 1

$50,000 - $59,999

$60,000 - $69,999 1

$70,000 - $79,999

$80,000 $89,999

$90,000 $99,999

$100,000 - $109,999

$110,000 - $119,999 1

-

Number of persons 13 13

Total remuneration $146,644 $134,535

2009 $

2008 $

(d) Ageing of trade & other receivables

The ageing of Trade & Other Receivables at reporting date was:

Current (not yet overdue) 38,543 4,895

Past due by up to 30 days 4,810 14,932

Past due between 31 and 180 days 131 2,619

Past due between 181 and 365 days 1,019 10,690

Total trade & other receivables 44,503 33,136

(e) Movement in provision for doubtful debts

Balance at the beginning of the year 1,881 13,122

Add: new provisions recognised during the year 1,200

Less: Provision no longer required (1,881)

Less: Amounts already provided for and written off as uncollectable (12,441)

Balance at end of year - 1,881

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.

41

Remuneration

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

2009 No 2008 No

$0 $9,999 12 11

$10,000 - $19,999

$20,000 - $29,999

$30,000 - $39,999

$40,000 - $49,999 1

$50,000 - $59,999

$60,000 - $69,999 1

$70,000 - $79,999

$80,000 $89,999

$90,000 $99,999

$100,000 - $109,999

$110,000 - $119,999 1

-

Number of persons 13 13

Total remuneration $146,644 $134,535

2009 $

2008 $

Note 14 Remuneration of auditors

Audit fees paid or payable to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office for audit of the Trust’s financial report 12,000 10,000

Note 15 Employee benefits

Provision for employee benefits

Current 17,772 10,288

Non Current 325

Aggregate employee benefit liability 18,097 10,288

Employee Numbers Number Number

Number of employees at end of financial year 7 7

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.

Contributions for the year end

Contributions outstanding at year

end

2009 $

2008 $

2009 $

2008 $

VicSuper 17,573 16,428 - 7,467

Other 33,456 27,387 - 2,131

Total 51,029 43,815 - 9,598

The basis 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.

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.

42

2009 2008

$ $

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

Net result for the period (210,611) 50,251

Depreciation 234,089 209,681

Increase/(decrease) in provision for doubtful debts (1,881) (11,241)

Change in operating assets and liabilities

(Increase)/decrease in debtors and receivables (10,198) 46,529

(Increase)/decrease in prepayments 15,551 235,120

Increase/(decrease) in creditors and accruals 50,563 5,468

Increase/(decrease) in employee benefits 7,810 2,540

Increase/(decrease) in other operating liabilities - (19,281)

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities 85,321 519,067

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:

2009 2008

$ $

Note 18 Operating lease commitments receivable:

- No later than one year 323,695 351,485

- Later than one year but no later than five years 305,724 362,030

629,419 713,515

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 2009 and the financial position of the Trust as at 30 June 2009.

We are not aware of any circumstance that would render any particulars included in the financial statements to be misleading or inaccurate.

Catherine BrownChairpersonQueen Victoria Women’s Centre TrustLevel 1, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

Margaret BurdeuGeneral ManagerQueen Victoria Women’s Centre TrustLevel 1, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

43

44

acknoWledgementsshilling Wall donors 2008–09

Geraldine Allen, Mary Allinson, Judith Arnott, Leanne Atkinson, Julie Badger, Sharon Barker, Helen Barton, (Isabel) Joy Bear, Laurie Bebbington, Thomas Berryman, James Black, Marilyn A Born, Erin Boyling, Tamara Brezzi, Anne MV Brooks, Catherine Brown, Melinda Buckland, Margaret Burdeu, Rita Burdeu, Anne Callanan, Julie Campbell, Chelsea Candy, Anne Champness, Fiona Charlton, John Cleghorn, Jane Clifton, James Coffey, Katherine Cooney, Kay Davis, Karen Denby, Kate Driscoll, Judy Durr, Sue Farrant, Murray C Frazer, Manfred Hacker, Gaye Hamilton, Karla Hogg, Jennifer Howard, Diane Indrans, Bronwen Jacobs, Barbara Jennings, Stephen Jensen, Douglas Jongsma, Eve Kantor, Jean Ker Walsh, Elizabeth King, Jordana Kornfeld, Robin Kornfeld, Bronwyn Lewis, Wendy Lewis, Catherine Luby, Mazeena Mahroof, Noor Mohamed Mahroof, Heather McMinn, William Mora, Bronwyn Morphett, Karen Morris-Denby, Vivienne Nguyen, Elizabeth Norton, Elizabeth O’Keeffe, Jeanne O’Neill, Rachael O’Neill, Sharon Osman, Robyn Peterson, Megan Phelan, Jan Pianella, Carmelo Pisani, Margaret Portelli, Thirza Prater, Kylie Price, Megan Rayner, Emillie Reader, Linnell Secomb, Denis Setches, Kay Setches, Vivienne Shepherdson, Rhonda Small, Scott Staples, Kate Sterrenberg, Virginia Strybosch, Carol Stuart, Coral Sundblom, Nicole Tang, Jean Taylor, (Aline) Catherine Thompson, John L Torpey, David Tripp, Vivienne Waller, Kerri Ward, Wendy Weeks, Elizabeth Whitfield, Bronwyn Williams, Rizana Zubair.

grants and sponsorships

Department of Planning and Community Development, Office of Women’s Policy, Operational Grant

Department of Planning and Community Development, Office of Women’s Policy, Women’s Financial Literacy Project

City of Melbourne, International Women’s Day Market

Volunteers

Satu Aho, Dimple Arora, Monica Haring, Sue Mahoney, Maud Moses, Jane Nyam, Tiz Pitui, Jenny Ross, Fern Smith, Erin Young

in-kind donors

ASPECT Studios, Business Risks International, City of Melbourne, Deacons, DTZ, Palette restaurant, QV Property Management, Heather Wellington

proJect partners

Government of Victoria via the Office of Women’s Policy, Department of Planning and Community Development, and WIRE Women’s Information on the delivery of the financial literacy state-wide workshops and Centre-based seminars

special mentions

International Women’s Day

A special thanks to the City of Melbourne for its partnership in the International Women’s Day Market and IWD women’s breakfast and for advice and support in planning for the environmentally sustainable development of the Centre building.

Legal advice

We would like to acknowledge pro bono legal advice from Deacons across a range of areas of the Centre.

disclosure indexThe 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.

Significant changes in financial position Page 6 /7

Major changes or factors affecting performance Page 6 /7

Nature and range of services provided Page 4 -19

Manner of establishment and responsible Minister Page 20-26

Objectives, functions, powers and duties Page 20-26

Names of Trust members Page 21-23

Organisational structure, names and functional areas of responsibility of senior officers Page 27

Objective and performances against strategic objectives Page 20-26

Community inclusiveness Page 29

Diversity Page 29

Merit and equity Page 29

Employment and conduct principles Page 29

Occupational health and safety Page 29

Building and maintenance provisions of Building Act 1993 Page 29

Environmental sustainability initiatives Page 30

Privacy Act Page 30

Whistleblowers Act Page 30 /31

Freedom of Information Act Page 31

Implementation of the Victorian Industry Participation Policy Page 31

National Competition Policy Page 31

Applications and operation of FOI Act 1982 Page 31

Details of consultancies >$100,000 and total number and cost of those <$100,000 Compliance NA

Compliance framework for major contracts Page 31

Subsequent events which will affect operations in future years Nil

Availability of other information Page 32

Workforce data – two-year period Financial statements

© Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust 2009 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provision of the Copyright Act 1968.

Vision

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is 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: we draw our inspiration from the founding women who established the Queen Victoria Hospital and the women who fought to save part of the hospital and establish the QV Women’s Centre

Equality: we are committed to advancing gender equality in all aspects of society

Integrity: we are open, honest and considerate in our relationships and professional and transparent in our actions and decisions

Respect: we are mindful of the diversity of the needs, aspirations and beliefs of the women and others with whom we engage.

ABN: 61 006 499 231

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust Level 1, 210 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000

www.qvwc.org.au

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust

2008/09A vibrant place and space for women

A vibrant place and space for women

AnnuAl RepoRt