Chairperson’s Report 2024
Thank you all
As I complete my second year as Chairman of the Board for MACASA and my third year as a volunteer, I reflect on a year filled with challenges and hard work. Our organization has faced significant financial pressures, yet thanks to the dedication and commitment of our staff and volunteers, we have continued to provide essential services to the community. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all members of the MACASA team for their time and efforts in delivering outstanding services. Our ability to support clients relies heavily on our staff and volunteers, and your dedication over the past year has made this possible. The Board sincerely appreciates your unwavering support and commitment.
Funding Challenges
We are all aware of the rising cost of living, which has impacted everyone, including MACASA. Our organization primarily relies on funding from the Commonwealth Government through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), which serves as the government’s entry-level support scheme. In May 2021, the Australian Government announced plans to transition to a new model, “Support at Home,” expected to take effect in July 2027. The specifics of this new model remain unclear, which is crucial for MACASA, as the funding structure will influence how we deliver services and could have a substantial impact on how we deliver our services.
This year, while the current CHSP model has provided a modest 3 % funding increase, staff salary Awards have risen by 5%, and the costs of goods and services have increased by 8%. Additionally, changes in the timing of government payments have strained MACASA’s operating costs and cash flow. To address these challenges, we are increasingly relying on grants and alternative funding sources, and have made the decision to restructure services to maintain operations in areas where losses are significant.
Pricing Increases
We are committed to keeping our services as affordable as possible and typically avoid price increases until absolutely necessary. However, to meet our expenses and bridge the gap between government funding and our overhead costs, we will need to raise prices again this coming year. After a careful review of our suppliers and services, we will be sending a letter to all clients in the coming months outlining the new pricing structure.
Payments
In response to the growing trend towards a cashless society, we have successfully implemented credit card payment options. This required a minor adjustment to our phone system to ensure conversations with card numbers are not recorded. Additionally, we have added the capability to accept online credit card payments through our website (www.macasa.org.au in the Services | Payments menu).
Staff and Volunteers
MACASA’s success is rooted in the dedication of our staff and volunteers. With the support of our Cooks Rhiannon and Ashley, we have prepared an impressive average of 3,700 menu items each month, totalling 21,174 meals this year for our grateful customers. MACASA served 405 clients our volunteers driving 34,141 km, provided 7 social events and 30 luncheons providing a total of over 4213 social support hours.
I would like to extend special thanks to our Services Manager, Madeleine Williams, for her tireless efforts. She continues to contribute and is always willing to step in for events and gatherings, even when she is meant to be taking well-earned leave.
This financial year, our students Miku & Jinyi in 2023, and Emilia & Annetta in early 2024, who delivered great services whilst also improving their own skills and experiences – just another way that MACASA helps the community.
Board
This year has seen some changes within the Board. We sadly lost Vikram Madan OAM in August and Jeff Burg in September, with their funerals taking place in the same months. They will both be deeply missed. In June, our Treasurer, Ka Ming (Phil) Hiew, chose to focus more on his role as CFO for Clayton Church Homes. Since then, the Board has been searching for a new Treasurer, with Annie Wang from Southern Cross Care stepping in to assist during this transition. We also welcomed Rafa Mirzaev, the current CFO of Alwyndor, to the Board in July.
The Year Ahead
As we face the ongoing challenges from previous years, compounded by the rising cost of living and decreasing government funding, the upcoming year will be difficult. We are actively exploring ways to reduce overhead costs, secure additional funding and donations, and implement minimal co-payments from clients. We are also in search of a lower cost kitchen and office location and will continue to pursue more food sales opportunities. While the year ahead presents its challenges, we are confident that with the unwavering dedication and hard work of our staff and volunteers, we will persevere.
Christian Wickham
Chairperson