As Anglicare Victoria (AV) has grown in size – expanding five-fold in the last ten years alone – the organisation has evolved its vision and purpose to best serve vulnerable Victorians.

Since taking the role of CEO in 2010, Paul McDonald has worked closely with AV’s Board and the Church to build the organisation’s expertise and drive innovation.

“Our approach was not to become just another large human services organisation, but an organisation that the Anglican community and the Victorian government can be proud of,” says Paul. “I focused our view on Victoria’s vulnerable children, youth and families – and kept us focused on that – but tripled our thinking.”

This commitment has resulted in AV being recognised as a leading care provider and family-centric organisation not just in Victoria, but on the national stage as well.

AV’s approach included the development of ground-breaking models to support vulnerable people in areas including family violence, out-of-home care (OOHC) and education, while also becoming a leading exponent of a suite of international evidence-based models that work within the Australian context.

Importantly, AV continues to advocate for the reform of existing care and support systems for vulnerable people. This advocacy includes the national Home Stretch campaign, for which Paul received a Pro Bono Impact 25 Award in 2021.

Into the future, AV’s commitment to better tomorrows for Victoria’s most vulnerable is unwavering. “The board and the organisation are looking ahead with keenness to further advance AV’s reputation and capability,” says Paul.