In 1997, MacKillop Family Services launched with over 100 individual services delivering residential care, foster care, education, disability and family support across Melbourne and Geelong.
Within
MacKillop’s first year, a strategic planning exercise was launched to inform
the future direction of the new organisation. In the CEO Report of MacKillop’s
1997-98 Annual Report, MacKillop’s first CEO Paul Linossier said the
process of establishing the strategic plan brought staff and stakeholders
together in the crucial formative first year.
“The
strategic planning exercise of early 1998 has particular significance
for the organisation. Characterised by a strong consultative
approach, our strategic planning enabled a wide range of staff
and other stakeholders to shape and influence how the new
organisation may develop over the next few years.”
MacKillop
launched with over 200 staff, most of whom worked across the seven agencies
that formed the organisation. It was recognised that to grow and establish the
culture and identity of MacKillop, staff needed the opportunity to meet their
colleagues from other locations and learn about the commonalities within their
services.
In
the first six months, staff with similar responsibilities and roles were
brought together from the nine sites across Melbourne and Geelong to hear about
the work of their colleagues, share their experiences of the transition, and
learn more of the story of the founders of the three congregations – Edmund
Rice, Catherine McCauley and Mary MacKillop. These events helped staff to
understand their role in delivering the mission of
the new organisation.
Staff
were further supported by Pastoral Care workers who provided a valued service
to staff for over 10 years. Pastoral Care workers supported individual
staff members, assisted with reflections and celebrations, and
helped the spirit of the founding congregations find its shape in
MacKillop Family Services.
As
the identity and culture of the new organisation was being established,
significant work was being undertaken to consolidate services, respond to
government policy and establish a focus on advocacy and
research. When MacKillop Family Services
was established, it was envisaged that the new organisation
would play a significant role in improving policies that shape our society.
Within the first year, a major research project was
initiated in partnership with the Catholic Education Office
and the Department of Human Services to look at the educational
needs of at risk children and young people. Today, MacKillop continues
its focus on research and is linked with universities and peak
bodies to advocate on policy issues that best serve the
vulnerable people it works with every day.
Another
strong focus of the organisation was to acknowledge its history and preserve
the records of its former services, in particular the orphanages that ran for
close to 100 years between the 1850's
and 1970's.
Jenny
Glare, who formerly worked for the Sisters of St Joseph, established
a Heritage and Information Service. The service started from day one and began
with computerising close to 170,000 records.
20
years later, Jenny continues to operate the Heritage and Information Service
and Display. The innovative approaches Jenny has developed to allow people to
access their records, and the support she and her team provide during the
process, have been recognised as international best practice.