From the President
and CEO
Berry Street’s 130th year of
service to the Victorian community
was a watershed, as we moved
from our historical home in Berry
Street, East Melbourne. As many
of you will know, we had well and
truly outgrown the site and it was
no longer adequate to support
our extensive range of services
across Victoria.
The move to our new premises in Richmond has given us all a boost, with professional workstations, meeting and training spaces.
As we move to this next chapter in the long and proud Berry Street story, it is appropriate to reflect on the commitment, vision
and courage of those who first established the Victorian Infant Asylum back in 1877 and who laid the foundations for the great
organisation Berry Street is today.
In essence, we continue to strive today for the same thing as did our founders - that all children have a good childhood, growing
up in families and communities where they feel safe, nurtured and have hope for the future.
But, sadly, this is not the case for:
far too many children, who are growing up in an increasingly hostile world;
young people who feel alienated from their family, school and community;
women and children living in constant fear of family violence and “doing the wrong thing”;
families who struggle with unemployment, homelessness and mental illness to create the home they want for their children; and
Aboriginal children, young people and families who continue to face the disastrous legacy of colonisation.
Our commitment – WE NEVER GIVE UP – means that we will continue to help individuals, but also work to prevent problems
before they emerge, and ensure that the system responds better when they do.
We can only achieve this goal with the contribution and commitment of our skilled staff and foster carers, the leadership of our advisors
and volunteers and the support we receive from the community, our colleagues, governments, philanthropic foundations and the
business sector – support for which we, and the Victorian children, young people and families we support, are most sincerely grateful.
Mary Clark
Sandie de Wolf
President
Chief Executive Officer
We never give up