24 February 2009

ADRA Australia now part of Adeventist Church in Australia

Wahroonga, New South Wales
Candice Jaques

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia now sits under the corporate umbrella of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia, following changes to ADRA Australia's constitution at its annual general meeting in November, 2008. Prior to this, ADRA Australia came under the administration of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific.

This change reflects the growth of the ADRA network in the South Pacific and the need for ADRA Australia to be more closely aligned with the strategic direction of the Adeventist Church in Australia.

"Twenty-five years ago, when an ADRA presence was first established in the Pacific to care for work across the region, the Adventist Church in the South Pacific administered it from one office in Sydney," said ADRA Australia's former board chair, Peter Brewin.

"But ADRA has really grown and we now have offices in several Pacific countries to look after the work in each area," he said. "This growth has enabled the original ADRA office, now ADRA Australia, to focus its work on solely representing the Australian people and government. It was incorporated in 2004, meeting Australian government regulations, and also raises funds from the Australian public and government. Since it now functions only in the Australian context, it is more appropriate for it to be administered by the Adventist Church in Australia, instead of the South Pacific," Mr Brewin said.

This administrative move has not altered ADRA Australia's project work or any of its daily operations. ADRA Australia will continue to support projects overseas and in Australia.

"Being administered by the Adventist Church in Australia hasn't changed our purpose," said ADRA Australia's chief executive officer, Jonathan Duffy. "Our day-to-day work continues as usual, providing support to communities in need in the Pacific, Asia and Africa, as well as here in Australia."

The location of ADRA Australia's office will also remain unchanged, with the office remaining in Sydney, although the administrative office of the Adventist Church in Australia is located in Melbourne.

ADRA Australia's administrative move has, however, required a change in the agency's ex officio board positions and a change to how company members are appointed. ADRA Australia's board of directors will now include Pastor Chester Stanley, president of the Adventist Church in Australia, as board chair; Pastor Ken Vogel, the Adventist Church in Australia's company secretary; and Kingsley Wood, the Adventist Church in Australia's chief financial officer, as board members. Company members will be appointed by the executive committee of the Adventist Church in Australia, rather than the executive committee of the South Pacific.

In response to the growth of ADRA in the South Pacific, the Adventist Church in the South Pacific is establishing an ADRA South Pacific Regional Office to support country offices in the region. ADRA South Pacific will not operate or fund projects but will provide country offices, such as ADRA Australia, with support in governance, training, capacity building, licensing and support to meet accreditation criteria. ADRA South Pacific, to be managed by Greg Young, will not be incorporated nor will it have deductible gift recipient status, which means it will not be able to provide tax-deductibility. ADRA supporters wanting tax-deductibility on donations should continue to donate through the ADRA office in their country.

ADRA Australia is one of six ADRA offices in the South Pacific region. ADRA also has offices in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. Each ADRA office implements projects within its own country, with ADRA Australia and ADRA New Zealand also supporting projects in developing countries.