Good Beginnings Australia and Save the Children Australia are joining forces to create one of Australia's largest and most respected agencies working to improve the lives of thousands of children in disadvantaged communities.
Good Beginnings and Save the Children share a similar vision. We're both dedicated to achieving more for children and their families in Australia's most disadvantaged communities through early childhood development programs. Now, to better realise this shared goal, Good Beginnings and Save the Children are merging.
Good Beginnings and Save the Children are merging
The merger brings together Good Beginnings' long-term ambition of building better outcomes for children in vulnerable communities and Save the Children's vision of a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.
By joining forces we have a unique opportunity to combine our Australian services for young children, have greater influence on government policy and the systems that support children, and of course leverage the best of both organisations. Combined, we will drive systemic change – recognising there are insufficient resources to achieve a good beginning for every child without doing things differently.
We see this merger as a unique opportunity to realise a bold new vision and long-term strategy, based on the work of both Save the Children and Good Beginnings.
Together Good Beginnings, which specialises in providing early intervention and practical parenting programs, and Save the Children, which works in 120 countries, will be able to reach even more of Australia's children to ensure they grow up safe, happy and healthy.
A bold goal for children
By joining forces we can broaden our reach and become greater advocates for children and their rights. We can achieve more for disadvantaged children than we could possibly achieve by working alone. As one organisation, we will not only achieve our shared goals, we will increase our influence and become the leading agency working to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children in Australia.
Both organisations have bold goals for the long term.
Together we can ensure all Australian children are 'school ready' when they start school. We can leverage our joint expertise and our local knowledge to run programs with better outcomes for children. And we can have greater influence on government policy and the systems that support children.
Joint expertise
Jayne Meyer Tucker, Chief Executive Officer of Good Beginnings Australia, said, "Not every child in Australia grows up safe, happy and healthy. There are no simple answers or quick fixes to the complex issues that children face in vulnerable communities. That's why we have been working on a 10-year strategy. Now, by joining with Save the Children, an opportunity exists to leverage our joint expertise and local knowledge. Together we can broaden our reach, drive systemic change and become greater advocates for children and their rights."
Paul Ronalds, Save the Children's Chief Executive Officer, said,
"Both organisations have recognised the opportunity to work together on a shared bold goal for children in Australia. We are absolutely delighted that Good Beginnings Australia will join with us to improve the lives of children in Australia's most disadvantaged communities."
By joining forces we have a unique opportunity to combine our Australian services for young children, have greater influence on government policy and the systems that support children, and of course leverage the best of both organisations.
Leading change for children
Together we will create one of Australia's leading agencies working to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the country.
The two charities have consulted extensively with major stakeholders on the merger and have found strong support for the purposes of the merger.
Community Council of Australia (CCA) chair Tim Costello said:
"Australia's diverse not-for-profit sector plays a vital role and delivers outstanding value. The CCA supports a not-for-profit sector that is effective and accountable, and that continues to maintain the support and confidence of Australians.
"A lot has been achieved through the reform agenda over recent years, including the introduction of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC), and charities need to keep looking for ways to improve. This merger of Save the Children Australia and Good Beginnings Australia is a commendable reform and I wish to congratulate them on their vision to put children first."
Good Beginnings and Save the Children already work together in parts of Australia like the Northern Territory where they deliver Intensive Family Support Services. Previously, they have also worked together in Tasmania and Western Australia.
The two charities will officially join forces on 1 July 2015.