WESLEY Mission, an organisation offering assistance to those in need across a range of community services, is celebrating its 175th year.
As part of that milestone, the organisation, which is part of the Uniting Church in Australia’s UnitingCare, is taking a more business-savvy focus to its mission.
Part of that new approach has involved the appointment of Chris Hall as its first-ever CEO.
Mr Hall has worked in the non-government community services sector and the local government industry for the past 30 years in Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia.
His previous roles in WA have included executive director of Relationships Australia and director of community development with the City of Joondalup, along with various senior management positions within Centrecare Perth.
The mission draws a portion of its income from its land holdings centred on the corner of Hay and William streets that includes Wesley Arcade.
Wesley Mission corporate relations consultant Jane Fitzgerald said the mission also drew its funding from donors and government sources.
She said the mission was currently running nine programs.
Wesley’s services include financial counselling, emergency relief, counselling for substance users and programs for people with disabilities.
The programs centring on people with disabilities involve recreational opportunities plus respite for their carers.
As part of the mission’s 175-year celebrations, Adcorp Australia has designed some billboards to spread Wesley’s message around Perth.
Wesley Mission started in Perth in 1830 when a group of people gathered under a tree in what is now Hay Street Mall and committed themselves to making a difference to Perth.
Through its life Wesley has established the first school for Indigenous children, provided housing for women and children left destitute by the 1890s gold rush, set up Good Samaritan Industries and built the Sarah Hardy Lodge for women at risk.