Gateways reports large financial deficit

A disability support service that recently lost its chief executive has recorded a multimillion-dollar deficit.

A Geelong-based disability support service has recorded a deficit of more than $3.1m just months after its chief executive resigned.

Gateways Support Services’ 2021-22 result followed a loss of about $1.64m for the previous financial year.

Chief executive Stephanie Gunn’s resignation was announced in August.

Gateways, which has its head office in Geelong, had more than 2200 clients last financial year, with 311 new clients, according to its annual report.

Interim chief executive Graeme Kelly told the Addy last financial year’s deficit was a result of several factors such as Covid impacting community services significantly during periods of lockdown, NDIS funding and policy changes, and JobKeeper funding coming to an end.

He said the company’s financial position had improved already this financial year.

“This is a result of implementing a performance improvement plan to improve our financial position and this will continue,” Mr Kelly said.

Asked whether the deficit would affect services, Mr Kelly said Gateways was committed to its staff, participants and their families.

He said Gateways was actively recruiting for a permanent chief executive.

“We thank Stephanie for her important contribution to Gateways during such a challenging period of change,” he said.

Gateways former chief executive Stephanie Gunn. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Gateways Support Services offers a range of programs for kids and adults with disabilities, including social and employment supports, and has offices in Melbourne’s west and Warrnambool.

In the 2021-22 annual report, Ms Gunn and president Keith Baillie wrote despite improved operational performance, Gateways had incurred an operating deficit of $3.1m.

They said Gateways had difficulty in achieving anticipated rental income, while still incurring outgoing costs.

“We have developed a financial budget with strong performance and governance expectations, plus a program of important ongoing improvement,” they wrote.

“We will continue our journey of returning Gateways to a surplus.”

In August, a statement released by the organisation said after three years as chief executive, Ms Gunn advised the board that she had chosen to resign.

At the time she said she was taking some time with my family and would “embrace serendipity” to contribute to our community in the future.

The annual report acknowledged she was embarking on a “new direction”.

Originally published as Gateways reports large financial deficit