Talking Point: In tough times, proud to help Tasmanian relationships

MAT ROWELL reflects on a decade guiding the crucial work of Relationships Australia Tasmania

COMMUNITY: Relationships Australia Tasmania chief executive Mat Rowell at Neighbour Day Launch with Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston this month. Picture: Luke Bowden

RELATIONSHIPS Australia Tasmania occupies an extremely important place in the Tasmanian landscape.

Last year we celebrated 70 years of service to Tasmanians who have needed our support with their personal and family relationships.

For more than 10 years, I have had the privilege of stewardship of this wonderful organisation.

During that time, our teams of professionals have assisted 90,000 Tasmanians have been through our doors.

In this past decade, I have witnessed a significant change in both the prevalence and attitudes towards mental health, hence the growth in Relationships Australia’s services in this area. What has also been heartening is a clear societal shift, to a greater acceptance of the need for support and knowledge of where to go for support.

It has made sense that our growth has been particularly in mental health and suicide prevention.

Recent media reports highlight the need for our family law services to be visible to people who need to separate, safely and in way that avoids exposing children to conflict and violence.

It is hard to recall every achievement and every milestone but some things we are particularly proud of are:

PARTNERSHIP with SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY. We are now collaborating so extensively that SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY is part of the Relationship Australia Tasmania family.

This team delivers suicide prevention and mental health workshops in schools, workplaces, communities and sporting clubs.

OUR PRESENCE in public debate, and our advocacy of issues of concern to clients and communities, including family violence, marriage equality and loneliness and social isolation.

SURVIVING funding cuts and program reductions in programs, changes in government funding arrangements and despite this doubling in size in 10 years.

INVOLVEMENT in royal commissions, in supporting people in their involvement and recovery from these, including the new Frontline Services for people affected by the Royal Commission into Disability Services.

OUR TALENTED STAFF are supported by a culture of continuous improvement, quality professional development and an annual staff conference, are trauma informed and have client safety as a priority.

I have worked with three different strategic plans, a very committed and talented volunteer Board and multiple accreditation processes.

Running a not-for-profit organisation comes with complexity in compliance, funding, contracts, insurance, accreditation, governance, management, risk, safety and this is all on top of the thousands of client interventions we provide every year.

I have tried to balance this with kindness, openness, compassion, fairness and by being me.

Relationship Australia Tasmania has given me so much more in return, and striving to lead an organisation with both your head and your heart are parts of what I think has made the organisation so successful, with such a strong brand.

I will miss my team – I will miss all of the staff across the State.

But I am as proud as punch to be handing over to Dr Michael Kelly, who has been with us for more than a decade, and who has developed through the ranks to be appointed the next CEO of Relationships Australia Tasmania.

Michael will bring a new approach to how we do things at RA Tas, but at the core he brings stability and corporate knowledge and deep compassion and commitment to the work we do.

I am sure his contribution to the Tasmanian community sector and to public debate in opinion pages like these will be significant.

Mat Rowell finishes as chief executive of Relationships Australia Tasmania on March 10.