GOVERNANCE
HOW WE ARE GOVERNED
The Drug Awareness & Relief Foundation (Australia) is incorporated by Letters Patent under the provisions of the 'Religious, Educational and Charitable Institutions Act 1861-1967'.
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Drug Awareness & Relief Foundation (Australia) Board
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Our organisation is governed by a Board of Directors who are are appointed either by election at a General Meeting of Members, or by resolution of the Board to fill a casual vacancy. The Board may also appoint suitably qualified persons to fill a short term Director appointment for a specific need. All Directors agree to the Director expectations statement when appointed
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The Board of the Drug Awareness & Relief Foundation (Australia) meets monthly to oversee the organisation and plan the future direction for the Foundation.
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The Board has developed Charters for its own operation as well as for each of the subsidiary Boards and Board committees. These charters set out the Board oversight responsibilities that includes the working relationship with the Executive Director, strategic direction, operational and executive policy, risk management and monitoring and accountability including performance management of both the Board and senior management.
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Meet the Board
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Mr Ken Walker, Chair
BCom, CPA, CTA
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Mr Ken Walker has over 30 years of experience with the Australian Taxation Office prior to retirement in 2013. He held a variety of senior professional and leadership positions including audit, advice, litigation and law development. Since leaving the ATO, Ken continues to work in his family business.
Mr Walker has held a number of institutional roles within the Seventh-Day Adventist Church including as a member of the School Board of Brisbane Adventist College and its constituent schools for 16 years and as a member of the South Queensland Conference Executive Committee for 6 years. He has a longstanding commitment to community service.
Mr Peter Henderson OAM, Treasurer
BBus, Grad Dip Mgt, Grad Dip App Fin & Inv, FFIN, FCPA
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Peter has been involved with the Foundation for over 40 years, having served various positions including Chairman and Treasurer on the Drug Awareness and Relief Foundation (Australia) Board.
Mr Henderson is a current director of the Australian Rechabite Foundation and the Chairman of Acacia Ridge Financial Services Ltd. He has over 50 years’ experience working with non-government organisations.
Hon John Mickel, Vice Chair
M. Lit. St, B.A.; B. Ed.; St. Dip T. (3 years)
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The Hon. John Mickel is a former Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and Minister for multiple portfolios in successive State Governments.
During his time in Parliament between 1998 and 2012, John was Minister in the in a series of portfolios, including State Development, Energy, Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, and the Environment. In 2009, after the re-election of the Bligh Government, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. In 2013, John was appointed by the then-Treasurer and Minister for Trade, the Hon. Tim Nicholls MP, to review the role of Trade and Investment in Queensland, John also chaired a review instigated by the Palaszczuk Government into retail trading hours.
In addition to his current role at Rowland, John is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice at the Queensland University of Technology and is a regular political commentator on radio and television.
Rev Graeme McKay, Director
BA Theology, MA Religious Studies, Dip Missiology
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Graeme has served on numerous Boards, Councils and Committees in the Church, education and health sector. He was ordained as a minister in 1993 and served a Church in Wishaw, near Glasgow in Scotland. He then moved to Australia in 2002 to become a minister in Toowoomba.
Graeme has been involved deeply in chaplaincy and pastoral care work, serving in schools, hospital, community and aged care chaplaincy. He was a full-time chaplain in an aged care complex for 9 years.
Rev McKay is also former Moderator for the Presbyterian Church of Queensland and is currently Minister of Logan Presbyterian Church.
Dr Rama Spencer, Director
MBBS, FRCGP
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Dr Rama Spencer is a General Practitioner who has worked in the Ipswich region for 26 years. She is a graduate of the University of Queensland, holds a Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners and post graduate qualifications in skin care.
With a passion for holistic medical care, Dr Spencer works as part of a specialist team at the Limestone Medical Centre in Ipswich. At the Centre, Dr Spencer deals with complex mental health trauma, adolescent health and wellbeing, a myriad of general health issues as well as offering mentoring to the next generation of doctors.
Increasingly her work is based on patient advocacy, and she has helped establish ‘Our House, Our Haven’ - a nurse led Trauma Centre with many positive outcomes. This Centre aims to prevent disadvantaged individuals from falling through the gaps, thus reducing the economic, societal and personal harm. Dr Spencer has been involved in the sector as a volunteer for Drug ARM, Teen Challenge and other youth work as well as extensive experience as a speaker in schools, churches and delivering training in the community.
Dr Spencer has developed her own specialist course on trauma and mental health conditions for staff and volunteers in the community health sector.
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Dr Kevin Lambkin, Director
BSc (Hons), PhD, GradDip Public Sector Management
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Dr Kevin Lambkin is an honours science graduate of the University of Queensland and has a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney as well as a graduate diploma in public sector management from Griffith University.
A career Queensland public servant for 31 years, he served in both the parliamentary and executive arms of the service, including as research director of inaugural Queensland parliamentary public accounts committee. Dr Lambkin joined Queensland Health in 1994 and made significant contributions to health policies and programs including the design and introduction of drug diversion and drug court programs, the expansion of the needle and syringe program, the modernisation of tobacco control legislation, and preventative health campaigns and programs. Dr Lambkin retired from the public service in September 2012 as Executive Director, Preventative Health.
At a community level, Dr Lambkin is a founder, past president and board member of the Caxton Legal Centre, a member of the Drug ARM National Policy Council, and an Honorary Research Fellow of the Queensland Museum
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Rev David Baker, Director
​BA Theology, DipBusMgt, MAICD
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David is currently serving as General Secretary of Queensland Churches Together. QCT is the main ecumenical body for the churches in Queensland.
He previously served two terms as Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. a second term as moderator of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church. He experienced the church’s ministry from a young age through the Methodist tradition.
David worked as a property valuer in rural and regional Queensland before completing theological training and ordination in 1991. He served in rural Queensland, and in a successful church planting venture in Karana Downs, before serving as a Presbytery Minister.
David holds a Diploma in Business Management from Queensland Agricultural College, a Bachelor of Theology from Brisbane College of Theology, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
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Mr Tony Markwell
B.Bus, MBA, CPA, FCA, GAICD
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Mr Tony Markwell is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tony was the Managing Partner for Grant Thornton in Brisbane and National Managing Partner for Grant Thornton’s Private Advisory Service line across Australia.
Tony has previously served as a School Council Member for the St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and as a Member of the School Finance and Remuneration & Nominations Committee.
Ms Leonie Short
Cert DT, Dip Clin Hyp, BA (UOW), MHP (UNSW) AFCHSM CHM
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Leonie has enjoyed a mixed career as a clinician, academic and researcher at six universities in the fields of sociology, nursing, public health, and dentistry.
She is currently involved in two aged care research projects that utilise digital health applications and artificial intelligence to improve oral health. Her company provides training and education in oral health care for health professionals, personal carers, and support workers in the aged, home and disability sectors.
She is also an experienced board member and non-executive director across the not-for-profit, charitable and government sectors.
Leonie is as a supporter of consumer advocacy and patient leadership, a member of Aged Care Reform Now, and was a member of the Rural and Remote Special Interest Group for the Consumers Health Forum of Australia from June 2019 to May 2024 (Co-convenor from January 2003 to May 2024)
Mr Harold Peacock, Director
BA, GDipAppFinInv, MAICD
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Harold is a consultant in the technology and accounting sectors. This comes after 25 years inside the biggest technology companies in Australia, creating sales strategies and leading teams focused on success. He is an award winner in communications, revenue growth, and management. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (double major in journalism and a major in government), a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Dennis Young AM, Company Secretary
B.Bus, MBA, Grad Dip FET, DHSM, FAIM, AFCHSE, MAICD
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Dr Dennis Young AM has over 40 years of experience with non-government organisations. He is currently the Company Secretary/Chief Advocate after serving for 30 years as the Executive Director (ED) of Drug Awareness and Relief Foundation (Australia).
He also served for 30 years as the ED of Drug ARM and ED Mental Health Association (Queensland) Ltd and the Australian College of Community Services Ltd., for 7 years. Dr Young is a Fellow in the Institute of Managers and Leaders, Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Road Safety and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Young has previously served on the following organisations; Member of the Australian National Council on Drugs; Former Member and Chairman of ‘Of Substance’ Management Committee; Director of the Community Council of Australia, Former Director/Chairman Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies, Director for Creche & Kindergarten Association Queensland; the Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association.
Mr Bradley Strong, Executive Director and Superintendent
BEc, Dip Training, GAICD
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Mr Bradley Strong has many years experience working with nongovernment organisations. Mr Strong worked for the Salvation Army for 15 years and managed the Riverview Farm which is a centre for providing training for the long term unemployed.
He has worked in the mental health sector for a number of years and previously served as Operations Manager, Foundation Manager and Company Secretary for an Independent Indigenous School at Springfield, QLD. Mr Strong has also served in the Australian Army, and has been involved in Rotary Internation and the Bundamba ANZAC Observance Committee for the past 20 years.
Corporate Governance Framework
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The Foundation has a well-defined corporate governance system that provides the broad framework through which the organisation operates, is regulated and controlled. This framework is a critical factor in the overall success of the group. The corporate governance framework focuses on the need for continuous improvement practices across the group.
The Corporate Governance framework contains some the following elements:
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Board practices
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Charters for the Board and Board Committees
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Definition of our ethical practice
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Clearly sets our specific office bearer codes of conduct
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Clarification of conflict of interests
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Financial and operational reporting guidelines
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Guidelines for building confidence and maintaining positive relationships with our clients, consumers, stakeholders and staff.
ANNUAL REPORTS
STORIES
Read stories of lives changed by the support of the Drug Awareness & Relief Foundation (Australia).
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