The State of QSA: its present and its future.

Welcome to our second AGM for 2024! This is because of the constitutional changes endorsed to align the QSA financial year with the Australian Financial year. Next year we will look forward to holding only one AGM around this time of the year.

At our recent gathering in Adelaide for Yearly Meeting Cressida and I shared an update of QSA from the time of the departure of Jackie Perkins and John Dundas in 2022.

We shared how the subsequent Executive Administrator, Pia Reierson, and now our Executive Manager Cressida Hall have heralded a number of technological and location changes for QSA.

We spoke about how the Board of Directors is evolving through using a skills matrix to ensure that the Board seeks the right mix of skills and attributes.

We highlighted all this change is seeking to enhance the work of Quaker Service Australia as a reflection of what Australian Quakers want to see in the world.

But there was also an acknowledgement that over the last few years there has been a lessening of connection between the wider Quaker community and QSA. This is a challenge for the future of QSA and one that I would like to talk more about today.

Raison d’etre: reflection of Quaker values.

As Mark Deasey articulated in his Backhouse Lecture in 2002 the concept of Service for Quakers is more than the doing of good deeds.

By service “being grounded in worship, it means that the constant practice of turning towards the Light, of abandoning preconceptions and allowing ourselves to be led, means that when we are called, we respond without apparently thinking; we make the choice without it seeming to be a choice at all.”

It was in this space that QSA evolved into a company in 2017, a company that has great respect and reputation in the Australian Aid and Development sector, which is reinforced by its full accreditation with DFAT.

But what does the future hold for QSA?

Wider context: ACFID, DFAT, politics

Today Australian foreign aid is only 0.68% of the federal budget. Australia is perceived as being a less generous and welcoming neighbour. Helen Wu writes in the online Pacific Forum that Australia has slipped from 6th out of 30 in 2015 to 14th in 2023 on the soft power diplomacy index.  At the same time Australia’s commitment to AUKUS has concerned many of our near neighbours as Dale Hess and other members of QAUKUS have written.

Opportunities such as the Australian Volunteers Program (previously known as AVA and AVI) are perhaps more out of reach as many Australians find the cost of living too challenging to consider taking time out to live and work as overseas volunteers.

This current background therefore means that the voice and reach of the Quaker community is needed more than ever.

Finances and reach:

As mentioned, QSA receives funding from DFAT for some of it projects. Currently DFAT contributes 80% of funding to relevant QSA projects. That therefore means that QSA must find the additional 20% for these projects. However traditionally 20% has not been enough as foreign exchange rates can vary and contingencies need to be allowed for.  In the past QSA has actually contributed 25-30% towards these projects.

But not all projects that QSA supports receive DFAT funding.  QSA has been in the position to fund a current project through applying for funds from the Jan de Voogd Peace Fund. In addition, QSA has received funding through bequests. The Aubrey Bequest stipulates that its funds must be spent on projects supporting refugees (and asylum seekers).  In addition The Quaker Shop in Adelaide continues to be a generous and reliable source of funds.

But with COVID-19 and the development of the light rail in Sydney, QSA has lost a great deal of its previous funding sources.  Gathering of people for various activities where QSA received donations has basically stopped. The regular stall at Devonshire St meeting House was a constant source of funds, raising roughly at least $15,000 a year.  It must also be mentioned that both Jackie and John contributed many many free hours to the work of QSA.

QSA has looked at ways to reduce its overheads, such as now not having a permanent office. Systems have been updated, but this initial work comes at a cost of both finances and labour.

Traditionally the Quaker community was able to support QSA though its talent, time and treasure but today the income is decreasing. If not for our recent bequests we would not have enough income to cover our costs.

Challenges:

The world has benefitted from the voice and impact of Quaker service but is QSA fit for that role into the future?

What is the vision for QSA in 5 years’ time?:

Firstly, its connection to the Australian Quaker community. The Board has agreed to fund a part-time fundraising and community education position. The aim of this position is to encourage opportunities to deepen the understanding of the work of QSA as well as increasing donations. It will hopefully lead to a raising of the profile of QSA within Quaker circles. Examples of this are connecting with The Friends School and initiating a gathering with other Quaker peace workers for an in person gathering. It has been suggested that The Thanksgiving Fund could be an avenue for funding such an event.

It is essential for QSA’s existence to have a profound sense of relevance to the Quaker community.

Secondly QSA’s work. As mentioned, the focus for the future is on positive peace. In today’s world there are many issues that are calling for attention. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the injustices and multiple conflicts that are so devastating. Quakers are involved in many causes ranging from support for the basic human rights of people across the world such as in the Middle East, the Ukraine and even here at home with Indigenous rights and the overarching concern of the state of our planet.

Considering that our Society is ageing but still caring and energetic is it time to review what is Quaker Service Australia? Is there a way that the QSA tent can be enlarged to bring together people who are addressing these many concerns? How does the theme of positive peace address ways to prioritise our focus?

One way in which the Board is looking to do this is through creating committees to help with various aspects of its work. An example of this is a fundraising/community education committee to assist with the new paid fundraising position. Another committee proposal is looking at positive peace and how this can be more deeply imbued in project selection and evaluation. Please consider if you feel you or someone you know have some knowledge and skills to offer and let one of our Board members know!

It has been a privilege to serve as the Convenor of the Management Committee and as Chair of the Board of QSA. It has been a time of change and growth but it is also time for me to step down as my term of office of three years will be completed in December. I will continue on as a Company member and look forward to continuing to support QSA in its journey ahead.

Thank you to those present who have willingly made the decision to become members of the Company of QSA. We now have members from across Australia and QSA looks forward to increasing those numbers. Thank you to Jackie Perkins and Garry Duncan who gave me the opportunity to have a second term on the QSA Management Committee. Thank you to the other past and present members of the Management Committee and Board who have contributed so many hours of their time over the last few years. And finally thank you to Cressida and the committed and professional team of staff at QSA. They have weathered so much change in this time and I have learnt so much from them.