 Sydney Benevolent Society building, 1840s | |
| Formation | 1813 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Edward Smith Hall |
| Founded at | Sydney, New South Wales |
Chair | Tim Beresford |
Chief Executive Officer | Lin Hatfield Dodds (July 2021-) |
| Website | https://www.benevolent.org.au/ |
The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first and oldest charity.[1] The society is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose main goals include helping families, older Australians and people with disabilities.
The Benevolent Society centers around the advancement of society and positive change. Many of today's essential services in Australia were pioneered by The Benevolent Society, and its legacy of advocacy for progressive, positive change continues to inform their work today.
The organization currently delivers services from 60 locations across New South Wales, including four main Sydney hubs and a national office, and the ACT, and 16 sites in Queensland. It has 1600 staff, plus a volunteer force of about 700. More than 56,000 people were reached through The Benevolent Society's 90 services, community programs and events in 2016–17.[2] The chief executive officer is Lin Hatfield Dodds, and the chair of the company is Ken Smith.
- ^ Rathbone, R. W. (Ronald William) (1994). A very present help : caring for Australians since 1813 : the history of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales. State Library of New South Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7305-8915-0.
- ^ "Annual Report 2017". The Benevolent Society.