Mission Australia reports modest revenue increase

Mission Australia, the non-denominated Christian charity that provides a range of community services throughout Australia, has delivered a modest surplus for the fifth year running boosted by higher than expected bequest income, according to the charity’s newly published 2018 annual report.

The organisation specialises in the areas of homelessness and housing, families and children, early learning, youth, employment and skills, alcohol and other drugs, disability, mental health, and strengthening communities.

It currently operates 46 early learning centres across Australia and provides a range of services including but not limited to long day care, sessional pre school, outside school hours care and family day care.

Key report highlights from Mission Australia’s early learning services segment include:

• Positive occupancy growth year-on-year with 6,028 children cared for over the report period
• Operating revenues of $45.5 million, an increase of 0.8 per cent on the previous year
• The early learning segment deficit for the period was -$3.2 million compared to -$5.0 million reported the previous year
• The early learning segment family debtors balance increased to $1.1 million from $0.7 million in 2017
• 95 per cent of all centres have been assessed as meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard
• Staff engagement scores from Mission Australia’s 779 dedicated educators increased 7 per cent to a new high of 82 per cent
• 97 per cent of all families were satisfied with the care they receive and their net promoter score – a measure of customer satisfaction – increased by 10 per cent year-on-year.

Ben Williams, General Manager Early Learning commented “In an ever-changing environment, Mission Australia Early Learning has focused on strengthening quality outcomes, improving value for money, and investing in our people.”

The report also noted that as of December 2018 Mission Australia Early Learning’s contract with the Department of Defence to operate the Defence Childcare Program across 20 locations will end, and commented that “with the termination of the contract we expect a reduction in Early Learning segment revenues in the 2018/19 financial year”.

This confirms the announcement made by the Department of Defense on 14 August 2018 that One Tree Community Services had been successful in a competitive tender for the Defense Childcare Program contract.

The overall financial position of Mission Australia remained robust with a total surplus of close to $539 million made up of an accumulated surplus of $142 million and a restricted accumulated surplus of $397 million.