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2004 – 2007

Our Vision

UnitingCare NSW.ACT is motivated by a commitment to build a more just, compassionate and fair society.

Our Purpose

Making this vision a reality means our work must achieve positive and sustainable change for individuals, families and communities. It also means playing an active role in influencing the policies, programs and institutional arrangements that shape Australian society and people’s lives.

Our Mandate

UnitingCare NSW.ACT, a division of the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, serves God through its delivery of community services and advocacy for social justice.

We operate under the Basis of Union of the Uniting Church in Australia and the Faith Foundations of UnitingCare Australia. The NSW Synod Goals and Directions inform our strategic directions.;

The outcomes we are working for

We will work with people who are vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized to achieve better lives, resulting in:

• greater self-worth and dignity

• greater security, independence and safety,

• and access to resources and opportunities that allow them to achieve their potential, including flexible care and support services across the life span.

We will work to reduce disadvantage in communities and among groups marginalized through:

• mitigation of the factors that cause disadvantage

• enhancements to services and supports, including those provided by government and other community organizations, and

• more equitable distribution of resources and wealth.

We will work in ways that demonstrate our commitment to leadership in the field of community services, an evidence based approach and continuous learning and improvement. More specifically:

• approaches to work with people and communities will be strengths-based and contribute to life choices, skills development and participation

• services will be modeled on normalised community living and facilitate belonging and connection to communities

• programs will be focused in areas of greatest need and have the capacity to respond to emerging and unmet needs, and

• programs and services will be high quality, ethical, utilise best practice and show strong leadership.

We will work for a society that protects human rights and promotes peace and justice. Our efforts will contribute to:

• elimination of racism, discrimination and violence

• recognition of Indigenous peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of our lands and waters

• reconciliation between Indigneous and non-Indigenous Australians

• environmental responsibility and sustainability.

We will build an organization that is united, successful and sustainable through:

• strong, visionary leadership across the organization, within the Church and in the community

• development of teams of skilled people, supported by efficient systems and empowered to be effective in their roles

• responsible guardianship of the Church’s assets and resources, and

• accountability to clients, funders and the wider community.

Our Values

Our Christian faith leads us to a foundational concern about the common good, social justice and the needs of people who are disadvantaged. In expressing our Christian faith, we commit to the following core values:

• the right to dignity, respect and just treatment of all people

• respect for diversity among peoples and communities

• honesty, transparency and integrity

• access to services based on need and equity in broad allocation of resources

• democracy and participation as foundations for society, and particular attention to inclusion of people who are the most disadvantaged and marginalized, and

• the Church as part of society devoting itself to worship, witness and service and giving expression to unity of God’s love in the world.
  

How we will be known

Our Christian faith and values will inform the way we serve and represent people and communities and in the way we operate across UnitingCare NSW.ACT.

As a group of services we will work strategically and cooperatively to achieve our goals and live out our values. This means that independently and together our people and agencies will:

• be ethical and highly cooperative

• be fearless advocates on social justice, environmental and human rights issues

• be acknowledged leaders in community services and a valued source of public policy advice and advocacy

• listen to the people who use our services or stand to benefit from our advocacy

• promote participation and inclusion of staff in decision making processes

• continually look for new and better ways to do things through evaluation, questioning, research and professional development

• promote strong and effective governance and management and ensure accountability to internal and external stakeholders, and

• build relationships and collaborate with other organizations that share our vision and goals.

Our Strategic Priorities

The strategic priorities across UnitingCare have been grouped into four key result areas:

• Social justice advocacy, policy development and research
• Excellence in community services
• Key relationships (with the Church and with external bodies)
• A strong, unified and sustainable organisation