Update from the CFO

Reporting update

Modern Slavery Report

The Australian government introduced the Modern Slavery Act 2018, which required us to produce an annual statement to report on the risks of modern slavery in our ministries and supplier networks and actions to address those risks. Kildare Education Ministries submitted its first statement in March 2021 and the Kildare Ministries’ statement was approved for submission by the Trustees in June 2022.

Modern slavery is a term used to describe serious exploitation. The Trustees take the Modern Slavery Act very seriously and request all ministries to work towards ensuring any form of modern slavery being reported and acted upon. 

In keeping with our themes of Justice, Peace and Compassion, the Principals, Leadership Teams, Business Managers, Risk & Compliance Officers, Faith & Mission Leaders, and other members of staff have helped in numerous ways to ensure that awareness of modern slavery is created in our schools. The Business Managers have worked with their various suppliers to ensure they too are aware of the risks to their staff and suppliers. The three community works that serve the most marginalised are aware of the effects and consequences suffered by victims of modern-day slavery. They provide a vital link to recovery and healing and can scaffold a support structure that enables those affected by slavery practices, to feel they are engaged members of the society. We thank each and every one of them for their support.

The goal of these exercises is not just about compliance but to try and work towards just, safe and fair working conditions for all people. Our Living Justice Living Peace Charter which provides a framework for each of our ministries, challenges our communities to seek justice so that we can all live in peace for without justice there is no peace.  

Kildare Ministries Group Audit 

Kildare Ministries prepared Consolidated Financial Statements for the first time, reporting as a group with 13 entities. Each of the ministries did a wonderful job completing their year-end financial statements and audits as part of the year-end process. We then worked on bringing all 13 entities of the group together. 

We thank all the school Business Managers, Managers of Community Works and Monica Lang and Pádraig McCahey of the Mission and Ministry Team who played a big part in ensuring this initial process was seamless. A special thank you to Brendan Lynch and Onkar Chauhan of Star of the Sea College, Claudia Matthews of Brigidine College Indooroopilly, Richard Luxford and Paul Clegg of Brigidine College St Ives, Patrick O’Connor of BASP, Ian Urquhart of Saltbush Balnarring and Sonu Patel of Wellsprings for Women, for the extra effort in providing additional information required for this first group consolidation.

Niluka Perera

Chief Financial Officer

Kildare Ministries