
Centacare Catholic Country SA (CCCSA) was established in the Port Pirie Catholic Diocese in 1995 as a for-purpose agency to provide social services across much of South Australia. In that same year, Centacare (operating as Centacare Catholic Family Services Country SA) was accepted for membership in Centacare Australia.
History of the organisation
The agency now employs approximately 170 people across the diocese. Since its establishment, the organisation’s services have evolved to meet local needs, and it has expanded to include sites in Coober Pedy, Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, and Kadina, with outreach to Cowell, Kimba, Wudinna, Wallaroo, the Flinders Ranges, Peterborough, Barmera, and the Riverland.
Led by CEO Dr. Jen Cleary, the organisation provides services for individuals, families and communities, including counselling and support for those impacted by domestic and family violence or homelessness; financial wellbeing and emergency relief assistance; support for children, young people and their carers in out-of-home care; and community education and fee-for-service training support. As a not-for-profit agency, ‘growth’ for CCCSA isn’t necessarily about the bottom line, explains Accru Harris Orchard Audit & Assurance Director, Luke Bollmeyer.
“While it’s important for NFP organisations to be sound financially, in my experience, the growth in the extent and scope of core services provided to the communities and groups they support is a more meaningful measurement of success,” says Luke.
“In my time working with CCCSA, I’ve seen significant growth in both the core services provided and the range, which is now more than 60 programs,” he adds. “To me, this indicates that not only is CCCSA a trusted and respected provider of community and social services, but an important provider of services to a broad range of groups across the region.”
Building a great organisation
CEO Jen Cleary says, “I believe a great organisation focuses on understanding its ‘why’ and on nurturing its staff.
“We emphasise the importance of being a family-friendly workplace and on ‘growing our own’ – a strategy to support our staff through professional development that helps them grow their skills and knowledge, providing time and paid study leave for formal learning opportunities,” she says.
“At Centacare, we exist to promote the wellbeing of people in their local communities,” Jen adds, “and we do this through the development and delivery of professional social services that are imbued with the principles and values embedded within Catholic Social Teaching.”
These principles, she explains, recognise the intrinsic value and dignity of every person; prioritise the needs of those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable; acknowledge that we each have a responsibility for one another and are called to work for the common good; and that people are to be respected and have the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them.
Luke says, “I think CCCSA is a great organisation because of their commitment to provide services to many people and communities in rural areas of South Australia – and while they’ve grown significantly over the years, the vision, purpose and values of CCCSA are still very much apparent.”
“The team’s commitment is evident at CCCSA and it’s something we notice when our team is on site during audits,” he continues. “One of the foundations of a great organisation is a great team. Without this, achieving strategies and objectives becomes very difficult.” Jen agrees, saying, “Without a doubt, our values-driven staff and skilled Board – together with their commitment, passion, and professionalism – are critical to our success.”
Challenges along the way
“Over the years, CCCSA has become a large service provider in rural SA, which has resulted in many challenges and opportunities along the way,” explains Luke. “These have included a change in entity structure, relocation of premises, expanding their footprint across rural SA, and changes in IT and finance applications, just to name a few.”
Jen adds that one of the agency’s biggest challenges is the operating environment in which it’s situated.
“Our footprint extends geographically across much of South Australia, covering almost one million square km – an area around four times the size of the state of Victoria,” she says.
She notes that the team uses technology extensively to deal with distances and to ensure they remain connected to each other and to maximise resources for service delivery.
“Our staff are innovative, practical, and thrive on problem solving,” she says. “‘Connectedness’ is important to us, and our staff are deeply embedded in their communities and have a local understanding of community needs and challenges. By also privileging local leadership, we have decision-making capability in each of the communities in which we operate.” She notes that as with any organisation in their sector, finding adequate and ongoing funding – which can impact service continuity – is also a challenge.
“We try to mitigate this in different ways, such as by developing a range of fee-for-service contracts with organisations and businesses for employee assistance programs and training,” Jen says.
The role of Accru Harris Orchard
CCCSA has been a client of Accru Harris Orchard since 2009. In addition to audit services, which provide assurance to CCCSA’s Board and management teams, Accru Harris Orchard has given support in a wide range of areas including asset accounting assistance, technical accounting advice, direct and indirect tax advice, as well as serving as a sounding board for management when needed.
“The support provided by Luke’s team has been particularly valuable in helping us build robust financial services,” says Jen. “For organisations that receive public funding, transparency is an important factor, and Accru Harris Orchard ensures we achieve this through robust auditing processes.”
She adds that a key factor has been the commitment to face-to-face contact, particularly during audits.
“Each interaction we have with their team provides valuable opportunities for learning, particularly in the area of financial support services, such as in understanding legislative and accounting standards changes that will affect our operations,” she notes.
Looking ahead
Having been through an extended period of growth in recent years, Centacare’s strategic plan focuses on consolidation during 2025 and into 2026.
“It has been important for us to reflect on our growth and examine how we can continue to manage an evolving organisation, with a particular focus on our staff and our sustainability,” explains Jen.
“Our focus for the future will be on developing and providing services that support people across their entire lifespan,” she says, “including programs enhancing the wellbeing, safety and growth of children and young people; programs focused on enhancing relationships; and continuing to contribute to the vibrancy of the communities we serve.”
To learn more, visit the CCCSA website.
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