The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall

Edward Smith Hall

Edward Smith Hall was a political reformer, newspaper editor and banker in Australia.Hall was born in London, one of six sons of Smith Hall, bank manager, and his wife, Jane née Drewry...

 in 1813, is Australia's first charity. It is an independent, non-religious, non-profit organisation which aims to help people overcome the barriers preventing them from participating fully in society. Many of today's essential social services in Australia were pioneered by The Benevolent Society and since its earliest days it has advocated for progressive, positive social change.

The organisation delivers 145 services from 63 locations across NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territories. It has a staff of 900, plus a volunteer force of about 800 people, who work together to support more than 41,000 people each year. More than 700 people and 200 organisations participate in the Benevolent Society's community development projects and more than 500 people from business, government and non-profit organisations have taken part in their Social Leadership Australia programs. The current CEO is Anne Hollonds, and the President is Sam Weiss

The Benevolent Society has a strong track record of pioneering social welfare reform over the past 200 years, and this legacy informs their work today

200 years celebration

In 2013 The Benevolent Society will celebrate 200 years of bringing about lasting social change in
Australia through building strong families and healthy communities. To operate successfully for 200 years is a landmark for any organisation but for a charity, it is perhaps even more significant considering non-profit organisations depend on the goodwill and support of individuals, the business community and government for their ongoing existence.

Celebrating 200 years of service will involve a range of activities throughout the year, and will provide an opportunity to educate and advocate, prompt debate, celebrate our past and inspire a powerful vision for the future.

Services

The Benevolent Society meets the specific needs of individual people through direct support services, and also works with whole communities, connecting people across gender, age and cultural divides to create a renewed sense of optimism and belonging. Their programs and services are broadly grouped under five core areas of expertise:

• children and families (including domestic violence)
• ageing
• community development
• mental health care
• social leadership

Leadership

Social Leadership Australia (SLA) established by The Benevolent Society in 1998, designs and delivers a suite of leadership development programs that develop the capacity of individuals, organisations and communities to create lasting, positive change on entrenched issues. They offer three open programs for individuals including Sydney Leadership, Queensland Leadership and a four day Introduction to Adaptive Leadership intensive. They also work with organisations to develop and deliver customised programs to build internal leadership capacity. All their programs are based on an Adaptive Leadership approach developed by Professor Ron Heifetz at Harvard University. Adaptive leadership is about addressing systemic issues and is based on the understanding that any leader seeking to change others must also be prepared to change themselves.

History

On 8 May 1813 Edward Smith Hall, with five other gentlemen formed what was initially known as ‘the New South Wales Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Benevolence’ – the first organisation dedicated to doing universal good in Australia, and the humble beginnings of the organisation today known as The Benevolent Society.

Edward Smith Hall also helped establish the Bank of New South Wales - Australia’s first bank, founded in 1816, now known as Westpac; and its first non-government newspaper, “The Monitor”, first published in 1826.

Below are a few of the Benevolent Society's many achievements. See The Benevolent Society's website at www.bensoc.org.au for a complete list.

• 1820: The Benevolent Society initiated the first social service for motherhood in Australia
  Australia
  Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
  
  , introducing volunteer district nursing.
• 1821: The Benevolent Society Asylum opened for the 'poor, blind, aged and infirm' at the Central Railway site.
• 1852: The Benevolent Society formed the NSW Society for the Relief of Destitute Children.
• 1866: Australia's first maternity hospital was established by The Benevolent Society.
• 1892: The Benevolent Society had an instrumental role in forming the Children’s Protection Act which outlawed child labour.
• 1912: The Benevolent Society established the first antenatal clinic in the British Empire.
• 1930: Depression Food Shelters provided essential emergency relief.
• 1931: Royal Hospital for Women
  Royal Hospital for Women
  The Royal Hospital for Women is a specialist hospital for women and babies located in the suburb of Randwick in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:The RHW began life in 1820 as a 'lying-in' hospital under auspices of the Benevolent Society...
  
   became a centre for medical research.
• 1964: First Village for the Aged established in Allambie Heights.
• 1968: The Benevolent Society Adoption Agency was opened.
• 1980s: Leading edge approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect were developed through Early Intervention Programs.
• 1990: NSW Post Adoption Resource Centre was established.
• 1993: New community programs to help older people stay living at home launched.
• 1995: Development of innovative women's health services in South West Sydney.
• 1998: Sydney Leadership
  Sydney Leadership
  The Sydney Leadership program is an initiative of the Benevolent Society, and was started in 1999, with the aim of creating a network of committed individuals working together to bring about social change...
  
  launched.
• 2002: Launch of Rural Leadership Program in New England/ North West region of New South Wales.
• 2002: Social Ventures Australia launched in partnership with the AMP Foundation, WorkVentures and The Smith Family.
• 2002: A new Rural Leadership Program is introduced in the New England/ North West region of NSW.
• 2004: The Benevolent Society responds to Forgotten Australians, a Senate Enquiry report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children.
• 2006: Saver Plus and MoneyMinded, the two flagship programs of the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Partnership, are recognised nationally in the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.
• 2007: The Benevolent Society opens its first Queensland service, the North Gold Coast Early Years Centre
• 2009: Queensland Leadership Program launched
• 2009: The Benevolent Society starts delivering out-of-home care services for the first time, through the Fostering Young Lives program.
• 2009: The Benevolent Society jointly founds GoodStart, a consortium of four leading non-profit organisations, to acquire the ABC Learning childcare centres
• 2010: Post Adoption Support Queensland launched.