Organisations

Anglican Health & Welfare Ltd

Contact person: Mr Russell Morton

Anglican Health & Welfare (AHW) plays a major role in the Diocese of Tasmania. AHW is an incorporated public company, fully owned by the Diocese and founded in 1985. It manages a number of funds for the church, the bulk of which originated with the sale of St John’s Hospital in Hobart and St Luke’s Hospital in Launceston.

AHW’s affairs are managed by a Board with seven Directors. The Chair, appointed by the Bishop, is the Rt Revd Dr Chris Jones. Also appointed by the Bishop are the Revd Cyril Dann and Dr Philip Thomson. Anglicare makes one appointment to the Board, currently the Revd Canon Doug Edmonds. Two members are appointed by Diocesan Council: Mr Paul Cavanough and the Revd Stephen Savage, and Mr Russell Morton is a Director as Diocesan Treasurer. Doug Edmonds acts as Executive Officer for the company.

Their primary role is the wise investment of the funds, currently close to four million dollars and the distribution of the income from these funds to parishes and other church bodies, aimed at enhancing the capacity of the church to respond to need and distress in the Tasmanian community.

All grants must be used for projects which complement at least one of AHW’s objects, which relate – as the name implies – to the fields of health and welfare, reflecting the original source of the funds from the sale of two Anglican hospitals. Broadly the objectives cover activities designed to assist people in need, including those in distressed circumstances, the sick and dying, and those living with mental illness.
AHW currently supports the work of the Tasmanian church in a variety of ways:

• Supporting a mission to the sick and terminally ill, especially through providing funds to employ chaplains at hospitals, aged care facilities and in the prison system.
• Enhancing the church’s capacity to give aid to people living in distressed circumstances, particularly through distributing small grants to parishes for emergency relief, as well as through Anglicare and our chaplains. Several parishes have received larger grants for projects which address need and are as diverse as a one-off community barbeque, or a regular breakfast program for secondary school students.
• Channelling funds granted by the Colin Bisdee Trust and Clarendon Children’s Home to parishes and other organisations.
• Making provision for the Diocese’s Pastoral Support and Assistance Scheme, assisting victims of abuse.
• Providing grants to the Imagine Project, specifically ‘Connections’ in the North West and ‘The Heartz Project’ in the South, both of which have elements which address need.
• Acting as a tax-deductible gift recipient for parishes which want to set up a tax-deductible fund for worthwhile projects which align with AHW’s objects.

AHW is enthusiastic about exploring new ways to make a real difference to the lives of Tasmanians through the strategic use of income and by providing tax-deductible status for appropriate parish projects. Parishes interested in looking at the possibilities are invited to make initial contact with the Revd Canon Doug Edmonds or the Director of Business Services, Mr Russell Morton.

Contacts

Secretary
GPO Box 748 Hobart 7001
Tel: 03 6220 2019
Email: registrar@anglicantas.org.au

The Revd Canon Doug Edmonds
Executive Officer
Tel: 03 6356 0507
Email: douged@ozemail.com.au