MyHome in Canberra Inc. is registered as an association incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT).

The inaugural Board of Directors comprises:

• Dee McGrath – CEO, Carers ACT
• John Tucker – President
• Amanda Bresnan – Vice President
• Trish Meyer
 – Secretary
• Alison Pratt – Legal Adviser
• Treasurer – Recruitment action underway
• Ruth Doobov – Community Representative, St James Uniting Church

The Board is also supported by a number of people with special expertise and experience who are members of working groups, including Bruno Aloisi, Director ACT Wide Mental Health Services, Niva Pryor, Director Potent Marketing, Ray Jeffery of the National Disability Insurance Agency and Valdis Luks, Managing Director, Shaw Building Group will provide advice and support on design and construction issues.

Action is being taken to invite additional people to join the working groups.

Responsibilities of the Board

The Board’s role includes strategic planning, business planning and development and ensuring all legal requirements are met. With the availability and development of a Constitution, there are clear guidelines on the processes of project monitoring, review and reporting.

In a bid to ensure that funds are adequately used, there are clearly agreed objects for incorporation where every project is subject to financial planning and management, and budgeting stage. An evaluation methodology is also adopted to weigh the project worth.

Where an issue needs to be addressed urgently, sub-committees have been formed to support the governing Board. These are targeted at addressing any specific issues, such as fundraising, community events and in-kind support.

Agreed objects for incorporation

The objects of the association are:

1. to provide a safe, supportive and caring home for people with an enduring mental illness who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, or who live in unsuitable accommodation and are unable to live independently; and
2. to provide residents with safe, secure, purpose-built and cost- effective long-term accommodation; and
3. to facilitate a sense of hope, self-worth, confidence and belonging to enable residents to participate in meaningful activities and live full and productive lives within the community; and
4. to consult and collaborate with community organisations, mental health professionals, and carers to facilitate high quality care and support to residents; and
5. to support residents in gaining access to other people and services they may need, such as counselling, personal helpers and mentors, support workers, and employment and training assistance and support; and
6. to generate broad community awareness about the needs of people with an enduring mental illness, and in doing so procure the involvement and support of local people, churches, community agencies, business and government; and
7. as circumstances allow, to develop and implement a strategic plan and construction program to replicate the MyHome in Canberra model across Canberra following the successful establishment and operation of the first MyHome facility.