Community focus

October 2004

Monash alumni are showing their community spirit by moving through the ranks to head welfare organisations throughout the country. Ingrid Sanders reports.

The Reverend Tim Costello has become the public face of World Vision Australia as the organisation's CEO. Photo courtesy World Vision.

Monash University has a reputation for producing highly successful graduates, with many alumni making their presence felt in the community by taking on high-profile roles in prominent charity organisations.

Monash alumni seem to have a near monopoly as directors, executive directors and general managers in welfare organisations such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence, MacKillop Family Services, St Vincent de Paul, Anglicare and Youth Off the Streets.

One of the most recognisable faces in community organisations is that of Reverend Tim Costello, who has recently been appointed chief executive officer of World Vision Australia.

Reverend Costello has lasting memories of his time as a law student at Monash. "I met some of my long-term friends there and courted the woman who is now my wife," he says.

"I was president of the Evangelical Union and became active in student politics through supporting my brother Peter in his roles in the Monash Student Association.

"I'm very much a people person, and my time at Monash allowed me to meet a range of people and become involved in different activities. I think it was good training for me in life and helped me to better understand people."

Chief executive of MacKillop Family Services Mr Paul Linossier spent six years at Monash completing a BA majoring in history and sociology as well a Bachelor of Social Work (with honours).

"I had a great time at university," he says. "It was very challenging, and I studied with a terrific group of people who had divergent views but who also possessed an impressive way of being able to listen and encourage one another. There was a real sense of camaraderie among the students."

After graduating in 1979, Mr Linossier took up a full-time position with Harrison Youth Services in Hawthorn. He moved through the ranks with various welfare agencies in Melbourne before taking on the role of chief executive with the newly formed MacKillop Family Services in 1997.

Seven years on, Mr Linossier is responsible for managing the organisation's annual budget of $24 million, while overseeing 360 full-time staff and an average of 350 volunteers in any fortnight.

"The generic nature of my course gave me a basket of skills to take into the workforce," he says.

Canon Ray Cleary, chief executive of Anglicare, attended Monash in the 1960s and remembers it as a melting pot of ideas.

"It was a lively place - students were actively engaged in politics and one of my most vivid memories was when Albert Langer came and established the student association," he says.

Dr Cleary spent four years studying economics and a diploma of education before embarking on a highly successful career.

He says he chose Monash because it offered an economics degree with a broad macro perspective, which was well suited to his career.

"You need to have a good understanding of how the economy operates when working in charitable organisations, so that you can debate with government about the allocation of scarce resources. My time at Monash provided me with these skills," he says.

"We were also encouraged to think critically about the society in which we live, and I have been able to apply these skills to help enrich the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised people."

Former St Vincent de Paul chief executive Mr John Patone attended Monash as a mature-age student in the 1970s with ambitions of becoming an economist in the Treasury or Reserve Bank.

Mr Paul Linossier, chief executive of MacKillop Family Services.

Canon Ray Cleary, chief executive of Anglicare.

Mr John Patone, chief executive of St Vincent de Paul.

"Monash had a reputation for being the best, and I had my heart set on going there," he says. "I had a really good time at Clayton, but it was a hard slog. I was married with small children, so I was very focused on completing my economics degree."

Just as he did during his time at Monash, Mr Patone worked hard to establish a successful career. Before taking on the role as chief executive at St Vincent de Paul, he worked in the top job at Villa Maria Disability Services and Aged Care.

"One thing I learnt at Monash was the importance of researching a subject thoroughly and to make a decision based on the facts rather than shooting from the hip," he says.

Current chief executive, director and founder of Youth Off the Streets Father Chris Riley majored in English and sociology at Monash.

Since graduating in the late 70s, he has established a range of support services for homeless kids and worked at a number of schools as both teacher and principal.

"I was the first member of my family to attend university so needless to say it was a pretty big deal," Father Riley says.

"Before going to Monash I was focused on the welfare area, and my studies gave me a whole range of new skills and confidences that I needed to continue my journey."

Father Riley established Youth Off the Streets in 1991 with the aim of making a difference to the lives of homeless children. The organisation has grown from its humble beginnings as a travelling food van in Kings Cross to providing much-needed assistance to an estimated 40,000 homeless children.

Action
For further information on the work of these not-for-profit welfare agencies, visit the websites at:
World Vision Australia
St Vincent de Paul Society
MacKillop Family Services
Anglicare Australia
Youth Off the Streets