Join
AES
Join
AES
Contact
Us
Contact
Us
The organisation
The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CFECFW) is the peak body representing over 150 child and family services across
Victoria and Tasmania. For more than 100 years, the Centre has worked alongside government, community service organisations, academics,
carers and young people to strengthen the system that supports children, young people and families.
As the sector’s leading voice for policy, advocacy, research, capability building and workforce development, CFECFW plays a pivotal role in
shaping reforms, elevating lived experience, and championing the rights, safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
The Centre delivers sector-wide training and professional development, leads major policy and advocacy initiatives, contributes to state and
national reform agendas, and strengthens the capability of organisations working across key social policy areas. These include poverty,
child protection and out-of-home care, disability, youth justice, mental health, family violence, housing and homelessness, education,
alcohol and other drugs, social inclusion, and economic reform to improve outcomes for low-income families.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer will lead CFECFW through its next phase of strategic development, sector impact and
influence. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Victoria and Tasmania’s child and family services sector by strengthening the
Centre’s role as a trusted advisor to government, an advocate for reform, and a leader in sector capability and development. The CEO will
champion the views of member organisations and advocate with and for vulnerable children, young people and families.
The CEO will deliver visionary leadership across strategy, policy, partnerships, workforce development and organisational capability.
Representing the Centre at senior levels of government and across the sector, the CEO will make sure the organisation remains
future-focused, responsive to emerging needs and positioned to drive meaningful, evidence-informed reform.
Key responsibilities include:
About you
You are an accomplished senior leader with experience within the child, youth, family or broader human services sector, ideally within a
peak body, government, community services organisation or related environment. You bring deep policy insight, political acumen and a strong
understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
You will demonstrate:
What’s on Offer
How to apply
For a confidential discussion or to learn more about the role, please contact Grace McCarron of The Orchard Talent Group at cfecfw@orchardtalent.com.au.
To apply, please submit your current CV via the link.
Applications close: Friday, 9 January 2026.
Please note: applicants must have the legal right to work in Australia.
The association sector is in the middle of a leadership handover.
Across Australia and New Zealand, CEOs and Executive Directors are moving on. Some are retiring. Some have gone to larger organisations.
Some have left because the relationship with their Board ran out of puff. The reasons vary, but the movement is noticeable, and Boards are
appointing replacements.
The encouraging part is the calibre of the people coming in. Many are genuinely well suited to the job — capable executives with strong
records behind them. A good number are stepping into an association CEO role for the first time.
Most associations can provide a long list of membership benefits. They may include professional development, advocacy, networking, industry information, events, resources, accreditation, discounts and access to specialist advice. However, a list of benefits does not necessarily explain why someone makes the decision to join.
While every Board is different, the same governance issues appear time and again. One of the most common is allowing one person’s behaviour
to dominate the Board table.
Almost every Board has experienced it at some point. One director who seems to consume more time and energy than everyone else combined.
How we help membership based, not-for-profit associations now and into the future.
