Benevolent Society

The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first charity. It is an independent, non-religious, non-profit organization which aims to help people overcome 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 progressive, positive social change, and this legacy informs their work today.

The organization currently delivers services from 64 locations across New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. It also delivers post-adoption support and social leadership programs and consulting services nationally. It has 1000 staff, plus a volunteer force of about 700. More than 76,800 people were reached through The Benevolent Society's services, community programs and events in the 2012–2013 Financial Year. More than 630 people from business, government and non-profit organizations have taken part in their Social Leadership Australia programs. The current Chief Executive Officer is Joanne Toohey. The Chairman is Lisa Chung.

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.

On 8 May 1813, Edward Smith Hall, with five other 'like-minded 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 1817, now known as Westpac; and its first non-government newspaper, The Monitor, first published in 1826.

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