A new era begins with our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan
Dear Wuchopperen Team,
Last week marked a pivotal moment in our organisation’s history as board members, community stakeholders, and senior staff gathered for the initial unveiling of our new “Path to 50 Years Strong” Strategic Plan 2025-2030. This early look at the Plan signals not just a new chapter for Wuchopperen, but a bold recommitment to our purpose and community.
A Call for Meaningful Change
Our CEO Joy Savage spoke about the Board’s vision and determination for reform, stating that “she shared the Board’s impatience for change, for renewal and to have even greater impact.”
This call to action resonates with all of us who come to work each day seeking to make a difference in our community.
While we’ve grown significantly in size and reach over the years, Joy acknowledged we have more to do to seize opportunities to take our programs where they’re needed most—to our people, in our community.
Ms Savage invited us to think about how we can use a range of delivery modes for services. For example, not all services need to be accessed from our facilities.
Imagine a hybrid approach where some, who may qualify, receive their care in their homes, most of the time, once a health plan is in place.
This could be valuable for Elders, for those post hospital discharge and who don’t have ready access to transport, or encounter mobility issues.
When we know our patient and client demographic, such an approach can be designed, and have the input of community members who regularly use our services.
Our New Direction: Community-Centred Care
The strategic plan sets a clear mandate: we must reform how we deliver services, prioritising accessibility and ease for our clients.
This means meeting community members where they are, when they need us most.
As many of you know, our sector has seen important improvements in areas like life expectancy, infant mortality, and healthy birth weights. However, we continue to face challenges in critical areas such as suicide prevention and out-of-home care.
We are reminded of our essential role: “Although some targets have not improved, or in some cases gone backwards, I can assure you, without organisations like Wuchopperen, those situations would be worse.”
Key Focus Areas Moving Forward
Our new strategic direction emphasises:
- Taking services to the community rather than expecting community members to always come to us
- Greater health promotion and prevention before treatment becomes necessary
- Improving health literacy across our community
- Leveraging new technologies to enhance engagement and relevance
- Building stronger partnerships with community organisations and stakeholders
Your Voice Matters
Cat Uta, our Connected Beginnings Administration Officer, shared a staff perspective on the plan, expressing excitement about increased health promotion efforts and the adoption of emerging technologies to improve community engagement.
Community leader Aunty Gail Wason, CEO of NATSIHA, congratulated Wuchopperen. She said, she was encouraged by the impassioned direction to do what needed to be done to deliver services in ways that met the contemporary needs of the community, to hasten the rate of improvement and see the kind of change that brings the community together.”
Our Shared Legacy
As Joy powerfully stated, “Together we stand at the crossroads of history and our future.
“We would not be at this point if not for the tremendous contribution and sacrifice of our past board, staff and community.”
Now, it’s our turn. Each of us has the opportunity to contribute to Wuchopperen’s legacy as we approach our 50-year milestone.
“We all have this opportunity,” Joy reminded us. “We all carry the spark of greatness, and we all have a unique contribution to make.”
What’s Next
In the coming weeks, team leaders will be scheduling department meetings to discuss how these strategic directions will shape our work going forward.
We’ll be creating implementation teams to lead various aspects of our reform program, and we want your input and involvement.
This is an exciting time of transformation for Wuchopperen.
While change can be challenging, remember that our focus remains unwavering: improving health outcomes for our community in ways that are accessible, culturally appropriate, and effective.
Together, we will build a stronger Wuchopperen for the next generation.
