The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies says goodbye to CEO Andrew McCallum after 40 years of work in the child and family welfare sector

The non-government NSW peak body representing the voice of community organisations working with young people and their families has announced its CEO will retire at the end of the year.

CEO Andrew McCallum will retire from the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) on December 8. This decisions comes after 40 years of work within the child and family welfare sector; 37 of which as CEO and 12 at the helm of ACWA.

ACWA Chair, Bob Mulcahy, said McCallum’s leadership since 2006 was done so with great foresight and passion for the role, an attitude that came at a time of significant and continuous change for the child and family welfare sector.

“During this period ACWA has listened to member opinion and in turn guided sector thinking through innovation,” Mulcahy said, noting changes like the digital landscape and adding there was “brave discussion with government and its agencies”.

On top of heading several major boards, such as the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), McCallum is a recipient of the Member of the Order Australia for his service to the community in a range of leadership roles in the social justice sector.

McCallum currently sits on the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing to help implement the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020.

“On behalf of the Board and staff, I extend our deepest thanks to Andrew for his outstanding service and commitment to ACWA during his tenure as CEO and wish him well during his retirement,” Mulcahy added.

An appropriate acknowledgement of McCallum and his work will be made in the following months. In the meantime, the ACWA board is commencing a recruitment process for a success to take over when McCallum leaves in December.

Article originally published in Third Sector.