CASE STUDY

Sacred Heart Mission -
Chief Executive Officer

The appointment of Hang Vo

"I’m delighted to welcome Hang Vo to the Sacred Heart Mission family. Her passion and dedication as a leader will further energise Sacred Heart Mission to build on its 40-year legacy of serving people experiencing homelessness and create opportunities for new services and greater advocacy.”

Chair of the Board of Sacred Heart Mission,
Chris Stoltz

The Organisation

The Mission recognises that shelter, food, care and support are a basic human right, and for over forty years, the Mission has worked tirelessly to help people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion to rebuild their lives.

With revenue of circa $44 million, over 350 staff and the engagement of hundreds of volunteers, the Mission has evolved into an independent non-profit organisation offering an integrated, specialist response for people who are experiencing a range of complex issues such as homelessness, chronic health conditions, mental illness, long term unemployment, social isolation, substance abuse and trauma.

The Mission Service Model brings together years of specialist service delivery and evidence based best practice regarding effective interventions, to address long term homelessness and disadvantage.

Sacred Heart Mission has developed an approach called the Continuum of Care (CoC) whereby service streams work together to provide a consistent relationship-based response, with the level and duration of support based on an individual’s unique needs.

The organisation’s range of specialised programs fall within three key service types:

Engagement Hubs – safe spaces that are welcoming and supportive including The Dining Hall and Resource Centre, and the Women’s House.
Individualised Planned Support – case management services at Sacred Heart Central, the Women’s House, Homefront (Crisis Accommodation Service) and Wellness Place.
Ongoing support – for vulnerable members of the community who require assistance for an indefinite period of time. Residential Services are provided through The Rooming House Plus program, and Bethlehem Community. The Sacred Heart Local program provides in home support for older residents who wish to live independently for as long as possible.

As a Catholic Social Service organisation, The Mission aspires to be the church in action by serving the marginalized and vulnerable members of the community with love, respect, justice, hope and joy. Fostering inclusiveness where clients are accepted as they are, by listening, understanding, and responding to people in a holistic, caring, and respectful way, so they can take control of their lives.

The Brief

The Board of Sacred Heart Mission invited Brooker Consulting to provide executive search and advisory services in the identification, assessment, and recruitment of an outstanding CEO upon accepting the resignation of a long-standing Chief Executive.

A transition to a new CEO coincides with the development of a new strategic roadmap. Currently in the eighth year of a ten year plan, Brooker Consulting identified that the incoming CEO must have the ability to work with the Board to map the future strategy and aspirations of the Mission, and to build on the organisation's strong foundations.

An extensive briefing process ensued, which involved detailed interactions with the Board and the Nominations sub-committee.

The Process

The campaign launched with a comprehensive combination of external advertising and targeted executive search and generated an enormous level of interest in the position. There was a strong reputational factor to this which attracted a range of high calibre candidates from various sectors.

The Outcome

A rigorous panel interview process ensued, followed by extensive reference checking and further presentations to the Board before Hang Vo was announced as the Mission’s new CEO.

Hang brought over 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector leading complex national and international programs. An experienced CEO, Hang had worked in organisations with national reach a range of services including disability, counselling, health and mental health.

Hang’s work has been shaped by her personal experience of discrimination and poverty. Having come to Australia as a part of the Vietnamese refugee ‘boat people’ in the late 1970s. Her first-hand experience of dislocation and exclusion drives her commitment for a more inclusive, equitable and just society.

Hang served a six-year term as Vice President for Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and director at South East Community Links. Hang Vo commenced her position with Scared Heart Mission in early December 2022.

If you are interested in our services, please contact Lesley Lightfoot on 0458 543 485 or lesley@brookerconsulting.com.au.

Brooker Consulting is a prominent Australian talent acquisition and leadership advisory firm specialising in appointing interim and substantive CEOs, Board positions and c-suite executives. Our expertise spans the public and private sectors, with a strong focus on biotechnology, research, and health technology organisations.

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