Management changes at Ballarat YMCA

Ballarat YMCA has announced that Kate Phillips is to take on the position of Chief Executive, commencing on 18th January, replacing interim Chief Executive Stephen Bendle.

Respected YMCA executive Bendle stepped into the interim role in August 2015 after the surprise resignation of previous Chief Executive Colin Hunt at the end of July, just 10 months after accepting the position.

A difficult period for the YMCA also saw, in November, its loss of a major contract with the City of Ballarat at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre.

Commenting after the YMCA was notified by the City of Ballarat that they would no longer be required to deliver services such as swimming, gymnastics and creche programs at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre, Bendle said the while the YMCA’s programs would be taking a break for the immediate future, the organisation was actively seeking out new locations at which to provide their services.

Bendle told The Ballarat Courier “there’s two big issues in participants and staff.

“We don’t want to rush into it and not do it right but at the same time we’re not going to wait two years either.”

Almost all of the 200 staff under the control of the YMCA at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre have been transferred to the City of Ballarat, who have taken on the management of the facility.

Bendle said there were a number of practical hurdles the YMCA would have to overcome in order to get their swimming and gymnastics programs off the ground, he was confident they would be successful, adding “we stand on our reputation as an organisation to overcome those challenges.”

Phillips previously worked for YMCA Victoria as group manager of operations for programs. 

3rd January 2016 - YMCA BANS MERMAID TAILS FROM VICTORIAN POOLS OVER DROWNING FEARS

1st January 2016 - YMCA AQUATICS SPECIALIST HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST DROWNINGS

3rd October 2015 - CITY OF BALLARAT UNDERTAKES SURVEY TO BACK ACTIVE WOMEN AND GIRLS STRATEGY  

10th May 2015 - SUNBATHER BOOSTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR BALLARAT AND WARRINGAH AQUATIC CENTRES

7th May 2015 - CITY OF BALLARAT OPENS NEW 50 METRE POOL AND MAJOR OVAL REDEVELOPMENT

12th December 2014 - STEPHEN BENDLE TO JOIN YMCA AUSTRALIA TEAM 

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