Ballarat YMCA hire a new CEO

Kate Phillips will take the reigns of the organisation on January 18, replacing interim chief executive Stephen Bendle.

Ms Phillips currently works for YMCA Victoria as group manager of operations for programs. 

Mr Bendle took the job in August 2015 after the shock resignation of Colin Hunt on July 31 2015, just 10 months after accepting the role.

In November 2015 the YMCA was notified by the City of Ballarat they would no longer be required to deliver services such as swimming, gymnastics and creche programs at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre.

Mr Bendle said the while the YMCA’s programs would be taking a break for the immediate future, the organisation was actively seeking out new avenues for providing their services.

The YMCA does not currently have a space to run their gymnastics program, or a pool for swimming classes.

“There’s two big issues in participants and staff,” Mr Bendle said.  “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 control of the centre.

While Mr 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.

“We stand on our reputation as an organisation to overcome those challenges.”

City of Ballarat general manager of people and communities Neville Ivey said there had been a positive response from patrons to the City of Ballarat’s takeover of the centre, with enrollment numbers up in swimming and gymnastics classes.

“we have to ensure we are providing the best service for the money.  Because we are refreshing the programs I think we are going to have a positive outcome.”