Chief Operations Officer – Accoras

Accoras is a purpose-driven organisation and registered charity dedicated to promoting ‘good mental health for all’ across Southeast Queensland. With over 30 years of experience, Accoras provides evidence-based, early intervention mental health, employment and wellbeing services, helping people address and prevent mental health challenges at any stage of life. 

Accoras delivers a broad range of services through key programs designed to meet diverse community needs: 

• Child, Youth, and Family Support Services: Offering government-funded programs to support children, young people, and families, including: 

1. Accoras you.nique: Free outreach program supporting children and young people aged 0-18 experiencing early signs of mental health concerns.  
2. Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program (CPSP): Free mental health support for children and young people aged 7-17 who are at risk of complex mental illness. 
3. Secondary to Intensive Family Support: Support for culturally and linguistically diverse families with complex needs.  
4. headspace Inala: As the lead agency for headspace Inala, Accoras provides free, holistic early intervention services for young people aged 12-25 experiencing mental health issues. 

• Employment Support Services: Helping people manage work, study, and employment-related challenges, with programs including: 

1. headspace Work and Study Inala: Free support for young people aged 15-25 to help them reach their educational and career goals. 
2. MobBOOST (Indigenous Skills and Employment Program – ISEP): Free service connecting First Nations people with jobs, career advancement, training, and job-readiness activities. 

• Psychology Services: Encompasses a team of over 14 highly skilled practitioners, providing diverse mental health interventions across various client presentations. 

• Community Education Services: Through outreach and education, Accoras promotes understanding and resilience in the community, supporting long-term mental health outcomes. Key initiatives include: 

1. Complex Needs Consultation Panel (CNCP): As the lead agency for the Complex Needs Consultation Panel (CNCP), Accoras coordinates a team of skilled representatives to support clinicians, by addressing non-clinical factors affecting adults with severe mental illness who are unresponsive to standard treatments. 

Accoras’ success stems from a team of dedicated and compassionate professionals who provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for all clients. With a client-centered and flexible approach, Accoras ensures each person receives empathetic, respectful and impactful support. Through a proven commitment to making mental health resources accessible, Accoras continues to drive meaningful change across the region. 

Client website

ACNC Page

Organisational Structure

With a solid reputation and revenue from multiple funding streams, Accoras has grown substantially from its early days as a service provider into a large well-recognised and professional organisation. This growth has prospered through dynamic leadership, strong partnerships, and development of their fee for service activities. Highly ethical, with a strong emphasis on governance and compliance, Accoras is known as a trusted and reliable service and business partner. 

With a drive for quality, best practice, and a focus on helping individuals, families, and the broader community, Accoras have established a solid platform with which to begin their next chapter of growth. 

With current revenue exceeding $10 million, Accoras has set an ambitious target to expand its funding base, aiming to increase its capacity to help more people. Recognised as a large charity, their size is such that they remain a nimble organisation that works at pace and can pivot quickly to embrace the opportunities presented. Their ability to quickly assess and respond has been instrumental in the growth and development of Accoras to date. 

Building on their established partnerships and local service knowledge, the goal is to identify funding gaps and provide market ready solutions that complement the suite of services currently offered. Forward thinking and gap analysis to identify market opportunities within the business, and externally with other organisations is a clear directive for this next chapter in their growth. 

Optimisation of the business, with a continuing focus on business efficiency, service, and system improvement, is a critical element in the next stage of their development. Rather than being purely clinically focused, Accoras is all about responsive, appropriate care and support to provide the best outcomes for clients. 

A robust process of internal and external review and analysis is used to determine the effectiveness and benefits of the programs and services offered while sharpening the focus on client care, ensuring they are positioned in the right place at the right time with the right resources to meet identified service needs. 

Ongoing challenges faced by community-based service organisations centre around funding, human resources and risk management. Accoras are well placed to confidently pre-empt and purposefully navigate these challenges having developed multiple revenue streams and created an environment where staff feel supported and empowered to make a difference. 

Trust and transparency are sewn into the fabric of this organisation’s culture. Opportunities to learn and develop to provide a better service to clients is a key element in the success of the business. 

Accoras has built a vibrant culture that celebrates its people, appreciating the collective contributions that drive its ongoing success. With a strong foundation of shared values, Accoras consistently delivers on its commitments, which is reflected in the dedication and loyalty of its staff to the clients they serve. 

This COO needs to bring a commercial business mindset to the role with a thorough understanding of the human service delivery sector. A strong decision maker attuned to the needs of the business and understanding of it’s people, you can lead with empathy, empowering the team to grow and develop their capabilities. 

With a strong environment of change with constant review of services, policies and procedures, this COO is happy to lead effective change and has a demonstrated ability in leading change through open communication and engagement. 

An immersive position – you are happy to roll your sleeves up and work hard to understand the mechanics of the organisation. Through this immersion you will be able to contribute to the strategic direction and planned execution of agreed priorities for the organisation from an informed position. As a doer you just get things done!  

This role needs to be visible in the business, regular contact with external sites and teams to support and develop relationships and trust is critical to the success of this position. 

With a solid understanding of the human services industry, you are adept at reviewing data and analysing trends to help inform improvement and opportunities for the business. 

As a member of the senior leadership team this is an opportunity to guide and develop the capabilities of a community service organisation. You will help identify & realise the reach and impact they can have on their community by being the leader and benchmark for service delivery. 

Happy talking with the board you can and have articulated growth and growth opportunities at this level. You can identify funding opportunities and potential partnerships. 

Happy to develop the big picture you are also skilled at transitioning strategy into implementation and understand the practical steps needed to put this in place. You are practical by nature and approach. 

Firm but fair, you are professionally mature and competent at having robust and respectful conversations, embracing decisions that are made in the best interest of the organisation. 

With a high EQ you understand team dynamics and value culture having promoted positive culture in previous roles. Your people skills are honed to develop strong partnerships and robust, collaborative relationships. The care of people is at your core. 

This endearing nature will cultivate positive relationships, developing trust and influence. Bringing an inquisitive nature to the position you actively engage with all stakeholders to see where you can add value and support. 

You are well researched and bring a curious mindset to identify opportunities that add value to the organisation. As an evidenced based decision maker your detailed analysis of opportunities equips you well to present at Board level, valuing the level of accountability invested in you. 

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) leads, plans and directs service delivery functions to ensure the successful delivery of Accoras’ objectives. Forming part of the executive leadership team, and leading a large geographically disbursed team, the COO will establish the strategy for all delivery requirements, and work with each functional leader to translate the strategic objectives into operational plans; driving revenue / marginal growth within Accoras and developing and leading the teams for high performance. 

The COO promotes Accoras and engages with communities and stakeholders, building productive partnerships to deliver Accoras’ objectives, programs and projects. Through this, the COO will successfully deliver on the fundings agreements, while also looking for avenues within the community to generate growth. 

Through leading the Accoras quality and compliance programs within the team, the COO will also identify and mitigate risks, while establishing a plan to deliver on system and operational improvements amongst internal and external stakeholders. 

View the position description here.

• Development, Implement & Review Service Delivery Strategy 

• Maintain Financial Oversight and Budget 

• Manage Quality Control, Compliance, and Process Improvement 

• Active Engagement with Community & Stakeholders 

• Lead, Develop & grow People & Culture 

• Manage Safety 

• Relevant qualifications in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology or similar. 

• Significant and proven experience in managing the delivery of health and human services (preferably mental health) with a proven track record in a C-suite role, showcasing strategic abilities that deliver significant short and long-term business impact; 

• Demonstrated experience in the design and successful implementation of strategic and business plans, to meet key organisational growth and financial targets; 

• Demonstrated experience in leveraging existing programs to develop new business opportunities which attract funding; 

• Demonstrated people leadership including the management of workplace culture, performance management and professional development, including the ability to motivate a team to high performance; 

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, motivational, influencing and negotiation skills, particular with government and other funding providers; 

• Demonstrated skills in making appropriate decisions and problem solving, especially in crisis or high risk situations; 

• High-level financial management, budgeting and reporting skills; 

• A solution-focused, flexible can-do approach to business that prioritises high quality outcomes; 

• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office software, specifically Outlook, Word, and Excel and a good working knowledge of IT systems and processes; 

• Hold a current driver’s license and reliable, fully insured motor vehicle; 

• Hold a current Working with Children Check; and 

• Pass other suitability checks (e.g. criminal history). 

• Values
• High Emotional Intelligence
• Strong drive & passion aligned to organisational
• Highly collaborative
• Critical thinking
• Excellent communication & relationships management skills
• A solution-focused, flexible can-do approach
• Excellent decision-making capabilities
• Thrives in a dynamic and fast paced
• Purposeful with strong attention to detail

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes:

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format)
• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role

Submit your application quoting reference number MCCOPO to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information please contact Mike Conroy on 07 3211 0001. Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day.

View the live job advertisement and apply here.