The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, today announced the end of the special administration of The Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit Aboriginal Corporation (CAAAPU).
Based in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, the corporation has since 1992 offered culturally appropriate drug and alcohol treatment services for Aboriginal people living in the town and surrounding areas.
‘The work that CAAAPU carries out in helping people to address addiction and restore their health is vital not only for the individuals treated but for the entire community,’ said Mr Beven. ‘Every person treated by CAAAPU is one less person at risk of presenting to the hospital or interacting with the police or the justice system.’
In September 2015 an examination of CAAAPU’s books by the Registrar showed the corporation had incurred an operating loss of $233,000 for the financial year to 30 June 2015, was operating with insufficient working capital, and had poor internal financial management practices.
On 12 January 2016 the Registrar placed CAAAPU under special administration and appointed Mr Peter McQuoid from PDM Consultancy as the special administrator.
In the last six months the special administrator has strengthened the financial and operational management of CAAAPU. He has also renewed its relationships with key organisations and agencies in Alice Springs, most notably the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, the largest Aboriginal medical service in central Australia. The direct result has been a dramatic increase in occupancy rates at CAAAPU from 43 per cent in the first half of the financial year to almost 100 per cent in mid‑June 2016.
The special administrator has appointed Pauline Reynolds as CAAAPU’s new CEO. Ms Reynolds has extensive experience in managing alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services, including at the Alice Springs hospital. A new board of five directors, including two independent directors with sector experience, has also been appointed.
‘This has been a very successful special administration,’ Mr Beven said. ‘CAAAPU has been turned around in a short period of time and is once again a strong place of “health, hope and healing” for Aboriginal people in central Australia.’
The Registrar will monitor the corporation closely over the next 12 months and will provide corporate governance training to the new directors as soon as practical.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
ORIC MR1516-24
30 June 2016