Chief Executive

Simon Schrapel commenced as the Chief Executive of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide in June 2010.

Simon has worked in community services in Australia, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka for 30 years after qualifying as a social worker in Adelaide in 1980.  He has extensive experience in front line social work and community development as well as in public policy and in management having worked across both Government and Non-Government sectors.  Simon was previously the Executive Director of Strategy and Policy with Anglicare SA and has also been a Director of Community Services with the Department of Human Services in the SA Government.

In addition to these positions, Simon has played a very active role in various community service advocacy and policy advisory groups.  He was the Chair of the South Australian Council of Social Services (SACOSS) from 2002 – 2009 and was elected as the President of the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) in 2010.   Simon also Chaired the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia from 2001 – 2007 and remains as Board member of the Association.   He is also a Board Member of Families Australia and Director of Foodbank SA as well as having served on the Board of Westside Community Legal Service for many years.

Simon’s role in policy analysis and advice has been recognised by both State and Federal Governments resulting in his appointment to several Ministerial Advisory bodies.   He was a member of the Australian Council for Children and Parenting from 2003 – 2007 and Australian Stronger Families and Community Partnership from 2004 – 2006.  Simon is currently a member of the Commonwealth Government’s National Compact Sector Advisory Group and the National Implementation Working Group for the Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children as well as having served on the South Australian Government’s Council for the Care of Children since 2006.

Simon has also been a member of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide’s Professional Standards Committee since 2006 and was Chair of the Committee from 2008.

A message from Simon

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide is an organisation committed to the creation of a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.

It is our belief that all people should enjoy the opportunity to live life to the full, to achieve their goals and aspirations and be free of discrimination and abuse.  Unfortunately many South Australians are not in this position.  UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide works, through the provision of services and community development activities together with our involvement in advocacy to create a more just and fair society for all.  

We do this through partnerships with our clients, with other organisations committed to equity and justice and with the community at large.

Our success is dependant upon the generous contribution of our supporters, our staff, our volunteers and partners.   We acknowledge the role each plays in helping to create a more compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people can participate and flourish.  We welcome others who are interested in joining UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide in this quest to find a way in which to engage.   It might be through volunteering in one of our many programs, or in joining us as a staff member or through providing financial support to enable us to deliver needed services and programs.

Together we can make a difference – a difference for those less advantaged and who are vulnerable – a difference for all who call South Australia home.

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