Shrine of Remembrance Annual Report 2021-22

We are pleased to present the 2021–2022 Annual Report on behalf of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees.

Despite necessary operating restrictions in the first half of the year, and significant protest actions occurring within the Shrine Reserve, the Shrine maintained delivery of our ceremonial and educational programs. Ultimately, the Shrine succeeded in engaging more than 900,000 people in our on-site and digital commemorative programs to meet the commemorative, contemplative and learning needs of the Victorian community.

In achieving these programs our staff and volunteers demonstrated remarkable determination, adaptability, commitment and resilience. Our people have upheld and advanced the Shrine’s enduring purpose as a memorial to honour the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacemaking and peacekeeping. Accordingly, we wish to formally recognise their outstanding efforts.

We also thank the Victorian Government, and the Hon. Shaun Leane MP, Minister for Veterans, for their robust support of the Shrine. We especially acknowledge increased operational funding granted to enable us to transition our workforce to Victorian Public Service (VPS) equivalent conditions. This, and receipt of capital funding to maintain and stabilise the Western and Southern monument steps and to initiate construction of a ramp from our lower to upper forecourts, have been essential in underpinning our achievements.

Importantly too, we have progressed security upgrades within the Shrine Reserve. A project we will undertake in partnership with the City of Melbourne in 2022–23. Their expertise and willingness to support us is a much-valued demonstration of our strong partnership and will allow us to complete the works efficiently and effectively.

During the year the Shrine Board remained highly engaged in meeting all governance, compliance and regulatory obligations required and expected of a public sector entity. The Board also completed a critical strategic review determining that we must act to apply our energies to attract new, inclusive and diverse audiences and to differentiate our offer to further develop self-funding.

We have recognised that to stand still while our peer cultural institutions move forward, is to be left behind. An outcome unacceptable to us as we strive to ensure commemoration and remembrance of those who served and sacrificed all to secure Australia's future remains relevant and is never forgotten.

Reflecting our commitment to honour service in all generations, we worked with the Australian National Veterans Art Museum (ANVAM) to host a Rock for Remembrance and Reflection concert featuring veteran performers. The concert was supported by veteran owned food vans and attracted hundreds of veterans and their families throughout the day.

Responding to development on our boundaries and the ambitions of our neighbours, we have determined the desirability and utility of a master plan for the Shrine and Shrine Reserve. To this end we have initiated a master planning process to guide us in the care, management and development of the Shrine from 2025–2045.

This is a significant step, and we are acutely sensitive and highly committed to learning and respecting the views of stakeholders in this process.

To signify the Board’s invigorated approach to advance the Shrine's future, we have implemented a new brand identity, adopting design language that continues to draw upon the iconic architectural forms of the Shrine monument.

For corporate purposes, we continue to present ourselves as the Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne; for our public engagement programming we have embraced our place in the hearts of Victorians and adopted the shortened form of, Shrine Melbourne. Derived from this exercise, we have distilled our brand essence in Unforgettable, the term which will inform and guide us in our future audience engagement programming.

We could not deliver our comprehensive range of programming without our supporters. We wish to acknowledge with thanks the direct financial and in-kind support of the City of Melbourne — helping us sustain the Shrine’s corporate functions and ensuring the Shrine Reserve is maintained to provide a place of quiet reflection and respite to our community. The value of this support approaches $500,000.

We also warmly acknowledge and thank our many donors for their generous support.

Sincerely,

Captain Stephen Bowater OAM RAN
Chair of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees

Dean M Lee
Chief Executive Office

Vision

That all Victorians remember, value and commemorate service and sacrifice.

Mission

To engage all Victorians in commemoration through reflection, ceremony, education and learning.

Values

Integrity, in our actions and relationships.

Loyalty, to the Shrine and its purpose.

Service, to veterans and the Victorian community.

Respect, for our stakeholders and each other.

Inclusion, by providing a welcoming place for all.

The Act establishes the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees and its function.

The Trustees functions are:

(a) responsibility for the care, management, maintenance and preservation of the Shrine of Remembrance –

(i) as a memorial to honour the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacekeeping and peacemaking; and

(ii) as a site of national, State and cultural significance; and

(b) the development, promotion, management and the staging of ceremonial activities and events to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacekeeping and peacemaking, including, but not limited to, wreath laying and other ceremonial or commemorative activities; and

(c) the development, promotion, management and implementation of public programs to inform, educate and promote understanding among Victorians and visitors about the history, experience, service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacekeeping and peacemaking, including, but not limited to, exhibitions, lectures, publications, school learning and outreach programs.

The Shrine of Remembrance community, guided by 10 trustees, is comprised of Life Governors, Governors, staff, volunteers and Shrine Guards.

Life Governors

Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Lombardo

Mr Peter Whitelaw

Governors

Colonel John Coulson OAM RFD ED

Group Captain Annette Holian

Commander Terry Makings AM RAN

Squadron Leader Steve Campbell-Wright

Lieutenant Commander Janette Gallagher

Colonel Jason Cooke

Squadron Leader Matthew Little (Retd)

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Smith AM (Retd)

Captain Tyson Taylor

Squadron Leader Peter Meehan OAM (Retd)

Air Commodore Rowan D Story AM RFD (Retd)

Vale

It was with much sadness that we marked the passing of esteemed Life Governors Lieutenant Colonel David Ford CVO AM GM, Colonel George McKenzie OBE RFD, and Governor Major Maggie More OAM.

Dean M Lee
Chief Executive Officer

Appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2015. Dean is the Shrine’s nominated Accountable Officer providing governance and strategic support and advice to the Trustees and overall leadership to the organisation.

Sue Burgess
Director Public Programs

Appointed to the position of Director of Public Programs in October 2019 Sue holds responsibility for gallery and collection management, exhibition and digital programs and the Shrine’s education and volunteer programs.

Sue Curwood
Marketing Manager

The Marketing Manager holds responsibility for all marketing, branding and communications strategy and tactical implementation. Sue was appointed in June 2020.

Greg Gilmour
Director Corporate Services

The Director Corporate Services holds responsibility for regulatory compliance, administration, finance, operations, and facilities functions. Greg was appointed to this role in September 2019.

Naias Mingo
Director Visitor Experience

The Director Visitor Experience holds responsibility for the Shrine’s visitor services, ceremonial program and self-funding activities. Naias was appointed in June 2019.

Carolyn Archibald
MARKETING OFFICER

Carolyn Argent
EDUCATION OFFICER

Danny Arif
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Sue Burgess
DIRECTOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Nancy Capomolla
RETAIL OFFICER

Dale Capron
CEREMONIAL PROGRAM MANAGER

Laura Carroll
EDUCATION & VOLUNTEER MANAGER

Penny Charalampidis
HUMAN RESOURCES ADVISER

Bridget Collins
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Melissah Crumpton
BUSINESS SUPPORT OFFICER

Sue Curwood
MARKETING MANAGER

Chloe De Luca
EDUCATION OFFICER

Rebecca Dixon
EVENTS COORDINATOR

Kristen Fletcher
VISITOR EXPERIENCE MANAGER, EVENTS

Michael Ganey
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Voula Gikas
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Greg Gilmour
DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES

Stewart Green
BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGER

Peter Harris
FACILITIES MANAGER

Dominic Healy
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Spencer Hurley
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Dean M Lee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Soo Mei Leong
FINANCE OFFICER

Peter Luby
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Brittany McLean
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Toby Miller
COLLECTIONS COORDINATOR

Naias Mingo
DIRECTOR VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Jay Montgomery
FACILITIES COORDINATOR

Katrina Nicolson
RESEARCH & OUTREACH OFFICER

Tessa Occhino
EXHIBITION RESEARCH OFFICER

Janelle Oudshoorn
VISITOR EXPERIENCE MANAGER OPERATIONS

Nina Perry
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Chelsea Rowlings
RETAIL OFFICER

Karl Sarsfield
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Neil Sharkey
CURATOR

Kate Spinks
CURATOR & COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Laura Thomas
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Adrian Threlfall
EDUCATION OFFICER

Melanie Warburton
BUSINESS SUPPORT OFFICER

Sue Wicks
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

The Shrine Volunteer program operated for approximately six months of the reporting period and attendance was limited to support the safety of our volunteers. Volunteers engage visitors onsite, provide support to the education program, the ceremonial program and talks to community groups both onsite and offsite. During the closure period in 2021–22, volunteers remained engaged through regular newsletters, training and weekly video conferencing. Volunteers provided 3,845 hours of service during the year.

The Shrine Tustees acknowledge with thanks the dedication of our valued volunteers.

930, 125
total engagements

236
days open

120,000
visitors

50,000
attendees at the Anzac Day Dawn Service

77,000
people attended onsite commemorative services

25
virtual service broadcasts

190,000
website sessions

5,000
virtual tour sessions

300,000
video views

7,600
podcast downloads

26,000
student attendance onsite

Four regional locations
for the Shrine's touring exhibition, reaching 17,000 Victorians

The unique social and business conditions of 2021–22 presented obvious challenges. Nonetheless, the Shrine of Remembrance was successful in achieving most of its objectives.

Responding to Victorian Government COVIDSafe requirements, the Shrine re-opened in November 2021 and has operated under varying coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions since. Mitigating measures during operations included capacity management, contact tracing, physical distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols. Compliance with restrictions shaped the development and delivery of all aspects of visitor engagement including exhibition, education and ceremonial programs.

Whilst visitation was down more than 500,000 on pre-pandemic levels, total engagement grew through the increasing utility and reach of our digital programming. This was enabled through significant support received from the Victorian Government that funded installation of live streaming infrastructure to maintain and grow our core ceremonial and education programming. These initiatives allowed us to exceed our annual engagement target of 750,000.

Several capital works projects valued at $5.95m commenced during the year—fully funded by the Victorian Government. These included stabilisation and restoration of the Southern and Western monument steps and the four monument light towers; construction of an accessibility ramp between the Shrine’s upper and lower forecourts; and, installation of protective security infrastructure within the Shrine Reserve.

Self-generated funding from donations, retail, tour and licensing fees were all impacted by reduced on-site visitation. Despite this, the Shrine effectively managed its finances to achieve a small operating surplus net of depreciation and amortisation. These results were secured through the aligned decision making and actions of Shrine trustees, Life Governors, Governors, staff and volunteers.

The following review of operations is to be considered in this context of service delivery to a community confronted and constrained by the necessarily mandated responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Corporate Services team bears responsibility for finance, HR, facility maintenance, corporate governance and compliance and works closely with the CEO, Visitor Experience, Public Programs teams and various external parties to safeguard and maintain the Shrine and ensure that administration and operations are managed efficiently. Significant project and improvement works completed in the year include:

Shrine collection

The Shrine continues to collect selectively for display. Our current collection priority areas include capturing the experience of all service personnel from Vietnam to the present day, personal letters, diaries, audio-visual records and mementoes relating to recent conflicts. Further development of these areas will enhance the overall collection and help to further reflect the diversity of the Australian and Victorian experience both at war and home.

Shrine exhibitions

The following special exhibitions aligned with the 2022 'Identity’ exhibition theme provided in-depth exploration and alternative perspectives in support of the Shrine's broader programming.

Student education

The Shrine’s student education programs are aligned with the national curriculum and engage students onsite and offsite in learning about commemoration, wartime history and the shaping of the Australian nation.

Education programming in 2021–22 was truncated by pandemic health restrictions with programming delivered both onsite and virtually. Virtual tours and workshops were successfully delivered to over 1,700 students. Onsite visitation was initially slow with students numbers growing from March 2022; more than 26,000 students made an onsite visit in 2022.

Thanks to the generosity of the Portland House Foundation, education programs were offered to more than 500 students to attend the touring exhibition.

Activities for families

We engaged families in a combination of self-guided and guided activities this year. During the latter part of 2021, a self-guided walking trail around the Shrine following a ‘Duffy the Donkey’ image on the pavement was designed to engage families whilst we were closed. The Shrine Kids activity cards remained available as an option for visiting families.

The first face-to-face program was offered in the April school holidays. The ‘Trees of Memory’ program encouraged families to take a walk around the Reserve and to return to the art table in the Visitor Centre to make their own memorial tree. It was a well-attended program with scores of trees affixed to a large mural on display in the Visitor Centre.

Public learning program

The Shrine maintained its commitment to provide community education of the highest standard. Public presentations and special events engaged members of the community in Melbourne and in regional Victoria through talks, workshops, and lectures. This year we used a hybrid approach with some digital and some in-person events. Our first onsite event in 2022 was a delayed book launch for A Week in September, by Peter Rees and Sue Langford, held on Valentine’s Day. This was well attended and linked to theming of the exhibition, Lust Love Loss. The other well attended onsite event was a talk and Last Post Service relating to our Beaufort Bomber exhibit. Visitors had the chance to hear from a range of speakers on the importance of the Beaufort to the war effort and what service in Beaufort aircraft continues to mean to descendants.

Digital production

Digital programming continued as a large part of our offering, especially in the first half of 2021–22. Once again, all services were livestreamed, including Remembrance Day. In a first for the Shrine, we produced a livestreamed event in conjunction with the Polish Institute of National Remembrance. The event centred around the experience of Australian and Polish troops at Tobruk in the Second World War and the continuing friendship between the two nations.

Other notable productions were a podcast series produced by broadcaster Megan Spencer featuring stories related to our current exhibitions. An interview with Doug Heywood following the A Week in September book launch and an extended interview with Dr Tony Clark on the Beaufort Bomber story. A series of four interviews for Anzac Day featuring Vietnam veteran reflections was well received across our digital channels and was also played onsite in the Visitor Centre.

Our second issue of Remembrance digital magazine was released in November 2021. Readership was strong with the most popular article being about the unsung workers who helped build the Shrine during the Depression.

Volunteers

The Shrine volunteer program was in hiatus for the first six months of the year. Most volunteers remained connected via online training, newsletters and online catch ups returning to the Shrine in January 2022 to resume their normal schools and visitor engagement activities. National Volunteer Week 2022 was marked with a celebratory afternoon tea including entertainment provided by a swing dancing quartet. The first recruitment of volunteers since 2019 has taken place with 12 new volunteers joining the program in June 2022. Of this group, one is a former Young Ambassador returning as an adult volunteer. This replenishment of the cohort is important as over the last two years we have farewelled over 20 volunteers.

The Shrine Young Ambassadors

The Shrine Young Ambassador program provides an opportunity for up to 10 students in Years 9/10 to participate in programs and commemorative events at the Shrine and to develop leadership skills. This year we have nine Young Ambassadors and we acknowledge their contributions in 2022. We said goodbye in December 2021 to a group who had a very disrupted two-year tenure due to the pandemic.

Visitation

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, associated international border closures and uncertainty in the domestic tourism sector have collectively suppressed onsite visitation with multiple periods of closure during the year ending with the relaxation of restrictions and reopening in November 2021. This has had material impact on our self-funding activities. Despite this, success in growing digital programming and innovative onsite programming allowed us to engage 930,000 people.

Ceremonial program

Providing for the commemorative needs of veterans and the community is one of the Shrine’s primary functions: some 77,000 people participated in 175 commemorative services at the Shrine. In addition to onsite attendance, online engagement with the commemorative program remains strong with Remembrance Day and Anzac Day receiving significant online engagement (31,000 views for Remembrance Day and 56,000 for Anzac Day). The innovations introduced with the support of the Victorian State Government were leveraged to deliver live-streaming of all commemorative services, ensuring that engagement in commemoration is accessible for all.

Last Post Service

The Last Post Service continues to achieve its aims with both veteran participants and attendees reporting positive engagement and feedback. Participation at the weekly Service has been strong with up to 200 people joining us on the Second World War Memorial Forecourt at 4.45pm on Sundays. The Last Post Service is proving to be an integral pillar to the implementation of the Shrine’s Program Strategy with events commemorated scheduled to connect with special exhibitions and other programming.

Major services

Friends of the Shrine program

The Friends program directly engages members through Friends socials, public programs, special exhibition launch invitations and priority seating at major services. Friends also receive advance editions of the Shrine magazine Remembrance.

Retail and Tours

Repeated closures resulted in a dramatic reduction in visitation and significant changes to our visitor profile. Visitation remains suppressed following reopening in November 2021. Retail and tour sales have, however, performed strongly against per head conversion—exceeding financial targets. Tour licensing revenue was impacted by closures but was offset by the performance of the Shrine Tour.

Events

The Shrine was delighted to host events supporting our community this year. This included a veteran led concert, Rock for Remembrance and Reflection as part of ANVAM’s March to Art annual program, and the launch of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay.

A refreshed visual identity increased utility of the Shrine logo across multiple applications and was rolled out across all corporate and public facing assets. Drawing from the Shrine's iconic form and features, the new brandmark continues our proud history and embraces the Shrine's 'shorthand' name. Created and delivered by Multiple Studio, the visual identity was a finalist in the 2021 Premier's Design Awards.

The new design featured in a major destination campaign that positioned the Shrine as 'Unforgettable', with placements across large format outdoor advertising, digital and social media, regional press and multicultural radio contributing to a significant boost in onsite visitation in the lead up to Anzac Day.

Digital engagement remained a key focus of marketing activity throughout the year. The website hosted over 190,000 sessions, notably 5,000 sessions for virtual tours, accessible to students and the general public. Live streaming of the Shrine's commemorative services continued, receiving over 300,000 video views.

Social media activity across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn saw our social media following increase by 12 per cent to over 32,000, with over 127,000 organic engagements. Social advertising delivered 6.5 million impressions.

The suite of 'Identity' themed exhibitions was supported by integrated marketing campaigns with media highlights including a front page The Age: Spectrum
feature. Major services provided key moments to attract and reach large audiences both onsite and online. Remembrance Day provided an opportunity
to engage Melburnians with a three-hour ABC Radio Melbourne 'Secret History of the Shrine' segment. The Anzac Day Dawn Service had 4,196 media mentions reaching an audience of over 83 million, with an advertising space value of over $14 million.

The Shrine Foundation attracted significant support through a range of fundraising activities: securing grants, attracting donations, and gaining support from philanthropists personally committed to commemoration.

The Shrine’s 2022–2023 Business Plan and Budget reflect our experience operating in a coronavirus COVID-19 disrupted market and anticipates growth in visitation and self-funding. Key assumptions are: lockdowns are unlikely, domestic travel will continue to improve—including cruise market—and the Board’s revised risk appetite will permit a more commercial approach in some approved operating activities.

These positive signs are countered by lingering public health concerns, slow (state) population growth, a net outflow of international travellers (international arrivals not expected to return to pre-COVID levels until FY25), interest rate rises, and increasing inflation. On balance, however, conditions are generally expected to improve on the prior year.

In preparing the Business Plan and budget management has reviewed the Shrine’s responsibilities—as established in the Act and in the Minister’s Statement of Government Priorities—and the objectives of the Shrine’s 2019–24 Strategic Plan. The Business Plan responds to these inputs in a prudent manner, while recognising some significant, costs associated with required changes to executive employment conditions, essential maintenance, one-off asset replacement and enhanced IT management to support growing complexity arising from increased reliance on digital program platforms, hybrid working models and increasing cyber-security risks.

Reflecting the changed operating environment and increasing costs of business, a deficit result is budgeted.

Total Engagement has been critically reviewed relative to performance in 2022–23 and the expected delay in return of international visitors. Maintaining Digital Engagement will once again underpin achievement of the State Grant KPI hurdle of 750,000.

Major new projects are planned in the year including:

• Commencement of the 2025–45 Shrine Master Plan project,
• completion of restoration of the eastern and southern monument steps, (enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
• completion of restoration of the four heritagelisted, external light towers,(enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
• construction of an accessible ramp between the Shrine's lower and upper forecourts,(enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
• construction and installation of security infrastructure to mitigate Hostile Vehicle Attack (enabled by funding from the Victorian Government and supported by the City of Melbourne)

Significant services will include:

• Weekly Last Post Services each Sunday
• Victory in the Pacific Day, 15 August 2022
• Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18 August 2022
• Battle for Australia Day, 1 September 2022
• Remembrance Day, 11 November 2022
• Melbourne Legacy's 91st Annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students, April 2023
• Anzac Day, 25 April 2023
• Annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, 31 May 2023

Trustee meetings

During 2021–22, the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees held six ordinary meetings.

Committees structure

Committee memberships comprise trustees, Life Governors, Governors and independent committee members with specific knowledge and skill required
by the Board of Trustees.

The Committees are supported by the Chief Executive Officer and Director Corporate Services with other members of the executive aiding as required. Committees may also co-opt external parties with relevant expertise to participate as required.

Four committees support the corporate governance framework that provides informed recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

Disclosure of major contracts

The Shrine of Remembrance Trustees have no contracts at or above the prescribed level of $10 million within the 2021–22 reporting period.

Employment and conduct principles

The Shrine of Remembrance is committed to applying merit and equity principles when appointing staff. The selection processes ensure that applicants
are assessed and evaluated fairly and equitably on the basis of the key selection criteria and other accountabilities without discrimination. Employees
have been correctly classified in workforce data collections.

Freedom of Information

The Shrine of Remembrance is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 allows the public a right to seek access to documents held by the Shrine of Remembrance. Requests should be forwarded to Shrine of Remembrance Trustees, GPO Box 1603,
Melbourne, Victoria 3001.

Shrine Trustees received no Freedom of Information requests within the 2021–22 reporting period.

Compliance with Building Act 1993

During the reporting period the Trustees have complied with the Building Act 1993 as appropriate.

Compliance with neutrality policy

Shrine Trustees adhere to the principles of the National Competition Policy and Competitive Neutrality Policy (Vic) to ensure where services compete, or potentially compete with the private sector, any advantage arising solely from their government ownership be removed if not in the public interest.

Compliance with the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 encourages and assists people in making disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies. The Act provides protection to people who make disclosures in accordance with the Act and establishes a system for the matters disclosed to be investigated and rectifying action to be taken.

The Shrine of Remembrance does not tolerate improper conduct by personnel, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct. It is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment.

The Shrine will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure to the extent it is legally possible.

Disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by the Shrine or any of its employees may be made to the Chairman of Trustees or the Chief Executive Officer. Alternatively, disclosures may also be made directly to:

The number of disclosures made by an individual to the Shrine of Remembrance and notified to the Independent Broad based Anticorruption Commission:

Compliance with the Carers Recognition Act 2012

The Shrine of Remembrance has taken all practical measures to comply with its obligations under the Carers Recognition Act 2012. These include:
considering the care relationship principles set out in the Act when setting policies and providing services (e.g., reviewing our employment policies such as
flexible working arrangements and leave provisions to ensure that these comply with the statement of principles in the Act).

Consultancies

In 2021–22 there were four consultancies where the total fees payable to the consultants were $10,000 or more. The total expenditure incurred during 2021–22 in relation to these consultancies was $118,751 (excl GST).

In 2021–22 there were two consultancies where the total fees payable to the consultants were less than $10,000. The total amount spent on consultancies less than $10,000 was $12,097 (excl GST).

Compliance with the Disability Act 2006

The Disability Act 2006 reaffirms and strengthens the rights of people with a disability and recognises that this requires support across the government sector and within the community.

The Shrine of Remembrance trustees adhere to the requirements of the Act and continue to develop and update their Disability Action Plan as and when required.

Disclosure of Government Advertising Expenditure

In 2021–22, the Trustees did not undertake any government advertising campaigns with total media spend of $100,000 or greater (excl GST).

Disclosure of ICT expenditure

ICT expenditure refers to the Shrine’s costs in providing business enabling ICT services within the current reporting period. It comprises Business As Usual (BAU) ICT expenditure and Non-Business As Usual (Non-BAU) ICT expenditure. Non-BAU ICT expenditure relates to extending or enhancing our current ICT capabilities. BAU ICT expenditure is all remaining ICT expenditure which primarily relates to ongoing activities to operate and maintain the current ICT capability.

During the reporting period, the Shrine of Remembrance had a total BAU and non-BAU ICT expenditure of $113,245.

Statement of Availability of other Information

In compliance with the requirements of the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance, details in respect of the items listed have been retained by the Shrine of Remembrance and are available on request, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982. During 2021–22:

• Declarations of pecuniary interests were duly completed by all relevant officers,
• no shares were held by a senior officer as nominee or held beneficially in a statutory authority or subsidiary.

Reporting of office-based environmental impacts

The Shrine of Remembrance maintains and regularly reviews an environmental practices policy and is committed to minimising the environmental impacts
associated with its activities.

As part of a Social Procurement Framework aimed at supporting local and sustainable suppliers, the Shrine, now uses all biodegradable materials in its wreaths, made from Australian grown flowers and foliage.

The Shrine maintains a 960,000 litre underground water storage tank which is used to store building and hard stand run-off. This water supports irrigation across the site and reduces consumption of potable water. Irrigation is scheduled to occur at night to minimise evaporative loss and drip irrigators are used in densely planted areas to further conserve water.

Within the Shrine monument a building management system allows for efficient control of climate and lighting systems to meet the needs and expectations
of visitors in an energy efficient manner. All public bathrooms utilise auto-operated hand dryers. Newer rooms/areas are also fitted with motion detectors
to turn lights on and off in response to use as a means of reducing electrical consumption. All new and replacement lighting products have been high
efficiency LED products.

Throughout each of Victoria’s coronavirus (COVID-19) mandated closures, lighting, HVAC and standby utilities were powered down and/or minimised to
reduce energy consumption and avoid light exposure to collections items. After a significant reduction of energy consumption by 21 per cent in 2020–21, energy consumption has increased by 15 per cent (128,166 kWH) this financial year.

The Shrine utilises Microsoft SharePoint electronic document storage and retrieval system to protect document integrity and minimise the use of paper;
this is a cloud based computing solution reducing the requirement for on-site computing hardware thus minimising electrical costs and waste disposal of
aged computer and server hardware. Redundant ICT equipment was e-recycled throughout the year.

All internal communications, including committee and board meeting agenda and minutes, are distributed electronically to minimise the environmental footprint by reducing printer power, paper and ink consumption, and carbon emissions in transportation. Recycling bins are in all office areas to collect paper for re-use. Latex and Nitrile gloves are now being collected and where possible recycled. The Papercut software solution was implemented to assist our policy of minimising hard copy printing. Since 30 June 2021, printing across the organisation has increased by 29 per cent, with operations returning to normal in November 2021.

Pest control within the Shrine is of critical importance in both protecting the collection and ensuring visitors enjoy a positive experience. The Shrine has chosen to use manual control mechanisms, such as traps, in preference to toxic chemical controls wherever practicable.

Local Jobs First

The Shrine of Remembrance adheres to the Local Jobs Act 2003 introduced in August 2018 which brings together the Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP) and Major Project Skills Guarantee (MPSG) policy which were previously administered separately.

Social procurement

The Shrine did not undertake any social procurement activities during the year (2021: $4,750).

Workforce data

The Shrine of Remembrance Trustees directly employs a Chief Executive Officer, operational staff, casual and contract employees.

The salary of one executive employee is reported within note 8.3 of the financial accounts.

The Shrine is also supported by 92 volunteers.

Key Supporters in 2021-22 include:

• Australian War Memorial
• Macutex
• City of Melbourne
• Victoria Police
• Multinet Gas Networks and Origin Energy

The City of Melbourne provides grounds maintenance services and grant assistance towards limited administrative and secretarial support including payroll and accounting services via a Service Level Agreement.

Victoria Police provides the Shrine Guard.

Multinet Gas Networks and Origin Energy provide gas to the Eternal Flame via a Memorandum of Understanding and the Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978.