Shrine of Remembrance Annual Report 2023-24

On behalf of the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees we present the 2023–24 Annual Report. To paraphrase the inscription to the western wall of the Shrine monument, this sacred place was established in the hearts of our community well before the Shrine arose from the ground. This sentiment remains true as the love for family and mates willing to stand in defence of the freedoms Australians value, continues. As our 90th anniversary of service to the needs of the Victorian community approaches we reflect upon our origins as we uphold our founding purpose and turn our minds to the century ahead.

The Shrine has enjoyed sound growth in attendance in successive years. More than 660,000 people visited in 2023–24: a 16 per cent increase on 2022–23. Visitors included nearly 50,000 students and 75,000 ceremonial attendees. A further one million people were engaged through our digital programming and an estimated one million other visitors availed themselves of the recreational amenity of the Shrine Reserve — confirmation of the Shrine’s role as a major community asset.

One-hundred-and-eighty-eight remembrance services were conducted across the year with community and veteran participation exceeding targets. More than 60,000 people attended the Shrine on Anzac Day and more than 5,000 attended weekly Last Post Services.

Once again, the Shrine ranked among the world’s most visited war memorials; as one of Melbourne’s top three most visited public museums; and in Trip Advisor’s ‘Top 10% of Things to do Worldwide’. We also secured second-place in our first year entering the Cultural Tourism category of the Victorian Tourism Awards.

To achieve such accolades is a remarkable achievement for a public institution with a staff of fewer than 35 FTE employees and a modest budget in comparison to peer Melbourne institutions. We wish to record our appreciation for the extraordinary outcomes delivered by staff and volunteers in pursuit of the Shrine’s strategic objectives.

Three of our oft-awarded special exhibitions were delivered under our Program Strategy: each tailored to attract non-traditional audiences to the Shrine and encourage connection with the historic and contemporary importance of service and sacrifice. These were complemented through two touring exhibitions: one from the Australian War Memorial and one from the United Kingdom.

Maintaining current operations and high levels of service delivery have proved challenging with increasing costs. Without additional support, the Trustees anticipate changes in service delivery will become necessary in upcoming years.

Internally, the Shrine has achieved record levels of self-funding through retail, café, tour and venue hire sales. These have further growth potential and will be explored through the Shrine Master Plan which includes options for expanding the retail and Visitor Centre. We will continue to seek support to enable this potential, and to ensure facilities required to accommodate our growing visitation meets contemporary expectations and accessibility standards.

With funding support from the Victorian Government, we have been able to complete significant capital improvement projects. These include accessible ramps between the upper and lower forecourts, completed pre-Anzac Day, and construction of hostile vehicle mitigation infrastructure. The latter to be completed before Remembrance Day 2024.

The Board's work in 2023–24 included formulation of the Shrine 2025–30 Strategic Plan.

Significant in the strategic plan is the explicit intent to activate and advance the Shrine’s standing as a place of national, state and cultural significance, an action promulgated by the Shrine of Remembrance Act.

Three objectives have been established.

1. To memorialise all who have served
2. To inspire through education and storytelling
3. To exemplify leadership and flourish as a cultural icon

The Shrine will mark its 90th anniversary on Remembrance Day 2024. This milestone will be celebrated through a comprehensive program of events and activations including the public launch of the Shrine 2025–45 Master Plan — a period encompassing both the centenary of the Shrine’s dedication in 1934 and the Second World War (1939– 1945). Visitors and the wider community will be invited to view and comment on the master plan to inform its finalisation before implementation from 1 July 2025.

In delivering our comprehensive range of programming we have benefited from the support of many organisations and individuals.

We wish to recognise the direct financial support of the Victorian Government, and the financial and in-kind support of the City of Melbourne whose efforts aid our operations and ensure the Shrine Reserve presents as a high quality and valued place for peaceful community reflection: the value of the City of Melbourne’s support exceeds $750,000. We also gratefully acknowledge and thank our many donors for their generous support.

In closing and on behalf of the trustees and staff, we affirm our joint commitment to uphold the Shrine’s enduring purpose, to honour veterans, and to advance the Shrine’s standing as the most special place at which to reflect on the way of life Australian’s value, defended by the service of so many.

Sincerely,

Captain Stephen Bowater OAM RAN
CHAIR OF THE SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE TRUSTEES

and

Dean M Lee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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 Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978 establishes the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees as its function.

The Trustees functions are:

1. responsibility for the care, management, maintenance and preservation of the Shrine of Remembrance—
   1. as a memorial to honour the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacekeeping and peacemaking; and
   2. as a site of national, State and cultural significance; and
2. 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
3. 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.

Life Governors

Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Lombardo

Mr Peter Whitelaw

Governors

Lieutenant Colonel David Blackwell OAM RFD

Squadron Leader Steve Campbell-Wright

Commander Priya Chandra

Colonel Jason Cooke

Colonel John Coulson OAM RFD ED

Lieutenant Commander Janette Gallagher

Group Captain Annette Holian

Squadron Leader Matthew Little (Retd)

Commander Terry Makings AM RAN

Squadron Leader Peter Meehan OAM (Retd)

Mohammed Abdur Rahman

Air Commodore Rowan D Story AM RFD (Retd)—appointment ended 13 April 2024

Captain Tyson Taylor—appointment ended 15 December 2023

Dean M Lee - BAppSc EMBA GAICD

Chief Executive Officer

Dean is the Shrine’s nominated Accountable Officer and provides governance and strategic support and advice to the Trustees and overall leadership to the organisation. Dean was appointed in July 2015.

Sue Burgess - BEc

Director Public Programs

Sue holds overall responsibility for museum and collection management, exhibitions and digital programs and the Shrine’s education and volunteer programs. Sue was appointed in October 2019.

Sue Curwood - BA MMktg

Marketing Director

Sue holds responsibility for all marketing, branding and communications strategy and tactical implementation and functional and campaign advertising. Sue was appointed in June 2020.

Stewart Green - BComm BIS CA

Director Corporate Services

(Greg Gilmour—BEc MBA CA CPA AAICD—2 September 2019–2 February 2024)

Stewart holds responsibility for financial control, regulatory compliance, administration and facility functions. Stewart was appointed to this role in May 2024.

Ryan Johnston - BA GradDip PgDiptg

Director Visitor Experience

(Andrew Sivijs—BAHons MPil—1 July 2023–15 November 2023)

Ryan holds responsibility for the Shrine’s visitor services, ceremonial program and self-funding activities. Ryan was appointed in February 2024

Carolyn Argent
EDUCATION OFFICER

Adrienne Baldwin
BUSINESS MANAGER

Haley Ball
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Sue Burgess
DIRECTOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Samuel Burns
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Nancy Capomolla
RETAIL OFFICER

Dale Capron
CEREMONIAL PROGRAM MANAGER

Laura Carroll
EDUCATION & VOLUNTEER MANAGER

Melissah Crumpton
BUSINESS SUPPORT OFFICER

Sue Curwood
MARKETING DIRECTOR

Anthea Davis
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Jacqui Dekker
EDUCATION OFFICER

Fiona Duncan
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Katrina Elliott
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Kristen Fletcher
VISITOR EXPERIENCE MANAGER

Michael Ganey
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Voula Gikas
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Stewart Green
DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES

Demelza Haines
EVENTS COORDINATOR

Peter Harris
FACILITIES MANAGER

Dominic Healy
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Chelsea Heaney
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Ryan Johnston
DIRECTOR VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Harriston Lambooy
EDUCATION OFFICER

Dean M Lee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Soo Mei Leong
FINANCE OFFICER

Peter Luby
EDUCATION OFFICER

Genevieve Maguire
PEOPLE AND CULTURE MANAGER

Toby Miller
COLLECTIONS COORDINATOR

Jay Montgomery
FACILITIES COORDINATOR

Katrina Nicolson
RESEARCH & OUTREACH OFFICER

Tessa Occhino
EXHIBITION RESEARCH OFFICER

Sean Michael
BUSINESS SUPPORT OFFICER

Janelle Raines
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Blake Randall
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Keaton Robertson
RETAIL OFFICER

Chelsea Rowlings
RETAIL OFFICER

Karl Sarsfield
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Leanne Saward
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

Neil Sharkey
CURATOR

Kate Spinks
CURATOR & COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Laura Thomas
DIGITAL PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Melanie Warburton
VISITOR EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

Sue Wicks
VISITOR EXPERIENCE OFFICER

The Shrine of Remembrance Trustees acknowledge with thanks the dedication of our valued volunteers:

• Darcie Apostolou
• Betty Appleton
• Francesca Atkinson
• Barry Aumann
• Rodney Bayley
• Rodney Bayley
• Benjamin Bezzina
• Ella Bibby
• Fred Boland
• Daryl Bolton
• Robin Bowra
• Ralph Boyne
• Murray Brassington
• Paul Brennan
• Bruce Brown
• Catherine Brown
• John Cahir
• Barbara Carpenter
• Sofia Castello
• Bill Cherry
• Halima Chowdary
• Caroline Clark
• Lorraine Connell
• Bill Cornford
• Eleni Courvisanos
• Ken Crook
• Neville Davis
• Patrick Dickinson
• Anna Dockendorff
• Ian Douglas
• Garry Fabian
• Wendy Farthing
• Peter Geddes
• Drew Gordon
• Allan Grant
• Christine Hill
• Robert Hoskin
• Russell Hutchins
• Alec Huze
• Ian Jones
• Anne Josefsberg
• Steven Kyritsis
• Mary-Marcella Lee
• Rayden Lee
• Fred Lehmann
• Sue Liddell
• Judy Llewellyn
• Liana Loney
• Jenny McCartney
• Phill McKenna
• Marita Madden
• Dianne Manning
• Paul Maple
• Phil Marshman
• Ros Martin
• Peter Mayhood
• Mark Mayne
• Graeme Miller
• Robyn Miller
• David Mitchell
• Sam Monk
• John Moxey
• William Mulhauser
• Sue Mullett
• Lynne Nicol
• Rick Palmer
• Jon Peart
• Daryl Pinner
• Anne Ramsay
• Helen Robinson
• Gary Serpell
• Selina Shen
• Ian Simpkin
• Brian Smith
• Stephen Stockdale
• Kevan Thomas
• Mattew Threlfall
• Mary Ward
• Philip Whitehouse
• Malcolm Wiltshire
• Caroline Winter
• Jasmin Xu
• George Zagon

VALE
It was with much sadness that we marked the passing of volunteer John Williamson.

1.7 million total engagements

• 542,357 General Visitors
• 1,098,463 Digital Engagements

40,000 attendees at the Anzac Day dawn service

• 76,422 people attended 192 onsite commemorative services

49 million print and broadcast reach

49,061 student attendance onsite

Silver: Victoria Tourism Industry Council Cultural Tourism Award

Travellers' Choice Award 2024: Trip Advisor

Four Special Exhibitions

The following review of operations summarises activities undertaken by the Shrine’s business units in pursuit of our enduring purpose — to be a memorial to honour the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in war, conflict, peacemaking and peacekeeping; and as a place of national, State and cultural significance

Student Education and Family Programs

The Shrine’s curriculum aligned student education programs engage students onsite and offsite in learning about commemoration, wartime history and the shaping and defence of the Australian nation. Onsite visits were enjoyed by nearly 50,000 students, including 3,500 on Legacy Student Day.

Regular activities connected to special exhibition programming continued throughout the year, attracting and serving the interests of families.

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 through talks, workshops, and lectures.

Digital programming — webinars, podcasts and live event recordings — continued in support of broader audience engagement. Remembrance digital magazine was released in November 2023 and continues to build its presence.

Volunteers

Shrine volunteers demonstrated their ongoing commitment to the Shrine by supporting schools and visitor engagement activities with energy and enthusiasm.

The Shrine Young Ambassador program provided an opportunity for nine students in Years 9/10 to participate in programs and commemorative events and develop leadership skills. The program was financially supported this year by Freemasons Foundation Victoria.

Visitation

Onsite visitation grew by 16 per cent in FY2024, driven by strong recovery in domestic and international visitation, effective marketing, and diverse exhibition and education programs.

Exit surveys demonstrated very high levels of visitor satisfaction. Audiences rated the overall Shrine experience at 4.8/5, with 81 per cent describing their experience as “Excellent”. Customer service was rated at 4.7/5, while retail, food and beverage services were rated 4.4/5. The growth in visitation and high levels of satisfaction have contributed to significant increases in commercial activity, especially retail sales.

Ceremonial Programs

Providing for the commemorative needs of veterans and the community is one of the Shrine’s primary functions: 76,000 people attended 188 commemorative services. Live streaming of commemorative services continued as an effective way of ensuring participation in commemoration is accessible.

The Victorian Government funded Last Post Service is integrated within the Shrine’s other public programming to provide richer and expanded audience engagement with a wide variety of commemorative themes. It continued to deliver on its aims with both veteran participants and attendees reporting overwhelmingly positive engagement and feedback.

The service continues to provide a unique and inclusive introduction to Australian commemorative practice for those who have not previously attended a Remembrance Service

Remembrance Day

The Victorian Government continued its valued support for the delivery of Remembrance Day, facilitating engagement with a diverse audience spanning veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, students, domestic and international tourists, and the general public. More than 1,500 attended the service with a subsequent 35,000 views online.

This year’s 11 Days of Remembrance programming contemplated the role of artistic pursuits in allowing us to confront and interpret the complexities of war

Legacy's Annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students

The Melbourne Legacy Students' Service on April 19, 2024 was attended by approximately 3,500 students. The service featured student guest speakers, school bands, and an address by the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC.

Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service

As part of National Reconciliation Week, this service commemorates the service of Indigenous Australians in the Australian Defence Force. The highly successful service featured several guest speakers and a smoking ceremony and new cultural elements including recitation of the Ode in language, the playing of the didgeridoo during the wreath laying and the national anthem and a choir of Australian students attending Worawa Aboriginal College.

Commerical Programs

Retail and Shrine Tour sales achieved record levels, exceeding ambitious targets. A new ‘Domain Discovery’ tour was introduced in collaboration with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Preparations were made to launch a new range of event and venue hire products in the coming year.

Events

The Shrine was pleased to partner and host events supporting our community. Highlights included a veteran led concert associated with March for Art — part of the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum’s annual program, and a celebration with the Australian Filipino community to mark the unveiling of the Battle of Leyte Gulf memorial tree and plaque.

In September, the Shrine featured in the City of Melbourne’s Now or Never arts and technology festival. ’Sacra' by internationally acclaimed artist Laszlo Bordos, encompassed a stunning mix of architecturally inspired audio and visual interpretations and projections over two nights. Approximately 30,000 people attended.

We were delighted to see growing community participation in the annual ANZAC Day Eve AFL torch procession. Large crowds joined the Shrine Guard bearing the torch drawn from the Eternal Flame marching with it to the MCG to light a cauldron before 80,000 AFL fans engaged through sport in the spirit of commemoration.

The Shrine will mark its 90th anniversary on Remembrance Day 2024. This milestone occasion will be celebrated through a comprehensive program of events and activations commencing with the 11 days of Remembrance from 1–11 November and continuing over the peak summer months.

The public launch of the Shrine 2025–45 Master Plan will occur in this period with visitors and the community invited to comment. This will inform finalisation of the plan before it becomes effective from 1 July 2025.

Consistent with general economic pressure across the community, the increased cost of maintaining the Shrine and funding ceremonial and public programming will present significant challenges in the coming year.

The growing return of international visitors is expected to support increased visitation and related revenue from targeted retail and Shrine Tour sales. The Shrine will also activate the undercroft’s potential to host venue hire events as a new income stream.

The recently approved 2025–30 Strategic Plan builds upon the previous five-year plan which was successfully implemented to elevate the standing of commemoration in the hearts and minds of Victorians. The new plan broadens this remit to pursue aspirational positioning of the Shrine among the world’s leading memorials and advancing its standing as a major cultural icon of Melbourne.

In preparing the 2024–25 Business Plan and budget, management has reviewed the Shrine’s responsibilities — established by the Act and in the Minister’s Statement of Government Priorities — and the objectives of the Shrine’s 2025–30 Strategic Plan.

The Business Plan responds to these inputs in a prudent manner, while recognising some significant costs associated with required changes in essential maintenance, asset replacement and enhanced IT management to support increased reliance on digital program platforms, hybrid working models and increasing cyber-security risks.

Employee wellbeing has been a significant focus in the prior year and will remain a priority as we build a positive culture to the benefit of all in the service of the Shrine’s purpose.

A non-material operating deficit is budgeted and, barring unforeseen events, the Victorian State Budget total engagement target of 750,000 will be achieved.

Significant projects planned in the year including:

• completion of security infrastructure to mitigate Hostile Vehicle Attack.
• conclusion of stakeholder engagement and finalisation of the 2025–45 Shrine Master Plan.

Significant services will include:

• weekly Last Post Services each Sunday
• Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18 August 2024
• Remembrance Day, 11 November 2024
• Melbourne Legacy's 92nd Annual ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony for Students, April 2025
• Anzac Day, 25 April 2025
• Annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, 31 May 2025

Foreword

The Shrine of Remembrance Trustees is a public sector entity established as a statutory authority by the Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978 (the Act). Accordingly, it is subject to the common obligations of Whole of Government legislation and policies applicable in the Victorian public sector including the Public Administration Act 2004 and the Financial Management Act 1994.

Persons appointed as trustees are directors of the entity; collectively they form the Shrine’s board. The board’s functions are stated in the Act and controlled through a comprehensive range of interrelated strategic, governance, risk management and planning instruments. A five-year strategic plan informs programming and marketing strategies; and an annual business plan and budget direct and enable aligned actions and initiatives.

Trustee Meetings

During 2023–24, the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees held five of six scheduled ordinary meetings.

Key Supporters in 2023-24 include:

• Australian War Memorial
• Macutex
• City of Melbourne
• Victoria Police
• Multinet Gas Networks and Origin Energy
• No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron Association

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

Victoria Police provide 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.

Disclosure of Major Contracts

The Shrine of Remembrance Trustees have no contracts at or above the prescribed level of $10 million within the 2023–24 reporting period.

Employment and Conduct Principles

The Shrine of Remembrance is committed to applying merit and equity principles when recruiting and appointing staff.

The selection processes ensure that applicants are assessed and evaluated fairly and equitably based on key selection criteria and other role specific attributes 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. The Act 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 2023–24 reporting period.

Compliance with Building Act 1993

During the reporting period the Trustees 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 with, 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 of Remembrance Trustees or any of its employees may be made to the Chair or the Chief Executive Officer. Alternatively, disclosures may 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 2023–24 there were five consultancies where the total fees payable to the consultants were $10,000 or more. The total expenditure incurred during 2023–24 in relation to these consultancies was $170,141 (excl GST) (2022–23: $333,174).

In 2023–24 there were three 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 $16,340 (excl GST) (2022–23: $4,993).

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 2023–24, 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 $174,303 (2022–23: $158,633).

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 2023–24:

• Declarations of pecuniary interests were duly completed by all relevant officers.
• No shares were held by Key Management Personnel 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 supporting local and sustainable suppliers, the Shrine, uses semi-biodegradable and reusable 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.

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 offices and public areas are fitted with motion detectors to activate lighting as a means of reducing electrical consumption. All new and replacement lighting products have been high efficiency LED products.

Lighting, HVAC and standby utilities were powered down and/or minimised throughout the night to reduce energy consumption and avoid light exposure to collections items. Further efficiencies were achieved in 2023–24 through the introduction of LED cleaning lighting to museum galleries. Overall energy consumption in the reporting period was 7.38% per cent higher than in the prior reporting period.

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 collected and where possible recycled. The Papercut software solution was implemented to assist our policy of minimising hard copy printing.

Local Jobs First

The Shrine of Remembrance adheres to the Local Jobs Act 2003.

Social Procurement

The Shrine of Remembrance undertook social procurement activities during the year with an aggregated spend of $6,987 with seven social benefit suppliers (2022–23:$719,380).

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 73 volunteers.