Annual Information Statement 2017

Legal Name: 
Bush Heritage Australia
ABN: 
78053639115

Section A: Charity Information

Other names charity is known by (such as trading name): 
  • Bush Heritage
  • Australian Bush Heritage Fund
Charity size: 
Large
Fundraising online: 
Yes
Basic Religious Charity: 
No

Section B: Activities

Did the charity operate in the 2017 reporting period?
Yes
Main activity: 
Environmental activities
Description of charity's activities and outcomes: 
In 2017-2018, Bush Heritage launched its strategic plan for 2017-2022 and made significant progress towards achieving the objectives within it. These fall into four themes.Under our 1st theme, Landscape-scale conservation management, our achievements include increasing the area of land and sea country that we protect or help manage to 8.86 million hectares. Our conservation work across these landscapes benefits at least 5932 Australian species, including 239 threatened species. A key objective is to improve or maintain the health of the species and habitats we protect (our conservation targets). We are pleased that 24% of our conservation targets have improved in health since they were first surveyed, and a further 18% maintained what we have identified as a good or very good level of health.In 2017-2018, 71 science and research projects took place on our reserves and 24 active Aboriginal partnerships. These projects and partnerships help us expand our knowledge base and deliver conservation and socio-economic outcomes both on land that we own and manage and on our partners lands. As experts in our field, we also leverage our knowledge to influence government policies where invited, with the aim of working towards a more secure future for the bush. In the past year, we submitted formal responses to 13 environmental initiatives at the state and federal government level. These achievements align under our Science and knowledge theme: to build our capacity in science, knowledge and research, resulting in better informed land management activities.Another key element of Bush Heritages work is engaging and inspiring our conservation community. Under this theme, our objective is to see our reputation and profile generating significantly more support for conservation. In 2017-2018, our financial supporter base grew from 32,092 to 33,635. The time our volunteer base contributes to our work also increased from 36,660 hours last year to 40,991 hours this year. We undertook various educational and engagement activities, including launching a new bi-monthly e-newsletter, hosting a Bush Detectives camp for distance education students on our Carnarvon Station Reserve, and running the 2nd annual Hamelin Science Fair on our Hamelin Station Reserve in WA.Our 4th theme is Resilience and capability, under which our objectives are to see our annual income exceeding $30mil by 2020 and ensure staff are supported by a strong culture, systems and resources. Financial contributions rose from $19.9mil in 2016-2017 to $22.6mil this year and our spending on core conservation activities grew 5.6% to $10.5mil. We also achieved gender parity in the Executive Management team and more women are now filling roles such as reserve manager, ecologist and field officer, which have traditionally been male-dominated.Further details can be found in the 2017-2018 Annual Report : https://www.bushheritage.org.au/who-we-are/about/annual-reports.
Main beneficiary: 
General community in Australia
Where the charity conducted activities during the 2017 reporting period: 
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
Will the charity change or introduce any activities in the 2018 period?
No

Section C: Human Resources

Human resources: 
  • Full time employees: 70
  • Part time employees: 28
  • Casual employees: 4
  • Full-time equivalent staff (FTE): 90
  • Estimated number of volunteers: 785

Section D: Finance

Charity's 2017 reporting period: 
1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018
Type of financial statement: 
General purpose financial statements
Financial report consolidated with more than one entity?
Yes

Comprehensive Income Statement summary

Gross Income
Donations and bequests: 
$19,985,000.00
Revenue from providing goods or services: 
$450,000.00
Revenue from government including grants: 
$1,349,000.00
Revenue from investments: 
$720,000.00
All other revenue: 
$92,000.00
Total revenue: 
$22,596,000.00
Other income (for example, gains): 
$0.00
Total gross income: 
$22,596,000.00
Expenses
Employee expenses: 
$8,403,000.00
Interest expenses: 
$107,000.00
Grants and donations made for use in Australia: 
$0.00
Grants and donations made for use outside Australia: 
$0.00
All other expenses: 
$10,841,000.00
Total expenses: 
$19,351,000.00
Net surplus/(deficit): 
$3,245,000.00
Other comprehensive income: 
$51,000.00
Total comprehensive income: 
$3,296,000.00

Balance Sheet extract

Assets
Total current assets: 
$6,018,000.00
Non-current loans receivable: 
$0.00
Other non-current assets: 
$45,359,000.00
Total non-current assets: 
$45,359,000.00
Total assets: 
$51,377,000.00
Liabilities
Total current liabilities: 
$2,302,000.00
Non-current loans payable: 
$1,416,000.00
Other non-current liabilities: 
$547,000.00
Total non-current liabilities: 
$1,963,000.00
Total liabilities: 
$4,265,000.00
Net assets/liabilities: 
$47,112,000.00
Financial report submitted to a state/territory regulator?
Yes
State or territory of the regulator where financial report was submitted: 
  • Queensland
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

Section E: Annual report

Note: If you want to see the financial report or annual report that this charity has submitted, go back to Financials & Documents.

Section F: Reporting to state or territory regulators

Is the charity an incorporated association?
No
Does the charity intend to fundraise in the next reporting period?
Yes
Select the state/territory where the charity intends to fundraise in the 2018 reporting period: 
  • ACT fundraising number: 19000280
  • NSW fundraising number: CFN17412
  • QLD fundraising number: CP4954
  • TAS fundraising number: F1A320
  • VIC fundraising number: 997118
  • WA fundraising number: 21446