Founding Phase Update — Queensland
An update on governance, registration, and next steps as Worphan is established in Australia.
This update marks the formal transition from a personal commitment into a structured, Queensland-based charity, established to support vulnerable children overseas through people already doing the work on the ground.
For the past several years, my involvement has been informal and relational. It began through personal connections with carers in Zimbabwe and Pakistan, individuals carrying significant responsibility for children with little structural support around them. Over time, it became clear that goodwill alone is not enough. The work needs a framework that protects the carers, the children, and the integrity of the support itself.
That realisation is what led to the decision to establish Worphan in Queensland.
Why Queensland?
Queensland provides a clear and robust regulatory environment for charitable organisations. Establishing Worphan here allows for proper governance, accountability, and transparency, things that are often missing when care relies solely on individuals acting in good faith.
The intention is not to duplicate existing charities or build unnecessary bureaucracy. The intention is to do one thing well: create a stable support structure around people who are already deeply committed to caring for vulnerable children, so they are not carrying that burden alone.
What “Founding Phase” means
Nothing is being rushed. The work right now is about setting Worphan up correctly, not rushing any process.
The founding phase includes:
Establishing the charity under Queensland regulation
Forming a small, skills-based committee with defined responsibilities
Putting basic governance, reporting, and financial controls in place
Clarifying Worphan’s scope so support is focused, realistic, and sustainable
No programmes are being rushed. No promises are being made that can’t be kept. This phase is about getting the structure right before asking others to trust it.
Relationship-led, not project-led
Worphan exists because of people, specifically carers like Lizy in Zimbabwe, and Shahid and Noreen in Pakistan, who have already demonstrated long-term commitment to children in their care.
Support will be relationship-led, not campaign-led. That means decisions are informed by ongoing connection, local context, and real needs, rather than short-term fundraising goals or external pressure to “scale”.
What happens next
Over the coming months, Worphan will:
Finalise its Queensland governance structure
Share clearer information about its role and limits
Begin modest, accountable financial support where appropriate
Continue telling the stories of the people involved, in their own words
Updates will be shared here as milestones are reached. This won’t be a constant stream of announcements, only meaningful ones.
A measured beginning
This is not the launch of a finished organisation. It is the careful beginning of one.
Worphan is being built deliberately, with respect for the seriousness of the responsibility involved. The children matter. The carers matter. The structure that supports them needs to be strong enough to last.
Further updates will follow as the founding phase progresses.
Those who wish to support the work or register their interest can do so using the links below.
Gerard Saunders
On behalf of Worphan