Mr McClure said his role as an Australian Fair Pay Commissioner was an opportunity for him to advocate on behalf of disadvantaged and low income earning Australians in an area of great importance to them and their wellbeing.

“Mission Australia is one of the country’s leading community organisations. I have worked in this sector most of my life and I will bring that experience – and the voice of disadvantaged and low income Australians – to my new role,” said Mr McClure.

“My other motivation in joining the AFPC is jobs. Last year Mission Australia assisted 159,000 people with employment and training, including 56,000 into jobs. I’m committed to doing what I can to increase employment opportunities for people.

“We need to find the right balance between the interests of those already employed and those seeking to find jobs in our society. Wage levels obviously have an impact on employment, so the AFPC has an important role to play in helping us strike that balance.”

In recent years, Mr McClure has been at the forefront of reforms to Australia’s welfare system. He was the Chairperson of the Federal Government’s Independent Reference Group on Welfare Reform in 1999-2000. These reforms are closely connected with employment trends and improvements to people’s levels of economic and social participation. Patrick is currently Deputy Chair of the Welfare to Work Consultative Forum.

Patrick is also President of the Social Innovation Forum of the OECD’s Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) program, where he plays an international consultancy role on issues relating to welfare to work, welfare reform, housing, youth and family initiatives.

As CEO of Mission Australia since 1997, Mr McClure has managed the organisation’s evolution into one of the country’s leading not-for-profits, with an annual budget of $220 million, 2,800 staff and 326 services in each state and territory.

Last year, Mission Australia assisted close to 230,000 Australians.

“I look forward to the challenges that are ahead and making my contribution as an Australian Fair Pay Commissioner,” Mr McClure said.