Reichstein, Jill

Field of activity
Community advocate and Philanthropist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-742074

Biographies

Jill Reichstein is Chair of the Reichstein Foundation and an advocate of social change philanthropy. Mentor to many Australian women philanthropists, she is a member of the Committee of Management for Changemakers Australia and has served on the boards of the Melbourne Community Foundation, the Foundation for Young Australians, the Community Support Fund Community Advisory Council, the Trust for Young Australians, the Mietta Foundation, the Koori Heritage Trust, and Philanthropy Australia.

The only child of industrialist Lance Reichstein, Jill grew up in Toorak, self-conscious about her family's wealth. She was never taught skills in money management by her father, who distrusted the political groups with which she was involved. Jill took part in the anti-Vietnam War and anti-apartheid movements. She studied Liberal Arts in the United Kingdom, and was in Paris during the manifestation of 1968. Back in Melbourne, she completed studies in sociology and anthropology at Monash University. She worked at a women's refuge in Kew - the first community-based halfway house - and was greatly influenced by the women's liberation movement. She also worked in community-based childcare for the Brunswick Community Group, and for the Brunswick City Council.

On his death, Lance Reichstein left the majority of his substantial fortune to establish the Lance Reichstein Foundation. Jill, then twenty-five years old, was appointed to the otherwise all-male board of trustees. Frustrated by the board's preoccupation with the investment of funds, as opposed to their distribution, she instigated a change of personnel. Over the next eight years she replaced board members with experienced women passionate about social change, and became Chair at the age of thirty-five. Lance Reichstein's own philanthropy had been traditional in style, with donations to established charities and hospitals. His trust deed stipulated that funding should go to welfare and educational endeavours. It was sufficiently broad to allow Jill and her new board to undertake some more ambitious projects.

Jill established the Social Change Network in the 1980s. In part, the group was made up of people with 'a strong belief that society should be more equitable. Others have just felt a discomfort at having too much'. She set out to change the public perception of philanthropy and philanthropists, insisting that traditional charities were addressing the symptoms rather than the causes of society's problems. She was quoted in the Good Weekend in February 1989: 'I think a lot of women who inherit wealth have never been taught the modes of managing their money or ways of dealing with solicitors and accountants'. Jill was also involved in Women in Philanthropy, which began as a support group for women who felt uncomfortable with their wealth or were seeking ideas for philanthropic activity. Inspired by an American publication, Robin Hood was Right, she arranged for donor activist and philanthropist Tracy Gary to visit Australia and speak to the group.

From the outset, Reichstein has specialised in funding programs deemed high risk. Of her training scheme through the Aboriginal Health Service in 1989 she noted 'the Health Commission wouldn't touch it', but the program successfully trained 27 people per year. Four years later, the Good Weekend was writing about the Reichstein Foundation again, discussing its funding for a support group for truckies' wives; a sports program for Aboriginal youth; the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture; and a theatre group of former women prisoners (Somebody's Daughter).

Today the Reichstein Foundation is worth $12 million. Jill Reichstein speaks regularly about her work at seminars and conferences (see conference proceedings from Philanthropy Australia) and her daughter Lucy and son Tom are members of the board, which is comprised of four women and two men. Priority funding areas are Indigenous people; people with a disability; refugees and asylum seekers; environment; human rights; and the criminal justice system.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Resources for Jill Reichstein

Selected resources (5)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Big Hearted AustraliansGood Weekend 11 : Big Hearted Australians
    Cadzow, Jane
    [1993]
  2. A Great Form of Love: Women Philanthropists in Australian HistoryHindsight, ABC Radio National : A Great Form of Love: Women Philanthropists in Australian History
    Lemon, Barbara
    Published: ABC Radio National
    Series: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/
  3. In Her Gift: Activism and Altruism in Australian Women's Philanthropy, 1880-2005
    Lemon, Barbara
    [2008]
    Published: School of Historical Studies, University of Melbourne
  4. In Her Gift: Women Philanthropists in Australian History
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2009]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/wiph/home.html
  5. State Library of Victoria: Women in Philanthropy (WIP) - papers (1995 - 1998)
    MS 13370, Box 76

Resources by Jill Reichstein (3)

  1. The business of grants : a seminar for managers & administrators of funding programs / Jill Reichstein, chair
    Banksia Environmental Foundation Seminar Series Melbourne) (1995 :
    [ Conference Proceedings : 1995 ]
    At Philanthropy Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.327)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.327)

  2. Migrant child care needs
    Reichstein, Jill
    Migration Action
    [ Article : 1981 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.852)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.852)

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Resources about Jill Reichstein (4)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Jill Reichstein, philanthropist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.341)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.341)

  2. Portrait of Jill Reichstein, philanthropist for Reichstein Foundation, 1999 / Joyce Evans
    Evans, Joyce
    [ Photograph : 1999 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.089)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.089)

  3. Change for the better [Jill Reichstein and the social change philanthropy movement]
    Goode, Briony
    Wellbeing (Mosman, NSW)
    [ Article : 2010 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.687)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.687)

  4. Wealth and poverty [Series of four parts]: Part 1: The land of need and greed. Part 2: The rich. Part 3: The poor. Part 4: The philanthropists
    Loane, Sally
    Age
    [ Article : 1989 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.847)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.847)

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  1. Graduation Ball (1940 - )
    Created by dance[NLA], 26 items.

    Graduation Ball was conceived and choreographed by David Lichine in Australia during the 1939-1940 tour by the Original Ballet Russe, re...

  1. Reichstein, Jill
    ... Jill Reichstein is Chair of the Reichstein Foundation and an advocate of social change philanthropy ...
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  2. Koshland, Ellen
    ... by Jill Reichstein and a meeting with women from the Victorian Women’s Trust motivated Ellen to ...
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  3. Spitzer, Fleur
    ... Philanthropy (now Philanthropy Australia). Spitzer found a mentor in Jill Reichstein, and continues to channel ...
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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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    View 18 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.692)

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  2. Website: Philanthropy Australia
    www.philanthropy.org.au
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  3. Website: Australian Film Commission
    www.afc.gov.au
    Matching pages:
    • Digital Australia 1999 - 15/11/2000
    • ... Creative Access Pty Ltd. Producer Debra Annear Co-producer Jill Reichstein Project Director Jo Lane Project...
    View 5 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.041)

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  1. Charity with an edge.(Reichstein Foundation)
    Ross, Emily
    Business Review Weekly
    [ Article : 2004 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.1)

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  2. True leaders 2009: Jill Reichstein
    Australasian Business Intelligence
    [ Article : 2009 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.635)

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  3. Charity with an edge
    Australasian Business Intelligence
    [ Article : 2004 ]
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  4. BUSINESS PULSE OF THE NATION.(Finance)
    The Australian (National, Australia)
    [ Article : 2010 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
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  1. Jill Reichstein interviewed by Nikki Henningham in the Women and leadership in a century of Australian democracy oral history project
    Reichstein, Jill, 1949-
    [ Sound : 2011 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.091)

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  2. Australian women : women of power & influence
    ABC-TV (Australia)
    [ Video : 2007 ]
    At 2 libraries
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  3. Women of power & influence
    ABC-TV (Australia)
    [ Video : 2007 ]
    At 3 libraries
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  1. Papers of Herbert Cole Coombs
    Coombs, H. C. (Herbert Cole), 1906-1997
    [ Unpublished : 1918-1993 ]
    At National Library
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  1. Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians : Hyderabad, August 19-27, 2010
    International Congress of Mathematicians Hyderabad, India) (2010 :
    [ Conference Proceedings : 2010 ]
    At Uni Ballarat
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  2. Fischer's mastery of surgery / editor, Josef E. Fischer ; associate editors, Daniel B. Jones, Frank B. Pomposelli, Gilbert R. Upchurch Jr. ; assistant editors, V. Suzanne Klimberg, Steven D. Schwaitzberg, Kirby I. Bland
    Fischer, Josef E., 1937-
    [ Book : 2012 ]
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  3. Population crisis : hearings before the Subcommittee on Foreign Aid Expenditures of the Committee on Government Operations, United States Senate, Eighty-ninth Congress, First Session, on S. 1676, a bill to reorganize the Department of State and the D...
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    [ Book : 1966 ]
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    View online
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  1. Woolshed for party dance
    The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954) Saturday 26 June 1954 p 23 Article
    ... John Green slade, Maitland; Jill Man thorpe Glenroy, Carrieton; Marlene Holland and Pat ricia Catford. Caltowle: Jill Michael, Sugarloaf, Burra; Ann Noonan. of Hornsdale, and her fiance Kevin Reichstein, of Appila; Tom Cockburn. Wirrabara; John Fether stonhaugh. Sidney and Malcolm Catford. Appila; ... 280 words
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  2. About People & Events
    Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954) Friday 10 September 1954 p 11 Article
    ... home. Guests of honor were Mrs. K. S. Duncan, of Hawthorn, Victoria, and Mrs. L. Reichstein ,and daughter Jill, of Toorak, who motored through from Melbourne to spend a week's holiday. Mrs. Duncan is ... 714 words
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  3. Quality Merinos At Melrose Show
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) Monday 3 October 1949 p 5 Article
    ... school child, E. Jones* Chum. D. Smart's Twinkle. E. Fuller's Jill Trotting outfit, B. L. Lane's ... 1784 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.011)

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