Charity Regulator Rewards Young Researchers

Two young researchers have been recognised for their contribution to the Not for Profit sector with an award granted by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and the Australia New Zealand Third Sector Researcher Incorporated.

The awards were granted to Dr Craig Furneaux, from the Queensland University of Technology, and Dr Angie Bletsas from the South Australian Council of Social Service.

The formal presentation was made following a postgraduate public lecture on philanthropy and culture held at Swinburne University.

The ACNC says Drs Furneaux and Bletsas have made significant contributions to research into charities within the last five years.  

They will each receive up to $1,500 to undertake a project with the ACNC in Melbourne, with the guidance and support of research staff there.

Dr Furneaux is a research fellow at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies and has published numerous works – including an analysis of successful government/Not for Profit relations in Queensland.

He will be undertaking further analysis of the ACNC’s data to investigate what makes the public trust charities.

Dr Bletsas, whose PhD thesis was titled ‘Poverty in the Age of Affluence; A Governmental Approach,’ will be working with the ACNC to examine what independence means for the Not for Profit sector.

The ACNC says they will also be given a one-year membership to ANZTSR Inc., and their work will be published in Third Sector Review (a refereed academic journal recognised by the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations in Australia) and on the ACNC website.

Award applicants were asked to submit a research proposal focussing on practical ways the new national charities regulator could achieve the objects of the ACNC Act, including:

• practical ways to maintain and enhance public trust and confidence in the sector;

• how the ACNC can work to support and sustain a robust sector; and

• what the ACNC could do to reduce red tape for charities.

“Gathering and analysing data about Australia’s charities is a key element in understanding how we can further support these organisations in the vital work they do for our communities,” ACNC Commissioner, Susan Pascoe AM said.

“I am certain that their passion for the sector and their expertise as researchers will be harnessed for the benefit of the nation’s charities and in turn, for those they help."

The ACNC has also released the 2013 Annual Information Statement bulk lodgement form.

The form, an Excel spreadsheet, allows approved charities to submit multiple 2013 Annual Information Statements in one go, without having to enter the same information repeatedly.

The regulator says the bulk lodgement form will be particularly useful for corporate trustees administering multiple trusts, or the denomination administration offices that look after a number of religious charities.

The ACNC says some 4000 charities have lodged their AIS and another 3500 are in the process of completing the form.

The regulator says it has worked with the sector to develop the bulk lodgement form, including John De Angelis, the Chief Financial Officer at Lutheran Community Care.

“The bulk lodgement workbook made the 2013 Annual Information Statement process straightforward,” De Angelis said.

“Having Excel functionality ensured consistency across spreadsheets and allowed referencing without the need to replicate.”

The bulk lodgement form and guidance are available on the ACNC website, acnc.gov.au, or by calling 13 ACNC (13 22 62), or emailing advice@acnc.gov.au.