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Changemaker: Taking Back the #AfricanGang Narrative

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Voting Opens for 2018 Impact 25 Awards

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Predictions for 2019: Volunteering

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Sponsored: Your Time Starts Now at FIA Conference 2019

OECD Says Impact Investment Needs Universal Standards

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 - Impact investing could be more effective if universal measurement standards were implemented and impact goals were better defined, an OECD report says.

Game-changing Service for Disability Telecommunication Access Launches

Maggie Coggan, Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 - An accessible telecoms project has been launched in a bid to fight the growing information gap on accessible services for people with disability.

Oxfam Finds Widening Wealth Gap in Australia

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 - Australia is in the midst of a billionaire wealth boom while low-income earners, women and Indigenous people are left behind, according to new analysis from Oxfam.

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Are the Next Generation of Leaders Ready?

Andrew Cairns, Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 - Community Sector Banking CEO Andrew Cairns considers how Australia’s tidal wave of generational change will affect leadership in the nation’s charity sector.

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Two Birds, One Stone

Contributor, Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 - Lea Corbett, founder and director of Map consulting group, explains why the newly launched network of mature aged professionals is a case of “two birds, one stone”.

Sector Suspicious Over Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s First Project

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 21st January 2019 - The first project announcement by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation since being awarded a controversial $443 million grant, has been labelled a double handling exercise by conservationists, once again calling into question the legitimacy of the grant funding.

Around the World

Review Finds Sexual Misconduct Failures Within Oxfam

Luke Michael, Monday, 21st January 2019 - Oxfam International is beset by systemic problems that have allowed sexual misconduct to sometimes go unaddressed, an independent interim review has found.

NDIS Reaches Participant Milestone

Luke Michael, Monday, 21st January 2019 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme has reached a milestone with more than 250,000 people now accessing the scheme, including almost 80,000 people receiving support for the first time.

Changemaker

Taking Back the #AfricanGang Narrative

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 21st January 2019 - When South Sudanese lawyer, Maker Mayek reclaimed the racially-fuelled term, “African Gangs” on Twitter with a viral hashtag by the same name 12 months ago, he turned the conversation on its head, and is now working hard to fight back for his community. He’s this week’s Changemaker.

Greens Unveil ‘Radical’ Plan for Disability Policy

Luke Michael, Friday, 18th January 2019 - The Greens are calling for a “radical” rethink of disability policy in Australia, unveiling a plan to create a more accessible and equitable society for people with disability.

Standardised Contracts Slash Red Tape For SA NFPs

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 18th January 2019 - The South Australian not-for-profit sector is celebrating the roll out of standardised government funding contracts after years of negotiations, significantly slashing red tape requirements for organisations.

Rejected Donation Calls Fundraising Practices into Question

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 18th January 2019 - A move by Beyond Blue to reject a donation raised via gay pornography has sparked discussion over fundraising rules and regulations.

Government Invests $1.45B into Community Mental Health

Luke Michael, Friday, 18th January 2019 - Community mental health groups have welcomed a record $1.45 billion government investment into the sector but say more needs to be done to address lingering service gaps.

Audit Finds $443M Government Grant Process ‘Insufficient’

Luke Michael, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - Australian charity leaders say the $443 million government grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is a slap in the face for every charity applying for government funding, after an audit report found the government applied insufficient scrutiny to the grant proposal.

Impact

Voting Opens for 2018 Impact 25 Awards

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - Australia’s social sector is being asked to pick from more than 300 names to crown 2018’s most influential people.

Opinion

Superficial Proxy Measures – the Economist’s Folly

David Crosbie, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - Even the best economic proxy measures can only partly explain what is at the heart of charities’ work, writes Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie in light of recent reports on the sector which he argues are disconnected from what drives not for profits.

Opinion

Predictions for 2019: Volunteering

Adrienne Picone, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - This year marks 30 years since volunteering was formally recognised during National Volunteer Week. It’s time to turn our attention to ensuring the volunteer sector is adequately resourced, writes Volunteering Australia CEO Adrienne Picone, as part of a series of 2019 predictions from leading experts across the social sector.

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Your Time Starts Now at FIA Conference 2019

Contributor, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - FIA Conference 2019, the largest fundraising conference in the Asia-Pacific region, is coming to Melbourne from the 27 February to 1 March.

Netflix Cleaning Craze Puts Charities Under Pressure

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 16th January 2019 - While January is traditionally the biggest material donation month of the year for charities, the Marie Kondo “Tidying Up” craze currently sweeping the nation is putting charities under extra pressure, with many now calling for the public to donate mindfully.

Aid Groups Pledge to Hold Government Accountable

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 16th January 2019 - Australian aid organisations have pledged to hold the federal government accountable for its efforts protecting children in conflict with the help of a new humanitarian checklist.

Homelessness Services Fighting the Heat

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 16th January 2019 - Extra funds for homelessness services across Adelaide have been unlocked in preparation for temperatures set to soar above 40 degrees, with services calling for a similar response around the rest of the country in extreme weather events.

Disability Employment in Public Service Going Backwards

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 16th January 2019 - The disability community is being shut out of public sector jobs, disability groups say in light of recent data which shows the employment of people with disability in the public service is continuing to go backwards.

Opinion

Adapting Yourself to Take Action on the Environment

Contributor, Tuesday, 15th January 2019 - Disillusionment with politics is reason enough to want to take action yourself on climate change and the environment, but actually doing it is harder. University of Melbourne Associate Professor Terry Bowles highlights a model to help you plan and do this.

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The Election Is Coming

Jo Scard, Tuesday, 15th January 2019 - Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard highlights ways the social sector can get ready to leverage the positioning of the main parties in the lead up to the federal election.

Australia’s 2018 Human Rights Performance Slammed

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 9th January 2019 - The Australian government’s human rights approach to refugees, Indigenous people and those with disability has been slammed by an annual review, which warns that Australia is at risk of breaching its international human rights obligations.

Labor Shake-Up to Jobactive Celebrated by Sector

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 9th January 2019 - The community sector has welcomed Labor’s proposed changes to unemployment services, saying an update to a broken system is long overdue, but the Coalition government has argued the proposal will make Australians reliant on welfare.

Opinion

No ‘Opt Out’ for NDIS Participants

Lee Archer, Monday, 14th January 2019 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme has increased the privacy intrusion into the everyday lives of some people with disability in ways that would not be acceptable to most Australians, writes Lee Archer.

Campaign to Free Aboriginal Women Raises Almost $300K

Luke Michael, Monday, 14th January 2019 - A crowdfunding campaign to free Aboriginal women who have been jailed for unpaid fines has raised almost $300,000 and put pressure on the state government to change the law that advocates say criminalises poverty.

Review Reveals Significant Failures in Disability Service Provision

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 8th January 2019 - The Victorian disability services commissioner is urging providers to ensure they have systems in place to care for vulnerable people, after a review uncovered significant failures by some providers to protect the safety of people with disability.

Netflix Cleaning Craze Puts Charities Under Pressure

Disability Employment in Public Service Going Backwards

Sector Suspicious Over Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s First Project

Greens Unveil ‘Radical’ Plan for Disability Policy

Impact

Voting Opens for 2018 Impact 25 Awards

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - Australia’s social sector is being asked to pick from more than 300 names to crown 2018’s most influential people.

Rejected Donation Calls Fundraising Practices into Question

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 18th January 2019 - A move by Beyond Blue to reject a donation raised via gay pornography has sparked discussion over fundraising rules and regulations.

Community Groups Warn of Rental Affordability Catastrophe in NSW

Luke Michael, Friday, 11th January 2019 - New South Wales faces a looming catastrophe in rental affordability unless drastic action is taken to address a huge social housing shortfall, community groups have warned on the back of new research showing unaffordable rent spreading beyond the inner-city.

Benefits of One-on-One Care For Charities Uncovered

Maggie Coggan, Tuesday, 8th January 2019 - Increasing the one-on-one time between charity volunteers and those in need by just over an hour can reduce the number of times people come back for help by up to 25 per cent, new research shows.

NDIS Commences Final Roll Out in Three States

Luke Michael, Thursday, 10th January 2019 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme is now available across all of Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, with the final roll out in these states commencing.

Opinion

Predictions for 2019: Charities

Dr Gary Johns, Monday, 14th January 2019 - Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Dr Gary Johns looks to the year ahead and what charities can expect from the regulator, as part of a series of 2019 predictions from leading experts across the social sector.

Changemaker

Finding a Practical Solution to Climate Change

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th January 2019 - Anna Skarbek is the CEO of ClimateWorks, a not for profit helping business, governments and investors reduce their carbon emissions, and take advantage of the technology ready to stop climate change. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

Government Invests $1.45B into Community Mental Health

Opinion

Predictions for 2019: Philanthropy

Sarah Wickham, Thursday, 10th January 2019 - In 2019 we will see philanthropy leadership excel, writes policy and research manager at Philanthropy Australia Sarah Wickham, in the first in a series of predictions for the coming year from leading experts across the social sector.

GetUp Foreign Donation Questioned

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th January 2019 - The foreign donations controversy is continuing into the new year, with an overseas donation to grassroots advocacy group GetUp slammed by a Liberal senator, but sector experts say the organisation hasn’t done anything wrong.

Opinion

Predictions for 2019: Volunteering

Homelessness Services Fighting the Heat

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The Election Is Coming

Indigenous Tertiary Scholarships to Help Students Stay in School

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th January 2019 - With Indigenous tertiary students more than twice as likely as their non-Indigenous counterparts to drop-out of university or TAFE after the first year, a raft of scholarships are up for grabs in a bid to keep students in school.

Aid Groups Pledge to Hold Government Accountable

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Are the Next Generation of Leaders Ready?

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Two Birds, One Stone

Changemaker

Taking Back the #AfricanGang Narrative

Impact

Voting Opens for 2018 Impact 25 Awards

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - Australia’s social sector is being asked to pick from more than 300 names to crown 2018’s most influential people.

Opinion

Predictions for 2019: Volunteering

Sponsored

Your Time Starts Now at FIA Conference 2019

Contributor, Thursday, 17th January 2019 - FIA Conference 2019, the largest fundraising conference in the Asia-Pacific region, is coming to Melbourne from the 27 February to 1 March.

Sponsored

The Election Is Coming

Changemaker

Finding a Practical Solution to Climate Change

Analysis

Progress is Slow in Measuring Social Impact

Andrew Callaghan, Monday, 7th January 2019 - There is a disconnect between government and the social sector around measuring social impact, writes Australian Social Value Bank impact specialist Andrew Callaghan, who explains why both sides must commit to tackling fundamental issues in impact measurement.

Charities Make Their Voices Heard Amid Political Chaos – 2018 in Review

Luke Michael, Thursday, 20th December 2018 - In a year filled with political chaos and upheaval, the charity sector had to fight hard to make its voice heard. But through strong advocacy efforts, the sector was able to achieve some key wins on important social issues, as Luke Michael reports in this review of 2018.

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More Than a Logo: Psychology of Altruism in Design Strategy

Contributor, Thursday, 20th December 2018 - Design is not just a logo, it’s how you connect and motivate people to care about something that really matters, writes multi-disciplinary graphic design studio Principle Design.

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Crowdfunding – a Solution or a Problem?

Contributor, Thursday, 20th December 2018 - Crowdfunding can be a great way for charities to raise funds for a worthy cause but a badly communicated and delivered campaign can be problematic, writes HLB Mann Judd.

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Holidays – Baloney, We All Need to Keep Our Eyes Wide Open

Jo Scard, Tuesday, 18th December 2018 - Even though Christmas is almost upon us, not for profits still need to keep their eyes wide open and be prepared for the looming federal election, writes communications and engagement agency Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard.

Changemaker

Embracing the Power of People

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 17th December 2018 - Shen Narayanasamy is a lawyer and human rights campaign director at GetUp!, fighting fiercely in board rooms, Parliament and the streets, for a better, and fairer future. She is this week’s Changemaker.

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What’s Your Fundraising New Year’s Resolution?

Contributor, Thursday, 13th December 2018 - FrontStream offers some tips for those looking to get their fundraising in better shape next year.

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Bringing New Meaning to the Classic Wrist Watch

Contributor, Tuesday, 11th December 2018 - The Timekeeper is a mindful company on a mission to help young people be present and intentional with their time for positive mental health.

Changemaker

Unlocking Remote Australia

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 10th December 2018 - John Burn is head of Many Rivers, a not for profit which works with small business owners in some of the most remote parts of Australia, helping them overcome barriers and showing the rest of Australia what they have to offer. He is this week’s Changemaker.

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Single-Parent Households Suffering Rental Stress

Andrew Cairns, Thursday, 6th December 2018 - The latest Rental Affordability Index paints a bleak picture for single parents who are renting, writes Community Sector Banking CEO Andrew Cairns.

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Show Your Gratitude This Christmas and Stay on Your Donors’ Nice List

Dr Steve Francis, Thursday, 6th December 2018 - The Christmas season provides the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and thank loyal contributors for their support over the year, writes Dr Steve Francis, managing director of FrontStream Asia Pacific.

Spotlight

The War on E-Waste and Everything in Between

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 5th December 2018 - With over 20 million tonnes of technology ending up in landfill each year, Cat Harding and Mardi Brown knew they had to “Pony Up” – or do their bit. Now they’re not just diverting tech from landfill, they’re changing a culture of corporate e-waste, writes Maggie Coggan in this month’s Spotlight on Social Enterprise.

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Keeping Your Ducks in a Row

Jo Scard, Tuesday, 4th December 2018 - Not for profits need to get their ducks in a row and engage with the government and opposition now, to get their issues on the political radar before next year’s federal election, writes communications and engagement agency Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard.

Changemaker

Putting Disability and Leadership in the Same Sentence

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 3rd December 2018 - When disability advocate and entrepreneur, Christina Ryan, realised workplace programs helping people with disability into leadership roles were non-existent, she got angry. And then she started the Disability Leadership Institute, an enterprise that coaches, trains and supports people with disability into decision making and leadership roles. She�

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Peppercorn Leases and Other Leases With Significantly Below-market Terms and Conditions

Contributor, Thursday, 29th November 2018 - With not for profits struggling to come to grips with the concept of valuing peppercorn leases and other leases with significantly below-market terms and conditions, HLB Mann Judd explains what the issues are and what the Australian Accounting Standards Board has recently decided on this matter.

Changemaker

Possibilities of the Humanitarian Robot

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 26th November 2018 - With technology playing a bigger part in our lives everyday, Lizzie O’Shea is combining her work with Digital Rights Watch, and as a humanitarian lawyer, to ensure the digital world is as ethical and and democratic as it can be. She is this week’s Changemaker.

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Pathways to Employment

Contributor, Thursday, 22nd November 2018 - Optus is encouraging not for profits to get involved with its Pathways to Employment program, which seeks to address youth unemployment in Australia.

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The Election Countdown is on, Time to Get Your Voice Heard

Jo Scard, Tuesday, 20th November 2018 - Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard offers her tips to ensure not for profits get their voices heard before the next federal election.