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Changemaker: The plight of modern slavery and the woman fighting to end it

New NDIA CEO is revealed

Luke Michael, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - The NDIA has appointed a new CEO, 170 days on from Robert De Luca’s shock departure from the role.

Collective Insights

How can we tell if we are making a difference?

Elaine Hendrick, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - The Xfactor Collective specialist member Elaine Hendrick shares some reflections to help strengthen outcomes measurement in your organisation, in the first in our weekly Collective Insights column.

Opinion

Revealed: How Australian politicians would bridge the trust divide

Contributor, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - We have heard much in recent years about the declining trust in politicians and politics in Australia, but what do our parliamentarians think about it? Mark Evans and colleagues Gerry Stoker and Max Halupka share their findings.

From the horse’s mouth: Animal charity fesses up to staff underpayment

Maggie Coggan, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - RSPCA NSW has revealed the exact amount it underpaid staff

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We rise and fall together

Andrew Cairns, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - Helping vulnerable Australians when times get tough and preventing people falling through the cracks is not just compassionate – it’s wise, writes Community Sector Banking CEO Andrew Cairns.

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Five tips for not for profits to leverage the next budget cycle

Jo Scard, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - Jo Scard shares some advice on how to cut through with key decision makers.

Traditional owners ramp up fight against Origin Energy to end fracking in the NT

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 16th October 2019 - Over 30 traditional owners walked out of the meeting after delivering demands to the energy giant

Senate backs calls for a review of rent assistance payments

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 16th October 2019 - This follows research showing 170,000 Australian homes were left with less than $35 a day after paying rent

People experiencing homelessness struggling to navigate the NDIS

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 16th October 2019 - The Victorian Homelessness Conference discussed the intersection between the NDIS, homelessness, and mental health

Entry-level jobs for disadvantaged Aussies continue to shrink

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 16th October 2019 - Anglicare Australia’s latest report reveals entry-level jobs are tougher to find and more competitive to land

Opinion

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal affirms less than 2% of NDIS decisions appealed by participants

Geoff Southwell, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - With over 90 per cent of appeal cases potentially subject to undue influence by the NDIA – the very body whose actions are being questioned in the AAT – it is not clear that the NDIS appeals process is at all fair, writes Geoff Southwell.

Opinion

Funding at the Edge

Laura Reed, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - Laura Reed explores the value of funding opportunities to convene social enterprises and others across the ecosystem.

Opinion

The public health issue that’s staring us in the face but being ignored

Tim Costello, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - Gambling is doing extreme harm in Australia. It is time for governments to start treating it as the public health issue it so clearly is, writes Rev Tim Costello AO, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Indigenous Australians struggle as nation’s money gap widens

Maggie Coggan, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - The finance gap between Australian cities and regional areas is one of the worst in the developing world

Sector-first video library launches in bid to better support changemakers

Contributor, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - The X-CHANGE gives not for profits free access to over 100 short videos

Calls for a crackdown on fake crowdfunders

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th October 2019 - One of Australia’s largest crowdfunding platforms is calling for the fundraising industry to fight scams together

Australia’s hunger crisis leaving vulnerable women without food

Luke Michael, Monday, 14th October 2019 - Charities are struggling to cope with a 22 per cent increase in demand for food relief

NAB tackles social housing shortage with $2 billion pledge

Luke Michael, Monday, 14th October 2019 - The bank will offer loans of up to $5 million to crisis accommodation providers

Changemaker

The plight of modern slavery and the woman fighting to end it

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th October 2019 - Each year millions of people are enslaved, trafficked and exploited worldwide. It’s an epidemic that as CEO of Hagar Australia Jo Pride is fighting to end. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

Dos and don’ts of including volunteer work on your resume

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th October 2019 - We turn to the experts to find out the best ways to include volunteering on your CV

Skiing for sustainability

Maggie Coggan, Saturday, 12th October 2019 - A Danish rubbish-to-clean-energy plant is attracting global attention with its new ski slope

UK fundraising sector vows to fight climate change

Luke Michael, Friday, 11th October 2019 - The Institute of Fundraising says all charities have a responsibility to deliver change

Opinion

In the struggle to survive, you must get the basics right

David Crosbie, Thursday, 10th October 2019 - With the closure of high-profile charity White Ribbon, Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie, highlights three important issues charities must consider to ensure they survive.

Doco of the month: Backtrack Boys

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 10th October 2019 - What impact can one man and his dog jumping team have on the lives of young people doing it tough in the bush? A profound one, Catherine Scott tells Wendy Williams, as part of a series profiling powerful documentaries in partnership with Documentary Australia Foundation.

Opinion

Australia is bracing for a tsunami of homeless women

Jan Berriman, Thursday, 10th October 2019 - On World Homelessness Day, Jan Berriman from YWCA Housing explains the reasons behind the rise in the number of homeless women and suggests some practical solutions.

Opinion

Australia is bracing for a tsunami of homeless women

‘They see it as a threat’: People with disability warned not to challenge NDIS decisions

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 8th October 2019 - People with disability are afraid to challenge problems in their National Disability Insurance Scheme funding plans because they have been told they risk having other services cut if they do so, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

NDIS struggling to accommodate people with psychosocial disability

Luke Michael, Monday, 7th October 2019 - People with severe mental health issues are having their National Disability Insurance Scheme funding cut because the system does not account for the episodic nature of psychosocial disability, a new report says.

Opinion

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal affirms less than 2% of NDIS decisions appealed by participants

White Ribbon closes down amid financial turmoil

Luke Michael, Thursday, 3rd October 2019 - White Ribbon Australia is closing its doors for good, with the charity announcing it has gone into liquidation.

People experiencing homelessness struggling to navigate the NDIS

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 16th October 2019 - The Victorian Homelessness Conference discussed the intersection between the NDIS, homelessness, and mental health

Charities stretched beyond capacity as hunger crisis takes hold

Luke Michael, Thursday, 3rd October 2019 - Western Australian charities are struggling to cope with growing and entrenched demand for food relief, according to new research outlining possible solutions to the state’s hunger crisis.

Opinion

In the struggle to survive, you must get the basics right

Australia’s hunger crisis leaving vulnerable women without food

Luke Michael, Monday, 14th October 2019 - Charities are struggling to cope with a 22 per cent increase in demand for food relief

Solar in the sunshine state outshines coal

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 9th October 2019 - Queensland solar panels are producing twice as much electricity as the state’s largest coal-fired power station, marking a new milestone for the renewables industry.

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The process of measuring social impact

Contributor, Thursday, 3rd October 2019 - The need for practical and standardised assessments for social impact measurement are now more important than ever. In this article, HLB Mann Judd break down the financial model they have developed to help not for profits work through the impact process.

Five mental health myths that need to be busted

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 4th October 2019 - Talking about mental health and raising awareness is important. But there are some myths about mental illness floating around that are slowing down progress. To mark Mental Health Week, we look into some of the biggest myths out there.

Doco of the month: Backtrack Boys

Hot Topic

Behind the scenes of a major rename and brand revamp

Julia Keady, Tuesday, 8th October 2019 - Brand refreshes are common. But renaming an organisation is a rare, delightful game changer in our sector. Julia Keady from The Xfactor Collective takes us behind the scenes of a recent brand transformation project that is giving a Victorian organisation a new lease of life on all fronts.

Men have a vital role to play in the anti-domestic violence movement, advocates say

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 9th October 2019 - White Ribbon Australia has shut down, but community groups say engaging with men remains an important component of the movement to end violence against women.

Social services minister slammed for ‘out-of-touch’ welfare comments

Luke Michael, Friday, 4th October 2019 - Community groups are demanding Social Services Minister Anne Ruston apologise and retract comments she made suggesting that raising Newstart would give drug dealers and pub owners more money.

Changemaker

Girls to the front...of philanthropy

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 7th October 2019 - As the CEO of the Australian Women Donors Network, Julie Reilly is paving a future where girls and women are at the forefront of philanthropy and social investment. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

Opinion

Overcoming the hidden cost of mental health stigma: What employers need to know

Bryan McCormick, Thursday, 10th October 2019 - As a person who spends every day working with employers and job seekers living with mental health conditions, Workways Australia CEO Bryan McCormick explores why employers can no longer afford to keep ignoring the elephant in the room.

NAB tackles social housing shortage with $2 billion pledge

Luke Michael, Monday, 14th October 2019 - The bank will offer loans of up to $5 million to crisis accommodation providers

Opinion

Career change mindset hacks: Top tools for stronger mental health

Clare Desira, Monday, 7th October 2019 - It's Mental Health Week this week so mindset coach Clare Desira is sharing three ways for everyone to build stronger mental health, even during your job search.

Opinion

Conflict avoidance: How effectively is your charity managing conflicts of interest?

Oliver May, Tuesday, 8th October 2019 - Oliver May asks whether your charity should be concerned about conflicts of interest, and what it can do about them.

Dos and don’ts of including volunteer work on your resume

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 14th October 2019 - We turn to the experts to find out the best ways to include volunteering on your CV

Indigenous Australians struggle as nation’s money gap widens

Maggie Coggan, Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - The finance gap between Australian cities and regional areas is one of the worst in the developing world

Sponsored

We rise and fall together

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Five tips for not for profits to leverage the next budget cycle

Jo Scard, Thursday, 17th October 2019 - Jo Scard shares some advice on how to cut through with key decision makers.

Changemaker

The plight of modern slavery and the woman fighting to end it

Doco of the month: Backtrack Boys

Changemaker

Girls to the front...of philanthropy

Sponsored

10 things I’m glad I packed for my year in Mongolia

Contributor, Monday, 7th October 2019 - Patrick Gallus recently volunteered for 12 months in Mongolia with the Australian Volunteers Program. Here he shares his top 10 things to pack when you’re heading for an extended stay in the world’s coldest capital city.

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The process of measuring social impact

Spotlight

The enterprise fighting to save lives in the water

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 2nd October 2019 - Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. It’s a shocking statistic that Erika Gleeson’s social enterprise, Autism Swim, is fighting to change, writes Maggie Coggan in this month’s Spotlight on Social Enterprise.

Changemaker

More than just a good film: The documentaries changing our national conversation

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 30th September 2019 - Malinda Wink has had a lot of experience across a lot of different sectors. But it’s her work in social impact documentaries that is changing lives, policy and community behaviour. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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A new approach to giving

Contributor, Monday, 30th September 2019 - This month Westpac Foundation announced it’s changing its approach to giving for social enterprises. Here the foundation’s CEO, Susan Bannigan, talks about the changing nature of corporate philanthropy and how collaboration is key to its 2030 strategy.

Opinion

Our saving grace

David Crosbie, Thursday, 26th September 2019 - To be effective, you have to say no to some things, give yourself permission to not do everything, and to not do everything you do well, writes Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie.

Harnessing the wisdom of crowds

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 26th September 2019 - Democracy is not a monologue, it has to be a conversation among many, says one of Canada’s leading experts on civic engagement.

Changemaker

The leader fighting for girls education and a fairer charity sector

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 23rd September 2019 - As the leader of One Girl, Sarah Ireland is fighting to not only empower girls through education, but set an example of how a charity should be run. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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Seven deadly sins of government engagement

Andrew Blyberg, Thursday, 19th September 2019 - Andrew Blyberg from Fifty Acres runs through some of the most common mistakes not for profits make when trying to influence politicians.

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An opportunity not to be wasted

Andrew Cairns, Tuesday, 17th September 2019 - If we stop looking at waste as something to be disposed of, and instead recognise it as an asset that can be repurposed, we can unlock a whole new waste to asset industry in Australia, writes Community Sector Banking CEO Andrew Cairns.

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Why agility is the key for NDIS’ shifting goal posts

Contributor, Tuesday, 17th September 2019 - The changes to the way service providers are funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme is not only forcing change on how NFPs deliver their service but is also creating a significant change in the administration and record keeping requirements of these organisations, writes Ben Fock from HLB Mann Judd Wollongong.

Changemaker

Striking for a better future

Wendy Williams, Monday, 16th September 2019 - Around the world millions of students are preparing to put down their pens and walk out of class to demand action on climate change. Daisy Jeffrey is one of those students. She is this week’s Changemaker.

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Stories That Work: Documentary as a powerful tool to spark social change

Contributor, Thursday, 12th September 2019 - In today’s fast-moving world, documentary stands-out as a unique and powerful tool to educate ourselves and spark social change.

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Harnessing community for effective action

Contributor, Tuesday, 10th September 2019 - The upcoming ACOSS Conference will act as a key platform for the sector to hear directly from relevant political leaders and to pose pressing questions, writes Jacqueline Phillips, director of policy at the Australian Council of Social Service.

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Victoria ALIVE launches its social media campaign on inclusive volunteering

Contributor, Tuesday, 10th September 2019 - Over the past year, the Victoria ALIVE project has been engaging communities around Victoria on the topic of inclusive volunteering for people of all abilities.

Changemaker

The lawyer taking charge of disability advocacy in Australia

Luke Michael, Monday, 9th September 2019 - Jeff Smith is the new CEO of People with Disability Australia, a national disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation giving the disability community a voice of its own. He is this week’s Changemaker.

Changemaker

The CEO teaching an old dog new tricks

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 2nd September 2019 - As the CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria, Karen Hayes AM DSJ is leading the charge on transforming the well-known and loved organisation into one of the most innovative charities of our time. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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How international volunteers are responding to climate change

Contributor, Monday, 2nd September 2019 - Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It will take more than scientists, meteorologists and activists to address it. Complex, global problems require everyone's attention.

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Key fundraising lessons – How to get your vision and tactics aligned and maximise donor retention

Jo Scard, Thursday, 29th August 2019 - Fifty Acres founder and CEO Jo Scard shares her top three fundraising tips.

Doco of the month: The Common Thread

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 27th August 2019 - Everybody has a story to tell when it comes to mental health, and Byron Bay filmmaker Darius Devas is no exception. He talks to Wendy Williams about his struggle with anxiety and how the suicide of his friend led him to make The Common Thread, as part of a series profiling powerful documentaries in partnership with Documentary Australia Foundation.