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Changemaker: Sisters Around the World

Podcast: The NDIS – One Year On

ACNC Redesigns 2017 Annual Information Statement

Lina Caneva, Monday, 24th July 2017 - The national charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has revamped the 2017 Annual Information Statement (AIS) following feedback from the sector.

Housing-Related Superannuation Measures

Lina Caneva, Monday, 24th July 2017 - The federal government is calling for public submissions on its draft legislation on new housing-related superannuation measures announced in the 2017-18 budget.

Improving NFP’s Ethical Participation in Digital Data

Rachel McFadden, Monday, 24th July 2017 - Australian not for profits need to form a united front to ensure their presence and contributions in the digital world are in line with their ethics, a leading expert on philanthropy, civil society and the digital world has said.

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Strategy, Value and Governance in NFP Mergers

Contributor, Monday, 24th July 2017 - A successful merger of not-for-profit organisations must provide real value to clients, the community and members of the organisation, writes Charlotte Sandell from specialist advisers, HLB Mann Judd.

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Last Chance for NFPs to Apply for $200,000 in Social Investment Grants

Contributor, Monday, 24th July 2017 - The 2017 Social Investment Grants by Australia’s not-for-profit banking specialist, Community Sector Banking are open to not-for-profit (NFP) organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness or family violence.

Rise of Collecting Giving Sees a ‘Closed-Shop’ Approach – Report

Lina Caneva, Monday, 24th July 2017 - The emergence of collective giving in Australia has the potential to substantially grow philanthropy but faces a number of challenges including the “closed shop” approach within philanthropic circles.

Charities Give Feedback on Govt Paper to Encourage Social Impact Investment

Rachel McFadden, Monday, 24th July 2017 - A round of “robust” discussions between charity leaders, philanthropists and government representatives were “a promising start” to pushing for reforms around the tax treatment of loans and investments from ancillary funds to charities.

Opinion

The ACNC Crowdfunding Guidance Misses The Biggest Opportunity in Crowdfunding: Trust

Prashan Paramanathan, Friday, 21st July 2017 - It’s promising to see the ACNC taking steps to inform charities about the opportunities of crowdfunding, but the guidance forgets about trust, writes Prashan Paramanathan the CEO of Chuffed.org.

NFP Calls for Register of Trusts and Foundation Ownership

Lina Caneva, Friday, 21st July 2017 - Human rights advocacy group, ActionAid Australia is campaigning for an Australian register of beneficial ownership that would require rich individuals and multinational corporations to declare their trusts and foundations.

Changemaker

Sisters Around the World

Wendy Williams, Friday, 21st July 2017 - Melissa Reoch is the community development officer at Girl Guides Victoria, part of the largest volunteer organisation for girls and women in Australia. She is this week’s Changemaker.

Report Warns on Age-Based Stereotypes in the Workforce

Lina Caneva, Friday, 21st July 2017 - Public commentary and advocacy regarding older workers has often exaggerated their problems and made use of age-based stereotypes in efforts to overcome them, according to a new Australian report.

$1M Endowment Fund Donated to Zoos Victoria

Lina Caneva, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - Zoos Victoria has received a $1 million gift establishing an endowment fund which is set to strengthen its long-term position as delivering world-leading zoo experiences.

Nominations are Open For the 2017 Workplace Giving Awards

Rachel McFadden, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - Entries are now open for the 2017 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards.

New Virtual Reality Tool to Train Disability Support Workers

Rachel McFadden, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - A leading disability provider has secured funding to develop an innovative virtual reality prototype to enhance the training, skills and work practices of disability support staff.

Calls for Super ‘Splitting’ for WA De Facto Couples

Lina Caneva, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - Community superannuation fund HESTA and the Western Australian welfare sector are calling on the WA government to change the Family Law Act to allow de facto couples to split their super when their relationships end.

Opinion

Freedom of Speech for Sale

David Crosbie, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - If the charity sector accepts government restrictions on its public voice, it will be a sad day for Australian democracy and it will mean that free speech is for sale in Australia, writes David Crosbie, CEO of Community Council for Australia.

Breakthrough Study Shines a Light on NFP Workforce

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 20th July 2017 - From CEOs to frontline staff, employees and volunteers working in the not-for-profit sector are being encouraged to take part in a national breakthrough study that aims to provide vital insights into the potential of the sector and inform practice, policy and funding.

NDIA Gets New CEO as Construction Begins on Head Office

Wendy Williams, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - The former managing director of Bankwest, Rob De Luca, has been announced as the new CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency, on the same day the “first sod” was turned on the site of the new headquarters in Geelong.

Philanthropy Gets Behind Connecting Aboriginal Children With Extended Families

Rachel McFadden, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - Leading Victorian childcare agencies have secured philanthropic support to complete a pilot program designed to connect Aboriginal children in out-of-home care with siblings and extended families.

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What Does the NDIS Mean for Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention?

Contributor, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - Not-for-profit community organisation Noah’s Ark is holding a series of best practice workshops on the NDIS in August and September in major cities around Australia for professionals working with children with disabilities.

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How to Be More Effective in Reducing Disadvantage? – Insights From 10 Years of SVA Consulting

Contributor, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - As it celebrates 10 years of advising the social sector, SVA Consulting reflects on how to be more effective in reducing social disadvantage.

Ask Izzy Expands To Provide Support For People Experiencing Family Violence

Rachel McFadden, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - A mobile website which has been described as a “saviour” by people experiencing homelessness is to launch a new project to assist people fleeing family violence, with funding assistance from the NAB Foundation.

Feature

Public Interest Journalism Needs DGR Status to Attract Philanthropic Support

Lina Caneva, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - World-wide concern around “fake news” and significant editorial jobs losses in Australia have brought into focus the role philanthropy might play in the future of independent journalism – a role that is being explored in a Senate inquiry where tax incentives are under the microscope.

Rainbow Community’s ‘Brave’ Funding Projects Announced

Lina Caneva, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - Australia’s first giving circle supporting LGBTQIA opportunities, called The Channel, has announced the recipients of its first grants supporting Australia’s rainbow community.

Sector Says Human Service Provision Needs Overhaul to Empower the Consumer

Rachel McFadden, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - A peak body for the community sector is calling for a “complete” overhaul of human services provision.

Analysis

Collaboration the Key to Community Volunteering Success

Jayne Mayer Tucker, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - As the question of volunteer funding remains under the microscope, collaborative and groundbreaking research is underway to assess the impact of a community volunteer home visiting service which supports families of young children, as Jayne Meyer Tucker explains.

NDIS Cost ‘Blowout’ is a Misconception

Rachel McFadden, Monday, 10th July 2017 - Misconceptions about a possible National Disability Insurance Scheme cost “blow out” need to be put to bed, a new report examining the economics of the NDIS has revealed.

Volunteering ‘Victory’ as Government Backtracks on Funding Redesign

Rachel McFadden, Friday, 14th July 2017 - The not-for-profit sector has welcomed the reinstatement of “essential” funding to volunteer management after a hard fought public campaign led by peak body Volunteering Australia.

NDIA Gets New CEO as Construction Begins on Head Office

DGR Reform Lacks Clarity of Purpose

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - Community organisations have raised concerns that the government has not set a policy goal for Deductible Gift Recipient reform and has “largely ignored” the benefits of encouraging DGR giving.

Sector Says Human Service Provision Needs Overhaul to Empower the Consumer

Rachel McFadden, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - A peak body for the community sector is calling for a “complete” overhaul of human services provision.

Queensland Becomes First State to Unlock NDIS Funding

Rachel McFadden, Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - Queensland has become the first state to sign up to the National Partnership DisabilityCare Australia Fund (DCAF) to secure NDIS funding.

Charity Defends DGR Status as a Champion for Environment and Democracy

Rachel McFadden, Monday, 17th July 2017 - An environmental organisation has defended itself against a call from a major NSW mining lobby to see the charity stripped of its Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.

Grants Sow the Seeds of Renewal in Regional Australia

Wendy Williams, Monday, 10th July 2017 - Initiatives helping to build vibrant and sustainable rural communities are being called on to apply for a share of $250,000 of grant funding, as ANZ celebrates 15 years of “sowing the seeds of renewal” in regional Australia.

Ask Izzy Expands To Provide Support For People Experiencing Family Violence

National Aged Care Advocacy Program Rolls Out

Lina Caneva, Wednesday, 12th July 2017 - A $25.7 million National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) is to be delivered by the federally funded not for profit Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) in a new national funding agreement.

Analysis

The Five Deceptively Simple Questions to Ask When Seeking to Build NDIS Readiness

Bessi Graham, Monday, 10th July 2017 - Current approaches to NDIS readiness just don’t and won’t cut it, writes Bessi Graham, the co-founder and CEO of The Difference Incubator (TDi), which has sought to unpack ways to support providers on this journey.

Shift to Shared Economy Paradigm a ‘Game Changer’ For Disability Workforce

Wendy Williams, Monday, 17th July 2017 - A new online marketplace where older Australians and people with disability can connect directly with care support providers promises to be a “game-changer” for workers in home care and disability support sectors.

Lack of Funding to Measure Outcomes Leaves WA Charities in ‘Catch 22’ Situation

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - More than 30 per cent of charities in Western Australia are failing to measure their outcomes, according to a new report which reveals community sector organisations are being “hamstrung” due to a lack of funds.

FWC Ruling for Unpaid Domestic and Family Violence Leave ‘Bittersweet’

Rachel McFadden, Monday, 10th July 2017 - Peak bodies for family violence services are calling the Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision to introduce unpaid family and domestic violence leave “bittersweet”.

Calls to Address ‘Toxic’ Pokie Stronghold in NSW

Rachel McFadden, Wednesday, 12th July 2017 - The nation’s leading advocacy anti-gambling body has applauded a move by the Fairfield Council in NSW to demand the state government ban the introduction of any new poker machines in high risk areas.

Opinion

Neuroleadership Tips for Navigating NDIS Change – What’s Your Role?

Cynthia Mahoney, Monday, 17th July 2017 - Neuroscience offers key insights to organisations facing change about how to create an environment of trust in the workplace so that staff can perform, writes Cynthia Mahoney.

Philanthropy’s Role in Creating Sustainable Cities

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - Philanthropy has an important role to play in creating “time and space” for cities to become sustainable, according to the program director for the sustainable development grantmaking program at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Calls for ‘Urgent Reform’ to Address Skyrocketing Indigenous Incarceration Rate

Rachel McFadden, Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - A peak body for law reform in NSW is calling on the state government to “urgently” act to address NSW’s skyrocketing Indigenous incarceration rates.

Report Warns on Age-Based Stereotypes in the Workforce

Queensland’s Reinstatement of Taxi Subsidy Scheme for NDIS Sparks National Discussion

Rachel McFadden, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - In light of the Queensland government’s announcement that it will reinstate the Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) for NDIS participants, a national advocacy body for people with physical disabilities is reigniting calls for the scheme to remain in place and be consistent across all jurisdictions.

New Virtual Reality Tool to Train Disability Support Workers

Changemaker

Leaving the World a Better Place

Wendy Williams, Monday, 10th July 2017 - Among her many titles, Dawn O'Neil AM is the former CEO of Lifeline and the founding chair of social enterprise STREAT, a role she is now stepping away from after nearly a decade. She is this week’s Changemaker.

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ANZSOG Scholarships Give NFPs a Chance to Invest in Future Leaders

Contributor, Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - Not-for-profit organisations can now benefit from scholarships for Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) programs aimed at developing the skills of leaders and emerging leaders in their sector.

Eight Strategies for Improving Gender Equality in the Workplace

Rachel McFadden, Friday, 14th July 2017 - A number of Australian businesses leading the way in gender equality have been selected by the nation’s agency for workplace gender equality in the hope they will inspire other businesses to follow suit.

Rainbow Community’s ‘Brave’ Funding Projects Announced

Sponsored

Strategy, Value and Governance in NFP Mergers

Sponsored

Last Chance for NFPs to Apply for $200,000 in Social Investment Grants

Changemaker

Sisters Around the World

Sponsored

What Does the NDIS Mean for Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention?

Sponsored

How to Be More Effective in Reducing Disadvantage? – Insights From 10 Years of SVA Consulting

Contributor, Wednesday, 19th July 2017 - As it celebrates 10 years of advising the social sector, SVA Consulting reflects on how to be more effective in reducing social disadvantage.

Sponsored

Impact of Accounting Standard Changes in Recognition of Revenue

Contributor, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - Significant changes to accounting standards in 2018 and upcoming changes to lease accounting have the potential for a substantial amount of adjustment by not-for-profit organisations, writes Christopher Edwards, manager of Corporate and Audit Services at HLB Mann Judd.

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Sponsor a Carer to Attend the 7th International Carers Conference in Adelaide

Contributor, Tuesday, 18th July 2017 - Carers Australia is calling for support in getting unpaid carers to the 7th International Carers Conference in October.

Sponsored

Celebrating Who We Are, What We Do – There’s a Festival for That

Contributor, Thursday, 13th July 2017 - As agents of social change we need to celebrate who we are and what we do and the biggest social impact event in Australia – the 2017 Social Impact Festival this July in Perth – does just that, writes Professor Paul Flatau from the Centre for Social Impact at UWA.

Sponsored

ANZSOG Scholarships Give NFPs a Chance to Invest in Future Leaders

Podcast: The NDIS – One Year On

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 29th June 2017 - As we approach the first anniversary of the national rollout and the fourth anniversary since the scheme was introduced in the trial sites, we look back at the highs and lows of the last 12 months, and whether the scheme is on track to deliver on it’s promise.

Podcast: Housing the Homeless – The Cause

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 21st March 2017 - Homelessness is not a choice. But for many it is a reality.

Spotlight

Eradicating the Silent Killer

Ellie Cooper, Wednesday, 15th March 2017 - Two per cent of the population lives with viral hepatitis, but many are unaware until it’s too late, so a social enterprise is upskilling individuals and organisations to respond to the silent pandemic.

Feature

WA NDIS: Comparability Critical for West Success

Alison Blake, Wednesday, 8th March 2017 - Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s state election in Western Australia, there will be continuing close scrutiny of the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in that state.

Spotlight

Brewing a Message in a Can

Ellie Cooper, Wednesday, 1st March 2017 - Young female brewers and winemakers are producing all-natural alcoholic beverages with socially-conscious messages inscribed on the can.

Changemaker

Helping Refugees to Thrive

Wendy Williams, Monday, 27th February 2017 - Mahir Momand is the founding CEO of Thrive, a new microfinance business aimed at helping refugees in Australia. He is this week’s Changemaker.

Podcast: How to Social Enterprise – Scale

Ellie Cooper, Tuesday, 14th February 2017 - Social entrepreneurs may dream of changing the world, but to make a dent in the most pressing social and environmental issues, they need to achieve scale. Find out how in the final episode of our three-part series.

Podcast: How to Social Enterprise – Skills

Ellie Cooper, Tuesday, 7th February 2017 - Find out what it takes to set up and run a social enterprise in the second episode of our three-part podcast series.

Spotlight

Art With Heart Empowers Disadvantaged

Ellie Cooper, Wednesday, 1st February 2017 - Disadvantaged artists, with experiences from homelessness to domestic violence to disability, have been given a platform to sell their work.

Podcast: How to Social Enterprise – Motivations

Ellie Cooper, Tuesday, 31st January 2017 - Have you ever thought about setting up a social enterprise? Find out whether it’s right for you in the first episode of our three-part series.

Changemaker

Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day

Wendy Williams, Monday, 30th January 2017 - Ian Steel OAM is the founder and CEO of KickStart for Kids, a not-for-profit organisation that helps school children achieve positive educational and self-esteem outcomes through breakfast, lunch and mentoring programs.

Feature

Working for the ‘Evolution’ of Australian Philanthropy

Lina Caneva, Thursday, 19th January 2017 - The country’s peak body for donors, Philanthropy Australia, is embarking on a strategic plan which includes a bold new business model around membership and changes to its legal structure while still retaining its core policy and advocacy work. Lina Caneva spoke to CEO Sarah Davies about the changes for 2017 and beyond.

Spotlight

A Fresh Start for Former Offenders

Ellie Cooper, Wednesday, 18th January 2017 - Social enterprise Fruit2work creates second-chance jobs, hiring former offenders to pack and deliver fresh fruit to businesses around Melbourne.

Going Against the Odds in 2016 – Year in Review

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 22nd December 2016 - As we come to the end of year there is a growing consensus on social media that 2016 will be entered into the history books as one of the worst years ever. But this year has also brought it’s share of good news as the social sector has rallied to make a difference amidst the chaos. Wendy Williams takes at a look back at the year and what 2016 mea

Changemaker

Balancing Heart and Head

Wendy Williams, Monday, 19th December 2016 - Dominique Mecoy is the director of client services at Metropolitan Cemeteries board, the chair of Technology Assisting Disability WA and a Leadership Western Australia alumna. She is this week’s Changemaker.

Feature

Data for Social Good

Ellie Cooper, Thursday, 15th December 2016 - A new initiative is connecting not-for-profit organisations with data and data analysts to help them solve social problems and measure their impact.