The stories you loved in 2022

Look back on some of your favourite stories this year.

It’s been a big year for the sector. The war on charities looks like it’s finally over, Australia made some headway on environmental issues, a volunteering strategy is in the works, greenwashing is in the crosshairs, and a number of initiatives to centre lived experience of disability arose. Phew!

At Pro Bono News, we had a front row seat to all the action, and we did our best to bring informative, accurate and topical coverage to you.

You’ve heard what our favourites are, and now we can reveal what resonated most with you, our readers, in 2022. Here’s the stories you clicked on the most this year.

The stories you clicked on most on social media

• New trial to link NDIS to DES providers
  Social services minister Amanda Rishworth unveiled a trial to link NDIS participants with Disability Employment Service providers. The federal government is reforming the DES sector, and this trial was flagged as contributing “to a stronger understanding of ‘what works’ in the context of DES reform”, the minister said at the time. But advocates weren’t so sure. This was by far our most popular story shared on social media this year.

• Introducing the 2022 Impact 25
  We love to toot your horn! The announcement of this year’s Impact 25 cohort made a splash on social media. Perhaps you recognised some colleagues or mentors amongst those faces, or maybe you voted for who you thought was most worthy of recognition. Whatever the reason, you flocked to the announcement of these inspiring and influential leaders.

• Australia gets first social enterprise university
  We love a good business! In this piece from September, we spoke to CQUniversity to find out the reasoning behind its Social Traders certification. As it turns out, the higher ed institution is on a mission to prove its social enterprise chops and grow Australia’s population of social innovators, and that was something you loved to hear.

• ACNC commissioner appointed
  It was the announcement everyone in the charity sector had been waiting for: who would be the next leader of the ACNC. In mid-November, that announcement came and Susan Woodward was appointed to the role. Her appointment was warmly welcomed by sector colleagues and our story about it was one of the year’s most read stories.

• What Save the Children learned from becoming an impact investor
  Each week at Pro Bono News we give sector leaders the opportunity to share their views on a number of issues. Earlier this year, we handed the microphone to Paul Ronalds, founder of Save the Children Global Ventures and former CEO of Save the Children Australia, who shared insights from Save the Children’s impact investing journey. As he wrote, “the results speak for themselves”. And from the numbers, it seems you were keen to listen.

The stories you clicked on most on our website

• Australia’s most reputable charities revealed
  It’s a no brainer — of course you wanted to read this one! In this story from way back at the beginning of 2022, we learned that the Royal Flying Doctor Service topped RepTrak’s index measuring Australia’s most reputable charities. It was followed by Guide Dogs, Surf Life Saving Australia, Foodbank and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

• Crisis management versus risk management: do you know the difference?
  Interestingly, one of our most read articles this year was in fact published in 2016. But a solid understanding of crisis and risk management stands any not for profit in good stead no matter the year, so it’s understandable that our readers were keen to brush up on their skills with a reread of this piece.

• DES sector gets shakeup in wake of Royal Commission
  Many of our readers work in or are connected to the disability sector, and it was a big year for disability employment service (DES) providers. In August, social services minister Amanda Rishworth moved to overhaul the DES system, with eight providers having their services discontinued. The news was welcomed by many in the disability sector, and DES reform continues.

• The Field opens up for employees with disability
  Employment for people with disability was on the agenda in the second half of the year and was a focus for Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott. In November, he launched a new job site designed and led by people with disability, which connects people with disability to accessible and inclusive employers. This positive news was well-received by our readers.

• Employee burnout on the rise
  We started the year with grim news about burnout: the Global Burnout Study found that burnout had increased by over five per cent in the 12 months to the start of 2022. It’s easy to see why this resonated with readers, as it’s likely many of us have struggled under the pressures of work, family and global news. Our article included some tips to help address the struggle.