A new report commissioned by Pro Bono Australia in partnership with the Human Rights Law Centre, has found that not for profits are on a path of quiet advocacy. The Civil Voices research showed that to a greater or lesser degree civil society organisations are engaging in various forms of “self silencing” – treading very carefully in their advocacy work, less they risk financial security and political retribution. In this episode of Not for Podcast: Where Not for Profits Fear to Tread, we unpack the report and look at the current state of not-for-profit advocacy in Australia, and how it compares to a decade ago. The latest research is framed against Australia Institute’s 2004 report, Silencing Dissent: Non-government organisations, which detailed the growing fears across the NGO sector concerning their right to advocate in the public policy domains, and more broadly about their changing role in the democratic process. A lot has happened in the 13 years since that report was published including changes to the political and regulatory landscape, the formation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, the passing of the Charities Act and advances in the digital landscape. But Civil Voices shows us that Australian civil society still needs to be supported and encouraged to engage in frank and fearless advocacy. Pro Bono Australia is proud to have spearheaded the research and believes it sits firmly within the remit of our social impact mission to give a voice to civil society organisations. We know from a previous sector-wide survey conducted by Pro Bono Australia in 2015 that nine out of 10 not-for-profit respondents considered recognition of their advocacy role as the most important factor in developing the social sector. From our unique position as an umbrella to the sector we were able to take the temperature of civil society organisations on this important matter. In this podcast we speak to report author Sarah Maddison about what the report tells us about how charities are feeling at the moment; we talk to Community Council of Australia CEO David Crosbie about whether some of the sector’s fears are being realised; and we talk to the former president of the Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs about the dangers of silencing the charity sector and what we can do to make sure organisations are not silenced. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: University of Melbourne Associate Professor Sarah Maddison Community Council of Australia CEO David Crosbie Former president of the Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs   Produced by Wendy Williams and Luke Michael. Recorded in November 2017.  

Not for Podcast

Where Not for Profits Fear to Tread

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. The first of July 2016 marked the beginning of the national rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The $22 billion a year scheme, which doubles the level of public funding for disability,  is Australia’s biggest social policy project since Medicare. It promised to put people with disability in the driver’s seat, and give them more choice and control. But is the reality living up to the expectation? In this episode, we speak to the agency responsible for running the scheme, the peak body for service providers, Christian Porter talks to us about the teething problems and we hear from people with disability about whether the market can deliver what they need. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Maryanne Diamond, the general manager of Community Linkages and Engagement at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Minister for Social Services Christian Porter Writer and disability advocate El Gibbs Natasha Hudson, founder of Coforte Consulting, assisting organisations affected by the NDIS Fran Connelley, founder of FC Marketing and The NFP Accelerator Toolkit and author of How to Thrive Under the NDIS Ken Baker is the chief executive at National Disability Services   Produced by Wendy Williams and Rachel McFadden.

The NDIS – One Year On

  Whether you think of housing as a prevention or a cure for homelessness, it is undisputable that having a stable form of shelter is imperative. But making sure that everyone has a house is no easy feat. Australia is currently in the middle of a housing crisis. There is a lack of affordable housing and according to the experts there has been a lack of investment in public housing by successive governments over decades. So how do we increase the capacity of affordable housing? In the third and final episode of our series, Housing the Homeless: The Pathway, we talk to experts from the banking and property sectors, as well as people with lived experience to find out what needs to be done. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Andrew Cairns, CEO of Community Sector Banking Robert Pradolin, former general manager of Frasers Property Australia Simon, who has lived experience of being homeless. David Spriggs, CEO of Infoxchange, the company behind Ask Izzy.   Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams and brought to you by Akolade, not-for-profit event specialists.

Housing the Homeless - The Pathway

Homelessness is a broad term which encompasses a diverse range of people and experiences, but in it’s simplest form, it is the state of having no home. In Australia an increasing number of people are finding themselves in this state due in part to a lack of affordable housing, which can both lead to homelessness and further entrench it. While there is no silver bullet for homelessness, a number of solutions are now putting housing first, based on the belief that housing is a human right. In the second episode of our three-part series, Housing the Homeless: The Solution, we explore whether a housing-led approach is the best solution to homelessness. We talk to the father of the housing first model and hear from people who have lived and worked it. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Dr Sam Tsemberis, the founder and executive director of Pathways to Housing Chris Bratchford, Mission Australia housing executive Cheryl, Common Ground tenant Professor Guy Johnson, Unison Professor of Urban Housing and Homelessness. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams and brought to you by Akolade, not-for-profit event specialists.

Housing the Homeless: The Solution

Homelessness is not a choice. But for many it is a reality. On any given night one in 200 people in Australia are homeless. And the problem is getting worse. In the last few years the number of people seeking help from homelessness services has been increasing faster than population growth. While there are many causes of homelessness, an acute shortage of affordable housing is pushing up the numbers. At a time when more than 105,000 people are homeless, crisis accommodation services are turning away more than half of all those seeking new accommodation, public housing stock has declined and there are rumours that the National Affordable Housing Agreement could be scrapped in May’s budget. In a three-part series Housing the Homeless, we explore the role housing, or a lack thereof, is having on homelessness and whether putting housing first could be the key to solving the problem. In this first episode, The Cause, we speak to sector experts and people who have experienced homelessness personally, to find out what is causing the problem. Featured in this episode: Christine, who has lived experience of homelessness Jenny Smith, CEO of Council to Homeless Persons Adrian Pisarski, National Shelter executive officer Suzanne Fagan, who has lived experience of homelessness Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams and brought to you by Akolade, not-for-profit event specialists.

Housing the Homeless: The Cause

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. Scale is one of the hardest challenges a social enterprise will face. Even the most successful entrepreneurs have struggled to grow their operations and impact. In the final How to Social Enterprise episode, Not for Podcast speaks to a handful of these entrepreneurs about how they achieved scale. From finance to business models to grassroots campaigns, they all have a unique story and different lessons to pass on. But they all agree that, at every point in the social enterprise journey, an entrepreneur should plan for scale. Featured in this episode: Jamie Green, founder of ONE NIGHT STAND Rebecca Scott, CEO and co-founder of STREAT   Adam Makepeace, senior manager, employment and training services at 180 Painting Services Daniel Flynn, co-founder and managing director of Thankyou. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams, brought to you by Social Ventures Australia.

How to Social Enterprise: Scale

Find out what it takes to set up and run a social enterprise in the second episode of our three-part podcast series. In the first episode of How to Social Enterprise, Motivations, we looked at the why of the social enterprise model and who should consider going down that pathway. In Skills we ask whether combining a business brain with a charity heart requires a unique skill set to get started. Not for Podcast spoke to social entrepreneurs about what they learnt along their social enterprise journey, what worked, what didn't and what would they change if they could do it all again. Featured in this episode: Will Dayble, founder of Fitzroy Academy Alastair Pryor, founder of Totes Making a Diff and Compact Shelters Simon Griffiths, co-founder of Ripple, Shebeen and Who Gives a Crap Ben Robb, finance and strategy volunteer at ASRC Catering and ASRC Cleaning Adrian Watts, CEO of National Health Co-op Stay tuned for episode three, How to Social Enterprise: Scale – to find out how ultra-successful entrepreneurs grew their business and social impact. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams, brought to you by Social Ventures Australia.

How to Social Enterprise: Skills

Have you ever thought about setting up a social enterprise? Find out whether it’s right for you and  in the first episode in our three-part series Featured in this episode: Social Change Central co-founder Anne Lennon The Difference Incubator CEO and co-founder Bessi Graham Social Traders head of investment and advisory Libby Ward-Christie YGAP co-founder and CEO Elliot Costello Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams, brought to you by Social Ventures Australia.

How to Social Enterprise: Motivations

When it comes to climate change action, looking to the next century, while essential, is difficult to do. But in this episode of Not for Podcast we envision a green future and find out what it will take to get there. Short-termism is one of the biggest barriers to overcome in the fight against climate change, given that electoral terms only last several years, corporations are driven by short-term profit, and society is increasingly focused on the here and now. But climate scientists warn that failure to act immediately - and radically - with a long-term vision is allowing the future impacts of climate change to compound. In the third and final episode of Green Nation, Reimagining Climate Change, we speak to experts thinking beyond this century and ask, what will the world look like in the future?   Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Dr Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project and CSIRO research scientist Tom Quinn, executive director of the Future Business Council Dr Bonnie McBain, tutor in sustainability science at the University of Newcastle Damon Gameau, award-winning director now working on a new science-fiction documentary, 2040. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.

Green Nation: Reimagining Climate Change

Halting climate change sounds like an insurmountable task, but solutions are emerging everywhere. Renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are being installed at a record rate and are more affordable than ever. Rural towns are in a race to become the first zero-emission community. Not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises and cooperatives are supporting everyday Australians to find and fund their own solutions. In People Power, the second episode of the three-part Green Nation series, Not for Podcast explores the initiatives behind this movement for change. Download the transcript here.  Featured in this episode: Alicia Webb, Clean Energy Council director of large-scale energy Richard Lovell, Clean Energy Finance Corporation head of corporate and project finance Dan Musil, Earthworker Cooperative secretary   Emlyn Keane, Evergen director of operations Tosh Szatow, Energy for the People director Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.

Green Nation: People Power

Climate change has been described as the most difficult problem human society has ever faced. But in the face of influential vested interests and governments that seem slow to respond, the social sector plays a vital role. Global warming is happening now – from the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef to bushfires to the mega-storm that caused a blackout across South Australia. Leading scientists say there is no time to waste in saving the planet. But Australia’s carbon footprint is anything but insignificant. We’re the world’s largest coal exporter, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, and the largest emitter per person of any country in the developed world. In The Fight Against Climate Change, the first episode of the Green Nation three-part series, Not for Podcast investigates the importance of civil society in agitating for change. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Professor Will Steffen, climate change expert and researcher at the ANU, and a councilor at the Climate Council of Australia Anika Molesworth, a farmer and climate change advocate currently undertaking a PhD in sustainable agriculture Sara Bice, socio-political commentator from the University of Melbourne Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaign manager, and the director of the board for the Climate Action Network Australia Adam Black, senior campaigner on the Environmental Justice team for Get Up. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.

Green Nation: The Fight Against Climate Change

For those who've come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share – or so says our national anthem. But what really happens after migrants and refugees arrive in Australia? Australia is one of the most multicultural nations on earth, but a major survey found, despite widely shared values, many people struggle to feel accepted within mainstream society. The survey, called Australians Today from the Scanlon Foundation, is the largest survey ever undertaken of those born in Australia and immigrants. The highest levels of discrimination were reported by those born overseas and of non-English-speaking background. And while the majority of Australians support immigration, 40 per cent consider it too high. This is despite psychologists and scientists finding integration actually strengthens national culture. In the final episode of Australia’s True Colours, Not for Podcast investigates integration at home and overseas, to find out how we can thrive as a multicultural country. Download the transcript here.  Featured in this episode:  Laurie Nowell, spokesperson for AMES Australia, Nick Cater, executive director of Menzies Research Centre Des Cahill, professor of intercultural studies in the school of global, urban and social studies at RMIT Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation Islamic Councils Kim Bullimore, Indigenous political activist and anti-racism campaigner. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams. 

Australia’s True Colours: Our Shared Culture

Contemporary Australia is the product of multiple waves of immigration, but now anti-immigration sentiment is on the rise. Today, almost half of Australians have a parent born overseas and more than a quarter of the population were born overseas themselves. In a recent speech, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said every Australian benefited from the diversity that is at the heart of the nation. But a look back at Australia’s history shows that our immigration policy has not always been so welcoming. Policies of multiculturalism are mixed up with those giving clear, preferential treatment to some nations over others. Now a new wave of Islamophobia is rising, with anti-immigration political parties like One Nation Party, once confined to the margins, garnering support. In the second episode in a three-part series, Australia’s True Colours, Not for Podcast investigates how racist ideology can infiltrate the immigration debate, right through to our policies. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Khanh Hoang, associate professor at the ANU Migration Law Program Andrew Jakubowicz, professor of sociology at the University of Technology Sydney. Brian Burston, One Nation Senator   Shayne Neumann MP, shadow minister for immigration Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.  

Australia's True Colours: On the Borderline

In a striking contradiction, Australia is held up the world over as both a shining example of a multicultural success story and as a nation that is racist and hostile to immigrants. Australia’s racism has roots in its history of colonisation and migration, and, until recent years, racist policies and practices were embedded within Australian laws and institutions, and the debate has become tied up with national identity. In the first episode in a three-part series, Australia’s True Colours, Not for Podcast investigates what racism is and where it comes from to ultimately find out, is Australia racist? Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Albert Atkin, author of The Philosophy of Race Neil Levi, senior researcher at the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University Priscilla Brice, founder and managing director of All Together Now, Australia’s only national racism prevention charity Kevin Dunn, the dean of the School of Social Science and Psychology at Western Sydney University. Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.  

Australia's True Colours: What Is Racism?

Jurisdictions across the country are slowly cracking down on revenge porn – a form of online sexual abuse which affects as many as one in 10 Australians. But is it being taken seriously enough? Revenge porn is the publication of explicit material portraying someone who has not consented for the image or video to be shared. It’s fast becoming an entrenched part of our culture of sex and relationships and can leave victims feeling violated and ashamed. Until recently there has been little or no support from the justice system. And once material is out there, it is near impossible to get it back. Only South Australia and Victoria have have made it an offence, but a raft of new legislation is being introduced across the country to criminalise cyber stalking and revenge porn and bring the laws into the digital age. On Sunday, Western Australia became the fourth state to join the national crackdown, following an announcement the week before from New South Wales. But many have said there should be a federal response to the issue. This episode of Not for Podcast – Revenge Porn Exposed – questions what is revenge porn, why is it so devastating, and what Australian law and society needs to do about it. Download the transcript here. Featured in this episode: Sue Gabor, project manager on the eSafetyWomen initiative from the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner Katherine McLachlan, quality and research manager at Victim Support Service Nicola Henry, senior lecturer in legal studies at La Trobe University and chief investigator on a criminology research grant examining revenge pornography in Australia Shane Rattenbury from the Greens and the ACT’s Minister for Justice Katie Acheson, CEO of Youth Action Mary Barry, CEO of Our Watch Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family violence or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au

Revenge Porn Exposed

Exclusive news and analysis on the things that matter from the voices of Australia's social sector

hubhopper

Not for Podcast

hubhopper