A new relationship between the Australian Government and the Third Sector.
Next Steps
An overarching Commonwealth action plan supporting the National Compact and focused on the eight priority action areas identified during consultation, is being finalised by the Australian Government and the National Compact Sector Advisory Group for implementation in early 2010.
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Consultation
First Phase
During 2008, the Department consulted widely with representative groups and organisations across the non-profit (or Third) Sector about developing a Compact between the Australian Government and the Third Sector and the elements it might contain.
The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, commissioned the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) to consult and canvas initial views and principles with its members and other organisations. ACOSS distributed a discussion paper on the Compact and held a series of public forums across Australia from July to October 2008.
In its National Compact Consultation, paper ACOSS reported that considerable momentum had been generated and revealed a genuine desire from the Sector to be engaged in partnerships with the Government. Most participants viewed the aims of a compact as relevant to their activities and supported further dialogue with the Government and within the Sector.
Second Phase
The second phase of consultation closed on 30 October 2009. Consultation indicated widespread support for the development of a Compact to improve relationships and ways of working between the Government and the Sector.
Consultation included:
- A joint meeting of the Expert Panel and the National Compact Joint Taskforce was held on 9 October 2009. The meeting sought further input to the National Compact.
- Targeted consultations on the development of a National Compact were held nationally from August to October 2009, with a range of groups including those representing women, the disabled, ethnic groups, as well as groups with a focus on environment, arts, culture, and heritage.
- A workshop was held on 20 July 2009 in Canberra with over 70 Third Sector leaders and government representatives, to develop the National Compact draft principles. The workshop also discussed the consultation strategy for ensuring broad exposure and diverse participation.
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Consultation Paper
- Views on the National Compact Consultation Paper were sought via an online forum. The consultation paper is now available to download in PDF and HTML format and an easy English version.
- An online survey was set up on the National Compact. The survey ran from mid September to 30 October 2009. There were 180 respondents to the survey.
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Submissions on developing a National Compact
Consultation on the development of the National Compact, including the online forum and survey, closed at the end of October 2009.
Copies of Submissions for the National Compact are available online.
An online forum on broader issues of interest to the Third Sector continues to be available on the Social Inclusion website (www.socialinclusion.gov.au).
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National Compact Consultation Report
A whole-of-government approach to the development of the National Compact was led by FaHCSIA and supported by an Across Government Working Group (the Working Group). The Working Group helped to ensure that the Compact represents the views and interests of all Government departments and their stakeholders.
Consultation indicated broad support for the development of a Compact to improve relationships and ways of working between the Government and the Sector.
The report about the consultation process summarises the feedback from consultation with stakeholders including a broad range of Sector organisations, state and territory governments, peak bodies, academics and individuals.
Please download a copy of the National Compact Consultation Report.
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The National Compact: working together
National Compact: working together was launched by Prime Minster Rudd on 17 March 2010 at Parliament House at a formal signing event attended by Minister Macklin, Senator Stephens and leaders from across Government and the Third Sector.
The National Compact: working together has been developed as a high-level, aspirational and principles-based document that provides a framework for new ways of governing, including through forming innovative partnerships with the Sector.
It is the result of almost two years extensive consultation with organisations from across the Sector and reflects the commitment of all parties to find better ways to work together.
A copy of the National Compact is available to download from the National Compact website. (www.nationalcompact.gov.au)
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National Compact Sector Advisory Group
On 17 February 2010 the Government announced the formation of the National Compact Sector Advisory Group.
Sector Advisory Group- Terms of Reference
Context
The Sector Advisory Group has been established to advise the Australian Government on the implementation strategy for the National Compact; provide high-level leadership and advice; and champion the Compact more broadly across the Third Sector.
Understandings
The Sector Advisory Group:
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acknowledges that the Compact articulates a new way of working between the Government and the Sector to deliver improved policy and services across all portfolios and better outcomes for Australian communities;
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agrees that a respectful and collaborative relationship between the Government and the Sector is crucial to building a stronger and fairer Australia and supporting communities in meeting challenges and overcoming disadvantage;
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recognises the transformational intent of the Compact to provide a strategic framework for Third Sector Reform; and
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will work collaboratively with the Government to actively support the Compact’s shared vision that:
The Australian Government and the Third Sector will work together to improve social, cultural, civic, economic and environmental outcomes, building on the strengths of individuals and communities. This collaboration will contribute to improved community wellbeing and a more inclusive Australian society with better quality of life for all.
Role
The Sector Advisory Group will:
- advise and assist the Government and the Sector to develop the implementation strategy for the National Compact;
- assist in developing an overarching Commonwealth action plan based on the eight priority action areas outlined in the Compact;
- actively promote the Compact and its principles across the Sector;
- assist portfolios with key Sector relationships to develop joint action plans with their Sector partners; and
- advise the Government on the relationship between the Compact implementation action plans and the Third Sector reform agenda.
Appointment and meetings
The Chairperson and members of the Sector Advisory Group are appointed for a period of 12 months. The Sector Advisory Group will meet regularly through a mixture of face-to-face and teleconferenced meetings commencing in February 2010.
Sector Advisory Group - Member Profiles
Independent Chair: Dr Ron Edwards – WA
Dr Ron Edwards is a founding board member of the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation supporting Indigenous youth. He was awarded a Doctorate in Education (University of Western Australia, 2006) which investigated the factors that can promote social inclusion within society, particularly in an educational context. Ron has been actively involved in programs that seek to enhance social inclusion amongst Indigenous, homeless and disabled people, as well as in the establishment of low fee Anglican schools. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1983-1993 and now works as a project consultant in the private sector. He is a member of the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Board.
Mr James Demetriou – VIC
In July 2009, Mr James Demetriou became the Executive Officer of the North Melbourne Learning and Life Centre (NMLLC), Australia’s innovative education and community complex within the North Melbourne Football Club’s $15 million Arden Street redevelopment. NMLLC promotes education, health, life learning and sport as a means to enhance community spirit and social cohesion. It is an Australian first.
James is also the Chair of Sports Without Borders (SWB), a non-profit organisation (which is auspiced by The Australian Multicultural Foundation Trust) that he co-founded in 2006 with his son, Tom Demetriou. SWB connects newly arrived Australians through sport. He was heavily involved with the AFL’s peace team, a collaborative project between The Peres Centre for Peace and the AFL, aimed at uniting young Palestinians and Israelis on the sports field.
James holds a Bachelor of Law Degree and Master of International Business from the University of Melbourne and is an Alumni of the Anderson Business School of UCLA.
Fr Brian Lucas – NSW
Fr Brian Lucas has Masters Degrees in Law, General Studies and Theology, has been admitted to practise as a barrister and has been ordained a priest. Fr Lucas was awarded a 2002 Churchill Fellowship which he spent in Rome on a study and research program on pastoral communication. Fr Lucas took up his current position as the General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference in August 2002.
Ms Anne Robinson– NSW
Ms Anne Robinson BA LLB (Hons) FAICD TEP, is the founder and principal of Prolegis Lawyers, a firm which specialises in providing legal services to charitable organisations and other not-for-profits. Anne has a background working in major Sydney law firms in commercial law, including resource development, finance and banking.
Since 1985 Anne has advised on charitable trust, structuring and tax issues for a wide range of Australia’s charitable institutions, including in education, health, medical research, overseas aid and development, environment, disability, social welfare and aged care. Anne has also been involved in governance of not-for-profit organisations for some twenty five years, including being on the Boards of two independent schools in Sydney over sixteen years, and chairing the Board of trustees of two hospital and religious institutions.
Anne has been a Director of World Vision Australia for the past ten years, and the Board Chairman since 2005. She is also a director of World Vision International.
Mr Simon Schrapel – SA
Mr Simon Schrapel originally trained in social work in Adelaide. Simon has worked in a range of policy, planning and management positions, principally focused on the funding and delivery of services by the non-government community services sector. He has been the Chairperson of SACOSS from 2002 to 2009, the Chair of the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia from 2002-2007 and is a current Board member of several non-government agencies including Families Australia, Foodbank SA and Westside Community Lawyers. Simon was Acting Chief Executive of Anglicare SA from September 2007 to March 2008 and is currently Executive Director of Strategy, Policy and Services. In January 2010 Simon stepped down as Chair of SACOSS to take up the position of President of ACOSS.
Mr David Crosbie – ACT
As CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, Mr David Crosbie leads a peak national organisation that is driving mental health reform across Australia. Previously David was CEO of the national peak body for the alcohol and other drugs field, and CEO of Odyssey House Victoria – one of Australia’s largest drug treatment agencies. For over 20 years David has played a key role in national policy development through his advocacy in various forums including several key national advisory committees.
David has a very diverse background having taught in prison, lectured at university, played in successful rock bands, and spent most of his working life advocating for the marginalised.
Dr Ingrid Burkett – QLD
Dr Ingrid Burkett is Social Innovations Manager at Foresters Community Finance (Qld). She has a doctorate in Community Development. She is Vice President of the International Association for Community Development. Ingrid previously lectured in the School of Social Work at University of Queensland and worked for Oxfam Australia as Learning Development coordinator. She specialises in local and international community economic development. Ingrid is also Chair of the Upatree Arts Co-operative which organises and conducts arts events that foster and promote community spirit, social capital, and social and environmental justice.
Ms Marilyn Miller – QLD
In 2007 Ms Marilyn Miller became the National Indigenous Dance Coordinator developing Treading the Pathways, a strategic initiative between the Aboriginal Torres Strait Island Arts Board of the Australia Council and Ausdance National. In 2005 she was the Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Performing Arts Company, and prior to that a freelance Choreographer and Chair of the Dance Committee of NSW Ministry for the Arts. She is a co-founder of Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre Company. She has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney. Marilyn has presented dance workshops nationally and internationally and has worked with the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT), Bangarra Dance Theatre, ABC TV, SBS TV and Foxtel. Marilyn is crucial in establishing an ongoing dialogue about the development of contemporary Indigenous art and strategic interventions.
Ms Nada Roude – NSW
Ms Nada Roude came to Australia from Lebanon at the age of eight. She graduated from Sydney University with BA Hon. in Arabic and Islamic studies. She has post-graduate qualifications in Public Sector Management (Flinders University 1991) and Adult Education (University of Western Sydney 2003) and has worked in Community development aimed at enhancing and facilitating the participation of recent immigrants and emerging communities. She has worked in the Ethnic Affairs Commission for over 13 years as a senior Project and Liaison Officer providing key advice to the Premier and the Government of NSW on issues relating to the settlement of ethnic communities. Since 2001, Nada has been involved with the development of cross cultural religious education/ training programs on Islam and Islamic communities for both government and non government based organisations. Nada is an advocate on human rights, equality and inter faith dialogue and a strong advocate for Muslim issues and has been a founding member of the United Muslim Women Association and the Muslim Women Refuge. She has been an advisor and spokesperson for the Islamic Council of NSW.
Ms Maryanne Diamond – VIC
Ms Maryanne Diamond, who was born blind, has been active in the community sector for more than 20 years as an advocate and manager and also as a Board member of small and large organisations within Australia and internationally. In August 2008, Maryanne was elected President of the World Blind Union, the global organisation representing the 161 million people who are blind or have low vision. The WBU played an active role in the development of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disability which was ratified by Australia in July 2008. Maryanne’s international work is complemented by her role with Vision Australia, her responsibilities include international programs, government relations and policy and advocacy services, a key part of which is Vision Australia’s extensive client consultative framework.
Dr Bro Sheffield-Brotherton – VIC
Dr Sheffield-Brotherton has nearly 40 years experience in environmental civil society organisations, including senior positions in the Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Project Jonah, and the Conservation Council and Environment Centre of WA.
Since 1990,Dr Sheffield-Brotherton has been co-director of Sustainable Solutions Pty Ltd. He has been a non-government representative and/or expert member of over 60 government advisory committees, panels and taskforces at Commonwealth, Federal and State levels.
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National Compact Joint Taskforce
The role of the National Compact Joint Taskforce was to develop a framework for the Compact containing key priorities and principles for the relationship between Government and Third Sector organisations. The Joint Taskforce met on 11 May ,15 June and 6 July 2009.
The Joint Taskforce included members from Third Sector organisations, Commonwealth Government agencies, local government and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
The Joint Taskforce contributed to the development of the draft Compact that was circulated for broad consultation with the Sector.
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National Compact Joint Taskforce
Chair
- John Atkin
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Trust Company Ltd
Members
- Lynne Dalton
CEO, Centre for Volunteering
- Toby Hall
Chief Executive Officer, Mission Australia
- Phil Harrison
Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Conservation Volunteers Australia
Christine Ellis
National Development Manager Conservation Volunteers Australia
- Kristen Hilton
Executive Director Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH)
Mat Tinkler
Acting Executive Director (for the Duration of MS Hilton's leave) PILCH
- Jill Lang
Director, Queensland Council of Social Service
- Barry Sheehan
Director, Centacare Toowoomba
- Natalie Walker
Chief Executive of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy
- Mary Agostino
Manager, Family Services, Whittlesea Council
- John Ryan
Community Campaign Coordinator, Australian Council of Trade Unions
Representatives from Australian Government agencies:
- Department of Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Treasury
- Department of Health and Ageing
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts
- Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Australian Public Service Commission
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Expert Panel
An Expert Panel reflecting diversity of the Third Sector was established in 2008 to advise on the initial consultation process.
The Expert Panel released communiqués from its three meetings in 2008.
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What is the National Compact?
The National Compact: working together was launched by Prime Minister Rudd on 17 March 2010 at Parliament House at a formal signing event attended by Minister Macklin, Senator Stephens and leaders from across Government and the Third Sector.
The Prime Minister signed the Compact on behalf of the Commonwealth, committing all portfolios to the Compact’s shared Vision, Purpose and Principles.
Organisations from the Sector are able to ‘sign up’ voluntarily to become Compact partners and have their organisation's details included on the National Compact website (www.nationalcompact.gov.au).
The Compact is a high-level, aspirational and principles-based document that articulates a mutually respectful relationship between the Commonwealth and the Sector to deliver improved policy and services.
The Compact will be supported by a Commonwealth action plan being developed in consultation with the Sector. This action plan will focus on the Compact’s eight priority action areas identified during consultation.
Joint portfolio-sector action plans to address particular issues will also be developed in consultation with the Sector by those portfolios with a relationship with the Third Sector. These portfolio action plans will be developed over the next 12 months.
The Compact’s shared Vision, Purpose and Principles underpin every aspect of the Australian Government’s work with the Sector
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Social inclusion agenda and the Third Sector
The Australian Government's social inclusion agenda is a whole-of-government approach to provide opportunities for all Australians to participate in the life of the nation.
This social inclusion agenda recognises the importance of allowing all Australians:
- the opportunity to work
- to access the services they need
- to connect with their family and friends
- to become involved in their local community
- to have the skills to deal with crises when they might arise; and
- to have the chance to make their voices heard. It is also about recognising there are barriers that prevent participation.
Promoting social inclusion requires a new way of governing. Australia must re-think how policy and programs across portfolios and levels of government can work together to combat economic and social disadvantage in Australia and break down the barriers to participation.
The agenda recognises the critical role the Third Sector plays in delivering services, advising and developing social policy, and advocating on behalf of marginalised groups. A strong relationship between the government and the Sector will be crucial to the success of the agenda and related reforms.
The agenda includes the Productivity Commission’s review of the contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector in Australia and the ongoing work to harmonise regulations and reduce red tape for the Sector through COAG.
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More information and contact details
Information on the development of a National Compact is available on this website and the Social Inclusion website (www.socialinclusion.gov.au).
If you would like to receive further information please send your email to National Compact (nationalcompact@fahcsia.gov.au) or by post to:
Director
National Compact Section
Community Investment Branch
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610
Phone: 02 6244 7902
email: nationalcompact@fahcsia.gov.au
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Research article
An article from Dr Rose Melville, an Australian academic, about the notion of a partnership between the Australian Government and the voluntary sector:
'Token participation' to 'engaged partnerships': Lessons learnt and challenges ahead for Australian not-for-profits - Dr Rose Melville