Not-for-profit Update 7

Oxfam to host national summit for indigenous women

• Oxfam is inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from across Australia to participate in a week-long national summit in Canberra.
• The national summit which will take place from 26 to 30 June, is part of Oxfam’s Straight Talk program, which has empowered more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to learn more about the political system.
• Oxfam Australia’s Straight Talk coordinator Rebecca Harnett said the program had supported many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to apply their skills over the past eight years.
• “Straight Talk has helped get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women further access to their political representatives in order to get their voices heard around issues that affect them, their families and their communities,” Harnett said.
• Straight Talk participant, facilitator and mentor Vonda Malone, said it helped set the focus for the leadership path she would take. The national summit provides women with the opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences and work together to develop strategies to address common issues.

Source: Third Sector

Nab share transaction raises $100,000 for charity

• National Australia Bank (NAB) shareholders have raised $100,000 for charity through the Not for Profit donation portal ShareGift Australia as part of the bank’s demerger of its UK subsidiary, Clydesdale Banking Group in February.
• The collaboration between NAB and ShareGift Australia enabled people with small parcels of shares to donate their allocated securities to charity.
• The move was described as the first time philanthropic giving was structured directly into a sale facility as part of a corporate action of this type in Australia
• NAB said that monies raised would be directed to Community Hubs Australia to fund its National Community Hubs Program, which is supported by the Scanlon Foundation and the Department of Social Services.
• “This donation will be used specifically to deliver English language tuition to mothers with preschool children across hub locations nationally as part of the existing Mother and Child program.” NAB executive of governance and reputation Michaela Healey said
• He said that to date, more than $1.1 million of charitable giving has been facilitated by ShareGift Australia and donated to over 400 charities.

Source: Probono

Family violence Royal Commission Report ‘to change everything’

• The Royal Commission into Family Violence will usher in a "new era" in the way Victoria responds to the problem, the State Government has said.
• Premier Daniel Andrews, who received the report on Tuesday, has promised to implement all of its recommendations.
• "This report will change everything. Our family violence system has failed victims for too long," Mr Andrews said in a statement.
• "I thank the many people who have contributed to the royal commission, particularly the brave victim survivors and the people who support them."
• The Government said the victims of violence would be "at the heart" of its reforms.
• Mr Andrews previously described the system dealing with the problem as "clumsy, inefficient" and non-existent.

Source: ABC

Consumer’s affairs takes action over self-proclaimed charity fundraiser

• Consumer Affairs Victoria (CVA) is preparing to take legal action against controversial fake cancer survivor and self-proclaimed fundraiser Belle Gibson over false cancer claims made in her top-selling book and for allegedly defrauding charities.
• CVA said the move followed an in-depth investigation into alleged contraventions of Australian Consumer Law.
• “The alleged contraventions relate to false claims by Ms Gibson and her company concerning her diagnosis with terminal brain cancer, her rejection of conventional cancer treatments in favour of natural remedies, and the donation of proceeds to various charities,” CVA said in a statement.
• Consumer Affairs Victoria Director Simon Cohen has applied for leave to commence proceedings against Gibson’s company, Inkerman Road Nominees Pty Ltd (in liquidation), in the Federal Court of Australia. CVA said leave was required because the company was in liquidation.
• “Included in the terms of the enforceable undertaking is that Penguin will make a $30,000 donation to the Victorian Consumer Law Fund,” Cohen said.
• “Penguin must also enhance its compliance, education and training program with a specific focus on ensuring all claims about medical conditions are substantiated, and that statements about natural therapies are accompanied by a prominent warning notice.
• “This is an important step in ensuring that consumers receive only verified information and are not deceived, particularly where serious matters of health and medical treatment are concerned.”

Source: ProBono

New chairman Christine Bartlett for the Smith Family

• The Smith Family’s Chairman, James M. Millar AM, is stepping down after five years of service.
• Current Smith Family Director, Christine Bartlett has been appointed Chairman and will take up the role from 1 May 2016.
• “My decision to stand down as Chairman is based on my belief that organisations, particularly those in the not-for-profit sector, benefit from Chair rotation and gain from the energy that a new Chairman brings. The Smith Family will have this in Christine Bartlett as Chairman,” said Millar.
• The Smith Family CEO, Dr Lisa O’Brien said, “In those five years there has been significant, positive change at The Smith Family,”
• “Throughout this period James has brought his extensive leadership capability and stability to the Board and to The Smith Family’s Executive team. I thank him for his years of dedicated and committed service to our organisation.”
• “The Smith Family welcomes Christine Bartlett as incoming Chairman and looks forward to working with Christine on the next phase of The Smith Family’s journey,” said O’Brien.

Source: Third Sector

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