e-News August 2016

        

Dear 


In this issue we are delighted to announce David Crosbie, CEO of the Community Council of Australia will deliver a keynote address at the 2016 NACRO Conference in October.



David's address, entitled What future? will examine the rapid changes faced by charities in recent times and look at what is required for the future sustainability of charities and not-for-profits in Australia. His address is sure to stimulate thought and discussion on this critical issue for all NACRO charities.


Also in this issue we report on a meeting with representatives of the South Australian Minister for the Environment at which NACRO argued the governments responsibility to mitigate the likely effects of increased landfill costs on charities.


We end on a sad note with a tribute to former NACRO chair and Board member, the late Ken Richardson, who held leadership roles in the business division of Lifeline and UnitingCare Community from 1997 up to his passing at the age of 62 earlier this month. As Chair of NACRO for a number of years, Ken initiated its current direction and the appointment of Apical International to manage the interests of the charitable recycling sector.



I trust you will find this issue of interest and welcome your suggestions and other feedback.


Kind regards
Kerryn Caulfield 
Chief Executive Officer, NACRO    Top
In this issue (click on title)
Conference keynote: David Crosbie asks what is the future for not-for-profits and charities?
Vale Ken Richardson
SA Solid Waste Levy increase
Thank you for your support Minister Miles
States moves on container deposit scheme
Volunteer power
2016 NACRO National Conference - KEYNOTE speaker David Crosbie
Early bird savings end this Friday, 26 August 2016


Dates:  Conference proceedings: Monday and Tuesday 10 and 11 October 2016 
               Welcome Reception:  Sunday evening 9 October.


Venue:  QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Queensland


Keynote speaker


David Crosbie, CEO of the Community Council for Australia, will present a keynote address at the 2016 
NACRO National Conference entitled "What future?".


Charities and not-for-profits across Australia are facing rapid changes in the way they operate, says David. "After more than a decade of growth, many organisations in the sector are facing a reduction in income, increasing competition, and more pressure to demonstrate value."


In his session opening the second day of the conference, David will consider the critical issues informing where the sector is and what we know is most likely to increase sustainability into the future.


The Program, speaker profiles and abstracts


The two-day program has an excellent line-up of speakers a mix of thought-leaders and highly knowledgeable people committed to making the world a better place. NACRO is grateful for their willingness to share their knowledge and experiences to help us advance, and ensure the future sustainability of, Australia's unique charitable recycling sector, that is so important to the work of our charities today.   


Download the Conference Program  here ...
or view the most current full list of confirmed speakers and topics on the conference website here ...


Registration


Register online at this link ...
or download the registration form
here ... 



More information


Visit the Conference website 


Contact


NACRO Conference Organisers: T: (03) 9429 9884 | Email  

KenUnitingCare Community colleagues and friends mourn the passing of Ken Richardson
Ken Richardson
The late Ken Richardson
The charitable recycling sector and Lifeline charity op shop community has lost a gifted leader and quiet achiever with the sudden passing of Ken Richardson earlier this month. 



In his eulogy reflecting on Ken's life from a professional colleague's perspective,  Colin Hannigan, business manager at Lifeline Retail Services Ipswich and West Moreton  said: "After a long and successful career with David Jones, Ken saw the light and realised that there was a far more upmarket and prestigious retail conglomerate that could benefit from his vast retail and HR background, and in 1997 he was appointed to the position of Business Manager, Lifeline Brisbane.
 
"At that time, no-one - including Ken - could have foreseen the long future that he would have with Lifeline, nor the impact he would have on the business division across the state, the wider charity industry through his association with NACRO, and the people who worked with him.


"Ken was a quiet achiever.  However, his leadership qualities, managerial ability, financial expertise and negotiation skills shone through and both the Business Division and the organisation as a whole benefited greatly from his work.


"For all of his achievements, perhaps Ken's most valued quality was his genuine affinity with people.  His loyalty to his staff;  His integrity;  His compassion;  His ability to negotiate;  His sense of humour;  His ability to talk through problems;  His willingness to speak to staff at all levels and show a genuine interest in what they were doing and what was going on in their lives.  Ken possessed an innate quality of leadership, and by words and actions he earned the respect of his peers, of those who reported to him and of those he reported to."


Ken's passing, at the age of 62, is mourned by his many friends including his UnitingCare Community colleagues and many of his peers in NACRO member charities. Our condolences to Ken's wife Carmen, children Michelle, Rebecca and Michael and their partners and children. 
  
South Australia raises solid waste levy increase update
Last week NACRO Chair Michael Skudutis and I met with from the office of the  SA Environment Minister Mr Ian Hunter to discuss the government's decision to increase the Solid Waste Levy.


The increase, announced in the 2016-17 budget by Treasurer Mr Tom Koutsantonis, will see the levy rise in stages from $62 to $103 a tonne by 2019/20, raising an additional $64 million over the four years.


The Minister's invitation to meet followed NACRO's post-budget letter expressing concern that the increase is likely to have unintended negative impact on charity recyclers as has been the experience in Victoria, NSW, WA and Queensland.  NACRO is now working with the Department, Green Industries SA, SA EPA on negating any likely impact on NACRO members. 
Thank you for your support Minister
Minister DR Miles on anti-dumping
Queensland's Minister for the Environment, Dr Steven Miles, seems to be taking every opportunity to get the "cost of dumping on charities" message across.


In a recent interview, Dr Miles (pictured at right with Toasted TV hosts Jono Symons and Ollie McCormack) made the point: " illegal dumping is a huge issue in Queensland and comes at a massive cost to charities such as Lifeline who spend around $100,000 annually managing illegally dumped waste in the Brisbane area alone.


"That is money that should be going to the running of this vital service. That money could
provide training for 50 new telephone crisis supporters; or 3,250 online support sessions, or enough staff to answer 5,000 crisis support calls," Dr Miles said.


In May this year, Dr Miles released the "Does your donation count or cost? Understanding donations and dumping behaviours and their impacts for Queensland Charities' report, produced by UnitingCare Community in partnership with Queensland member charities of the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations Inc (NACRO).


Thank you for your support Minister. 


Read the media report and watch the interview at this link ...
 
States move on container deposit schemes 
NSW:  On Wednesday 24 October, the NSW government released draft legislation and a discussion paper for public consultation on the state's container deposit scheme.


Submissions will close on 21 September, with the aim of having the scheme operating by July next year.


The draft legislation and discussion paper plus contact details for submissions are available on the NSW EPA website at this link ...


NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman, who announced the decision to adopt the scheme in May, described it as "long awaited" and "something the community had been asking for, for decades".


Queensland:  Also this week, Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection,  Dr Steven Miles, established an Advisory Group to assist the government with the implementation of a "best fit scheme for Queensland" with the view to introduction of a container deposit scheme in Queensland in 2018. 


NACRO has nominated John Hillier, Business Development Manager, Lifeline Queensland Retail & Operations, as our representative.  


Western Australia: On 17 August, WA's  Premier Colin Barnett announced his state was aiming to introduce a container deposit scheme for drink bottles and cans by mid-2018. Under the scheme, consumers will be able to get a 10 cent refund on containers usually seen as litter, such as beer cans and bottles, soft drinks, bottled water, small flavoured milk drinks, sports drinks and spirit-based mixed drinks.
 
The Premier said community desire for a container deposit scheme was very strong, which should lead to high participation.  Read the media release here ...
Volunteer power
Op Shop volunteers called an emergency meeting in Tewantin to demand the Sunshine Hospice board of directors voluntarily resign. They say communication between the volunteers and board members has faltered and they no longer have faith in the board.
 
"We don't have confidence in the board and want them to voluntarily step down," said Judy Shorland who, until Friday, was the manager of the Tewantin Op Shop. "We don't want a purpose-built facility somewhere down the coast - that could take years - we want Katie Rose Cottage reopened. The article can be viewed at this link


 





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