philanthropyOz Blog

New foundation-funded film on organ donation

The Anita Luca Belgiorno-Nettis Foundation has funded a new film looking at organ donation, to be screened this Sunday 26 February on ABC1 at 6.30pm (repeated Monday at 1:30pm).

The Last Race is a compelling 30-minute drama about a family suddenly faced with a decision of whether to donate the organs of 25-year-old Mike, and a race against time to save a life. A moving and powerful film, it shows a family struggling to make a difficult decision on behalf of a loved one. The complexities of not knowing the deceased’s intentions, and the speed with which the decision has to be made, are brought to the fore. The Last Race tells a story that could become reality for any of us, a decision that anyone may have to make, and paradoxically offers the chance to change a person’s life for the better. As we see the family reach their decision, the film asks: what would you do?

If you’d like to find more about the film, you can visit the film’s website, go to The Last Race on Facebook, or follow it on Twitter - hashtag #lastrace.

Conference 2012 Update: Keynote Speakers, Gold Sponsor & Registrations

We’re pleased to announce our keynote speakers for the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2012:

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE

Baroness Pitkeathley will reflect on ways of improving civil society from the three perspectives from which she has observed and participated in civil society over many years and under several governments in the United Kingdom. These are as a grant seeker at the head of a campaigning charity; as a distributor of money through the Lottery; and as a policy maker though her work in the House of Lords. Read more »

David Gonski AC

David is currently the chairman of four companies - the investment bank Investec, Coca-Cola Amatil, the Australian Securities Exchange and Ingeus. He is also currently heading the federal government inquiry into the future of school funding. David is an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, is a leading figure in the arts community, and has been Chair of both the Australia Council and the National Institute of Dramatic Art as well as President of the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Read more »

Paul Clitheroe AM

Paul Clitheroe is on the Council of Philanthropy Australia, and is a director of ipac securities, which manages more than $16 billion dollars for clients. Paul is a leading media commentator on financial issues and is renowned for his ability to explain complex money issues in plain English. In 2002, Paul and his wife Vicki set up a PPF, The Clitheroe Foundation, which provides support for medical research and the arts. Read more »

Dr Nicholas Gruen

CEO at Lateral Economics, Nicholas Gruen is an economist with three decades of achievement and experience in the public sector, business and academia. He has published in national and international academic journals on a range of issues from tariff reform to competition policy, intellectual property, innovation in government and macro-economic policy, and has been a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review and the Courier Mail. Read more »

Commissioner, Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC)

The ACNC is expected to be established by July 2012 at which time the official Commissioner will be appointed. There is a commitment that the Commissioner will present a keynote at the conference. Read more »

Bruce Bonyhady AM

Bruce Bonyhady is President of Philanthropy Australia, and is a Member of the Independent Panel advising the Productivity Commission in its Inquiry into the NDIS. He is also Chairman of Yooralla, Chairman of Acadian Asset Management Australia Limited, and a Member of the UniSuper Investment Committee. In June 2010 Bruce was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the community. Read more »

Registrations will be opening in late March - make sure you’ve registered your interest to be notified if you’re not a Member.

We’d also like to thank Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation for their generosity and support in becoming a Gold Sponsor for the conference.

» www.philanthropy.org.au/conference

New AEGN Environmental Philanthropy Survey Open

Last year the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) engaged the services of EMC Media, a market research company to survey members and friends on what motivates and challenges environmental sector philanthropists.  AEGN hope the results of the survey will better inform their work and provide them with further insight into how they can encourage more grantmakers to join their network and to increase environmental funding.

To ensure information is gathered from a cross section of funders, AEGN are seeking your feedback.  The link below takes you to a short 20 minute survey; AEGN and Philanthropy Australia encourage those in the philanthropic sector to take part in this important research into environmental philanthropy.

» Click here to complete the survey

The survey can be completed up until midnight on Friday 2 March 2012.

For those who complete the survey you’ll also be in the draw to win some great giveaways:

• One FREE ticket to this year’s AEGN conference (date yet to be determined; ticket is entry only not flights / accommodation)
• A $50 voucher to bookstore ‘Hill of Content’ (stores in both Sydney and Melbourne)
• A one year subscription to Sanctuary magazine - Sanctuary profiles the work of Australia’s leading environmental architects and designers, providing inspiration and practical solutions for a sustainable home, without compromising on design

Government announces NFP Sector Tax Concession Working Group

The Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Social Inclusion, and Assistant Treasurer The Hon Mark Arbib have issued a joint press release announcing the establishment of the Not-for-Profit Sector Tax Concession Working Group. The Chair of the working group will be Linda Lavarch, Chair of the Not-for-profit Sector Reform Council. Other members of the group include John Emerson of Freehills.

The Working Group’s mission is to consider whether there are better ways of delivering the current support provided through tax concessions to the NFP sector. For more information including the terms of reference and full membership of the Working Group, see the press release.

Queensland and NSW Floods

Edit, 13 February: The Queensland Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services has declared a disaster situation for the disaster district of Roma, covering both the Maranoa Regional and Balonne Shire Councils; and for the disaster district of Charleville, covering the Quilpie Shire, Bulloo Shire, Paroo Shire and Murweh Shire Councils. Information on the appeal is available from the Queensland Government flood page.

Those who wish to make donations in response to the ongoing flood situation in Queensland and northern NSW have the following options:

• Red Cross - Disaster relief and recovery
• Queensland Government Disasters and Emergencies page

For flood warnings, evacuation orders, weather details and information on emergency assistance check the Queensland Government flood page and the NSW Ministry for Police and Emergency Services page.