I’m at a conference at Adelaide looking at building ‘links, bridges and partnerships’. I am here as a guest of the Australian Society for Association Executives.
Here’s a few highlights:
Judy Potter, from SA Great, providing us with a case study of business, government and not-for-profit partnership in the Bank SA connection with the Adelaide Fringe Festival. The festival is part of the State’s strategy for improving its creative capacity and attracting young blood. Bank SA has gone beyond the typical sponsorship deal and has entered into proactive encouragement of the event. Buying tickets in the shows of artists and giving them to staff and clients, for example.
Jim Cavaye, from Cavaye Community Development, took us on a whirlwind tour of communities around Australia who have engaged in a collaborative development of vibrant community. This is more than infrastructure, services, jobs, business, economic development, planning, policy and amenity. We looked at the role of individuals and organisations in developing enthusiastic people, functional organisations, rethinking and redefining assets, strong networks and good decision making. We explored the role of gateway people (rather than gatekeepers) in forming community hubs.
Peter Quarmby, from Community Sector Banking, told the story of a bank formed by a collective of twenty one community-focused organisations. As government, business and not-for-profit organisations work together for the benefit of the community we see the ‘fourth sector’ emerging.
This morning we heard from Kate Carnell, CEO of the Australian Divisions of General Practice, formerly chief minister in ACT. We looked at lobbying government from the perspective of an association as well as from the perspective of a government minister. Quote for the morning: “We need win-win solutions, not approaches that involve ‘bagging the buggers’.
Jennifer Hodgeman from the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, presented strategy for trust and growth in the online environment, including work on broadband for nonprofit organisations, ‘clever networks’, mobile connection, access in the west, and indigenous ability and access.
AUSAE doesn’t usually have delegates from the churches, but I’ve found most people fascinated with the possibility of collaboration for the benefit of the community. Associations share similar issues to the churches, including the need for capital investment and openings by local, state and federal government.