Centre for Civil Society

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We bring people together in each federal electorate (150 electorates around Australia) to work locally in engaging our communities and our  representatives in an agenda of empowerment of ordinary people and strengthening of civil society.
CLICK HERE to join us.

SELF-DIRECTED
SERVICES AND PERSONAL BUDGETS


You can take charge of your social support, education and health care through a personal budget.
CLICK HERE
for further information.
AGM SEASON

Making a difference in our not-for-profits.
CLICK HERE
for further information.
STREET BY STREET

Linking
up people who live in the same street or nearby to build community through practical helping tasks - on a national scale.
CLICK HERE for further information.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
NATIONAL NETWORK
CLICK HERE
  to participate in the Network.

LEFT AND RIGHT?

"The Left and Right have been as bad as each other. The Left has allowed its distrust of markets and endless faith in government to obscure the importance of civil society. The Right has been so focused on replacing the state with markets that it has forgotten how to cultivate a trusting society.

This is the politics of the absurd. The Left identifies with the good society but rarely talks about the mutualism and trust between people. The Right recognises the importance of moral obligation but gives the impression of trusting market transactions more than civil society.

Few things seem to happen anymore without a government law or market transaction to guide them. This is how record levels of GDP in Australia now sit alongside record levels of crime, social stress and family  breakdown. The political balance needs to swing back towards civil society.

This task, in fact, requires a new type of politics."

Mark Latham, Mutualism: A Third Way for Australia," 1999.

CLICK HERE to read more. 

SURVEYS

If you are the proprietor of a small business, please send us your thoughts on how we can support small businesses through our
SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY

If you are caring for an ill or disabled family member at home, please click here to participate in our

Family CarERS  SURVEY 


 
 
 

 

AGM SEASON

making a difference in our not for profits


Over the last 40 years, most of our large not-for-profits have changed beyond recognition. Most were formed by parents, residents and passionate citizens meeting in church halls or around kitchen tables. Everyone was a volunteer. Consultants were unheard of. In most cases, goodwill and mutual aid were the only resources on tap.                    
 
Today, most of our large not-for-profits have been captured by their managements. From credit unions to church agencies, disability services to housing associations, family support services to youth groups, the story is the same. In the name of risk management, economies of scale, and appeasement of public funders, not-for-profits have been transformed into mini-corporates.

Parents, consumers and volunteers will still be acknowledged from time to time in Annual Reports and Newsletters, but in reality, today's service delivery corporates neither need 'amateurs' nor want them.

A revolution is needed in our not-for-profit sector

It is not too late to change this culture. To a large extent, our boards and committees over the last 30 years have lacked the confidence to challenge the managerial take-over. Many have acquiesced against their own instincts, lacking support, mentors and external advice in challenging the managerial culture. On your own it's hard. But together, all things are possible.

If you've been considering putting yourself forward for election to a board or committee in your not-for-profit, we want to hear from you.

OUR SIMPLE 4 STEP PROCESS

Here is our 4 Step Process for putting yourself forward and making a difference:

1. Find out the process for nominating for election to your board or committee at its AGM in 2009. (Dates, eligibility to nominate and vote, forms to be completed).

2. Let us know of your intention. We will try to connect you with others wanting change in the same organisation. We will post on our website, from mid 2009, your profile, your reasons for nominating, and the support you would like from others.

3. Complete the nomination process, which will usually require a proposer and seconder for your nomination (sometimes more than two). Contact us if you don't know of a proposer and seconder in your organisation - we may be able to help.

4. We will enable others to know about you and contact you by posting your story on our website.

PUT YOURSELF FORWARD

Complete this online AGM Expression of Interest Form to tell us your views on organisations you believe need a leadership challenge. Tell us too if you want to put yourself forward for nomination, or if you want to support others who are nominating.

Remember, word of mouth and personal connections are the most important tools we have in reclaiming our community organisations.

CLICK HERE to express your interest or tell us your thoughts. We want to hear from you.
 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Vern Hughes
Convenor
vern@civilsociety.org.au
PO Box 159 Yarraville Vic 3013
Tel: 0425 722 890


 © Centre for Civil Society 2008

TRANSFORMING OUR SCHOOLS

CLICK HERE
for details of our campaign for a Real Education Revolution.

PARENTS FAMILIES AND CARERS

CLICK HERE for info on the National Federation of Parents, Families and Carers.

MAKING IT PERSONAL

Charlie Leadbeater, Jamie Bartlett and Niamh Gallagher have authored this highly influential Demos Report on Self-Directed Services and Personal Budgets.
CLICK HERE
to read Making It Personal.
THIRD WAY FORUM
Communitarianism,
Mutualism, Third Way Thinking

CLICK HERE to find out more.

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Family Carers
There are 2.7million family carers of people with a disability, a chronic or mental illness, or aged frailty in Australia. They are invisible to politicians and policy makers. Read more...
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