The Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists is deeply concerned by this week's announcement that Relationships Aotearoa is being closed down.

With others who have expressed concern we add our voice over both the closure and the hasty manner in which it has been done. The transfer of services to other agencies may put some clients at risk and will prematurely end trusted therapeutic relationships if the client- therapist relationship is terminated in order to transfer care to new agencies and staff.

Canterbury people still have a need for ongoing counselling services for those affected by the effects of the earthquakes. It is imperative that Earthquake counselling is continued until its contracted end and that clients are able to continue in their established relationship with their therapist. The CDHB reports it is experiencing unprecedented increases in the need for mental health services. We believe the psychological and emotional care of our community needs to continue to be a priority.

Counselling and psychotherapy are not commodities to be negotiated to the lowest bidder, they are a specialist health service that values and respects peoples need for an ongoing private, trusting relationship to work through emotional health needs.

- Scoop NZ

Co-authored with Anna Caraveli (The Demand Networks), this whitepaper tackles the question: if engagement is so critical to associations (and we would argue that it is), why aren’t we doing a better job of it?

Of course, associations have always been “about” engagement, and in the past several years, we’ve had a renewed focus on engaging our members and other audiences. The thing is, most of us aren’t really doing it well. Could that be because we’ve been thinking about engagement all wrong, focusing on what we want members to do and how we define value? Leading Engagement from the Outside-In describes a radical shift in our understanding of engagement, one based on an approach that encourages us to view the world from our audiences’ perspective, focus on the outcomes they want to achieve, build authentic relationships, and harness the power of collaboration to co-create the value our organisations provide -  read more.

Access the document here. Posted by Elizabeth Weaver Engel, CAE

by Laura Tingle for AFR

Drug makers will bear the brunt of around $6.6 billion in savings to be channelled into new drugs and higher returns for pharmacists – who will not face any full-scale assault on their competitive position – under a pharmaceuticals deal finally struck by the Abbott government.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said the deal would deliver "cheaper medicines, a more competitive pharmacy sector and greater investment in new medicines and patient support services" as part of the package.

But consumer groups immediately warned it meant patients would pay billions of dollars more for prescriptions. The pharmaceutical industry greeted the deal with a sullen, if resigned, assertion that it had gained assurances about certainty in price changes for agreeing to the cuts.

The deal, which starts July 1, had been expected to be included in the federal budget, but with both the powerful Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Medicines Australia promising a war over aspects of the deal, agreement has only been struck this week.

The result appears to be a huge victory for the Pharmacy Guild at the cost of manufacturers and also appears to have done little to address competition issues in the pharmacy sector.

Pharmacy Guild executive director David Quilty said that the agreement was "a sound outcome" that has "achieved our primary objective".

"Always the most important thing for us in this negotiation is what pharmacies get paid for dispensing medicines. It is 70 per cent of their business and it was getting severely negatively impacted by PBS reforms," he said.

"We've moved away from linking what pharmacies get paid for dispensing medicines from the cost of those medicines."

No Competition Change

The average annual net profit of a pharmacy is between $140,000 and $150,000. There are 5450 pharmacies nationwide, up by around 200 over the last 5 years.

Any changes to pharmacy location rules, which have been attacked as anti-competitive by both the Harper Review and the National Commission of Audit, have been shelved for another five years.

"The location rules appear quite anachronistic and it is not clear why we are delaying this for another 5 years... the government is saying we will have another inquiry," University of Melbourne health economist Philip Clarke said.

While Ms Ley hailed $6.6 billion in savings from the deal in federal Parliament on Wednesday, the government was less forthcoming about the impact on the budget bottom line, or on detailing the individual savings.

Industry sources estimate retail chemists and wholesalers will receive extra income of between $2.4 billion and $2.8 billion over the next five years than they would have under the current agreement which is coming to an end. Ms Ley described this as a "$2.8 billion investment supporting pharmacy and primary care".

Deustche Bank analyst David Low said gross payments to wholesalers are likely to stagnate or decline as a result of the agreement, but he believes wholesale drug distributors can maintain earnings by reducing the discounts passed on to pharmacists.

"Given the level of spending on drugs via the PBS will be reduced, gross payments to wholesalers will be commensurately impacted," he said.

Thumbs Downs from Consumer Group

The Consumer Health Forum says the figures in the new agreement suggest consumers will "directly contribute an estimated $8.2 billion to pharmacy owners' remuneration over five years and that amounts to 34 per cent of the estimated $23.6 billion in total payments for PBS medicines to pharmacies".

"That's up from $4.8 billion or 29 per cent of payments under the current agreement," CHF's chief executive Leanne Wells said.

The thumbs down from the consumer group comes despite new arrangements which will accelerate the pace at which drugs are priced based on generic medicines rather than branded medicines – bringing the price down by up to 50 per cent and savings taxpayers $2 billion over five years.

"We welcome the government's measures to bring down the prices of some drugs in line with the international market, to announce the listing of new drugs and the introduction of an optional $1 discount on prescription medicines," Ms Wells said.

"However, the agreement represents a lost opportunity to drive reforms to loosen the grip of pharmacy owners on the anti-competition rules and provision of patient services covered by the new Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement.

"Under the terms of the new agreement the Pharmacy Guild is to be the only party to be consulted on the scope of the promised independent review into the location rules which protect existing pharmacy owners against competition."

The government is going ahead with the proposal to allow pharmacists to discount the price of medicines by up to $1 per script, which it says could "also save some pensioners over $40 per year".

The attraction for the government is that it will take longer for heavy consumers of prescription drugs to get the safety-net threshold at which all drugs become free, saving about $400 million over five years. 

Ms Ley said savings delivered through the package, worth $18.9 billion over the next five years, would support the government's ability to continue to list new medicines into the future.

Medicines Australia, the peak body representing the pharmaceutical industry, is yet to formally agree to the deal, only announcing it has signed a letter of intent with the government for a five-year strategic agreement. The Pharmacy Guild has also said it does not agree with the proposed $1 discount.

MA said, if finalised, the agreement "will provide Australian patients and the medicines industry with a degree of stability and certainty in providing ongoing access to innovative medicines delivered through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme".

Medicines Australia CEO Tim James said, "In response to the government's budgetary challenges, we have agreed to meet all of the government's savings targets.

"In return for providing the majority of $6.6 billion in cuts outlined by the government, our members have been given a number of undertakings and concessions regarding any future price-related savings throughout the life of the agreement.

"Our member companies invest billions of dollars to research, invent and manufacture innovative medicines to treat patients. The continuation of this investment relies on a fair and stable price for a limited period. That is our social compact with governments and patients around the world.

"The continuation of this social compact requires stability in policy making. While this agreement does contain cuts to medicines already proven to be cost-effective, we welcome the limited stability and certainty that this agreement will provide over the coming five years."

Written by GEORGE LEKAKIS Financial Services Editor, The New Daily

Lawyers are charging super members thousands to make a simple insurance claim, says CEO of industry’s peak body.

One of the superannuation industry’s most senior figures has hit out at the legal profession for slugging super fund members who make successful disability claims through their super funds.

Pauline Vamos, the chief executive of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, believes lawyers have turned to milking fees from the superannuation system in recent years after state governments tightened eligibility rules for workers’ compensation schemes.

Ms Vamos said that ASFA was writing to legal societies across Australia to explain the superannuation industry’s concerns about lawyers targeting the liberal disability definitions of insurance policies offered by super funds.

“Lawyers are taking up to 35 per cent of disability payments made to super fund members,” she told The New Daily.

“Super funds have told me that lawyers are charging $3500 just to fill out a claim form.”

ASFA is the peak body for superannuation providers in Australia and is agitating for law societies to review the practices of their members in relation to insurance claims made through super funds.

Ms Vamos said that historically about 95 per cent of all disability claims were paid out by super funds and that it was hard to see how lawyers were adding value to the claims process.

In letters sent to the Law Society of NSW, Ms Vamos states that fund members “are incurring unnecessary legal costs when making claims, which only reduces their final benefit”.

ASFA’s biggest concern is that lawyers are encouraging clients who are denied claims to issue legal proceedings through the courts, rather than follow their super fund’s internal dispute resolution schemes.

“The feedback we are getting from super funds is that lawyers are superfluous in the claims process,” she said.

“We’ve told the law societies that we’re greatly concerned with the increased involvement of lawyers early on in the claims process.

“We’re also concerned about the failure of lawyers to the tell the truth to clients that most disability claims are paid.”

Ms Vamos said the number of lawyers involved in disability claims had trebled in the last few years, with the recent tightening of workers’ compensation in NSW a major driver of the profession’s interest in insurance policies marketed by super funds.

NSW lawyers defend their new patch

The New Daily sought comment from the CEO of the Law Society of NSW, Michael Tidball.

The society responded through a media spokesman, who defended the state’s lawyers against charges that they were targeting disability insurers.

“Where a (super) member is in need of assistance in making and maintaining their claim it is their legal right to seek legal advice, and if the client instructs, it is their lawyer’s obligation to help enforce their claim,” the spokesman said.

“Lawyers are able to help navigate the complex rules and processes surrounding claims.”

The spokesman suggested there were special circumstances in which it might become necessary for some clients to engage a lawyer.

“In cases of total and permanent disablement, lawyers will often be involved where the member requires urgent treatment, in which case it is entirely appropriate for ‘pressure’ to be applied to obtain a speedy resolution of the claim,” he said.

In response to claims that lawyers were collecting up to 35 per cent of a successful claimant’s payout and charging as much as $3500 for just filling in claim forms, the spokesman said ASFA had not provided more information to support the allegations.

“If there is a circumstance where a legal practitioner has been found guilty of conduct that would give rise to a complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct, such as overcharging, this should be referred to the Legal Services Commissioner,” the spokesman said.

“We have invited ASFA to provide specific information in relation to such claims, however this has so far not been forthcoming.”

Premiums on the rise

ASFA’s attempt to influence the behaviour of compensation lawyers comes after members of industry funds copped big increases in insurance premiums in the last year.

Two of the country’s biggest funds – Cbus and Australian Super – hiked death and disability premiums by more than 80 per cent in 2014.

Earlier this year two other big funds – MTAA Super and HESTA – announced premium hikes of 110 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.

Superannuation consultants told The New Daily last week that the increased involvement of lawyers in the insurance claims process had been a major driver of recent premium increases.

The peak body for Australian surgeons is asking medical staff to share their experiences of bullying to so it can build up a better picture of the extent of the problem in the profession.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has sent out a survey on bullying to all college fellows, trainees and graduates, while a hotline has also been set up for staff to anonymously detail any experiences of discrimination or harassment. 

An independent research company is carrying out the survey, which the chair of the College's expert advisory group on bullying Rob Knowles said would enable staff who have been bullied to share their experiences without fear of retribution.

"The more accurate picture we can get, the more definite assistance we can offer the College in how they might tackle it," he said.

Neurosurgeon Caroline Tan, who has spoken of how her career was compromised after reporting a sexual assault she suffered from a colleague, welcomed the move as an important part of the effort to tackle bullying.

It comes as Monash Health continues to investigate senior neurosurgeon Helen Maroulis for allegedly bullying staff.

The Age understands the investigation will include interviews with former trainee surgeon Imogen Ibbett after she went public with allegations of bullying against Dr Maroulis on ABC's Four Corners program.

Dr Ibbett also claimed Monash Health did not want to hear about her experience of bullying when she contacted them to discuss it after she left the hospital.

Written by Craig Butt, Health Reporter With Julia Medew on Canberra Times 

Convene Queensland 2015 will have a fresh look, with more than 20 new exhibitors already confirmed for the 28 July event at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

Combined with the strong contingent of returning exhibitors the new faces mean the expo is set to be a sell out despite having more space on offer than last year’s inaugural Convene Q. Only about a dozen stands are still available and event manager Ally Eastaugh says the strong enquiry level indicates these will be snapped up over the next few weeks.

At the same time, buyer registrations have started strongly with quality business event organisers from the corporate and association sectors already confirmed. With some eight weeks to go before Convene Q, organisers are now moving into the next phase of promotion to buyers – including personalised, individual invites to select buyers.

‘The Convene portfolio is all about sharing knowledge and information and ensuring quality business connections. Convene Q fits that bill,’ says Eastaugh.

First time exhibitors include Cloudland in Brisbane, Con-X-ion Transfer Services, Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC), Gold Coast Event Centre, Cruise Whitsundays and Rydges South Bank.

‘Convene Q provides the ability to really drill down to the detail, offering a depth of information that a regional expo like this can provide,’ says Eastaugh. ‘So we are extremely happy to have new exhibitors like Simply Great Ideas, The Styled Group, and The Tote Room – Creating Unique Events, all adding to the mix.’

See a list of confirmed exhibitors here:

http://www.convenequeensland.com/exhibitors-2015

Visitor registration can be found here

http://www.convenequeensland.com/visitor-registration

For more information contact Allyssa Eastaugh ph ++64 9 818 7807 email allyssa@promag.co.nz

Or Stu Freeman ph ++64 9 818 7807 email stu@promag.co.nz

The basis for successfully investing non-profit reserves lies in addressing 10 key questions faced by all board and investment committee members. 

This paper is intended to help people who have taken up the challenge and responsibility of investing money for the benefit of others. This is, for most, unpaid work carried out in an environment where:

1. resources available for support and development are scarce
   
2. a desire to help achieve important objectives meets a desire to avoid personal and organisational risk
   
3. volatile and unpredictable markets have become the norm.
   

This is also a paper for people in a fortunate position. If your non-profit has a significant reserve or genuine endowment, you are in possession of a strategically valuable asset. An endowment is a precious resource. Reserves of any kind are obviously valuable, but more so when you consider some of the facts. For most non-profits, reserves remain outside the tax system, meaning there is no tax on income received or capital gains realised. Imputation credit refunds, accessible to many, are considered a valuable source of additional income. Investment income is passive income and together with capital growth its production allows a non-profit to generate additional funds (often untied) for the cost of a management or advisory fee. Reserves and endowments also help make non-profits more sustainable and increase their self-sufficiency.

Finally, managed well, endowments not only help an organisation to achieve its mission, they are used by savvy leaders to attract talent and funders. They can and have been used to demonstrate vision, ambition, strength, self-determination, predictable cash flow and sound management. This is important in an environment where government funding is under pressure and non-profits compete in a donor/sponsor market worth $8.61 billion per year.

Please find the white paper by Koda here: http://kodacapital.com.au/docs/investing-for-non-profits--koda-capital.pdf

Joint media release from The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, Assistant Treasurer, and The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Minister For Social Services: The Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership today consolidated its commitment to increasing philanthropy in Australia.

The Partnership confirmed two measures to encourage philanthropy:

• simplifying the valuation requirements for donations of listed shares and managed funds; and
  
• enhancing portability for private ancillary funds (PAF)s on winding up.
  

The first measure removes the need for donors to obtain a valuation from the Australian Taxation Office for listed shares or managed funds greater than $5,000.  Donors will no longer need to pay a $241 fee to the Australian Taxation Office for these valuations.  This will reduce compliance costs for donors.

The second measure will provide consistent treatment for PAFs and public ancillary funds in the winding up phase.  It will provide PAFs, which are private funds set up to provide money or property to deductible gift recipients, with the flexibility to transfer their net assets to other ancillary funds.  This option is already available to public ancillary funds in the winding up phase. 

This measure was included as part of the Governments Autumn 2015 Repeal Day package.

These measures are part of the Government’s commitment to the Partnership, and to increasing philanthropy in Australia.

We would also like to acknowledge the work of Philanthropy Australia in contributing these and other ideas for reform to the Partnership.

AuSAE Conference and Exhibition (ACE) is not only a fantastic networking and professional development event; delegates can also win valuable prizes including a Hyundai i20 thanks to Auto Tender. With limited places remaining, we recommend clicking here to secure your place today.

		WIN A CAR AT ACE 2015  ACE delegates will have a one in 400 chance to win a Hyundai i20 Active4 Manual 3Door thanks to Auto Tender. To enter, simply visit all 12 participating booths, grab a coffee at the IVT coffee bar, visit the car stand and say hi to the AuSAE team. With such great odds, will we see you at ACE 2015? Entry T&Cs apply.
		WIN A TICKET TO ACE 2015  Would you like to be sponsored to attend ACE 2015? Simply book a PRODOCOM Communications Needs Assessment and they will send you a ticket to ACE valued at $1090! PRODOCOM offer leading association digital communication solutions including mobile app, FAX, email and SMS solutions. Contact Simone on simone.aikens@qld.prodocom.com.au with the subject line “AuSAE offer” today. First in best dressed as PRODOCOM have just 10 ACE tickets to giveaway!
		WIN OTHER GREAT PRIZES AT ACE 2015   Thanks to our fabulous partners and exhibitors, we have many other great prices to give-away valued over $2,000 each! You could win a trip overseas, holiday interstate, great technology products or perhaps even your organisation's very own benchmarking study report! All you need to do is visit participating stalls in the ACE Exhibition.

There is only two weeks remaining to register and be part of ACE 2015. So click here to register today or here to view the full ACE 2015 Program.

Applications will open next week for nib foundation’s seventh annual Community Grant funding round.

The national charitable foundation is again looking to support charity-run, grassroots initiatives that make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of communities across metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.

The annual funding round will see the foundation allocate between 10 and 15 grants of up to $50,000 to registered charities to undertake community-based programs that run for up to 12 months.

nib foundation Chairman, Keith Lynch said that the community grants are a good example of how even modest amounts of funding can assist a dedicated not-for-profit group to make a real difference by tackling an area of need within its own community.

“Our focus is on supporting programs that aim to make real change to health issues and meet a demand that is not adequately addressed by existing services,” Mr Lynch said.

“This may include improving access to current and targeted health information and education, building capacity to cope with health challenges through improved social connectedness, mentoring and peer support, or trialling new ways to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing,” he added.

The foundation seeks to partner with organisations that are offering practical approaches to addressing these important health issues for young people and carers.

“These two groups have growing, unmet health needs that are not currently being adequately addressed by existing services and we see any opportunity to help meet these needs,” Mr Lynch said.

Since its establishment in 2008, nib foundation has committed more than $12 million in funding to over 80 programs that are having a lasting impact by making a real and measurable difference to health and wellbeing in communities across Australia.

Applications for the 2015 Community Grant round open on Monday 1 June and close at 5pm on Friday 26 June 2015. Application forms are available at nibfoundation.com.au

For more information contact:

Renea Jaeger

Corporate Affairs Manager

r.jaeger@nib.com.au

02 4914 1739 or 0402 376 835

Full Media Release Here.