Global online technology giant Google is offering Australian Not for Profits a share in $2 million in grants to turn their technology-driven ideas into reality. Google’s Impact Challenge Australia will offer the four winning submissions mentoring and technical support from Google employees and $AU500,000 grant funding to help bring their project to life. Applications are open for Not for Profits with DGR status who can apply online at g.co/australiachallenge.

The Google Impact Challenge Australia judging panel is made up of cricketer Glenn McGrath, media executive Kim Williams and photographer Anne Geddes. Representing Google are Maile Carnegie and Jacquelline Fuller who runs Google.org.

Google says the judging panel will select three awardees and the fourth will be decided based on online votes from the public. Applications close on July 29.

Former NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Brogden, who is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Council, which represents Australia's $2.2 trillion funds management industry, superannuation funds, life insurers, financial advisory networks, trustee companies and public trustees, will start the position early next year.

He will replace John Colvin, who has led the Company Directors for six years. “John Brogden brings a wealth of experience as an executive, director and chairman in the commercial and the Not for Profit sectors, and as an outstanding business organisation leader,” Company Directors’ Chairman Michael Smith said. “We are very pleased that he will be joining us to lead the Institute into the next phase of its growth, building on the success achieved by John Colvin. "I am excited to have the opportunity to lead one of Australia’s leading business organisations.  

“The quality of governance and the leadership of company directors and boards continue to be critical to the development of Australia’s economy and society. The role of the Institute is critical in ensuring quality laws, principles and practices and public and stakeholder awareness of good governance.” In 2006, Brogden was appointed CEO of health insurer Manchester Unity, which he successfully merged with HCF in 2008. From 2006 to 2009 he also was the Chairman of Abacus Australian Mutuals, the body representing Australia’s credit unions and building societies. Brogden is currently the Chairman of UrbanGrowth NSW, Lifeline Australia, Furlough House Retirement Village and The Broken Bay Institute. He is a Director of NIA Limited (health.com.au) and a member of the NAB Advisory Council for Corporate Responsibility.

He is also the Patron of Kookaburra Kids, Sailability Pittwater, Bilgola Surf Lifesaving Club and Avalon Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. From 1996 to 2005 John was the Member for Pittwater in the NSW Parliament. From 2002 to 2005 he was Leader of the Opposition – at 33, the youngest person ever to hold the role and lead a major political party in Australia. He holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Sydney. Brogden is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), recognising his significant service to the community through his leadership roles with social welfare organisations, particularly Lifeline, to the business and financial sectors and to the Parliament of New South Wales.

- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/07/new-ceo-company-directors?utm_source=Pro+Bono+Australia+-+email+updates&utm_campaign=049cb100be-Jobs_Bulletin_14_07_20147_14_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ee68172fb-049cb100be-146913285#sthash.Zm8oFhJH.dpuf

Not for Profits, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria and Rural Health Workforce Australia, have announced the four recipients of its Give Them Wings scholarships. This is the third year the organisations have run the scholarship program, designed to encourage the next generation of nursing and allied health professionals from rural communities. Each scholarship is worth $2,500 and also offers Royal Flying Doctor experience.

The 2014 Give Them Wings scholars are:

• Rhiannan Frusher, from Warrnambool, a nursing student at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus;
  
• Kurt Murphy, from Welshmans Reef, a physiotherapy student at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus;
  
• Natalie Dowling, from Yarrawonga, an optometry student at Deakin University in Geelong;
  
• Tasmin Lewis, from Drouin East, an occupational therapy student at Monash University’s Peninsula campus.
  

RFDS Victoria Chief Executive Scott Chapman said it was important to encourage young health professionals to consider living and working in country areas. “The Flying Doctors understand how crucial it is for rural communities to have access to quality medical services,” he said. Rural Health Workforce Australia CEO Greg Mundy said the scholarship recipients were fine role models for other country students interested in health careers. Rural Health Workforce Australia said The Give Them Wings scholarship program was generously supported by the volunteer fundraising activities of the Bayside Auxiliary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria.

Sourced directly from: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/07/rural-health-nfp-scholarship-winners-announced

A grant of $50,000 is on offer for a Queensland charity that provides social welfare support to people who are most disadvantaged.

The grant is part of the inaugural Women & Change grant round for 2014. Women & Change is a Giving Circle initiated by a group of Brisbane women in late 2013, who say they are “passionate about helping people and causes in the greatest need”.

According to the group, each year, Women & Change will call for applications in July with one grant awarded in November, according to a staged application and assessment process, with the final decision being made by vote of Women & Change members.    

“Preference will be given to applicants whose projects will produce positive social outcomes to Queenslanders living in disadvantage; are well defined, and; include a clear community need, strategies, budget, project outcomes and details of how you will evaluate your project’s successful implementation and outcomes,” Women & Change said.

Expressions of Interest close at 5pm on August 1 with short-listed applicants invited to submit a full proposal by September 26, 2014.

To download the grant guidelines, click here. For more information email, grants@womenandchange.com.au

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by August 29.

- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/07/giving-circle-opens-50k-welfare-grant#sthash.GgnOzcRf.dpuf

Directly sourced from: http://www.knowledgedirectweb.com/bridging-skills-gap-an-opportunity-for-associations/

There’s a huge skills gap problem facing our nation today, but this crisis represents an opportunity for associations to reinvent themselves and compete with traditional suppliers of higher education.

I was recently asked to present on the skills gap issue and the opportunities it creates for associations at the ASAE Great Ideas conference in Orlando.  There are many facets to the problem. First, while a majority (56%) of the overall labor force is 44 or younger, 53% of allskill-trade jobs are held by older workers.  And as these workers are retiring, the younger generation is not ready to fill these skill-trade positions.

College may not be the answer. While college graduation rates are at an all-time high, a college degree alone may not be the solution.  In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that two-thirds of the 30 fastest growing occupations through 2022 will not even required postsecondary education for entry. So even as this next generation is graduating with record high financial aid debt, they still lack the skills needed to get a job. 

Skills gap isn’t a “someday” problem. Already, according to the “2013 Talent Shortage Survey” by the Manpower Group, 39% of employers report hiring challenges caused by talent shortages.

How do these problems represent an opportunity for associations? Digitec has been talking about our vision for the ”Association.edu.”  What’s that mean? In this post, I wanted to paint the picture for how associations can help close the skills gap and how it can lead to a revival of the association. With association membership declining in many industries, it’s time to leverage the value of associations to answer the educational needs of members.

Association.edu

Private institutions recognize the opportunities that skill gaps offers.  While traditional colleges have been unable to provide some of the technical trade type training that industry is asking for, these for-profit institutions have been popping up like weeds to provide programs. Yet, these institutions are often diploma mills, turning out graduates who emerge with financial aid debt and low job placement rates.  It’s not difficult to understand why. These institutions may not have the qualified staff to provide the right instruction. They lack the industry knowledge, the real-world content and the networking opportunities that lead to jobs.

The concept behind the Association.edu is to launch online association universities, with course offerings that results in certifications and actual jobs their industries need.  By leveraging association volunteers working in the industry, the association can provide expertise, the content and the connections. This model could harken back to the successful apprentice, journeyman, and master style of learning that is so needed in professional development today.

How to…

Building an association university is a long-term vision, certainly not an endeavor that will manifest overnight.

I’d recommend surveying your existing membership to identify the most critical skills gaps. Then assemble a committee to create specific learning outcomes to answer those needs:

• What would the graduate need to be able to know or do as a result of the learning experience?
• How will you measure acquiring these skills? Portfolio? Examination? Practical observation?
• Where does the content reside to create this course?
• Who are the Subject Matter Experts within your association?

In our experience, it’s best to go for a quick homerun. Rather than design an entire curriculum, start with a more scaled down certificate program that you know is critical to your members. Then, work with an instructional designer who can help pull the pieces together, designing and creating the courses, assessment tools and evaluation measures. Then present the results to your board. Once they see these successes, they’ll be more likely to buy into the vision.

The shifts happening in industry today are causing great disruption. Some associations are seeing this disruption as a real problem for a consistent membership-based model that has served them well for many years. But it’s time associations recognize that change is inevitable. It’s time to recognize these challenges as the opportunities they represent for a rebirth in associations. If associations can respond, this disruption could be good for the industries they serve, good for this lost generation of the un- and under-employed, and good for the economy as a whole.

Published: 8:12AM Saturday July 12, 2014 Source: ONE News

Renowned British scientist Professor Robert Winston will deliver a keynote address to an early childhood education conference in Auckland today.

His talk to the New Zealand Childcare Association's conference is entitled "How do humans learn?".

The association's chief executive, Nancy Bell says delegates are looking forward to hearing the science behind how children learn using all their senses, and new emerging evidence around the role of epigenetics in learning.

Following his address this afternoon, Professor Winston will engage less formally with delegates in a discussion expanding on his speech.

Professor Winston is a medical doctor, scientist, politician and well known television presenter.

More than 300 people from the Early Childhood Education sector are attending the conference which has the theme: Every child - strong in identity, learning and succeeding.

The New Zealand Childcare Association represents around 600 early childhood education services, providing education and care to thousands of infants, toddlers and young children.

Sourced directly from: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/professor-robert-winston-address-nz-early-childhood-conference-6025580

Sourced directly from: http://markjgolden.com/2012/03/28/bringing-the-next-generation-into-governance/

When I ask association leaders (both volunteers and staff professionals) what their biggest long-term governance challenge is, the most frequent answer I hear back is the challenge of bringing the next generation of leaders on board.

“Young people don’t volunteer the way we used to.”

“They don’t have the time to devote to volunteering that we did.”

“Their needs and expectations are different than ours were when we came up through the ranks.”

Each of those statements is probably true enough, although every one of them would do better for some deeper inquiry. When discussing generational issues, oversimplifications and broad generalizations  appear to be the norm, and can do more damage than good.

But the underlying concern of current leaders about future leaders is real, serious and important:“Who will come after us and ensure the association continues to fulfill its mission?”

And, “How can we engage the younger generation, particularly in the area of governance?”

Serious, selfless and leaderly intentions.  I don’t for a moment doubt the sincerity.

But as I listen to the discussion that follows, there is one question that persistently occurs to me:  exactly who or what are we trying to reform?

When current boards discuss this issue, do we actually focus on changing the governance system and culture to make them more likely to interest, engage, excite and be rewarding for the next generation of leaders?

More often, it seems to me, what actually happens is the established board, made up of more seasoned and experienced individuals,  is looking for ways to get the next generation to change, not the system.  They struggle to find ways to make the youngsters  more fully understand and appreciate the current governance system just the way it is.  In short, it’s all about trying to make the next generation leader more like we are ourselves, so that they will want to step into the leadership system and culture just as they are.Are we trying to remake the next generation of leaders in our own image or are we trying to establish a governance model that will be sustainable and serve the membership into the future?  

Are we willing to design a governance  model and culture to suit the needs and preferences of the next generation, even if the result is a system we would find uncomfortable ourselves?

 

From mid- August Tourism New Zealand will be visiting Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Rotorua for a series of free industry updates, focussing on our work in the priority emerging markets of India, Indonesia and Latin America.

The five hour afternoon workshop will include presentations from Justin Watson, Director of Trade, PR and Major Events, and each of the priority emerging markets' country manager. You will also have the opportunity to learn some valuable tools and gain insight into building relationships and contacts in these markets.

Sessions will be held on the following dates. You can register for any of the sessions here.

• Auckland - Friday, 15 August 2014
  
• Queenstown - Monday, 18 August 2014
  
• Christchurch - Tuesday, 19 August 2014
  
• Dunedin - Wednesday, 20 August 2014
  
• Wellington - Thursday, 21 August 2014
  
• Rotorua - Friday, 22 August 2014
  

The event will finish with an hour of drinks and nibbles.

Monday, 7 July 2014, 2:14 pm

Experienced property investor Andrew Bruce is the new President of the Auckland Property Investors’ Association (APIA).

Having been a member of APIA for over 10 years, Bruce was elected to the Association’s board in 2008 and served as Vice-President between 2010 and 2014. In his place, the Board has appointed Peter Lewis as its Vice-President.

“Property has proven time and time again to be a solid investment vehicle,” said Bruce. “With the right knowledge and motivation to act, I believe we can all make intelligent decisions today to be better off financially tomorrow. I see APIA playing a pivotal role in the community as the disseminator of independent and sound information as well as providing investors with the necessary support and industry representation throughout their investment journeys.”

Bruce looks forward to working with Lewis and the rest of the Board to further the APIA’s resource base, advocating for members’ interests as well as marketing the Association’s benefits to Auckland investors.

ENDS

The Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) is the latest brand to become a digital publisher, launching Human Resources Media in partnership with content marketing agency Mahlab Media.

The Human Resources Media platform includes the content hub www.hrmonline.com.au, weekly enewsletters, fortnightly video, social media channels and a revamped print publication, HRMonthly magazine.

The launch of the new media brand is part of a strategy that will see AHRI cater for the wider HR profession as well as its membership.

Mahlab Media designed the website in partnership with AHRI and is producing daily news updates, practical articles and exclusive interviews, insights and commentary from HR thought leaders.

A feature of HRM online is that readers can use their LinkedIn profiles to have conversations with their peers directly on the content hub, shifting relevant and topical discussions into a more intimate setting. AHRI’s LinkedIn community includes more than 40,000 HR professionals and people managers and leverages the fast growing influence of LinkedIn within the profession.

Bobbi Mahlab, Managing Director and founder of Mahlab Media, says: “The strategy we developed and are implementing for Human Resources Media supports AHRI in its shift towards becoming a digital publisher in its own right. This is a trend that is happening globally as brands from Coca Cola to ANZ develop their own content and media assets.”

AHRI CEO Lyn Goodear says: “Our ambition for the site is for it to become the number one destination for HR practitioners looking for online information and professional insights. We want our members to access relevant and up to the minute content on their smartphones, tablets and computers 24 hours a day. We also want it to provide a commercial platform for suppliers to reach our profession.”