Page 2559 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 2013
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very well; we have probably the highest rate of volunteering anywhere in the country, which is something that we can be proud of as a city.
I think it is important for us to think about what this means. One of the key findings of the review was that there is great interest in philanthropy in the ACT but a general lack of awareness of the details of how philanthropy is organised. I know this is a challenge not just for the ACT but perhaps for Australia. That is not to say that we do not have some very good grants programs or fantastic long-term partnerships in place. There has been discussion of many examples today, such as the Snow Foundation, which is considered a friend of many of the non-government groups that have benefited from their relationship. Similarly, the Village Building Company provides support to projects around Canberra, with the arboretum being perhaps the prominent example.
But in the bigger picture, the fact remains that most financial donations and contributions and most time volunteered is drawn from your average Australian. It is the workers of the major companies who give the most while at the same time the larger corporations perhaps need further support to understand what and how practical philanthropy can best be delivered.
Another key finding of the review was that government has a clear role to play in this area. Sometimes the more cynical amongst us have been heard to say that philanthropy is a way to reduce the burden on government or cost shifting to a big society model, as some of the conservative thinkers in the United Kingdom have termed it. Others may see the words “tax deductible” writ large or consider novelty cheques as a way to buy good publicity.
The government has a clear position—we can each individually as MLAs and as ministers in Cabinet help to identify partnerships, listen to the community and identify needs and provide a leadership role in calling for benefactors. Further, and perhaps more practically, we can consider ourselves as partners in funding programs, and by combining existing funding, a donation from the private sector and a grant from the government, many community services can achieve incredible results.
In the ACT we have a benevolent business sector. We are well placed to tap into these resources with the successful Hands Across Canberra board comprising a group of community, business and government leaders who are committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community. This great initiative creates a framework and a central coordination point for all Canberrans to engage in an ongoing process to improve and strengthen the quality of life for those most disadvantaged in the place we live. But it is also clear that we as a city and as a community can engage with these partners more. I would hazard a guess that if the ACT government were to undertake another review of philanthropy today, there would be echoes of the original findings.
I am looking forward to hearing more about this topic in the near future, especially from the ACT Council of Social Services, which just last month showed great leadership on this issue and held an event in collaboration with Australia’s first customer-owned bank, bankmecu. I understand members of the Treasurer’s office
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