Our goal, the big picture we always try to keep in mind at Matrix on Board, is to help each and every non-profit and social enterprise we work with in Australia to make the greatest impact possible in the community it serves. To optimise the impact your organisation has, we don’t run your organisation for you; we give you and your people tools and training to make your jobs easier. Sometimes, we take care of financial and back office tasks for you. Sometimes, we introduce you to resources that allow you to complete tasks with less effort and more efficiency.

We’ve found a great resource that helps you do just that when it comes to the task of rostering. JustRosters is a software product that might be your answer for streamlining your rostering process and all of the office communications it involves. It allows you and the people in your office to share information in a way that makes it available to the right people at the right time and in the right place (No more, ‘Now where was that sticky note?’).  It has features that place all of the information you need for rostering at your fingertips, saving you valuable time and preventing errors.  Visit JustRosters online to learn more. We believe for certain organisations, it has the potential to save time and money.

And if we can save you time and money by finding the right tools for you and, if necessary, providing training to ensure optimised use, then we have helped with your goals and ours. Your job is easier, your work more effective and efficient. Maybe a small detail in the big picture. But that’s just it. The big picture is made up of many small details, and we want to help you take care of them.

MYOB is accepting entries until 5 September for their $20K Love Your Work Grant contest. To enter, tell MYOB what you are passionate about in your business, why you love your work and how you would use $20,000 to improve your business. Your photo and logo may be featured on MYOB’s website if you include them with your entry.

Entries will be judged by MYOB based on creativity, humour and originality. Suzanne Damms, MYOB’s Group Manager – Marketing, explained the intent of the contest by saying, “MYOB has helped over one million business owners focus on what they love, and we’re excited to not only share the success of four passionate business owners through our current Love Your Work campaign but provide the opportunity for a business to benefit from $20,000.”

MYOB and Matrix on Board share in the mission to help businesses and organisations focus more energy on creating and delivering their products and services, as MYOB would say, doing “what you love.” We both fulfill that mission by offering resources and support that make the other aspects of running businesses less stressful. MYOB is a leader in providing management solutions and software to Australian businesses. Matrix on Board strengthens and informs the non-profit and social enterprise sector of Australia by providing financial management, management support and training and development.

MYOB has helped our sector already by sponsoring the ‘Bookkeeper of the Year’ FABO Award. We encourage you to take advantage of this offer of help for your organisation. Enter for the chance to win a $20K Love Your Work Grant.

Only a few days remain until the 31 August deadline for FABO Award nominations. FABO Awards honour back office workers whose achievements help non-profits and social enterprises thrive. Before nominations close for this year, we want to highlight the award that will recognise one of the 100,000 non-profit employers of back office staff. The FABO Award for Employer of the Year, which is sponsored by Connecting Up Australia, will be given to a CEO or Board that takes care to keep the back office happy, productive and successful.

The relationship between an employer and an employee is a two-way street. A mutually beneficial relationship, one in which each gives his or her best effort for the other, serves the organisation best. In the same way an organisation excels only with the support of dedicated and skilled back office workers, those workers excel only with the support of an effective and appreciative employer. 

That support can come in the form of a culture of respect and engagement, a system of recognition, an effort to provide good benefits and the more subjective, interpersonal evidences that an employer knows how invaluable the back office is. The front office work, that of the service providers and the program deliverers is, of course, vital, but that work could not happen without the work that happens behind the scenes in administration, finance, IT and HR.  We want to acknowledge employers who appreciate both.

It is not too late to nominate an employer or employee or volunteer for a FABO Award. Find more information and a nomination form online at www.fabos.com.au.

Before too long, Matrix on Board Training will celebrate its first anniversary as its own entity. Matrix on Board, MoB, has provided training programs to non-profits since 2003. We saw a need for organisations to empower their employees and volunteers by giving them knowledge and skills to do their jobs independently and to do them well. Our training capacity grew.  Eventually, we realised the training needs of Australia’s not-for-profit and social enterprise sector were even greater and that meeting those needs required even more focus and dedication. So, at the end of last year, Matrix on Board Training, MoB-T, was born.

MoB always provides mentoring and coaching as part of our services. We endeavor to support our clients every step of the way. MoB-T emphasises education and literacy. We offer face-to-face workshops and online courses and tutoring about understanding financial statements and auditors reports and about budgeting. We offer courses designed for particular specialties or groups such as arts organisations. We offer FaHCSIA accredited short courses in Financial Literacy.

A Money Management Worker who is enrolled in one of our short courses in the Northern Territory shared a story about client advocacy:

‘Just a quick note to let you know that the course has been very informative.

During advocacy for a client I encountered a situation where I thought there was no way out before I attended the financial workshops, but when doing this course we were told that client contracts are not iron clad and contracts made without knowledge or understanding can be made void.

My client was coerced into a 2 year contract for a mobile phone he knew nothing about by a certain phone company. He had no idea why he was sent the phone or any idea if it was pre or postpaid. I rang Telstra on behalf of the client to obtain the relevant information so I could explain it to the client so he would understand. He agreed that the phone would not be a good idea for him at this time and I negotiated with Telstra for the return of the phone and cancellation of the contract, I also voiced my disappointment that an elderly aboriginal man was bamboozled into a contract that he obviously was not clear on and this contract should never have been entered into.’

That kind of empowerment is our aim at every level of organisation all over Australia. A measure of the value of giving your people good training and a solid foundation is difficult to determine. We find knowledge and confidence breed success, and success breeds more success.  We encourage you to find out how MoB-T might help your people to grow and your organisation to thrive.

We are offering one of our face-to-face workshops twice next month. Understanding Financial Reports and Auditors Statements for Non Profit Organisations has helped over 2000 non-profit managers and Board members around Australia to gain a more effective understanding of the concepts behind accounting and the roles of bookkeepers, accountants and auditors. The workshop is one day in each location, 6 September in Darwin and 9 September in Broome. Please visit Matrix on Board Training to find more details and to book into one of the workshops.

Like the majority of white, British males I have an inflated sense of the importance of my position in the world. The English education system and the BBC do this to us – they remind us that our nationality and gender have been disproportionately influential for much of modern history. The contribution of women and other people from other ethnic backgrounds is often hidden, as is the considerable negative impact of the white male.

Because of this I am intrigued by the Australian “cultural cringe”, an inherent fear that what you have to offer does not match up to international standards, even when there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

I experienced my own cultural cringe when delivering some governance workshops last week. As part of the NDS “Good Governance” regional networks, Matrix on Board are running a series of sessions for Boards and CEOs; the most recent topic was Strategic Planning.

Most Boards and Committees that oversee small and medium sized disability organisations are made up of committed and dedicated volunteers with a direct connection to the disability in question. Most members that attend our sessions are retired and have some history of direct service provision and the presentations are targeted towards this group.

Half the participants in the Western Sydney session were from one Board. This Board was unlike most of the ones we deal with and had been very successful in their goal of recruiting professionals from the private sector. I was facing a management consultant, the CEO of an engineering company, CFO of a chemical manufacturer and two other private sector senior managers.

I was suddenly nervous – what could I have to teach these guys? What were they going to think about my back-to-basics, plain English way of explaining Strategic Planning? Were they going to mock my reinterpretation of classic planning tools for the community sector? Would they dismiss my trying to balance the mission impact and the financial bottom line?

As I have to concede the truth about my position in the world and Australians have to recognise the quality of their cultural contribution, those of us that work in the non-profit sector need to acknowledge that we have a lot to teach the private sector.

Driving home after the session I listened to a podcast from The Economist [LINK] that explored ways that non-profits can be stronger, leaner and more focussed than many for-profit companies. Back home I went through the evaluation forms and saw that the professional Board members had enjoyed the session and learned new information to assist them in their role.

I recognised my cultural cringe, I had made the mistake of assuming that the non-profit world had nothing to give the commercial world. Our purpose at Matrix on Board is to inform, resource and strengthen non-profits. We also have a lot to teach people from the private sector who are involved in it, to show them our way of working and show them with pride.

By Siena Balakrishnan

I wake at 6am to drive to Derby about 215km from Broome. Four- wheel drive course – check, 100 series Landcruiser – check, Money Management Workers – check… and as we head off along the famous Gibb River Road, I think about how lucky I am to get out into such beautiful country.

I meet up with Johanna Kitching, the Team Leader in Derby and Bronwyn Callaghan, a Money Management Worker, they are lovely ladies – armed with butchers paper, MoneyBusiness kit and food for our two days “out bush”. They are also well prepared with their tunes – it’s not a road trip without tunes and the iPod is good to go playing a bit of country, a lot of R&B and a few random rock songs for me to sing along to.

It’s about four hours to the first stop, Imintji. As we drive into this quiet community we spot one of the ladies that we’ve spoken to on our previous visits – she asks us to go around to each house and gather the crowd. We knock on doors and chat to people as they sit on verandas… slowly a crowd gathers; it’s mainly mums and their children and a couple of blokes watching from the outer edges.

We introduce ourselves, and Johanna talks about the Derby Money Management service. People listen. We go on to discuss money and what we spend our money on – writing a list as people name items like fuel, food, clothes. From there we talk about how we prioritise our spending – we bring out the MoneyBusiness cards and distribute a couple around the group – you feel the air soften and people start to join in and have a laugh, they also start to talk about what’s on the cards – “New Clothes” these are not important but “Fuel” is very important.

We also work to draw up a budget – it’s hard as Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation provide a lot – housing, water, electricity, even cars. Johanna lets them know that the Money Management team can sit down and do an individual budget.

One lady asks about banks– she wants to get a loan for a car. Another lady mentions saving for Christmas and another lady wants to set up Centrepay to pay off $700 worth of repairs on her laptop. We work one-on-one trying to give information and get to the crux of these issues.

The workshop is successful and we leave Imintji on a high. After a night at Mt Elizabeth Station we head to Ngallagunda and Kupangarri – there are funerals that people are travelling for. The communities are quiet but the few people around will talk to Johanna and Bronwym as they have family in these places. Not wanting to intrude, we have a quick but slightly solemn chat, leave a few flyers, cards and brochures of the Money Management service and head back to camp.

It’s been a mixed trip. On our way home we stop for a swim at Manning Gorge – it’s beautiful; clear cool water and no crocs! It’s a good chance to talk to Johanna and Bronwyn about what’s going on in Derby and their worlds. Apparently there’s going to be a marsh party (Derby folk love to party on the marshes – they bring down tunes and drinks and dance the night away) and there’s talk of upcoming races and festivals – the dry season is in full swing. It’s these moments I really treasure – having the time and the space to hear and share stories.

We drive the six hours back to Derby chatting about similar things, and also enjoy the silence and the songs. A lot to think about and appreciate, a lot that also stays with you on the drive home. Still I think about how lucky I am to get out into such beautiful country.

Matrix on Board Training is a new company, born out of the 5 years of training experience delivered by Matrix on Board. Matrix on Board has been delivering short courses in financial literacy for boards and managers, and governance for boards across Australia.

During 2009 we worked with BCA National to deliver accredited training as part of our FMRSU Project in North Australia. From the success of this work, Matrix on Board Training has been established in order to become accredited as a Registered Training Organisation, and offer a program of financial and management training covering accredited and non-accredited, face-to-face, and online training.

Look at our Matrix on Board Training page for further information.

MoneyMob Talkabout was launched in April 2010 by Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

MoneyMob Talkabout was established to support the work of service providers who deliver financial literacy education to remote-dwelling Aboriginal people. The project involves two MoneyMob Talkabout four wheel drives going on ‘talkabout’ to deliver financial literacy education programs. The program is philosophically grounded in two-way learning where the knowledge of both Indigenous and Western cultures are equally valued and listened to. On the ground, the program relies heavily on storytelling and uses outdoor cinema, DVDs with the capacity to be re-recorded in language in situ and purpose created hands-on games and activities. This is a pilot program that is funded by FaHCSIA.

For more information, please contact Ian O’Reilly, Coordinator, Mobile Education Unit Matrix on Board

P: 08 89851728
E: ian@mob.com.au

The Finance, Administration and Back Office Awards (the FABOs) are a new opportunity to recognise the huge contribution that non-profit organisations make to the Australian community and to recognise the ‘quiet achievers’, the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes of our non-profit sector.

The FABOs were officially launched at Etihad Stadium on Thursday June 24, 2010, by Lily D’Ambrosio, MP Victorian Minister for Community Development. Simon Martin, the CFO from MYOB represented the sponsors in launching the nominations and called for everyone to support the Awards as a way of recognising the contribution of the people in the ‘engine room’ of non-profits.

Nominations can be made via the website for the following awards:

» Administrator of the Year
» Auditor of the Year
» Bookkeeper of the Year
» Employer of the Year
» Financial Officer of the Year
» HR Manager of the Year
» IT Support of the Year
» Secretary/Public Officer of the Year
» Volunteer Treasurer of the Year
» Judges’ Outstanding Achievement Award

Nominations can be made online and further information about each of the awards found on the FABO Awards website. Nominations must be received by August 31, 2010.

The FABO Awards will be hosted by Matrix on Board as part of our commitment to the continuous improvement of management support in non-profit organisations. The Awards will be presented at a reception on 18 October, 2010 at WatersEdge, Walsh Bay, Sydney.

Once a year, just for one day, it’s time for the back office to come forward and be honoured.

When we come to acknowledge the contribution of Australia’s non-profit organisations in our society, we can too easily forget about the people that work behind the scenes to make these organisations as good as they are.

In order to publicly appreciate the amazing people who work in the back offices, Matrix on Board is hosting the Finance, Administration and Back Offices (FABO) awards.

The FABO Awards are part of our ongoing commitment to the continuous improvement of management support in non-profit organisations and we would like you to get involved!

You can nominate colleagues for a variety of awards (see below). A panel of judges will review nominations, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony at WatersEdge, Pier 1, Walsh Bay, Sydney on October 18, 2010.

None of the success of non-profits could be achieved without professional and effective finance, administration, IT and human resource management personnel so it is extremely important to recognise the hard work of the back office.

Nominate colleagues for one of the following awards

» Administrator of the Year

» Auditor of the Year

» Bookkeeper of the Year

» Employer of the Year

» Financial Officer of the Year

» HR Manager of the Year

» IT Support of the Year

» Secretary/Public Officer of the Year

» Volunteer Treasurer of the Year

Further information about each award category and to nominate, go to the FABOs website at http://fabos.com.au/

Nominations must be received by August 31, 2010.

We look forward to helping you celebrate the achievement of people who work in the finance, administration and Back Offices of Australia’s non-profit organisations.