by nick on August 5, 2010
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 on July 16, 2010
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.
