SIG Success

Fundraising SIG

In today’s competitive fundraising landscape, building lasting relationships with donors is crucial. The recent workshop, “Unlock the Secrets to Sustainable Philanthropy,” led by Susan McGinley and Julia McKenna, provided invaluable insights into the vital role of donor stewardship. 

This SIG session delved into the core principles of effective stewardship, emphasising practical strategies for engaging, retaining, and inspiring supporters. Participants explored had the opportunity to workshop their donor stewardship plans, receiving tailored advice to enhance their fundraising efforts. 

Key takeaways included the importance of personalised engagement, the power of authentic recognition, and the necessity of consistent, thoughtful communication.  

People & Culture SIG

What a fantastic People and Culture session!  The group discussed the ‘right to disconnect’ amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 which commences on 26 August 2024 and the possible implications for schools.  In addition, the group discussed scenarios about the potential impact of the ‘right to disconnect’ reforms against the backdrop of the unique characteristics of the education sector. 

The group also discussed the ‘Respect at Work’ reforms to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in relation to schools and their statutory obligations with the topics such as sexual harassment, hostile work environments, victimisation, sex-based harassment and discrimination explored. With a group of HR and compliance professionals, it was a hearty discussion indeed!  Future topics to be explored will include data and privacy so far as it relates to the education sector, and Policy Document frameworks which provide the framework for establishing school policies and procedures.  

Admissions SIG

The Admissions SIG was focused on the role of the registrar in school success.  18 people engaged in the admissions space were able to share ideas, ask questions and support each other as we explore how we each deal with several issues. We opened by asking the question “who do you really work for” which explored the complexity of the role with multiple stakeholders. We had particularly engaging discussions around how to support the needs of unique individuals while maintaining the responsibilities to the multiple stakeholders.  One of the things that was clear was that we need to always put the best interests of the child first, even when a parent may not realise it or the school may not want it.   
 
It was a great time to catch up with old friends and get advice from those who may have had similar experiences.