Message from the President

Dear Members, Sponsors, and Colleagues,

When I sat down to write this article, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for the Educate Plus community. 

After four years in the making, nearly 500 delegates representing 233 institutions across Australia and New Zealand finally arrived in Adelaide, to submerge themselves in a Re-igniting experience! It was an outstanding four days of high level and varied program content, networking, innovation, creativity, and inspiration.

I am particularly proud of the SA/NT Chapter Committee: Patrick Kelly, Helen Karapandzic, Abhra Bhattacharjee, Janine Atkinson, Vanessa Grave, Steve Eden, Paul Bailey, Beck Healy, Julie Dow, and Ashleigh Day for all their support to the International Conference. From sending postcards, packing gifts bags, and scouting venues, to emceeing, chairing sessions, presenting, and making everyone feel welcome who attended…THANK YOU!

I am also grateful for the 120+ SA/NT delegates who attended. We were the largest cohort, and really got behind supporting the Conference. We showed our fellow Chapter colleagues how to conference (and party) again, and we made the SA/NT Chapter shine (despite the weather!).

I attended so many interesting and thought-provoking sessions myself. From Strategies for Sleep and The Neuroscience of Leadership, to Building a Culture of Philanthropy and How to Create a Great First Impression. I found many new trends, invaluable information, cutting edge strategies, and best practices to absorb!

For members unable to attend the conference, 23 sessions were recorded and will be available for purchase shortly.

For those of us who were fortunate to attend, I encourage you to: 

• Set aside some ‘processing time’. Do a brain dump while things are still fresh in your mind.
• Share your takeaways and newly acquired knowledge with the rest of your team.
• Refine what you have learned to fit within your current strategies and challenges. Focus on implementing ONE thing at a time
• Connect on LinkedIn. Reach out to the new people you met at the conference. You never know which ones might offer support when encountering your next challenge or, who might can turn into long-lasting relationships!
• Follow your favourite speakers. Chances are that they will continue to provide great content and inspire you for months to come! 

While the International Conference was terrific, there is still more to come in the Educate Plus calendar. Your SA/NT Chapter Committee is on a mission to make the second half of 2022 even better than the first one.

Stay tuned for more in-person and online events, workshops, and networking that I know you will love! We look forward to seeing you at some (or hopefully all!) of them. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any committee member with suggestions or questions.

Warm regards,

Ana Gozalo
Educate Plus SA/NT Chapter Chair
agozalo@scotch.sa.edu.au
T: 08 8274 4340
M: 0413 032 115

Advancing a Culture of Philanthropy

Written by Abhra Bhattacharjee F. EdPlus, Director of Philanthropy, Scotch College Adelaide

“A culture of philanthropy fosters relationships that share a common understanding, appreciation and responsibility for the importance of the joy of giving and receiving for the enhancement of the institution.”, Sue Cunningham

At the recent EducatePlus International Conference in Adelaide, management consultant Peter Drucker’s quote was often bandied around. Drucker famously said that “culture eats strategy for breakfast”, and this is specifically true when it comes to educational institutions and philanthropy. Having embraced Oscar Wilde’s motto that ‘experience is simply the name we give our mistakes’, I believe that establishing, embedding, and embracing a culture is far more successful than the most ambitious fundraising target.

It is also far more difficult.

Very simply, culture is what people think and say, what they know and what they do. It is important because these shared thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and values are what employees and volunteers use to determine how they think, speak and act. Culture determines how people problem solve and make decisions, and is extremely powerful, yet few organisations fully understand their organisation’s culture and how critically it changes organisational performance.

Simple as it sounds, many organisations would rather take on an ambitious philanthropic goal or launch a capital campaign than address their culture. Their philanthropic endeavours are most often characterised by “boom and bust”. They typically are willing to invest time and resources on acquiring donors, running Giving Days and Gala Dinners, but sustainable upward trajectory eludes them.

At Scotch College Adelaide, our centenary offered us multiple opportunities to consider our heritage, assess our aspirations and be bold in our execution. It also birthed the DARE Centenary Campaign, with a stretch campaign goal of $10M. The centenary also allowed Scotch to embark on a longer journey to achieve a greater goal: changing our culture of philanthropy. Now, in our sixth and final year of the campaign, the dollar goal is well within reach, and while we have affected culture significantly, there is still much to be done.

At Scotch we measure the culture of philanthropy in six critical ways, all designed to prompt introspection and conversation. We set aside time to consider it as a philanthropy team twice a year, and as a Senior Leadership Team, annually. This helps us track progress, consider obstacles, and help us prioritise what we will and won’t do. Schools are incredibly busy places, and important as a culture of philanthropy is, it is never the only important thing an organisation grapples with.

Six Pillars to Measure a Culture of Philanthropy

1. Philanthropy is embedded in what we do – It is difficult enough to change culture, but it is impossible unless it is an identified priority. While embedding anything in everything is a tall order, at Scotch, philanthropy is articulated in the College’s Strategic Plan, is considered alongside the Infrastructure Master Plan and is a strategic priority for our Foundation Board. The Advancement Committee of Council reviews it at every meeting and there are regular briefings to the Senior Leadership Team.
2. Our leaders walk the talk – Organisational culture is influenced most heavily by leadership, and philanthropic culture is no different. You cannot have a culture of philanthropy if your leadership does not understand it, is not committed to it and, at the very least, does not take part in the form of giving they are most comfortable with. A sustainable culture of philanthropy is most observed in organisations that invest in supporting all leaders, including the Board, to understand ethical fundraising principles, and how their role and decisions impact on reaching fundraising success.
3. Fundraising is everyone’s job – This oftentimes gets the strongest response because we appoint people to do the things we cannot do, and it is difficult to ask people to do more when everyone’s job is harder than it used to be. By saying that fundraising is everyone’s job, I am referring to the way people think and talk about giving, philanthropy and fundraising within an organisation. It implies that everyone in the organisation’s community (not just fundraisers) have a role and responsibility to tell the organisation’s story – to engage donors, contribute personally to back belief in the organisation’s work, and to share examples of need and the impact that occurs when people give. This culture values the health and wellbeing of donors, and everyone is involved in providing great donor experiences, showing appreciation to donors, and celebrating the role they play in achieving the organisation’s purpose and goals.
4. Many people give cheerfully and joyfully – We have affected this pillar through celebrating participation, recognising every gift with a personal note in the receipt and being relentlessly positive about what we are doing and why we are doing it. Sometimes it is an effort, people change, and we feel like we are going over the same ground repeatedly, but relentless positivity covers a multitude of sins! It also allows many more people to experience and celebrate the joy of giving.
5. Donor experience and service is our top priority – Does your organisation put each donor (not just the biggest donors) at the centre of your organisation’s outreach efforts? Do you consider in-depth individual donors’ interests, motivations, and propensity to contribute to a cause? Do you respond quickly and effectively? Donor experience and service involves personalised relationships with donors and building trust with them by meeting them where they are. It involves knowing their dietary preferences and what years levels their children are in (not to mention spelling their names correctly). It also means constantly looking for ways to involve donors in the mission of the organisation. As your donor base grows, it also means using your database effectively so that you don’t get it wrong.
6. We celebrate the impact of every gift, big and small – Author Simone Joyaux said it best: ‘A culture of philanthropy means that everyone accepts and celebrates the beauty of philanthropy and donors, no matter the type or size of the gift.’ She goes on to explain that when both the corporate culture and systems to support fundraising are effective, the organisation flourishes. She reminds us that giving is an emotional act, not a financial transaction. Your organization is how your donors live out their own interests and aspirations. Isn’t that worth celebrating? At Scotch, once a year, every adult who has donated that year, regardless of the size of their donation, is invited to Thank You Drinks, and it is one of my favourite events of the year. We send out many more invites than we used to, but that is one of the best problems we have!

When Drucker wrote that “culture eats strategy for breakfast”, he wasn’t saying that strategy is irrelevant. Rather, he meant that the strategy an organisation employs will only be successful if supported by right cultural attributes. Recognising this, organisations with a culture of philanthropy see fundraising less as a transactional tactic and more as a way of operating—one that reflects the definition of philanthropy: A love of humankind and a voluntary joining of resources and action for the public good.

Get to know Steve Eden

Steve Eden is the Head of International Student Programs at Concordia College and member of the Educate Plus SA/NT Chapter Committee.

Ana Gozalo, SA/NT Chapter Chair recently sat down with Steve to find out a little more about him…

What has been your pathway into the education and advancement sector?

After leaving school, I completed an apprenticeship as my parents believed once you have a trade you’re set for life…probably true at the time. In the years to follow, this provided me with the opportunity to work in community services where I supported people with a disability to find employment and relocate into the community and out of supported facilities – known as sheltered workshops at the time. At the same time, I enrolled to complete a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Australia. From here I spent many years in the VET sector managing several Registered Training Organisations who delivered community services qualifications.

It wasn’t until 2015 when I was employed to start Adelaide International School located in Rundle Mall to deliver ELICOS programs and the SACE. Being an international school, I travelled overseas often and quickly became quite versed in different cultures and working with offshore schools and agents. Today, I work for Concordia College as the Head of International Student Programs. A far cry from leaving school to become an apprentice.

What’s your favourite place of all the places you’ve travelled?

It would have to be Vietnam. It is such a beautiful country with so much to offer. The people are so humble and obliging and the food is out of this world.

If you were immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?

30 – you are old enough to have benefited and experienced from life’s learning yet young enough to enjoy what life throws at you.

What was the worst job you ever had?

None…every job is an opportunity to learn and grow.

If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with who would they be?
Robin Williams and Jesus Christ. I believe Robin would pose some very interesting questions to Jesus Christ and it would be a very entertaining and thought-provoking dinner.

If you could change places with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Richard Branson. He has the ability and capacity to advance society in many different ways, from science, to space flights and his humanitarian and philanthropic pursuits.

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Mastering different languages.

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why?The dishes…and I have a dishwasher…go figure…!

What was your favourite game to play as a child?
Red-Rover

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
See everything as a challenge…a chance to learn…and not a burden.

When you die, what do you want to be remembered for?
Helping the vulnerable and those in need.

From Our Knowledgebank

Independent schools are flying into the future

By Peter Buckingham

Peter Buckingham is the Managing Director of Spectrum Analysis, a Melbourne based consultancy in demographics, mapping and analysis specializing in schools. Peter is both a CMC (Certified Management Consultant) and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC). Peter can be contacted at peterb@spectrumanalysis.com.au or called on 03 98300077 or visit our website at https://spectrumanalysis.com.au/services/education-analysis/  

If your school has remained stable, dropped enrolments or has NOT felt the pressure of additional enrolment requests, you should be concerned!

Nationally, the numbers are showing Independent schools growing more than Catholic or Government schools.

Many of us (myself included) were of the view a couple of years ago that the covid pandemic would cause more economic strain across the country, and force (for financial reasons) an exodus of students from Independent schools into the Government schools system. Whilst unemployment went up (temporarily), it was low in the white collar and grey collar communities, and these are predominantly the parents of your students, at least in Adelaide. However the future may change this as inflation is starting to run strongly across our country and interest rate increases will put more strain on the family budget.

If we just look at 2019 as the pre Covid level, and 2021 as the Covid effected year, we see Independent schools enrolments rose 6.33% over that 2 year period. By contrast, Total student enrolments increased by 2.35%, Government schools increased only 1.25% and Catholic schools increased by 2.87%.

South Australia

Independent schools enrolments were up 4.45% in South Australia – 2021 (covid effected year) over 2019 (pre covid year), mainly due to people sending their children to Independent schools earlier than they were planning to because the Independent schools handled schooling over the Covid years far better than Government schools. This was not surprising when you think of the quality of your teachers and of the computer hardware that would be available in households of Independent school families for home schooling compared to lower socio economic families with children at Government schools. While lock downs and school closures were far less in South Australia than in the eastern states, it still had a mental effect on the parent’s decisions.

Catholic schools appear to have done very well over the 2 year period increasing by 6.24%, while the Government schools actually decreased in enrolments by 1.63%. Overall the increase in student numbers over the 2 year period was only 0.80%, which is much less than the National figures.

We extracted this information out of the new ACARA data for South Australia that goes up to and includes 2021:

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has far less Independent schools than other states and territories and actually showed a drop in Total Student numbers and a drop in Independent school enrolments, the only state or territory to do this. These numbers are not able to be explained by myself so I will leave it to the readers to apply their local views.

 Learnings from these numbers.

Whilst averages can be dangerous, and different geographies may have different challenges, the overall climate within South Australia for Independent schools over the last 3 years has been moving upwards, but not apparently as quick as the Catholic education system. When the total number of students at Independent schools in South Australia has increased 5.84% from 2018 to 2021, hopefully you have felt the trend.

Longer term this will not last, but if parents have now placed their children in Independent schools, it is very difficult to then explain to them why you wish to take them back to a Government school. My view is that these strong numbers will hold for the next year or so, and then may reduce in the future.

In summary, South Australian Independent schools need to not become complacent with their stronger enrolment numbers over the last 3 years, but be prepared for this to turn as the economic conditions start to surpass the feeling of comfort in from the covid years.

Advancement Practitioner Training

Are you looking to enhance your skills and develop your career? Are you interested in learning more about other areas of Advancement or do you want to learn about best practice from experienced presenters?

Then we’re very excited to let you know that the Advancement Practitioner Training Course is available again, ‘face to face’ in 2022.

The training will take place on 1 and 2 September at the University of Melbourne, 241 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne.

Educate Plus launched this training over eight years ago to connect and empower Advancement staff across Australasia who are committed to providing the best possible service to their institutions. It is aimed at beginner and intermediate-level practitioners and is perfectly suited for staff who need to upskill quickly.

Feedback from previous course participants encourages us to keep innovating and tailoring our course content to ensure we are providing the best practice in our industry and featuring the latest tools, processes and expertise.

“The information that was presented and shared within each webinar was exceptional. So informative and helpful. I always enjoyed the question time and am very grateful for the generous manner of which all of the presenters were prepared to share their own expertise and IP. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the course. I have more information than I know what to do with!”

-Graduate from the 2021 online course

For more information, course outlines, costs and to register, click on the button below

FIND OUT MORE

Dates for your diary…

There are many more Educate Plus professional development and networking opportunities planned for the second half of this year. Please keep a look out on the EVENTS page for these opportunities and in the meantime, pencil the following SA/NT Chapter dates in your diary.

Thursday 25 August: SA/NT Chapter Coffee Morning, 7:30am – 9:00am, venues to be confirmed

Wednesday 14 September: SA/NT Chapter Networking Event, venue and time to be confirmed

Thursday 10 November: SA/NT Chapter Coffee Morning, 7:30am – 9:00am, venues to be confirmed

Wednesday 23 November: SA/NT Chapter Networking Drinks and AGM, venue and time to be confirmed

Stay Connected

Stay connected with your fellow Advancement professionals to keep abreast of best practice, discover new approaches and technologies and gain valuable industry insights.

To keep you to up to date with what’s happening at Educate Plus and within your sector, please connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

You can also join the SA/NT Facebook page, a local hub in which to discuss issues and latest trends, ask questions, share insights or tell us others about your achievements.

All Chapter Webinar

Making data-based decisions – using census results to leverage strategy (Webinar)

Does your school, college or university make fact-based strategic decisions from reliable data and information?

Do you know where to find reliable sources of data – both free of charge and by subscription?

Do you have a way to cross-match your data with a specific area?

What are some of the latest findings to come out of the 2021 Census?

What does the ACARA data tell us on future direction and the effects from CoViD-19?

For answers to all of these questions…and more, join Spectrum Analysis for this Collaborative Webinar presentation on Thursday 18 August 2022

Start Time: 12 – 1 pm

Location: Online (via Zoom)

Cost: $35 for Members and $50 for Non-members .

Spectrum Analysis would also like to provide 2 x entry level mapping prizes valued at $800 each for registered and online participants during the webinar. Peter would randomly select the winners during the webinar and make the announcement of winners at the conclusion.

Guest Speaker: Peter Buckingham

Can’t make the live session? Don’t worry…it will be recorded and available post event.

 Learning outcomes

✔ how to identify school, college and university age populations around your educational facility

✔ how to find out what percentage of children attend Independent schools in your area

✔ understand the demographic attributes of local populations including socio-economic status and religious affiliations

✔ understand population forecasts by gender and age groups from 2021 to 2032

✔ other data available for making data-based strategic decisions for your school, college or university in the areas of marketing, enrolments, alumni and community development

✔ see how these data sources can assist a school, college or university make data-based decisions

Who this event is for?

✔ principals, governors, vice chancellors, college leaders and board members of schools, colleges and universities

✔ business and operations managers in schools, colleges and universities

✔ staff in the areas of marketing, enrolments, alumni and community development in schools, colleges and universities

✔ advisers and service providers to schools, colleges and universities

✔ community members interested in understanding reliable data sources and information

✔ students studying education management, governance and management

REGISTER HERE

Welcome to our new members