WA Chapter eNews October 2020 - 12 October 2020

From your Chapter President

Dear Members,

This is my last newsletter for Educate Plus as I am stepping down as President at the AGM in November. I would like to thank all institutions for supporting our WA Chapter as members, and I encourage everyone to continue their membership in 2021. It has been a wonderful experience, and I would like to invite you to get involved as a committee member of our branch. You get to work with some amazing people from within our industry. The Commitment is not large, and the team we have is fantastic and love to try new ideas. If you are interested in knowing more, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Committee Members or me. Please click on the button below to access the online Nomination form. We would love you to come on board.

Committee Nomination Form

 

What a year! This year COVID has provided us with many things – firstly the overuse of certain words and phrases, and I have to say that I cringe every time I hear them used. Here are some of the most used terms. I have to say I thought ‘unprecedented’ would have been higher.

Jokes aside, it has been a year we will never forget, and unfortunately, we are not through it yet.  What I have loved, from a school perspective, is that it has forced us to improve our digital skills, especially in the teaching and learning space.  We have had to be agile, creative, innovative and be able to pivot quickly in a new direction. It has shown us what opportunities technology can provide, us, and in some cases, we will not be reverting back to our old ways.

For me, in the Community Relations Department, we have been using Zoom for Parent Engagement. We use Zoom Meetings for our parent book clubs and Zoom Webinars for parent presentations; for example, we did one on Anxiety. What I found was that the attendance grew, and we were able to engage our boarding community more. Also, with the ability to record the sessions easily, we have added this to our parent resource library too. I don’t believe that we do everything via Zoom as we need in-person interaction, but I definitely think that some events will continue to run this way.

I look forward to seeing you at the final event this year, our AGM on Wednesday 11 November starting at 2.00 pm. This will consist of some PD, the AGM (10 minutes) and then a celebratory glass of wine and lots of networking. Please save the date! More information to follow soon.

AGM Event Information

Margo Bastow
Educate Plus WA Chapter President

 

Let’s make 2021 the ‘Year of the Customer.’

Let’s make 2021 the ‘Year of the Customer.’

by Margo Bastow GAICD, F.EdPlus. Director of Community Relations, Santa Maria College, WA

This year I focussed heavily on improving my customer’s experience, and I spent a considerable time reviewing my school’s customer’s journey in relation to an enrolment.

It was such a great process to undertake, and it really was eye-opening. If there is one thing, I would recommend it would be for the marketing department to work with your enrolments team to do this, if you haven’t already. What you need to do is walk in your customer’s shoes. Look at every bit of correspondence/information a customer receives, where they get it from, and every action they need to take to enrol at your institution.

A key finding for me was that we needed to re-write some of our correspondence to reflect our brand’s tone.  It also highlighted the need for us to streamline the communication and improve the online user experience by moving our enrolment application process online.

In relation to the online enrolment process, I came across a  product called EnrolHQ that serves my purposes with regard to online enrolments and email automation however if you are going down this path make sure you also check out Digistorm and EnquiryTracker.  

 

So what does my Customer Journey look like?

My Customer Journey is on one A3 page, and I have divided into the following sections, bearing in mind my school is full and has strong waitlists in all grades.

  • Awareness
  • Consideration
  • Commitment
  • Waiting (Some of our customers wait 1 – 13 years until they get to the interview stage)
  • Onboard
  • Waiting
  • Advocacy

At each stage I documented

  • what they would be thinking,
  • how the school connects with the customer and through which channels at each stage
  • how they would be feeling
  • what are the business goals, and
  • how do we measure, what are the KPI’s

Here is my template to get you started.

Putting your customer journey together will take some time, but the outcome will be worth it.  Please remember the customer experience needs to be continuously reviewed and refined; it is not a stagnant document. You should always be thinking about how you can improve your customer’s experience, whether it is what you send them or how they interact with your technology.  Make it easy for them to do business with you!!!!!!!

Good luck with your customer journey and thank you again for supporting Educate Plus. 

 

Marketing SIG report

Marketing SIG report

Marketing SIG – Crisis Comms – Lessons from 2020

In September we were extremely lucky to have Kerryn McKinnon, Director Of Strategic Communications at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth present on ‘Crisis Comms – Lessons from 2020.

Keryn McKinnon has more than 26 years’ experience as a senior corporate communications and media manager, public affairs adviser, newspaper editor and senior journalist.
In her previous role as Manager, Government Media in the office of former Premier Colin Barnett she oversaw the strategic communications planning for the Premier and Liberal and National Cabinet Ministers. Her expertise covers stakeholder engagement, crisis communication, media relations, event management, corporate communications and marketing and promotion across both traditional and digital media.
Kerryn shared with us a variety of case studies, some got it right and some had epic fails. Kerryn pointed out that never before have communicators needed to be so agile and responsive. The take-aways from this event were extremely valuable, so thank you Kerryn and also a thank you to those Educate Plus members who also shared their stories and experience with us.

Alumni and Fundraising SIG report

Alumni and Fundraising SIG report

Reclaim 2020

The WA Chapter of Educate Plus hosted an Alumni and Fundraising professionals SIG (Special Interest Group) event with guest speaker Heiko Plange, the Head of Fundraising at the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Held in August at PLC, the WA Chapter invited Heiko to present ideas on How to Reclaim 2020 – fundraising amidst a global pandemic, how do we recover? Speaking to 25 WA Alumni and Development Professionals, Heiko gave an insightful presentation that shifted the focus from trying to survive a crisis to turning a crisis into a long-term growth opportunity.  He said, “a crisis creates an opportunity to move your Alumni Relations and Fundraising program, unlike any other time”. 

Engaging the audience, Heiko explored the leadership behaviours required across our profession to position alumni and development programs ready to accelerate out of the Covid-19 pandemic – to be bigger, stronger and more responsive.

Upcoming events and professional development

Upcoming events and professional development

Many of you have been taking advantage of some particularly valuable online PD opportunities offered by Educate Plus during the Lockdown period. For those members who haven’t yet had the opportunity to catch-up on your viewing, we highly recommend a couple of binge sessions. To access this goldmine of resources you’ll need to be logged into the Educate Plus Members’ Section.

You’ll find a huge array of topics – literally something for everybody!

And coming up in the next month, another selection of unmissable opportunities. Register now!

A Tertiary Webinar featuring Global Philanthropic Senior Consultant Chanel Hughes

Communicating for impact

Date: Thursday 22 October 2020
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am (AEST) Please check your local time.
Venue:  Online interactive zoom meeting
Cost:  FREE – for members and non-members

Register Here

Innovations, Opportunities, Changes and Successes in 2020.

VICTAS Online Alumni Relations SIG – Part 1

Date: Tuesday 27 October 2020
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Online zoom discussion. Register and receive link to join.

Register Here

A Tertiary Webinar featuring Kate RobertsonUniversity of Tasmania
Graeme Mullin, University of Otago 
Lucy Moore, QUT

Advancement in the time of COVID19. What did we learn? What’s here to stay?

Date: Wednesday 4 November, 2020
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm (AEST). Please check your local time.
Venue:  Online webinar
Cost:  FREE to members (log-in), $35 for non-members

Register  Here

2021. What does it look like for you? 

VICTAS Alumni Relations SIG – Part 2

Date: Wednesday 11 November, 2020
Time: 2:00pm onwards
Cost: TBC
Venue: TBC
Cost:  TBC

Save the Date

 

Focusing on 2021 – WA Chapter PD, AGM and End of Year Celebration – SAVE THE DATE

WA Chapter Networking Event and AGM

Date: Wednesday 11 November, 2020
Time: 2:00pm onwards
Cost: TBC
Venue: TBC
Cost:  TBC

Save the Date

 

We are currently in the planning phase for more upcoming webinars/workshops. All will be announced in our weekly emails, social media and on the events page on our website.

Face to Face October edition to be released Oct 15

Face to Face October edition to be released Oct 15

We are excited to announce the publishing of our new online, immersive and interactive Face to Face magazine which provides information on topics that would that will remain useful as time passes.

By now, many of you will be back at your institutions ready for the last months of 2020, so it seems appropriate that this issue should focus on the lessons learned and the solutions found as we traversed this very unusual year. Expertly curated by our highly informed team of talented writers, we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy being inspired by the very best of Advancement. 

This publication focusses on the theme of ‘2020 Vision – Excellence in the field of Advancement’. Our writers have shared stories about looking forward to a brighter future with new ideas and lessons learned. With 2020 Vision, what went right, what had to be re-imagined, what was brought forward to make the future outlook a little brighter? This edition is filled with heart warming stories with examples of real changes, lessons learned and new ways of operating that worked. Read about the achievements, new innovative ideas and how flexibility helped you shape future processes.

Do you have new goals for 2021 that you will aspire to achieve? Then don’t miss out on this unputdownable read! It will arrive in your inbox tomorrow morning or for those who requested a hard copy, it was posted on Monday 12 and will arrive soon, depending on the Australian Post delivery service in your area. We welcome your feedback when you read your copy.

Provide feedback

Educate Plus KnowledgeBank

Educate Plus KnowledgeBank

Would you like to be inspired, learn something new or keep informed? Do you want to work on your own personal development? How about learning more about your profession by listening to experts in your field?

We have created a portal, the Educate Plus KnowledgeBank of valuable resources available for our members. We offer the help you need to continue to build your career and find the assistance you need in your day-to-day role by making it easier to find the best available practice and expertise in Advancement, provided by industry experts. Our goal is to make available to you the information and resources you need to make your performance more efficient and productive. 

Watch or listen to our Special Interest Group discussions to hear your peers openly discuss issues, tried solutions and their positive results. Listen as our members do what Educate Plus members do best, support and help eachother through the sharing of knowledge, tools and processes.

You have the option to sit and watch the video recording of each webinar online in your own time. You can also subscribe to your favourite podcast channel and listen on your way to work to our latest recordings. Don’t just listen to us about the value offered by these resources, read some member testimonials here.

List of available resources

The Latest in the Educate Plus Webinar Series

  • Effective communications
  • How to maximise ROI with video
  • SEO for Not for Profits
  • Videos in Isolation
  • Engage using LinkedIn
  • Communication Overload!
  • FB Advertising Workshop Pt 1 & 2
  • How to continue marketing growth through the COVID crisis
  • Strategic planning
  • Best practice in fundraising outreach and communications during Covid-19 
  • Annual Giving Show and Tell
  • Fundraising Essentials in a COVID world
  • Leading the way in cutting edge fundraising and community engagement
  • Fundraising: Impactful strategic planning for your fundraising and specific campaign goals
  • Managing the process remotely
  • Leading Practice in current times
  • Engagement Strategies
  • Admissions & Marketing – Turning future families into raving fans…
  • Engaging with Alumni & Donors in a crisis
  • Online SIG
  • Alumni and Community Relations SIG
  • Donor and Prospect Research in NZ – What? Why? How?
  • Tax – DGR Guidelines
  • NZ Coffee & Conversation
  • Managing yourself through change
  • Leading others through change
  • The Power of Mentoring
  • Waving or drowning… Managing your Small Advancement Office
  • Impact of recent events on schools
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Case of Faith-based Institutions (NZ)
  • Redirect: Strategy changes in Universities. How does this impact our work?
  • Donor Stewardship: the key to success
  • We are all digital experts. Or are we?
When will international students be able to return to Western Australia?

When will international students be able to return to Western Australia?

International students may be able to enter Australia by July subject to strict procedures, but this might not be the case with Western Australia which has refused to set a date for the reopening of its interstate borders.

According to ABC News, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in an address on Friday that Australians will be able to travel anywhere throughout the country except for Western Australia.

“I think the only state or territory likely to fall out of that is still possibly Western Australia, but there is a commitment from the Premier to continue to look at this issue,” he was quoted saying.

“The Premier in Western Australia will make the argument that containing the borders of Western Australia has enabled them to move [faster]. They’re effectively on step three now, with the exception of that one item [the border closure].”

Read More

 

‘Bright future with or without COVID’: International students drawn to WA despite closed border

International students will still want to study in Western Australia with or without the COVID pandemic looming over the sector but the border ‘needed to open’, according to a Perth university leader.

Just two months ago, one-third of international university students destined for Australia would divert their studies somewhere else if they could start face-to-face learning elsewhere sooner.

Global education specialists IDP Education surveyed 4312 students with current offers from universities in Australia, Canada, UK, US and New Zealand and found those accepted into Australia were among the least confident about taking up their study in 2021.

IDP Connect’s survey found 29 per cent of students destined for Australia preferred to study elsewhere if they were able to start sooner, and a further 8 per cent had chosen already to switch.

Read More

New Tertiary +U portal

New Tertiary +U portal

Welcome to +U, a unique page for our tertiary members, where you can access information that is relevant to your role and your institution. Use this portal to connect to our tertiary events, resources and forums. Find information about learning opportunities, links to online discussions and engagement with mentors and peers.

Working in advancement within the tertiary education sector can be very rewarding. It can also be challenging navigating through the complexities of a tertiary environment.

Whether you work in a diversified team at a university or are a solo operator at a Residential College, this portal is just for you. The content is aimed solely at the tertiary market and the speakers, articles and mentors all operate in that space.

We are half way through our four part series. The first two sessions in the series are available here to watch in our library: We are all digital experts. Or are we? and Redirect: Strategy changes in Universities. How does this impact our work? and registrations are available for the remaining two sessions:

Visit portal

Residential Colleges – Educate Plus purposefully supporting you

Educate Plus is committed to more fully supporting this special sector within our membership by creating a forum focusing specifically on the needs, challenges and opportunities of Residential College Advancement professionals. To this end, we have crafted a four-part webinar series specifically for Residential College colleagues titled, ‘In Conversation with ….’, which kicked off with Global Philanthropic Asia Pacific President and CEO Nick Jaffer and Mandy McFarland, Director of Advancement, St Catherine’s College, UWA hearing directly from you what tailored support Educate Plus can offer you and your staff, and how best to craft our data collection to create a useful study that benefits the whole sector.

The following is our Residential Colleges program which will continue for the rest of the year on a monthly basis.

Session 1: Thursday 27 August 10:00am Benchmarking for success: What data do you need? (video available on request)
Session 2: Wednesday 30 September 10:00am Donor Stewardship: the key to success
Session 3: Thursday 22 October 10:00am Measuring your communications
Session 4: Thursday 19 November 10:00am Successful Alumni engagement programs (TBC)

We invite you to provide feedback – either to support these topics or suggest others that may be more immediately useful to you. All feedback is highly valued and will be used to shape a burgeoning program over the next 6-12 months.

Find out more

Welcome to our newest members!

Welcome to our newest members!

A very warm welcome to our new members. We are thrilled to have you join us and look forward to meeting you in person (hopefully some time in the near future) at one of our events. Virtual greetings will have to do until then. Please take advantage and catch up on our recent online zoom sessions which are all available in our 2020 Resources section and also as podcasts. Ensure you are logged in to avail of this benefit.

Please join our private FaceBook Group and join in the conversation with local industry peers. Feel free to pop any questions of items of interest in there or just say hello!

 

First Name Last Name Job Title Current Employer
Roy McNamara-Smith Director: Centre for Youth Innovation St Catherine’s College UWA
Michelle Hort Marketing Specialist St George’s Anglican Grammar School
Annamaria Cream Director of Community Relations/Registrar St Brigid’s College
Emilie Emilien Administration Officer St George’s Anglican Grammar School
Ashayla Ramsay Media & Communications Aquinas College, WA
Irene Rousseau Administration Officer St George’s Anglican Grammar School
Jason  Wakefield IT Manager St George’s Anglican Grammar School