Sector and AuSAE News

  • 22 Jun 2016 3:49 PM | Deleted user

    Welcomed with open ARMS


    The Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) is host to more than 2,100 specialists in the management and administration of research from across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea & Singapore. In 2017, the most important date on the society’s calendar is the ARMS Conference, taking place in Wellington (26-29 September 2017).


    Conference Convenor Chris Kroger, of GNS Science in Wellington, is expecting between 500-600 attendees. She believes the majority of delegates will be from Australia, which has the edge in the region in terms of professional development. “There is still some room for improvement here and New Zealanders will really benefit from getting our relevant agencies to see how the other countries do it,” Kroger notes.


    “One thing that is unique to our profession in New Zealand, is there is no training for it; there is no university degree to be a research manager or administrator. Within Australia there is only one place to train in this field. Our members are predominantly research managers and administrators, mainly from publicly-funded research organisations, universities, research institutes, government departments, and some independent research arms. Health, biotech, or geoscience research - these are key areas and big questions to get right,” she says. “We deal with managing research; it involves securing funding, making sure research contracts are fulfilled, that they are ethical, within the law. All of these things are really important and a lot of damage can be done if getting it wrong. A lot of what is needed we learn on the job.


    “So this conference is extremely valuable, to learn how other people are doing the job, and to get a bit of recognition for our profession. Ultimately, the things we learn at these conferences make the process more efficient and safe. It is also a very good opportunity to strengthen networks. Plus, all this knowledge inevitably makes people more employable, it's a real advantage.”


    Solid support


    Kroger notes that she has received outstanding support from Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team in bringing the event to Wellington: “We received support from Tourism New Zealand’s Conference Assistance Programme in putting the proposal together in a really nice format, and help in putting a budget together. They provided funding to go over to Sydney to present the proposal, and paid for the ARMS executive and their PCO to fly over to Wellington to look at the venue and discuss a few things. What's also not to be sneezed at is all the insider advice - what do you think about this venue, how about this for social functions?” She is now working with Tourism New Zealand on marketing materials for distribution within New Zealand and at this year's international ARMS event in Melbourne, to increase attendance.


    “The support has been above and beyond what I expected - I don’t think I would have taken on the role without that help.”


    Wonderful Wellington


    Having hosted the event in Auckland and Christchurch in previous rotations, Wellington was chosen for 2017 to tie in with the theme of securing funding and collaboration. “We hope to involve relevant government agencies and have them contribute, and the best opportunities are in Wellington,” Kroger says.


    Initially concerns were raised that the destination might mean two flights for some overseas attendees, but Kroger points out that the new direct flight from Canberra to Wellington (starting this year) has helped in connecting the research hubs within both capitals.


    Wellington’s compact layout and excellent network of venues and accommodation may also help in attracting attendees: “It is walkable. That's convenient - people like to have a bit of a stretch. Not having to take transport also contributes to costs, so research offices might send more than one person because it is cost-effective to come here.”


    The wider appeal of the destination should also work as a draw for attracting delegates from Australia and further afield, says Kroger, who originally hails from Germany. “New Zealand is a beautiful country. People will have the opportunity to enjoy it. Wellington also has a lot of options, going south and going north.”


    She adds: “Te Papa is a really good venue. It's big enough to hold all of us, and it's unique to have a museum and conference venue. You have the opportunity to clear your mind in the breaks and look at the exhibitions. We traditionally have a gala dinner and reception and we are looking at all the good options in Wellington for those. We are also working with Positively Wellington to see if there is potential to secure World of Wearable Art show tickets as a pre- or post-conference option for those interested. It should be a great event.”


    For further information about Tourism New Zealand please visit 

    www.businessevents.newzealand.com

  • 21 Jun 2016 3:53 PM | Deleted user

    Over the years, SEO has evolved and become much more sophisticated, but you cannot deny that there are still some common mistakes most newcomers and even some veterans continue to commit. It’s better to return to the start and have a look at the tactics you have been employing so far to avoid being the bungling amateur.


    In a nutshell, these are the top ten SEO mistakes that businesses frequently commit. These are also some of the most common SEO mistakes my company regularly find while doing SEO work for our clients at PageTraffic. If you are an SEO, spot these mistakes, blow the whistle and fix them immediately for better results.


    1. Low Quality and Copied Content


    It’s annoying to find a website which has exactly copied your content from top to bottom and still ranks higher than you in Google search results. The same applies to others. Stop being a mimeograph and create your own original content which is authentic and genuine. Create content that is compelling and of some value to users, and Google will definitely reward you with higher rankings in the search results, or lift it from other websites for penalization by Google. The choice is yours.


    2. Internal Duplicate Content


    As condemning as copying content from other websites is duplication within your own website. In-site duplicity occurs when you replicate the same content in more than one location within your website or use the same title tags and Meta descriptions on multiple pages. While the former is typically seen on e-commerce sites with several pages listing the same set of products, the latter occurs when content management systems auto generate page titles. Apart from being unique, title tags of each page should represent the content on that page. Don’t slip up on Meta descriptions. Make these as effective and powerful as possible within the 160 character limit.


    3. Using the Right Keywords


    Keywords can be the heart of your SEO campaign if optimized properly. It is not only critical to use keywords that best reflect the products sold by you but also coordinates with what the searcher types in the search box. Be specific while using keywords. You might think that this particular keyword is fit for your industry but searchers might not necessarily think the same. Before incessantly inserting keyword phrases in your content, get yourself educated on keyword research and analysis first. Another unscrupulous tactic used by SEOs is unnecessarily inserting keywords in the web pages just to improve a site’s ranking unnaturally. The recurring words and phrases create a bad impression and can even earn you a Google penalty.


    4. Broken Links


    Think of it this way. You see a link, which claims to show you how you will look after 20 years. But clicking on it no longer directs you to the page it is intended to, because it is broken. Now, isn’t that annoying? Don’t earn yourself bad repute by accumulating many such broken links.


    5. Getting Links from Incredible Sources


    Yes it is difficult to get links from quality sources and equally easier to get them from article directories. But don’t go for quantity at the cost of quality. A single link from a reliable and authentic source is better than dozens from poor quality sources.


    6. Not Using Webmaster Resources


    Matt Cutts, Google’s Ex head of Search Spam, said that not using webmaster resources and learning about how Google works, is another common SEO mistake. Configure your Google Analytics and Search Console to be updated about your website’s data. Set up conversion goals, reports, and track which keywords and phrases convert the most.


    7. Not Using the Alt Tag


    Use the Alt tag to name your images. Images cannot be deciphered by the search engines. So you have to fill in the Alt tag to tell the search engine what the image is about. The Alt tag can be a brief descriptive phrase of your image and can include your keyword phrase. Don’t use the same descriptive phrase on more than one image, unless the images are same.


    8. URL Structure


    Just as it is important to target keyword phrases in your content, it is necessary to name your URL structure after your prime keyword phrase. The URL structure should also be relevant to your website content. This URL structure can help search engines and searchers to relate to your content.


    9. Not writing for human beings


    Have you heard about the adage, “Jack of all trades master of none?” Well, avoid being that. Instead of writing about anything and everything, choose an area of authority. Google will definitely not want to show you to the searchers when you don’t have expertise on any particular subject. Obviously, it would like the searchers to get their queries solved from masters on that particular topic. If you still want to write on multifarious topics, then don’t anticipate much traffic from search engines, because as such you are categorized only as a personal blog or website.


    10. Non crawlable site


    Lastly, everything is in vain if your website is not crawlable. According to Google, not enabling your website to be crawled by Googlebot is the biggest mistake made by webmasters. No crawling means no indexing and hence no ranking.

    11. Now, it’s your turn


    Tell me what other SEO mistakes you come across regularly? What is the most frustrating out of the ones above?


    This media release was sourced directly from Business 2 Community.  

  • 21 Jun 2016 11:13 AM | Deleted user

    Recently, Ernie Smith wrote a good piece about starting online communities in Associations Now. In the article, he referred back to the Reddit volunteer moderator revolt I wrote about last August, and offered some tips for organizations just beginning to build online communities. For associations looking to build strong online communities from the ground up, I’d build upon Ernie’s tips a bit, as follows:


    1- DON’T JUST BUILD FOR YOURSELF–BRING EVERYONE ELSE ON BOARD.


    For many associations, the first step in building an online community is purchasing software. While software is the foundation on which your community will live, there are important steps to take before you start building. Start developing relationships and creating a shared vision for what the community can become early on, before you buy any software or even start the selection process. Consider creating a community steering committee who will ultimately become your community champions. The more personal the interactions you establish before the community is built, the more buy-in you’ll have before the community is even up and running–and the easier it will be have those champions begin cultivating a strong community once it’s up and running.


    2 – BUILD A COMMUNITY FROM AN EXISTING BOND.


    This is where associations have a distinct advantage over brands looking to build online communities–association members already have an existing bond, which is baked into the association. However, far from being a slam-dunk, in my experience, this is often a loose bond. Yes, your association represents an industry or a profession, but while that bond does already exist, you may see better success building a community around a smaller segment of the membership with a bond stronger than mere shared membership or professional affiliation. For example, instead of just one overarching community for all members, initially focus on special interest groups, new members, members who hold the association’s certification, etc. Those niche groups will likely bring you some early wins in terms of engagement, participation and enthusiasm about the community, and you can then use those successes and community champions to springboard your community to the broader membership.


    3 – JUST BECAUSE A BOND EXISTS DOESN’T MEAN THEY KNOW YOU DO.


    This one is sort of a head-scratcher for associations, because obviously your members know your organization exists. That said, to grow their community, associations should leverage their other points of contact with members (newsletters, social media, magazines, events, etc.) to continually raise awareness of the community. General calls to action like “Join a conversation with your peers!” are less effective than specific calls to action like “See what [specific member or industry expert] had to say about [hot topic in the field your association represents] this week in our community.” Also, look at your community as a hook to bring new members on board, or at least to raise awareness about your association among the broader community of potential members, customers or event attendees. Even if your community is a member-only benefit, there are ways to surface interactions and resources behind the community wall to larger constituencies.


    4 – MAKE SURE YOUR COMMUNITY MANAGERS ARE GREAT STORYTELLERS.


    Hmmmmmm. What community managers? Let’s get real here. Most association communities don’t have a manager. They took the “if you build it they will come approach”….and the results often are proof positive that this strategy just doesn’t work if you’re trying to build a strong, engaged community (and who isn’t?). My most successful clients have one thing in common: A dedicated community manager. Even if they’re not great storytellers (and most of the ones I work with aren’t!) this is still the #1 predictor of success. If someone is focused on community, the community thrives. Whodathunkit? So storytelling aside, make sure your community managers just ARE…as in, have one–or, ideally, more than one.


    5 – ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT COMMUNITY UPKEEP.


    This one is spot-on and I agree entirely. One of the top roles of a community manager (assuming you have one) is coaching other staff on how to engage in — and harvest the benefits of — the community. The full time community managers I work with hold regular meetings and brown bag lunches with their co-workers to ensure the principles of effective community management are spread far and wide. And more than just community upkeep, the more staff who are aware of what’s going on in the community, the more likely your association is to be successful in integrating the community into all aspects of the association’s other offerings…which, in turn, will fuel continued community growth and engagement.


    This article was originally sourced from Social Fish and was written by Ben Martin.

  • 21 Jun 2016 10:35 AM | Deleted user

    AuSAE Networking Lunches offer a great chance to get out of the office and meet new connections in the sector. Each lunch also features an insightful presentation on various topics of importance. Attending a lunch is a great chance to see what AUSAE really offers which is a place like-minded professionals can gather and share workplace challenges and achievements over a delicious two-course luncheon at a great venue. Check out the upcoming lunches below. We would love to see you there!


    Sydney | From "Compulsory Union Ticket" to "Membership of Choice" on Thursday 7 July

    Stephen Hale (Head of Marketing & Communications at Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia) will share how the MFAA is improving member engagement and retention within the compulsory membership [more]


    Brisbane | Creating a Behaviour Based Culture on Thursday 14 July

    Michelle Trute (CEO at Diabetes Queensland) will explore the behaviours you are really wanting your staff and volunteers to adopt in your organisation. How do you define [more]


    Melbourne | In Conversation with Tom Garcia on Friday 15 July   

    Tom Garcia (CEO at the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees) will discuss the role he has played in driving AIST’s advocacy on the superannuation reforms and governance. He will share his experiences working with government, sharing industry messages and advocating for your members and how his experiences can [more]


    Canberra | How to advocate your Members on Monday 1 August 

    Genevieve Quilty (CEO at Optometry Australia) will discuss Optometry Australia’s responsibility to raise the united concerns of the sector with decision makers and to influence the necessary changes to support [more]

  • 21 Jun 2016 9:36 AM | Deleted user

    ShowGizmo is offering all AuSAE members free Lead qualification or Digital Passport with any app licence. These two features have a standard price of $3000AUD and $1500AUD respectively so, it really is a sweet offer!


    ShowGizmo was founded in 2010 and has produced apps for thousands of events throughout the world. All of their products are beautifully intuitive and designed with maximising engagement at events at the forefront. 


    For further details on this offer and all about ShowGizmo or to arrange a one-on-one demo and to find out more about deploying ShowGizmo at your next event. Contact Josh josh@showgizmo.com Phone 02 8599 7234 www.showgizmo.com.

  • 20 Jun 2016 3:57 PM | Deleted user

    The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at the Queensland University of Technology is undertaking the second Giving Australia study during 2015/2016 on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Social Services and the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership.


    Nonprofit organisations are invited to participate.


    As this survey asks about your resourcing, it is essential that whoever completes it can access information about the organisation’s financial position, fundraising activities and volunteer management.


    If this is does not describe your role, please forward this email to an appropriate person within your organisation.


    What is the survey about?


    This survey focuses on your organisation’s experience with aspects of fundraising and development activities, community business partnerships, social enterprise, volunteers and new technologies.


    The purpose of the Giving Australia 2016 research project is to collect comprehensive, up-to-date information on giving by individuals, collectives and businesses in Australia. With this survey we hope to be able to provide your organisation with information about:

    • What resources successful organisations use in fundraising and volunteer recruitment
    • What resources nonprofits need in order to improve their fundraising or volunteer recruitment
    • What new technologies are being embraced by nonprofits and how these are being used

    In order for this project to be of most benefit to your organisation and the sector as a whole, we need to obtain accurate data from a wide range of organisations. We do hope that you will take up this opportunity to participate in the largest study of giving and volunteering ever undertaken in Australia.


    Click here for the link to the survey. 


    Please complete this survey by 16th July 2016.


    All comments and responses will be treated confidentially. Please note that this study has been approved by the QUT Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 1600000098) and the Australian Government Statistical Clearing House (approval number 02476-01). Our partners in this landmark study are the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology (CSI Swinburne), and the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs. If you have any questions about the authenticity of the survey or about the Giving Australia project in general, please email the Department of Social Services partnerships@dss.gov.au

  • 20 Jun 2016 3:46 PM | Deleted user

    AuSAE has welcomed new members from the following organisations this month.


    Is your organisation on this list? If your organisation is on this list as an AuSAE organisational member but you are unsure if you are part of the membership bundle, please contact the friendly AuSAE team at info@ausae.org.au


    Not on this list? To join AuSAE today please visit our membership information page here.


     Organisation   Membership Level
    Australian Water Association
    Association (Organisational - Small)
    Autism Queensland
    Association Executive (Individual)
    Building Officials Institute of New Zealand
    Young Association Professional
    Cancer Support WA Association Executive (Individual)
    Civil Contractors Federation SA
    Association Executive (Individual)
    Early Childhood Intervention Australia
    Association (Organisational - Small)
    Family Business Australia
    Association (Organisational - Large)
    Group Training Association of NSW & ACT
    Association Executive (Individual)
    InfoComm International
    Association (Organisational - Small)
    Leading Age Services Australia
    Association (Organisational - Small)
    Master Builders Association of Western Australia
    Association (Organisational - Small)
    New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine
    Association Executive (Individual)
    University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association
    Association Executive (Individual)
  • 20 Jun 2016 3:31 PM | Deleted user

    So far we have identified pre-emptive actions, if executed, will prevent Business Discontinuity. Or will they?


    So far you have planned for, created and implemented solutions dealing with prolonged internet availability, missing/ransomed files and even total failure of "the cloud"; so what else could possibly go wrong.


    In words often repeated, once you have executed and tested precautions against known points of failure what remains are the unknown points of failure. These are unknown and render taking precautions as an impossibility. So to do?


    From the editorial desk the answer is plain and simple. Acknowledge that systems will fail in ways yet to be discovered; let alone planned for even if they were knowable. These failures when they occur will without doubt adversely affect your business in ways wide and varied; and expensive and quite probably terminal.


    You must expect the unexpected events to happen. Planning for the unknowable is easy; assume it will happen.


    Create a fail proof means of contacting your customer base in a timely manner, via snail mail if that is what it takes, and let them know the situation and the plan going forward.


    Many many businesses, perhaps most, do not have any form of paper based set of client records. Some don't even know how to contact the Chairman of the Board without access to the online address book. Failure proof records will both save your business and provide the base to get you going again. Expect the worst; it will happen; and when it does reach for the paper based rescue kit. It will tell you phone numbers, emergency contacts and if well prepared even have a recovery checklist.


    Remember: 


    a) Put the paper records in multiple places where they can be readily accessed and

    b) Keep them reasonably up to date; and brief key staff on their existence. 

  • 20 Jun 2016 3:14 PM | Deleted user

    My 18 year old daughter embarked on a big international adventure last month. First stop San Francisco. The farewell was a mix of sadness, joy, envy and pride that someone so young was about to take on the world. An 18 year old international traveller has more in common with an Association Professional than you might think. First and foremost is the real sense of purpose. A burning desire to experience the world. A commitment to also volunteer and help others – facilitated through a range of pre-organised placements. With that purpose came detailed planning to ensure a successful trip. Previous hard work and disciplined saving contributed to a build-up of cash reserves. Sponsors (family) provided valuable underpinning support. To maximise the experience, networking with fellow colleagues and travellers will be important. Learning along the way and risk awareness are both essential. Looking for, and grasping, opportunities en-route (and a dose of good luck) will certainly help. The wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm of an 18 year old traveller compelled me to focus on my purpose (community focused outcomes) and that of AuSAE (career success for Association Professionals). What is your purpose and how can AuSAE assist you to achieve that? Let us know, we would love to hear from you!

  • 20 Jun 2016 2:57 PM | Deleted user

    Young football supporters can now become virtual list managers with a new competition allowing students to leverage their maths and analytical skills to choose the ultimate 2017 Collingwood squad while staying beneath the AFL salary cap.


    The Collingwood Football Club, in collaboration with the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT), have launched a dynamic new national maths competition called the STEM Cup.


    The STEM Cup competition will allow students to assume the role of the Capologist, where they are challenged to build the best team at the best price. Guided by Collingwood National Recruiting Assistant and LifeJourney mentor Dominic Milesi, students will compete to become the nation’s top capologist.


    "Collingwood is delighted to engage Australian STEM students in this important challenge," Collingwood CEO Gary Pert.


    "Our lead capologist Dominic Milesi is arguably our brightest superstar off the field. His unique talent and analysis are critical to our success as a club.


    "Our hope for the Collingwood STEM Cup is to inspire more students to study maths and STEM subjects and build Australia’s future."


    Students, teachers, and parents interested in the STEM Cup can click here to register for the program. The competition officially opens on July 17 and runs through August 20.


    The successful students and schools in each region will be recognised and rewarded with the Collinwood STEM Cup experience, including a behind the scenes VIP experience and draft session with Milesi and contribute to a salary cap planning session.


    The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT) is promoting the initiative with its 4,500-member base of Maths Teachers and their schools so that Australian students can better appreciate the power of mathematics from the classroom to the football field.


    “AAMT is pleased to work with Collingwood and LifeJourney on the STEM Cup," stated AAMT Chief Executive Officer Will Morony.


    "Our teacher members are constantly seeking out unique and interesting programs that provide students with an opportunity to leverage maths skills in a real-world context. Combining the power of football with the importance of maths enables us to accelerate the STEM agenda of our nation."


    Participation in the STEM Cup is offered free of charge. Teachers are encouraged to register their students for the STEM Cup through the website.


    This media release was sourced directly from the Collingwood Football online.


The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE)

Australian Office:
Address: Unit 6, 26 Navigator Place, Hendra QLD 4011 Australia
Free Call: +61 1300 764 576
Phone: +61 7 3268 7955
Email: info@ausae.org.au

New Zealand Office:
Address: 159 Otonga Rd, Rotorua 3015 New Zealand
Phone: +64 27 249 8677
Email: nzteam@ausae.org.au

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