AuSAE Member Update from CEO, Toni Brearley
I hope you are continuing to keep safe, well and connected during these uncertain times.
Over the weekend, the Federal Government released a statement regarding the concessional test for registered charities to receive the JobKeeper Payment. Charities that are registered with the national regulator (ACNC) will be eligible for the Government’s $130 billion JobKeeper Payment if they have suffered a 15% decline in turnover as a result of the coronavirus (reduced from 30%). To read this statement please click here.
Late Monday afternoon, on behalf of members, AuSAE released a letter to the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and the Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral matters commending and welcoming the threshold reduction for charities, however asked all not-for-profits be considered in this concession or a tailored approach to address organisations with a cyclical annual income cycle. To read this letter please click here. You are welcome to share this with your local member of parliament.
We also raised this issue with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) who took the matter to Treasury’s Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit meeting on Monday. Parliament is due to pass the JobKeeper legislation today. We will keep you updated on the result.
We will continue to work with you and advocate on behalf of associations, as we recognise the incredible work the sector is currently undertaking coupled with the vulnerability the sector is feeling during this time.
Yesterday following the National Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister released an agreed Code of Conduct of SME Commercial Leases and health system modelling. Further information can be found here.
AuSAE Support Services
AuSAE has reached out to member Paul Greenberg, Non Executive Director, NORA Network and National Retail Association. Paul is also a registered psychologist, and during this time has reached out to his network to kindly offer up his Fridays to provide free online counselling sessions. He has created a short video for our AuSAE members and community and extends his free counselling sessions to our network who might want to discuss their mental health and wellbeing in these challenging times.
To view this video please click here: https://youtu.be/pmeAC1iDmYc. We thank Paul for his generosity and support of the association sector. To contact Paul please email: paul.greenberg@nora.org.au.
As this Friday is a public holiday, we will not be conducting our usual “Virtual Coffee” meeting, however we will be back on Friday 17th April talking about membership renewals. To join us register here.
AuSAE Webinar Series – Strengthening Associations
Last week we launched our AuSAE Webinar Series – Strengthening Associations. We hope this series will assist you to re-focus on what impact the current situation has had on your Association, and the critical things you can do to see this through. This series will occur every Wednesday until the end of June and will cover topics such as; financial distress indicators, membership redefined, pivoting to virtual events, culture during change and more. This webinar series is complimentary for AuSAE members, to register or find out more please click here.
Support for your Members
We have been speaking with our member, Family Business Australia (FBA) who are offering a COVID-19 Webinar Series for Family Businesses. For any of you who might have family businesses in your membership we encourage you to take a look at this series.
The COVID-19 Webinar Series for Family Business covers topics such as stimulus packages, uncertainty and cashflow, minimising the impact from a legal perspective and employer response. For more information and to register please click here https://bit.ly/3buSxSN.
We are updating our news and resource page daily on our website, if you are looking for information that may assist you or your organisation please check in www.ausae.org.au
Thank you so much for your time again this week, as we find ourselves approaching the Easter break, I encourage you to take this time to step away and reflect on the last few months. The start to this year has been turbulent, unprecedented and ever changing, and I think it’s important for our association leaders to take a step back and look at the vital role your association has played at the coal face of these changes and be very proud of what you and your teams have achieved.
Please reach out to myself or any of the team if we can be of assistance.
Wish you a very happy, safe and restful Easter.
“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. We will be with our friends again. We will be with our families again. We will meet again” Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Warm regards
Toni
Toni Brearley
Chief Executive Officer
Australasian Society of Association Executives
T +61 1300 764 576 M +61 458 000 155
A Unit 6, 26 Navigator Place, Hendra Q 4011
E toni@ausae.org.au W www.ausae.org.au
