The Weekly
Acting CEO Top of Mind
Jessica Mackenzie, what is at the top of your mind this week?
This week is NAIDOC Week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee). The 2023 NAIDOC week follows the theme of ‘For Our Elders’ to honour and celebrate all they have done for their community and families. It is Australia’s first NAIDOC week with a First Nations Ambassador. We celebrate that Ambassador Mohamed is already sharing his thoughts on plans for the year ahead and what will take shape in Australia’s First Nations Foreign Policy space, including in the online panel held this week by AP4D (see details below).
This week the Policy and Advocacy Team have also been visiting members in Melbourne and Sydney and conducting workshops to discuss policy priorities. We would like to thank everyone who made the effort to attend these workshops, there was lively discussion of how the sector can promote the value of partnering with NGOs and civil society, which asks and areas of policy to prioritise and where to raise the level of ambition. Discussions with the Department of Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water have also been ongoing about the design of the global loss and damage fund and the department is keen to engage with civil society on the technical aspects of the fund including how to define vulnerability. If you would like to be involved reach out to [email protected]
To Note
NAIDOC Week
This NAIDOC Week, ACFID has reflected on the theme ‘For Our Elders’. The journey in bringing forward this pivotal moment in our nation’s history is underpinned by work performed through many generations and is a gift for generations to come. ACFID is proud to answer the Uluru Statement’s call for Makarrata and is a signatory to the statement released this week by over 70 RAP partners in support of constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament and a “yes” vote in the Referendum. We encourage other RAP Partner organisations to consider signing on – reach out to Reconciliation Australia for more information #NAIDOC23.
For any members interested in learning more about how they can get involved in The Voice, please visit the ACFID website for more information and resources.
To Attend
Preparing your ACFID Code reporting
The ACFID Code team is holding a webinar for anyone involved in preparing their organisation’s Code Self-Assessment or Exceptions Report.
This webinar will cover:
– Tips and advice on completing the Code Self-Assessment
– How to submit your Code Self-Assessment or Exceptions Report through ACFID’s online portal
– FAQs and the opportunity to ask questions
When: Tuesday 11 July
Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
Where: Online
To Note
ACFID Code Review – July update
ACFID has revised the proposed changes to the ACFID Code in response to feedback received in May and June.
Read a summary of the revisions, and view ‘marked up’ and ‘clean’ versions of the Code of Conduct and Quality Assurance Framework on the Code Review webpage. We welcome feedback on the revisions or other proposed changes by Friday 14 July, via email [email protected].
Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to the ACFID Code Review consultations. It has been a privilege to engage with a wide range of our members through the review process, and to hear your thoughtful reflections on the Code and how it relates to the work that you do.
What happens next?
- We are now reaching the decision stage of the Code Review.
- The proposed changes will be considered and then approved by the Code of Conduct Committee (mid-July) and the ACFID Board (early August).
- The CCC and Board approved changes will be shared with all ACFID member CEOs by 18 August.
- The changes to the Code of Conduct will be presented to ACFID Council for approval at ACFID’s AGM on 18 October as part of the 2023 ACFID Conference.
Will there be any more changes?
The CCC and ACFID Board may decide to make some edits in approving the proposed changes. Any additional edits will be communicated to all members ahead of the AGM.
When will the changes come into effect?
We anticipate that the changes to the Code and Quality Assurance Framework will come into effect in mid-2024. Further information will be provided to members in the coming months.
To Attend
Lunch and Learn – MYACFID and the CoPs platform 101
With ACFID’s recent IT transition and subsequent login issues, many members have held off creating new accounts and accessing benefits such as Communities of Practice. We apologise for the disruptions but are pleased to let you know that we are strongly encouraging staff to jump back in and take a look around. This session will give you an overview of the features you can access and how to make it more user friendly!
This session will benefit anyone wanting to engage with ACFID, and we highly recommend at least one person from each organisation join us for this overview. Bring your lunch and list of questions!!!!
Who: ACFID
When: Thursday 27 July 2023
Time: 12 – 1pm AEST
Where: Online
To Note
Humanitarian Reference Group
The Humanitarian Reference Group will be conducting lobbying meetings at Parliament on the 31st of July focussed on how Australia can respond effectively to protracted crises. Asks will include implementing a standing humanitarian exemption to sanctions regimes, doubling of the Humanitarian Emergency Fund and improved education and gender investments. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to know more.
To Note
Media Release
$50 million for climate financing was announced by PM Albanese this week under the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership to attract private climate finance to Indonesia. You can read more here.
To Attend
Charity Sector Town Hall Meeting with Andrew Leigh
The Government has initiated a Productivity Commission review into giving and we’ve started work on a Blueprint for strengthening the capacity and capability of Australian charities.
These upcoming town hall conversations will be an opportunity to discuss the work being done and to get your views on priority areas for reform or support.
When and Where:
• Tuesday 11 July | 9.15 am – 10.30 am, City of Perth Library Auditorium
• Wednesday 12 July | 10.00 am – 11.15 am, Brisbane Town Hall
• Thursday 13 July | 10.00 am – 11.15 am, Paranaple Centre, Devonport City Council & Library
• Friday 14 July | 10.00 am – 11.15 am, Adelaide Town Hall
RSVP at this online registration form. If you aren’t able to register online, just email [email protected].
To Attend
CID Annual Conference 2023
This year our annual conference will bring together international NGOs, multilateral organisations, government departments, businesses, social enterprises, independent consultants, academics, and media, from across Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Asia-Pacific and globally.
Several Keynote speakers have already been announced (with many more to be announced soon) including:
- Kanni Wignaraja – UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific
- Professor Steven Ratuva, Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury
- Robert Oliver MNZM – Executive Director, Pacific Island Food Revolution (PIFR)
- Siale Ilolahia – Executive Director, Pacific Island Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
- Marc Purcell – CEO, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
When: 20-21 September 2023
Where: In person held at the Parliament Banquet Hall and Pipitea Marae, Wellington
Who: Everyone is welcome!
The Early Bird Sale is open now. Click here to know more and register.
Previously in The Weekly:
- Proposed changes to the ACFID Code – Read more on the Code Review webpage.
- ACFID anticipates the release of the Government’s new Development Policy, led by DFAT in the coming weeks. Read our submissions below.
| Date | Time (AEST) | Event |
| 10 July | 6:30pm | Australian Democracy Network Event |
| 11-14 July | Charity Sector Town Hall Meeting with Andrew Leigh | |
| 11 July | 12pm – 1pm | Preparing your ACFID Code reporting |
| 12 July | 3:00pm – 6:00pm | Climate Resilient by Nature Learning Event |
| 12 July | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 27 July | 12 – 1pm | Lunch and Learn – MYACFID and the CoPs platform 101 |
| 30 August | 9:30am – 11:30am | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 20 – 21 September | CID Annual Conference 2023 | |
| 18-19 October | ACFID National Conference 2023 (Sydney) | |
| 16 November | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
Food for Thought
To mark NAIDOC Week, AP4D hosted an online panel discussion to commemorate and celebrate Australia’s First Nations heritage, and linkages with our Pacific family. This comes as Australia is actively looking for ways to forge closer bonds between Indigenous communities and see how these connections might be able to inform our diplomacy, development and defence activities.
Australia’s inaugural First Nations Ambassador Justin Mohamed spoke of his desire for a longer timeline in which to work towards a First Nations Foreign Policy, and his desire to see traditional knowledge and customs embedded into the space.
To view the video click here.