Around 500 people registered with over 307 attending the ACNC annual Regulator’s Day on Thursday 15 August. Participants included professional advisers and government policy makers, with almost half from charities of varying sizes and types. There was good representation from organisations in rural and regional areas across the breadth of Australia. We had State and Territory regulators, the Commonwealth Privacy Commissioner, as well as the new CEO for the Charity Commission of England and Wales. Not to mention all the senior ACNC leadership team in what was voted the most popular panel session. Feedback has been very positive, with some good suggestions of things to try next time.
Thank you to all who contributed, as participants and speakers. You can revisit the agenda here. Recordings of our speakers from Regulators Day 2024 will be available soon. Stay tuned for more details on our social media channels (Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn).
Below is an abridged version of ACNC Commissioner Sue Woodward AM's opening remarks:
The recent Garma Festival reminded me that Garma, a Yongul word, means a “two-way learning process” —a place where the saltwater meets the fresh water and foam is created. Drawing on that inspiration, I hope we can achieve two-way learning today. You will gain a better understanding of what is happening at the ACNC and at State, Territory, and international levels —and we will learn from you.
Welcome to over 500 registrants, fellow regulators, ACNC Advisory Board members, ACNC Adviser and Sector Forum members, and everyone involved in running charities or other not-for-profits. We are excited to think of all the parts of Australia you are watching from.
The ACNC’s 10th Australian Charites Report shows that the number of registered charities has remained stable at just under 60,000. About half of all charities are entirely volunteer run, with 3.5 million volunteers. The sector employs about 10.5% of Australia’s workforce. Financially, registered charities received nearly $14 billion in donations and bequests, with annual revenue exceeding $200 billion for the first time. However, expenses rose at twice the rate of revenue growth, affecting especially the 31% of charities with annual revenue of less than $50,000.
From my experience in working in the sector and the over 40 speaking engagements I have done since becoming Commissioner, I understand there are significant pressures on the sector, including:
- Insurance costs and difficulties
- Competitive labour market and wages growth
- Changing patterns of volunteering and cost-of-living pressures
- Greater demand for services
- Regulatory overwhelm
- Global issues like delivering aid in conflict zones and the threat of cyber-attacks.
The ACNC team constantly reflects on how we can make a difference. Our core business—registering charities, ensuring they report key information and comply with good governance standards—helps stop the misuse of donated dollars and government funding. We support transparency and good governance, ensuring services reach those in need efficiently and that donors support charities. An accurate Register is at the core of our work.
Recently, the Irish charities regulator’s survey showed a link between public awareness of charity regulation and informed giving practices. Last year, we pushed to grow awareness of the Register, resulting in over 8 million searches. We are determined to keep this number growing.
Public trust and confidence are not easy to measure, but recent Australian research provides some insights. The Community Compass research found that 7 in 10 Australians believe the world is better because of community organisations. Many Australians value these organisations and want to be more involved but are unaware of them. The Charity Register is a good start for those wanting to get involved.
The annual Roy Morgan Net Trust Score of the Australian charities sector showed an increase of over 50%, nearly back to its record high in June 2020. We don’t claim this as our victory, but we recognise our role in the ecosystem. My team and I are here to work for the public good, ensuring trust and confidence in charities on our Register.
Charities are at the forefront of big social issues like the environment, housing, ageing, disability, Closing the Gap, domestic violence, through to cyber safety for young people. They also support social cohesion, reduce isolation and loneliness, and prevent many frontline issues. At the ACNC, we support the work that charities do.
I hope you enjoy hearing from ACNC leaders and other key players in the charities and broader not-for-profit ecosystem. I look forward to our afternoon of two-way learning.
P.S.
The Full Federal Court has handed down a ruling on Equality Australia Public Benevolent Institution status. See more in this edition of TCP.