The Not-For-Profit Sector in Times of Crisis

The Not-For-Profit Sector in Times of Crisis

Talk about a baptism of fire (well, it was actually water – lots of it!).  No sooner had I slipped into the CEO’s chair ready to start a fresh New Year, I heard a staff member shout, “We’re flooding down here!”  It was Monday 10^th January 2011 and I was sitting in my second floor office listening to the rain lash (with unusual ferocity) against our gorgeous old building.  My first reaction was to assume that our heritage roof and window fittings just couldn’t take any more of the punishment being inflicted upon them – not for a moment did I expect to see water pouring in from the street through closed doors and solid panes of glass.

A few minutes later, the Director of our Occasional Care Centre was on the phone advising me that the grounds and building were inundated and the children were being evacuated.  Parents were being phoned to collect their children but many were stranded by flood waters.  Meanwhile, people were being rescued from cars and buildings in our city street as furniture, cars, sheds, windows, doors and water tanks were swept down the street at a frightening speed. The one section of our facility that was not underwater rapidly became an evacuation centre where we cared for many wet and distressed, but fortunately safe, neighbours.  I rang my husband to warn him of the events that were unfolding in downtown Toowoomba on that fateful afternoon, to which he responded, “So, did you really want to take that job?”

The flood and cyclone crises that put Queensland to the test at the start of 2011 have highlighted the critical role of Australia’s not-for-profit sector.  In recent years, the occurrence of so many disasters has made the phrase “look after your mates” a little clichéd; however, it’s actually a very true and very distinctive element of the Australian way of life.  I believe that it is Australia’s large not-for-profit sector that creates and reinforces our “look after your mates” philosophy, and provides the vital link between Government support and private enterprise.

Having lived in a country in which there was a high expectation that the Government would provide everything, and having spent considerable time in another country in which corporatisation was the way to go, I quickly learnt to appreciate living in a nation which values a balance between the three sectors – Government, Not-For-Profit and Private/Corporate Business. Interweaving the benefits of all three sectors contributes to the rich tapestry of our Australian society and delivers benefits far beyond those that could be realised by one sector alone.

So despite being hit by flood waters themselves, our not-for-profit organisations, their loyal staff and volunteers came to the fore and continued to help those who were affected by Mother Nature’s fury.  The visual and anecdotal documentation of Australians helping Australians is inspirational and serves to remind us all of why we are really here – to make the experience of life as rich as we possibly can for everyone we come into contact with. 

Initially the Government instigated a range of initiatives to assist the private sector to get back on its feet so that services could be provided and employees could remain employed.  Fortunately it took only a relatively small amount of lobbying to Anna Bligh and Julia Gillard for the Government support to be extended to not-for-profit organisations so that they too could continue to provide services and keep their employees on the payroll.  We have three sectors contributing to the Australia that we all want to live in.  We must all take responsibility to ensure that all three sectors continue to be supported and continue to collaborate in a partnership approach so that Australians enjoy a high quality of life – come rain, hail, wind, or shine.

It is an honour to be part of the professional, dedicated Kath Dickson team who play such a key role in our communities.  On that fateful January afternoon when I was asked, “So, did you really want to take that job?”, I’m sure I barely hesitated before proclaiming, “You betcha!  I’ll be here - for the rain, the hail, the wind, and for the shine that will come.”

Dr Lisa Hudson

Acting Chief Executive Officer