The politics of abundance and the perils of 'zero-sum' thinking
Posted on 11 Nov 2025
‘It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero-sum game. Somebody wins and somebody loses’.
Want to make this year the one you achieve your organisation’s biggest goals? Then you’ve got to prepare. And we can help.
From this month, we’re hosting the Festival of Community Directors, “a year-long celebration of community governance”, with events and training aimed at inspiring and educating community leaders. Why? Well, Roman ancient Marcus Cicero stressed “diligent preparation” before action more than 2000 years ago. And US Speaker Nancy Pelosi last year urged more women to step into leadership, with the advice: “Organise, don't agonise.”
As our Community Directors Council chair Susan Pascoe (AM) says: “The organisations meeting and exceeding their goals are, almost without fail, well-governed by competent boards with a healthy culture and a commitment to continual improvement”. That's why our Festival is a packed program covering ethics, human resources, communications, policy, strategy, finance, testing impact, whistleblowing, fundraising, AGMs and much more.
Talking of preparation, in this edition we've asked Ms Pascoe and several other not-for-profit experts to predict the biggest challenges and opportunities you’ll face this year. Completing our new national survey of the sector’s big issues will help that knowledge grow too, alongside a chance to win great prizes – including tickets to the unmissable Communities in Control Conference on May 20-21.
Posted on 11 Nov 2025
‘It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero-sum game. Somebody wins and somebody loses’.
Posted on 03 Sep 2024
National Child Protection Week 2024 (September 1–7) is an ideal time to reflect on how we can…
Posted on 28 Sep 2023
Two of Victoria’s longest running drug and alcohol services are set to merge into a single…
Posted on 10 Nov 2025
ANN SHERRY AO on "Advocacy and social change" in Radical Moderate.
Posted on 13 Feb 2024
A report on price gouging by former ACCC chief Allan Fels has confirmed the worst suspicions of…
Posted on 15 Jul 2018
Alexander conquered the known world in his twenties. Caesar conquered Gaul. Frederick the Great won…
Posted on 10 Nov 2025
ADELE STOWE-LINDNER on "Principled leadership and good governance" in Radical Moderate.
Posted on 10 Nov 2025
JOEL DEANE on "The future of radical moderation" in Radical Moderate.
Posted on 29 Oct 2025
One of the most contentious debates across many areas of human services is the for-profit versus…
Posted on 08 Oct 2024
The controversy over the display of flags linked to Hezbollah – designated a terrorist organisation…
Posted on 27 Aug 2025
It used to be that businesses could concentrate on profits, profits and profits, only playing in…
Posted on 15 Oct 2025
Tomorrow (Thursday) will see the release of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s annual…