The Not-for-profit Agenda (Webinar)
Date: 20 Aug 2026
Thursday 20 August | 12:30–1:30PM AEST | Online | Recorded
Presented by Community Directors | FREE to attend | All the latest NFP news
The latest Community Directors news webinar aims to get not-for-profit and charity leaders up to speed in less time than it takes to eat lunch.
Hosted by Community Directors journalist Matthew Schulz, the next edition will feature special guest David Crosbie, chief executive of the Community Council for Australia, the sector’s peak advocacy body.
Crosbie is closely involved in multiple campaigns to ensure that the sector is heard by politicians and the public, including “Let Charities Speak” and “The Australia We Want”. He’s a regular commentator for the Community Advocate and a keen advocate for a better funding deal for the sector. He also speaks out for progress on promised Albanese government reforms as outlined in the Not-for-profit Sector Development Blueprint, and the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on doubling philanthropy by 2030.
His views on the state of play in the sector will be of interest to sector leaders.
Alongside a live Q&A with Crosbie, the August episode will also feature video reports from:
- The “Let Charities Speak” campaign
- Fundraising Institute Australasia’s Katherine Raskob on the new opportunity for charities to argue their case in a world of division
- Melbourne University’s Professor Matthew Harding on the pressing need to reform Australia’s outdated charity laws
- ACOSS president Hang Vo, who urges service providers to keep the humanity in new tech
- David Michell from the Tough Guy Book Club, on the club’s mission to bring “heavy discussion” back to the pub for men
- Professor Arnold Dix, the tunnel engineer and heroic rescuer of 41 men trapped under a Himalayan mountain, on the power of honesty and humility in the face of overwhelming odds
- The Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Cinzia Marrocco on the friendly AI-powered drug-info bot Dib
- Uniting Care’s Jowe Esguerra on Buddy, the app helping staff save hours of admin time.
Key details
Date: Thursday, 20 August
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm AEST
Location: Online | Recorded
Price: FREE
This news program is designed for anyone with an interest in the latest news in the not-for-profit sector.
Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Adelaide, Darwin: 12.00pm to 1.00pm
Perth: 10.30am to 11.30am
Yes, the session will be recorded.
Yes. We will share a copy of the slides will all who register for this session.
On the show
Matthew Schulz
Journalist, Editor | Community Directors
Matthew is a communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience, specialising in producing in-depth coverage of the big issues facing not-for-profits, charities and government in the community sector. Before joining Community Directors’ parent social enterprise Our Community in 2017, he was an online editor, producer and reporter for the Herald Sun; wrote for several community newspapers in Melbourne and Adelaide; and worked in community housing. He shared a Walkley Award for online coverage of the 2009 “Black Saturday” Victorian bushfires.
David Crosbie
CEO | Community Council for Australia
David Crosbie is CEO of the Community Council for Australia. He has spent more than 20 years as CEO of significant charities including eight years in his current role at CCA, four years as CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, seven years as CEO of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia, and seven years as CEO of Odyssey House Victoria.
What people say...
"It was great to hear different perspectives in brief, practical updates – I came away feeling informed and encouraged."
"Great mix of speakers and short videos – it kept things engaging and covered a wide range of topics really well."
"Informative, relevant and well-paced – the sessions were the right length and easy to stay engaged with."