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Example Projects

Some of the projects undertaken by our team are listed below, including some completed in conjunction with others.  Not all of our services involve producing a publicly available report, so please feel free to contact us if you would like examples of our other work.

Supporting Disability Services Providers responding to the Royal Commission

We are working with lawyers, Thompson Geer to provide support for organisations involved in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.  This is an important and far reaching review that has the potential to achieve long overdue support for vulnerable people living with disability. We will be providing regular updates and briefings for Boards,…

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2019 AICD Governance and Performance Study

This is the tenth year of the AICD NFP Governance and Performance Study.  This is the world's largest longitudinal study of governance and has been undertaken by BaxterLawley for the last eight years.

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2018 AICD Not-for-Profit Governance and Performance Study

Now in its ninth year, AICD’s ‘Not-for-Profit Governance and Performance Study’ is the largest survey of its kind in Australia, with 2022 respondents and national focus groups across the country. This year’s study explored current and emerging issues facing the sector including cybersecurity, innovation, financial viability and culture. The Study canvases a range of perspectives taken by boards in response…

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Collaborations and strategic restructuring for Not-for-profits – NDS

This innovative e-learning resource was developed by BaxterLawley for NDS on the topic of COLLABORATIONS AND STRATEGIC RESTRUCTURING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS (course videos available here).   The course provides a step-by-step framework for determining whether organisations should be collaborating or undertaking a major restructure, such as a merger with another organisation, and how that might best be undertaken. Presented by Penny Knight, David Gilchrist…

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Analysing Time: Guide to Understanding Key Elements of Workforce Costs Under the NDIS – NDS

This report was co-authored by Scott Bywaters. The NDIS will have a workforce impact associated with the expansion of demand as more people living with disabilities enter the system. Efficiency in this is critical to allow organisations to grow and it is an important element in overcoming an expected shortfall in workforce capacity due to increasing demand. This guide concentrates…

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The Impact of Airbnb on WA’s Tourism Industry – Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre

This is a report co-authored  by Kylie Coulson and published by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre titled the Impact of Airbnb on WA’s Tourism Industry.  

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Value of the Not-for-profit Sector – NTCOSS

This report was commissioned by the Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS)  to provides a first summary of the available data on charities with their head office located in the Northern Territory (NT) and to place the sector in context within the NT economy. It aims to provide sector leaders, government policy makers and donors with information to support their…

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2017 AICD Not-for-profit Governance and Performance Study

Over the last eight years, the AICD’s NFP Governance and Performance Study has challenged perceptions about the standard of governance across the sector. The research has shown that despite the manifold challenges involved in NFP governance – in achieving mission success with limited funding and facing a complex operational environment – NFP boards have performed with distinction, belying any belief…

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Australia’s Disability Services Sector 2017 – NDS

This is the second report of the Market Design and Evolution for Better Outcomes Research Program (also known as the Disability Services National Benchmarking Project). It provides a snapshot of the changes in the financial performance of a Panel of 154 disability service providers (providers) between 2014/15 and 2015/16 as they transition into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

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Person Centred Planning within the NDIS – ICANR

In 2017 BaxterLawley was commissioned by the Independent Centre for Not-for-Profit Research (ICANR) to examine planning process issues associated with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and identify alternative methods for developing plans for improving outcomes for NDIS stakeholders .

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Better Financial Reporting for Australian NFPs – ICANR

In partnership with the Independent Centre of Applied Not-for-profit Research and Anglicare Australia, in June 2017 BaxterLawley produced a report that identifies key issues facing Australian NFPs in relation to financial reporting, in the context of the national discussion on on Australian Accounting Standards and their impact on the sector.

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Disability Markets Survey 2016 – National Disability Services

In 2016, BaxterLawley, working with Curtin University and NDS, produced a second report on the Australian disability services sector to monitor changes in supply, business conditions and operations to track broad and emerging trends relating to the supply of specialist disability services in Australia.

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Australia’s Disability Services Sector Financial Sustainability 2016 – National Disability Services

Working with Curtin University and National Disability Services, BaxterLawley undertook a first-of-its-kind study on the financial sustainability of the non-government disabilities sector in Australia. This first report in the series baselines the financial position of 180 disability services providers for the 2014-15 financial year prior to the start of the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

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WA’s Not-for-profit Landscape 2017 – Western Australian Council of Social Services

BaxterLawley, working with Curtin University, produced a landscape report on the Western Australian community sector, covering its size, diversity, sustainability, and economic and social significance. It is the first report of its kind in WA to provide an overview of charities and their role in the community and economy.

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What Really Counts – Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

In May 2016 Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand started a research programme to collect and compile information on the contribution of members to the Not-for-profit (NFP) and charitable sector.  

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2016 AICD Not-for-profit Governance and Performance Study

For the fifth year, BaxterLawley has undertaken the NFP Governance and Performance Study with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  This research is sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank and is the largest study of governance in Australia.  The 2016 study reveals, for the first time, the profit margins and targets of NFPs, and challenges director's expectations of financial performance.  We also…

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Sustainable Funding & Contracting with NFPs 2014 – Department of Treasury

This was the third and final report of the evaluation of the impact of this initiative. It provided insight into the impact of the reforms and made recommendations for government and sector response.

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Feasibility Study – Foundation for Artists with Disability

We were appointed to examine the financial and operational feasibility of establishing a fund for artists with disability to enable greater access to the profession.

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Strategic Planning

We were appointed by the board of this large professional services organisation to evaluate the financial and operating performance of the organisation, its operating environment and competitors. Constructed an evidence-based strategic plan for the next five years, then worked with staff to develop operational plans and KPIs.

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Governance Evaluation

BaxterLawley undertook an evaluation of the current governance structures and processes for this $50m aged care provider, identified key risks and provided clear recommendations for improvement. All recommendations were subsequently implemented by the board.

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Costing and Pricing for Disability Service Organisations in NDIS

Working with Curtin University and National Disability Services, BaxterLawley advisors designed and delivered a program to support disability service organisations better understand their businesses and transition to operating under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

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Australian Charities 2013 – Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

BaxterLawley working with Curtin University produced the first report from data harvested from the Annual Information Statements of 38,000+ charities. This landmark report has been widely cited in the academic and grey literature.

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New Performance Monitoring System for Board and CEO

The CEO and board of this human services organisation needed a new KPI and performance monitoring framework. We worked in collaboration with staff to build the system bottom-up, ensuring full staff engagement and motivation to achieve the new targets.  This project resulted in over $500,000 in savings within 6 months.

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Governance and Performance Study 2013 – AICD

The 2013 study directly examined the notion that governance in the NFP sector was of a lower standard than that in the For profit sector and concluded that standards vary across both sectors - with high and low quality governance evident in both. This study also examined in detail the issues effecting the governance of Disabilty Service providers and Sports organisations.

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Governance and Performance Study 2014 – AICD

The 2014 NFP Governance and Performance study included eight focus group discussions with senior directors and a survey which attracted over 3,000 respondents.

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NFP Governance and Performance Study 2015 – AICD

This is the largest study of NFP governance and sector issues in Australia, attracting responses from around 3,000 NFP directors The 2015 Study included a special investigation of mergers and a specific focus on the Arts and Culture Sector and Federated organisations.

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Sustainable Funding & Contracting with NFPs 2013 – Department of Treasury

This report presents the results of the second annual evaluation of the Sustainable Funding and Contracting with the Not for Profit Sector (SFCNFP) Initiative and the Delivering Community Services in Partnership (DCSP) Policy reforms. This project involved quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the impact of reforms and identified areas of risk to the successful implementation of the policy.

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