By Nicole Chiam

According to the Community Council for Australia (CCA), the not for profit sector has grown significantly over the last decade. However, the reality is that there is not infinite funds available from either the government or the public for the number of organisations out there. With constant funding pressures, greater competition and regulation and a recovering economy, not-for-profits (NFP) must be able to collaborate effectively for mutual advantage. Competition can breed division and a divided sector is less able to serve the community as best it can.

Collaboration and partnerships can enable NFPs to combine areas of strength for a shared purpose and positive outcomes – finding a common goal and banding together. If businesses work together and NFPs partner with businesses, why shouldn’t NFPs work together?

A key message from the CCA is that achieving purpose should be the prime focus of any charity. In general terms, a club’s purpose is to promote participation and provide quality services and facilities for the enjoyment of the community.

This does not mean you lose sight of the club’s purpose and values. These should guide your actions, but sometimes the answer may not be simple or tried and tested. As summarised by an attendee at a series of national forums held by the CCA in 2015/2016: “Collaborations are a journey and one should not be frightened to opt in if appropriate and opt out if a proposed arrangement is not right… but it is also important to be brave in thinking outside the box, to be brave in pursuing your purpose”. Teaming together is not a new concept and many NFP organisations have been doing it for a long time. Collaboration provides benefits beyond cost savings. It can assist in expanding one’s reach, brand, value proposition, access to other expertise and improved efficiency.

The partnership can leave the organisations stronger and with a positive outlook on their sustainability. This month we spoke to Team Rubicon Australia, a new partner to Clubs Australia. However, they are no strangers to the clubs community, having worked with ClubsNSW extensively in the past. They provide an example of how a lot can be achieved when people and the club’s community work together.

Geoff Evans, CEO of Team Rubicon Australia explained how, three years ago when Team Rubicon Australia were just starting out in Australia, they needed access to venues to host their training sessions. “I met Anthony Ball from ClubsNSW/Clubs Australia at a function. I explained what we did and he offered his support; whatever we needed, he was happy to help. From there Team Rubicon’s relationship with ClubsNSW was born,” said Geoff.

The partnership that Team Rubicon Australia has built with ClubsNSW is beyond what they could have imagined. “The support we receive, and the natural fit and aligning values, especially around supporting local communities, have led the partnership to move from strength to strength,” said Anastasia Bougesis, Team Rubicon Australia’s Director of Development and Communications.

Through the relief work in NSW and Queensland, Clubs Australia also came on board and offered their support including getting the word out in their bulletin to clubs all around the country to request funding, accommodation, food, etc.

What does Team Rubicon Australia do?

“DISASTERS ARE OUR BUSINESS. VETERANS ARE OUR PASSION”. Team Rubicon Australia is an international disaster response NFP that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly provide relief to communities in need. Founded in 2016 with the express goal of quickly responding to largescale disasters, Team Rubicon Australia has deployed hundreds of volunteers across Australia and the world to provide relief to communities in need.

They have established teams around Australia in Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with plans for more including Perth and Adelaide.

How has the clubs community partnered with Team Rubicon Australia?

In April 2018, the NSW club industry sent Team Rubicon Australia to the bushfire-ravaged town of Tathra on the state’s far south coast. During their three-week deployment, 75 Team Rubicon volunteers worked on 81 properties impacted by the fires, knocking down burnt-out sheds, chain-sawing fallen trees and helping residents search for treasured personal items in the ruins of their homes. Upon receiving a phone call from ClubsNSW, Tathra Beach Bowling Club acted as a base for the Team Rubicon Australia volunteers to plan their recovery efforts. The Club also provided the volunteers with meals and assisted where required, to ensure the volunteers had everything they needed during their deployment.

The Club also acted as a hub for members of the community to come for assistance or someone to talk to. The Club would then be the liaison between the locals and Team Rubicon volunteers. Residents could drop into the Club to explain they had lost belongings, or needed assistance with clean-ups at their home that had been damaged or destroyed by bushfire. Many other clubs lent their support by donating much-needed funds, including money towards the costs of meals for fire volunteers and members of the community through the Tathra Bowling Club.

The relationship between Team Rubicon Australia and the clubs community has grown into a great one. When asked how they see their partnership with Clubs Australia (and state bodies) into the future, Team Rubicon Australia envisioned multiple opportunities, including club staff partnering (as volunteers) with the team in disaster response. “We would like to see the partnership expand out to be a familiar concept to clubs across the country, creating a linked community support network,” Anastasia said. “It is hoped that in time there will be ‘Home Clubs’ for each Disaster Relief Team.”

“Our standout moment that really gave the partnership validation was the support we received from ClubsNSW and Tathra Bowls Club. The use of the Club itself really helped us to establish a prominent position in the community and gave us a hub where people could come to seek help. People began to associate the Club with the help they received; it was such a valuable partnership in the sense that them facilitating our operation had a really positive benefit for them too. I think this really set the benchmark for how we partner with local clubs.”

Read the full article in our December/January 2020 Service Bulletin found here.