How can a small charity survive government bullying

Build a coalition to support apolitical outcome focused commissioning

For 40 years I worked for governments in health and community services. My experience has provided me with some significant insights into the workings of government departments and ministerial offices. Decisions are made in corridors; funding processes provide the illusion of equal opportunities and the allocation or withdrawal of grant funding to community services is used as ultimate leverage to ensure everyone is on message.

But if you buck the system, if you dare to speak the truth or if you have the courage to blow the whistle, then your chances of survival as a charity is severely compromised.

Decisions are made in corridors; funding processes provide the illusion of equal opportunities and the allocation or withdrawal of grant funding to community services is used as ultimate leverage to ensure everyone is on message.

When I left the employ of government in 2018, I explored the possibility of working for a community services with purpose. Fortunately, I had built a strong network over the years and considered applying for several positions in the sector. It was not until I connected with the CEO of Healthy Australia that I realised I had found the opportunity to make a real difference.

As founder and the then CEO, Ruby O’Rourke had built a movement and a momentum within the Early Childhood Education and Care sector. A movement that applied technology to the complex issues of child protection, healthy eating, and learning. Healthy Australia alongside HubHello had partnered with the Australian Government to develop programs including feedAustralia, Protect and Educate.

But progress had come to a shattering halt. Ministers, staffers, and bureaucrats in unison stopped engaging with Healthy Australia. Promised funding was withdrawn with no explanation.

Ministers, staffers, and bureaucrats in unison stopped engaging with Healthy Australia.

What was the reason? Why did they all turn their backs on programs funded by the Australian taxpayer? Why did they turn off the tap and essentially allow Healthy Australia to "wither on the vine"?

I joined Healthy Australia because I believed in Ruby’s vision. Every Australian child deserves to be safe, deserves to live a healthy lifestyle and deserves to be given the opportunity to reach their learning potential. We have the technology, the services and the "know how" to make this a reality. But according to the Government’s own triannual census, 1 in 5 children transitioning to school is developmentally vulnerable. In Indigenous communities the rate is 2 in 5.

Despite my efforts to build bridges with the Government, I experienced traditional stonewalling. It would appear there is no way back once the bear has been poked. Our attempts to find out the root cause led us down a couple of possible reasons why we fell out of favour.

It is possible that a health promotion campaign by Healthy Australia to highlight the poor nutritional content of food served up within the Early Childhood Education and Care sector prior to the 2019 election may have hit a nerve. It was estimated some services were spending as little as 33c per child per day.

It is also possible a former Minister and ally of Healthy Australia had possibly turned the government against the charity when his poor behaviour was called out.

But we will probably never know the real reason. What we do know is that funding decisions have a significant impact on the work of small community services. And if charities want to survive, it seems they need to toe the line.

And if charities want to survive, it seems they need to toe the line.

We are all familiar with the pork barreling allegations prior to the 2019 election. This is not the first time governments have had these allegations leveled at them and many people feel it has become common practice.

Should government ministers be allowed to wield this level of power for political purpose? What is the cost to our community?

The consequences of COVID are becoming clearer. More children will experience poverty, experience hunger and experience abuse/neglect if we do not act. And that action needs to be focused on what works and what matters. Funding will be tight so we need to make sure it is targeted and effective.

Maybe it is time for a grass roots movement?

A public campaign to raise the public’s awareness of corruption is being planned prior to the next general election. We have a right to a government we can trust. We have a right to a government that will allocate funding for community outcomes and not for political leverage. We have a right to be informed. And we have a right to advocate for children without fear of consequence.

We have a right to a government we can trust.

Healthy Australia is a resilient charity with a meaningful purpose. We will survive the power games of government because we understand 20% of Australian children will continue to be disadvantaged. Healthy Australia is determined to contribute to breaking the cycle of disadvantage with or without government support.

But we are not unique. Many not-for-profit agencies will have their own story to tell. And it is time we pull together to tell those stories. Many small charities will feel isolated. We compete for the same piece of pie, so one charities loss is another’s gain. We are divided so they can rule.

But we are not unique. Many not-for-profit agencies will have their own story to tell.

The usual suspects continue to play the game. Even Julia Gillard used Q&A to thank Scott Morrison for his government’s support of her charity. These agencies have a cash cow in the government, if they stay on message. Just this week we saw Brittany Higgins’ partner lose his job because his agency did not want to fall out of favour with their main funder, the government.

It is time for a new funding system. A system that ensures funding goes to programs that improve health, social and welfare outcomes. A system that is not used to pork barrel or used to play power games with small charities. A system without political influence.

It is time for a new funding system.

Governments should set policy and legislation and make clear what outcomes they want. Commissioning and funding of programs should be aligned to those policy goals but not influenced by politicians.

If you are interested in a future where outcomes are prioritised above political survival, then please get in touch. We are in this together.