April 15, 2026 Managing People Well

New manager? Here are the top three things you should focus on

Stepping into a new role can be exciting and stressful. Even more stressful if you’re needing to do work that you have little experience doing beforehand: managing people. When you step into a management role, it can be tempting to want to deliver results straight away to make a great first impression, get some ‘runs on the board’ and reward the trust of the person who employed or promoted you.

Instead, here are the three things that experts say new managers should focus on first up, to succeed in the long term.

April 1, 2026 Culture and Values, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Recruitment

Six ways to make your recruitment process work for First Nations candidates

If Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates aren’t applying for your roles, the barrier may not be a lack of interest – it may be your recruitment process. Even when NFP employers are working to build a more inclusive workforce, the way roles are designed and advertised can unintentionally exclude First Nations applicants.

The good news is that NFPs can make small changes to create genuinely welcoming, culturally safe hiring processes – and increase engagement from First Nations candidates.

We asked Australia’s only 100% Aboriginal-owned executive recruitment firm specialising in Indigenous appointments how to craft a recruitment process that encourages First Nations people to apply for a role.

March 25, 2026 Recruitment

Does checking references really help you find the best candidate? Here’s what the evidence says

Does checking references really help find the best candidate?

When hiring a new employee, you likely consider information from several sources beyond just a CV and an interview.

One of the most common is to check applicant’s references by speaking to their referees – previous managers or colleagues. Reference checks tend to be the final hurdle; a sort of background check for the candidate’s job history and credentials.

But research suggests there are important limitations to reference checks that are worth keeping in mind.

March 18, 2026 Leadership, Productivity

Work Smarter with AI: How NFP leaders can embed responsible AI use

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being adopted across not-for-profit workplaces, but alongside the productivity gains from this new technology comes a growing concern: what is the cognitive cost for the people using it?

Research shows that relying heavily on AI can degrade critical thinking and intellectual independence – precisely the skills NFPs need to solve complex problems.

So how can NFP leaders protect teams’ cognitive skills while still benefiting from the productivity gains AI can offer?

March 11, 2026 Human Resources, Legal Issues, Remuneration

Could you be underpaying your employees? Here’s how to know and what to do

Could your NFP be underpaying employees?

As an NFP leader, how confident are you that the people delivering your organisation’s mission are being paid what they’re entitled to? Underpayment is broad problem that affects hundreds of employers and around 250,000 underpaid Australian workers each year. Recognising the early warning signs and taking corrective action can help protect both staff and organisational integrity. Here’s where to start.

March 4, 2026 Health & Wellbeing, Managing People Well

Lonely employees are twice as likely to quit. Here’s what you can do to address this risk for your NFP

What you can do to address loneliness at work

Workplaces are one of the few environments that we can intentionally design for connection. When NFP leaders recognise loneliness as both a human and organisational issue, they unlock the opportunity to build cultures where people don’t just work together – they also feel seen, supported and part of something larger than themselves. Here’s how to do that in your team or organisation.

February 26, 2026 Recruitment

10 things you need to know before you engage a recruitment agency

For NFPs, the decision to use a recruiter can be a difficult one. While they can open doors and save time, they are very expensive – up to 20 percent of the first year’s salary for the role you’re recruiting. So if you decide to go down that path, you need to ensure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and you’re going into it with your eyes wide open.

February 18, 2026 Human Resources, Managing People Well, Onboarding, Productivity

Making probation matter: a guide for NFP employers

Hiring a new employee takes a lot of time and effort, which makes it all the more frustrating if a new hire resigns – around one in eight Australian employees resign during their probation period – or needs to be dismissed in their first few months in the role.

For smaller NFPs in particular, early turnover can unsettle team dynamics and add pressure to already stretched staff – impacts that are often avoidable with a structured probation process.

February 10, 2026 Human Resources, Organisational Strategy

Four trends that will shape NFP workplaces in 2026

With 2026 underway, we’re kicking things off with a look at what the year ahead might hold for the NFP sector workforce. And yes, as you might expect, AI will continue to have an impact on the sector this year.

But it’s far from the only thing NFP leaders should be on the lookout for this year. Here are our four predictions for the workforce trends the NFP sector will see this year.

May 8, 2024 Health & Wellbeing

Stop breaking women’s hearts at work: 6 ways to make workplaces better for cardiovascular health

Stop breaking women’s hearts at work: 7 ways to make workplaces better for cardiovascular health

Workplaces can have a positive impact on women’s health by ensuring knowledge about women and heart disease is translated into actions that support prevention and treatment. Here are six evidence-based recommendations for co-creating heart-healthy workplaces

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