01 Apr, 2020
After a turbulent period of droughts, fires and floods, Australia’s charity and not-for-profit sector is facing its greatest challenge yet in the form of the coronavirus crisis.
QEIF CEO Professor Mark Radford and former QEIF Board Director Professor Jeff Dunn recently spoke with health editor Jill Margo about the impact that the ongoing coronavirus crisis will have on Australia’s charities and not-for-profit organisations. In the article, published in The Australian Financial Review, Professor Radford estimates that the sector is already down at least 35 per cent over the last six months. As the virus complicates staffing arrangements, research and funding, Professor Radford predicts a greater downturn over the next 12 months.
The strain of the virus’ impacts will be felt the most by health-related charities, that make up over 7,300 of the 57,675 registered charities in Australia. As hospitals and clinics are forced to rearrange normal routines, patients are also subject to the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic.
In response to this, Professor Dunn has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to outline the risk and seek an urgent stimulus package to protect not-for-profits throughout these tough times. As major fundraising events are cancelled, donations begin to diminish and regular activities are constrained for Australian charities, this support is needed now more than ever.
QEIF would like to take this chance to sincerely thank our valued community for the continued support shown throughout these difficult times.
‘Charities slide into a classic catch 22’ published 17 March 2020 is available to subscribers of the Australian Financial Review here: https://bit.ly/3dGMM6e