ACCSR’s approach is to empower clients to enable them to integrate CSR into business strategy. Our consulting and training services enable us to have a direct impact on CSR integration and effectiveness. In addition, we aim to influence the environment for CSR by research, awareness and advocacy work, and by participating in the emerging governance framework for CSR, both in Australia and internationally.
Research
One of ACCSR’s core values is public knowledge. While protecting our significant investment in intellectual property, we are committed to placing our continually developing knowledge in the public domain where it can be discussed and evaluated. We were therefore delighted that one of our clients, Alcoa of Australia, allowed us to develop a conference paper based on our consulting work with them. The paper was co-authored by ACCSR’s Dr Leeora Black, Kathryn Sydney-Smith, Community Relations Manager at Alcoa, and Dr Yu Zhao of the University of Melbourne. As part of our work with Alcoa, we developed and tested new key performance indicators for community relations work. Our results showed how treatment of stakeholders can contribute to social capital, reputation and perceptions of performance.
The paper was accepted for the 13th International Conference of the Reputation Institute, which was held in Amsterdam in May 2009, and presented by Kathryn Sydney-Smith and Dr Leeora Black. The paper is available here. We commend Alcoa of Australia for its willingness to publicly share the results of this work and therefore enable others to benefit from this knowledge.
To support the integration of CSR in to business strategy, we publish an annual review of CSR in Australia. The series began in 2007, with the release of a research paper on Working in CSR: The Role of the CSR Manager. It was the first survey to examine the key demographics of people working in CSR in Australia; and included information on the CSR Manager’s work environment, job activities, pathways into CSR, remuneration and benefits, and support structures.
This report was followed by The State of CSR in Australia: 2008 Annual Review, which was released in 2009. The State of CSR tracks the growth and development of CSR in Australia and comprises two volumes: Volume One: CSR Drivers of Business Outcomes and Performance: the Business Case in Numbers and Volume Two: Working in CSR: Salaries, Roles and the CSR Profession in Australia Today.
The research provided actionable insights for organisations aiming to measure the drivers of CSR, establish the business case and value of CSR and integrate to CSR with business strategy.
Awareness and advocacy
One of the ways we influence the environment for CSR is by publishing opinion pieces on CSR in the media. In the reporting period, editorial articles included a special feature in The Diplomat/Corporate Citizen magazine on how small and medium-sized businesses can change the CSR landscape and an article in New Zealand’s Management magazine on how New Zealand companies fare on CSR against their Australian counterparts.
When the Labor Government came into power in November 2008, we wrote an article on what this will mean for CSR which was featured in The Age newspaper. In the reporting period, we also appeared on the ABC’s Conversation Hour, ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program and on Boardroom Radio Australia.
During the reporting period, we spoke at public forums and conferences including:
- The Australian Council of Social Service National Conference 2009
- The Sixth Annual Human Resources Summit 2008
- CSR Asia Summit 2008
- The Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals Australia 2008 Symposium
- United Nations Association of Australia Annual Conference 2008
- Australasian Compliance Institute’s 11th Annual National Conference 2007.
Participation in CSR governance frameworks
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We are an organisational stakeholder of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and we support the mission of the GRI to develop internationally-accepted sustainability reporting guidelines through a global, multi-stakeholder process.
In December 2008, we participated in a GRI consultation for organisational stakeholders on establishing a GRI Focal Point in Australia.
We are also a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a globally-endorsed set of principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. In 2008, we dedicated our annual conference to the theme of the UN Global Compact and explored what the ten principles mean in practice for Australian organisations. The conference report is available here.