If you're interested in learning about not-for-profit (NFP) management in areas such as values-based management and leadership, community funding and entrepreneurship, influencing public policy and social change or in leading change, then this course could be for you.
Other topics include leading and facilitating teams, financial management and people motivation management and volunteerism, governance, strategy and stewardship.
Each paper involves two block courses; one of three days (during the week), then another two days with a month's gap in between. Weekend courses also run, but mainly for Pacific Island trusts. Each course has approximately 60 to 80 hours of reading and assignment work to be done during and after each block course. There are no other formal forums or tutorials. All assignments relate back to the student's workplace.
Students usually study part-time because they are also working, but full-time study is possible. You can join any time throughout the year before a block course begins.
GRADUATE
* Shirley Emmett
* 51
* Service manager/counsellor/community service co-ordinator
* Franklin Family Support Services
* Graduated in April 2009
Our organisation is a professional social services agency dealing with people from all walks of life with wide-ranging issues. My role involves management of therapeutic and educational community support groups and establishment and management of the counselling suite and department and community programmes.
I am accountable for department budgets, expenditure and administration and do extensive fundraising for salaries, programmes, and Gateway initiatives. I also liaise and network with the community, community agencies, and local government.
Community and people have always been my passion. After years of volunteer, support and counselling roles I found myself in the position of being the "pen and paper" girl on a team at Franklin Family Support Services. I was desperate to make a difference. However, having good ideas and doing good work in the community was one thing; growing a sustainable, strategic organisation that could make a positive impact was another.
For months I would front up at team leader meetings confessing I really didn't know what I was doing. A search for mentors only revealed corporate business templates which were focused on different outcomes to our charitable trust.
I can't tell you the relief when I found a purpose-built qualification through Unitec. When deciding topics I felt like a kid in a lolly shop.
Exploring the values of the NFP sector provided a critical foundation for me. Other important topics were leadership and training and inspiring others. I also found papers on governance and strategy really helpful.
I have graduated feeling completely confident and enthusiastic about my involvement in the NFP sector and in the importance of investing in training to ensure the sector thrives and attains optimum performance and outcomes.
Having held the role of service co-ordinator and counsellor, I now look forward to moving into a role that will fully utilise my qualification.
I would highly recommend this to anyone involved in a community organisation or social service agency particularly if they assume a role or hope for a role of responsibility.
EMPLOYER
* Jill Dean
* CEO
* Franklin Family Support Trust
Staff retention can be an issue. Often our employment conditions do not meet the needs of professional staff and there are often unrealistic expectations about what we can achieve from individuals, communities and government. So organisations such as ours have to work hard at attracting highly skilled people and it is important that our staff are qualified beyond the minimum levels.
Shirley had already started her graduate diploma study when we employed her in a clinical counselling role. We were interested in the skills she was developing in her studies and are keen to move her into a service development role when funding becomes available.
Unless you have studied the different ways that organisations can operate, it would be very difficult to understand how all the organisations exist. Through her study Shirley has become knowledgeable in all aspects of NFP management and this certainly assists the organisation greatly as we continue to develop.
There is no silver bullet in delivering social services because each community has specific needs which require tailored responses. Our area of work requires us to be responsive to community needs, but we can learn a great deal from others who have tried things before. The graduate diploma allows people to get a real grasp of the models of operation.
The course gives students the ability to recognise good practice and encourages them to achieve great practice.
Shirley has developed a broad understanding of operational procedures and practice and is able to think up solutions which are creative and innovative whilst being realistic about what we can and can't achieve.
Having Shirley in a senior position serves as great encouragement to other members of the team to keep themselves skilled.
TRAINING PLACE
Qualification: Graduate Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management (Level 7).
Where: Unitec.
Contact: 0800 10 95 10 or (09) 815 2945; courses@unitec.ac.nz; www.unitec.ac.nz
2010 fees: Around $600 per paper; eight papers make up the qualification. Scholarships available, and allocated according to need.
* Block courses offered in Waitakere, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and some Pacific Islands.
Entry requirements: A recognised degree or professional qualification in a relevant discipline or the equivalent and at least three years' experience in the not-for-profit sector. Applicants must be in a management position, whether paid or voluntary. Applicants may be interviewed to assess their English language levels.
Starting salary: Middle management: $40,000 to $55,000.Course gives skills to bring real change in the community.
