To partner with community organisations on both a national and local level to position the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia as a progressive and caring organisation that gives back to the broader community.

The National Launch of the Everybody Counts program took place initially in Sydney in late June 2006 and then in each state and in Canberra during July and August with our charity partners being in attendance at each event presenting on the work that they undertake in the community.

The program itself is clearly aligned with the Institute's strategic vision "Leading the Profession." Of the six strategic issues of the 2009-2011 plan, Everybody Counts directly supports:

• Leadership and competitive positioning of the Institute
• People and culture

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia has a strong commitment to supporting the sustainability of the community in which we operate. Over the past three years, the Everybody Counts program has developed strong partnerships with our seven charity partners. These partnerships have developed from the earlier days of charitable donations and individual actions, to going out to the wider membership community and piloting the program in two small to medium practices with an evaluation of the pilot program in Walker Wayland currently being undertaken by a staff survey.

Together, through a survey, staff nominated the causes they wanted to support and a core group of charities were chosen by a staff committee so that contributions could have a greater impact. Everybody Counts has been set up so staff can choose who they would like to support within the seven charities involved:

• Alzheimer's Australia NSW
• Camp Quality
• Inspire Foundation
• The Cancer Council
• RSPCA
• Sane Australia
• The Smith Family

This has been developed covering three strands:

• Workplace giving, and as we are a professional association, the Institute does not match dollar for dollar
• Volunteer opportunities
• Pro Bono skills transfer at a national and local level

• Through the Workplace Giving program, Institute staff have donated $62,972 to our Charity Partners
• Fundraising events either internally or at member sporting events have raised $7,119
• Volunteering and skill sharing with our Charity Partners
• Annual anniversary celebration with our Charity Partners
• Launched a pilot of the program in Walker Wayland Sydney in October 2008 and an evaluation is currently being undertaken
• Walker Wayland during the pilot provided valuable expertise, resources and advice by developing a risk matrix for the NSW Cancer Council and a consultant within the practice has been mentoring a senior person from Inspire Foundation
• Launched a pilot of the program in LBW & Partners in Chatswood in March 2009 and this will be evaluated in September

• The Australian Charities Fund are undertaking some research that will provide the Institute with a benchmark against similar sized organisations.

Our Charity Partners