Our Work

Each of our valued partners has different objectives, sensitivities, and aims.

We apply different methods every time.

Liz Mackinlay

Chief Executive Officer, ABV

A Message from Our CEO

Leading ABV inspires me every day so thanks for your interest in ABV’s work. ABV is building on Australia’s long history of volunteering both across our region and here at home in times of need and disaster. ABV works at the connection point between business, community, and volunteers.

How we work

We know that corporates in Australia and our region are looking for ways to connect with and strengthen the communities they work in.

We know that communities want to determine their future and be supported to realise their goals.

We know that thousands of people with highly specialised skills want to support stronger communities.

Our innovative programs bring all three together to strengthen communities through business and volunteering.

Community Resilience

Using a blend of our Skilled Business Professionals who donate their time and our expert staff, ABV co-designs programs that support our partners to achieve their outcomes, fulfil their ethical commitments, and meet their KPIs (such as the SDGs).   Our focus is on meeting the business challenges that small businesses, not-for-profits, or staff within a corporate are experiencing.

Upcoming Events

Your Enterprise Scheme

Targeted to build the business skills of existing and emerging business owners, YES is an expertly developed business program delivering the fundamentals of business from business modelling and strategic planning to risk analysis, finance, people management, marketing and pricing strategies, customer service and occupational health and safety.  

YES is offered across 3 categories to suit a wide range of business development stages  

01

YES Startup

For business owners who would like to start a business   .

02

YES Step-up

For established businesses

03

YES Accelerator

For businesses seeking investment to grow.

Better Business Governance (BBG) Program

Targeted at company owners and directors, BBG covers the principles of good corporate governance, organisational structures and the duties of Executives. BBG is designed to assist participants in becoming responsible and effective in their roles through one-on-one mentoring tailored to suit individual and business needs from startups to established organisations.

Mentoring

Expert professional development mentoring programs that are collaboratively and responsively designed to ensure the needs of both mentors and mentees are met. Our approach to mentoring program design and implementation integrates international development theory and good practice mentoring standards to deliver programs to assist participants to choose pathways for their professional development that are relevant and sustainable. 

To date, 65% of participants have advanced their careers e.g. appointment to Country Head, senior leadership roles and professional skills development secondment roles.

Mentoring Program Features

The program format can be designed to meet the specific needs of the organisation and participants with ABV providing design and monitoring support including mentor/mentee preparation and evaluation of outcomes.   

Structured

Structured, facilitated matching, mentoring , and monitoring .

Informal

Informal, loosely structured facilitated connections  .

Hybrid

Either virtual, face to face sessions or a combination of both .

Individual or Group

Individual or group mentoring, or a combination of both with facilitated workshops .

Corporate Skilled Volunteering (CSV)

ABV’s contemporary, evidence-based skilled volunteering programs for corporate partners providing immersive projects, pairing corporate employees with a social enterprise or not for profit to support and develop their capacity to solve a business challenge. Tailored to the specific needs of our corporate and community partners, each program aims to deliver ‘TRIPLE BENEFITS’ for corporates, employees and community partners through leadership development, talent retention and social impact.

Family Money Management Program (FMMP)

ABV has designed this program in response to an identified need for families to strengthen skills in managing household cash-flows, planning and saving for the future, making decisions about financial products and seeking advice about money and finance. 

Inclusive Learning and Collaborarion

The program is offered to participants who may have limited exposure to handling cash.  A gender inclusive approach encourages men and women from family groups to participate collaboratively and is explicit in the importance of the role of women being recognised as equal participants in the production, planning and decision making relating to family money management.  The Family Teams approach encourages families to explore issues of gender and culture within families, and seeks to facilitate more effective, sustainable and gender-equitable practices, fostering the concept of women having access to their own income and promoting the wider benefits of women having an equal voice in decisions within their families and communities.

Individual and Group Workshops

The Family Money Management Program (FMMP) consists of workshops, group work and individual mentoring.  The program focuses on families setting shared goals as this has been identified as strong motivation for gaining skills in effective money management practices.  Participants move through FMMP sessions and use the exercises and tools. The FMMP can be run as a three-day program of workshops and mentoring or alternatively paced according to participants’ needs. 