Abstract

This assessment reviews the strategic implications for how CCNSW positions itself as a civil
society organisation, nonprofit service provider or both. To answer this I will be taking the
view that the effect of CCNSW has on the community through the work it does contributes to
civil society, and therefore it can be described as a civil society organisation even though the
intended purpose of the organisation is very specific, in this case health, cancer (Til 2000,
p.208).

The second part of this assessment will examine the economic rationalism or neo-liberalist
policies on the third sector as a means to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and
accountability of the sector and how this has hindered the third sectors ability to act as a
facilitator of civil society.

Introduction

Cancer Council NSW (CCNSW) is a charitable organisation established in 1953 as an act of

parliament, non budget dependant; in 2005 the organisation became fully independent from
government (NSWCC 2008, About us). The core purpose of CCNSW is to defeat cancer. It
is a single issue organisation, that is to say all the work it does can be linked backed to
helping achieving the mission of defeating cancer (Lyons 2001, p.43). While CCNSW is a
single issue organisation, it isn’t singular in the process it takes to achieving this. CCNSW
activities include:
• Research
• Policy and Advocacy
• Health Prevention
• Cancer Information
• Cancer Support Services
• Training
• Awareness and education
• Fundraising

CCNSW methodology for achieving its mission is built around a community engagement
framework which sees stakeholders work closely with the organisation at all levels from
service deliver to strategic planning. This new focus on community engagement model is
reflective of the community management model which is build around empowerment (Kenny
1994, p.7)

Civil Society

Civil society is more than a collective of third sector organisation, though they can contribute
to a civil society, it is a space where the will of the people is reflected (Lehman 2005, p.7).
The third sector is integral to a strong civil society through contributing to democracy, it
provides a space for public advocacy, building trust and community and economic
development (Lyons 2001, p.208). Lyons (2001, p.209) goes on to say that a ‘civil society is
needed to balance excesses of state domination and to guard against the equally oppressive
free-market regime’. This is why third sector organisations are so vital in promoting the
values of a strong civil society in that they are independent from the government and
government control and they are independent from the purpose of the business sector which
is built around profit and the free market economy.

CCNSW purpose isn’t to promote the virtues of civil society but through the work that it does it
contributes to this. The best example of this is through the advocacy program. CCNSW runs
advocacy training for the community (pubic) and other organisations that have an interest in
bringing about changes in government policy that will bring about better outcomes for cancer
control. CCNSW also support the establishment of community advocacy groups (Regional
Advocacy Networks RAN). These voluntary groups research needs in their community and
then advocate for better services and policy change. Hence they reflect the will of the people
and participate in the democratic process. CCNSW also reviews and publishes comments on
current government policy, this includes support good policy and is critical of policy that is
poor and offers alternatives. And example of this is with solarium legislation that was going
forward, CCNSW supported tougher regulations, but didn’t agree the government proposals
went far enough. CCNSW identified where the policy was weak and what alternatives should
be made and then mobilised the community to help campaign around this issue. This lead to
the Minister of Health reviewing the suggested policy and toughening up the policy. Through
this process CCNSW is contributing directly to the qualities of a civil society, though it is
specifically focused on cancer control which is the purpose of the organisation. Secondly
beyond cancer control, CCNSW is providing skills and resources which can then be used by
the community to continue to advocate and participate in the political process on issues other
than cancer control. It is this secondary effect of the work of the third sector that helps
contribute to democratic principles (Til 2000, p.211).

The effects of Economic Rationalist and Neo-liberalist policies on the third sector and
the ability to act as a facilitator of civil society

The predominate focus of neo-liberalist policies on the third sector and civil society is to view
these two structures from the economic paradigm, running the risk of ignoring the more
‘subjective’ contributions that these organisations make to democracy and civil society overall
(Lehman 2005, p.4).

Both conservative and Labour governments have implemented reforms to achieve more with
less though encouraging greater managerialism, outsourcing programs to the third sector
which also calls upon greater use of volunteering (Gramberg, Bassestt 2005, p.2). Rather
than achieving outcomes of efficiencies and effectiveness the government weakened the
sector and its role as within civil society.

Though outsourcing of government contracts, governments looked to create efficiencies

though competition which contracts included performance measures, this neo-liberal policy
has the market as the dominate model of management (Gramberg, Bassestt 2005, p.3). This
would see organisation pitted against organisation, removing the spirit of cooperation and
trust and replacing it with competition. Though this outsourcing governments also retained
the right to remove funds, which could be used to ensure that a control was maintained over
the ogranisation (James C 2001, p.7).

Focus on managerialism has seen the sector needing to adopt a corporate management
system which focuses on economic rationalist view of cutting cost (James C 2001, p.12). The
cutting of cost is to improve efficiencies, but these efficiencies within the third sector also run
the risk or compromising service delivery (James C 2001, p.13). For example where as once
a service maybe provided face to face, now people maybe directed to online alternatives.
While this reduces cost, improve speed, the quality of holistic care is risked.

Managerialism also focuses on performance indicators which can be measured such as

outputs but not on quality of services (James C 2001, p.13).

A key indicator of strong civil society is the strength of democratic values within society it is
the neo-liberalist policies, particularly those of the Howard Government, actively promoted a
reduced role that the third sector played in promotion a civil society through public choice
policy (Staples 2006, p.5). Below is a table that demonstrates the change in views of third
sector organisations between the Labour and Liberal Government (Staples 2006, p.4).

1991 House of Representatives Standing
Committee on Community Affairs
Integral part of consultative role of third
sector organisations is to disagree with
government policy.
1996 The Liberal Tradition: The Beliefs and
Values Which Guide the Federal Government
Third sector ‘single-issue groups’, ‘special
interest’ and ‘elites’. Howard promised his
government wouldn’t be owned by these
groups, and being accountable only to the
Australian people.

Public choice theory became a key policy of the Howard government and saw the
establishment of neo-liberal organisations such as the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) which
goal was to remove third sector voices from the public debate on the grounds that only
elected officials have role in public policy (O’Callaghan P 2007, p.5)
Reference List

Cancer Council NSW 2008, About us [webpage] Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo,
viewed 26 February 2009, <http//www.nswcc.org.au>.

Gramberg, G and Bassett P 2005, Neoliberalism and the Third Secotr in Australia. Working
Paper Series. School of Management, Victoria University of Technology

James, C 2001 Economic rationalism and public sector ethics: conflicts and catalysts. IPAA
Essay Competition Entry

Kenny, S 1994, ‘The nature of community development’ Developing Communities for the
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Lyons, M 2001, Third Sector The contribution of nonprofit and cooperative enterprises in
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Lehman, G 2005, The accountability of NGOs in civil society and its public spheres.
Australian Association for Professional and Applied Ethics 12th Annual Conference 28 – 30th
September 2005, Adelaide

O’Callaghan, P 2007, Recovering civil society in Australia and in Australian Aid. A paper
presented to the CES Canberra Chapter 13th June 200

Staples, J 2005, NGOs out in the cold: The Howard Government policy towards NGOs.
Democratic Audit of Australia, Australian National University Canberra, ACT

Teal, J 2000, Growing Civil Society – From Nonprofit Sector to Third Space. Indian University
Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis