Pro bono work
The team at Beaton Consulting enjoys finding ways to put back into the community, and since 2005 we have formally instituted our firm-wide commitment to pro bono by conducting two annual pro bono activities.
Annual Business and Professions Study pro bono element
Each year, Beaton Consulting conducts the Annual Business and Professions Study (ABPS), the largest study of its type in the region. We quickly realised that this provided a unique opportunity to survey thousands of senior business people about issues of community significance.
Since 2006 we have partnered with academics and community-based organsiations to conduct research on issues primarily concerned with the health and wellbeing of individuals in the business community, which we make freely available to the public.
Our pro bono partners over the years have been:
- 2006: Martin Seligman's positive psychology group at Penn State University in the USA
– Download the summary report (PDF 46 KB) - 2007: beyondblue – the national depression initiative
– Download the summary report (PDF 263 KB) - 2008: Dr Linda Duxbury and Dr Chris Higgins, international work–life balance experts
– Download the summary report (PDF 1.01 MB)
– Download the full report (PDF 1.97 MB)
2008 work–life balance study
Research for the ABPS 2008 is complete, with over 16,000 business people across a range of professions and industries answering the pro bono work–life balance section. The study is the Australian version of a large Canadian study, supported by the Canadian government, conducted in 2001 by Dr Duxbury and Dr Higgins. The results of the Australian work–life balance study were officially released at the ABPS 2008 launch in April 2008.
Please contact Program Manager, Mel Chee on +613 9829 0000 for more information on the study and launch.
2009 ethics study
The pro bono element of the ABPS 2009 will be conducted in conjunction with the St. James Ethics Centre on the topic of ethics in the Australian business community. More details in this study will be available towards the end of 2008.
Beaton Consulting and Wellmark annual pro bono project
Each year Beaton Consulting and our sister company, Wellmark, undertake a pro bono project for a community-based non-profit organisation.
In 2004–2005 the two firms worked with Foster Grandparents to help them update their identity and better define and communicate their positioning in the community. Following stakeholder and client research, the final outputs of the project included a new name (Extended Families Australia), a fresh new look and a detailed fundraising strategy. We were extremely pleased to be jointly presented a Prime Minister's encouragement award for excellence in community business partnerships as a result of this work.
2006 saw the initiation of a project for 'Resilient Families', a schools-based program promoting healthy family relationships, which was being piloted in schools. The project revolved around market research for a feasibility study, and a brand identity to assist in building links between families and schools.
In 2007, Wellmark and Beaton Consulting worked with Infoxchange to develop strategic recommendations for their 'Service Seeker database', a brand refresh of their services, and the design of their Annual Report. Infoxchange is a non-profit organisation that works for social justice and social equality by providing technology to people who may otherwise not have access.