Main Menu
Co-operative Identity, Values and Principles in Australia
In
September 2006, Chris Cooper, the Director of Learning and Development
of the Co-operative College spent two weeks working in Perth and Melbourne
in Australia delivering Co-operative Identity workshops to large and
small co-operatives including automotive, dairy, agricultural, retail
and healthcare co-ops as well as credit unions and the Co-operative Federation
of Victoria, the peak co-operative body for the State of Victoria.
Mervyn Wilson, College Principal said, ‘The workshops were part of an embryonic co-operative education programme designed to build the understanding of co-operative directors, members, managers, staff about the values, principles and practices of co-operation, and how their implementation can contribute to business success. The programme was developed with the Co-operative Federation of Victoria working in partnership with the Co-operative College. The Co-operative College has led the UK Co-operative Movement in the development and delivery of co-operative identity programmes for Directors, members, managers and front line staff and the Australian Movement wished to learn from the experience we have developed here.’ David Griffiths the Secretary to the Federation Board added ‘Without the UK Co-operative College we would not have been able to proceed with the workshops – because you can’t invent the credibility, legitimacy, experience and expertise that the College brought to the workshops. While Australia has trainers and educationalists willing to deliver any course anywhere, they are devoid of co-operative history, experience and expertise and this would be counter-productive.’ The Co-operative Federation of Victoria worked with the participating co-operatives on the content of the workshops and marketed them widely in Western Australia and Victoria drawing interested participants from other states.
First Stop - Perth
First workshop was delivered in Perth, Western Australia for the Capricorn Society an automotive or ‘smash and repair’ co-operative operating across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The society has over 10000 members who all own their own automotive businesses and purchase their products and materials through Capricorn. The society has 130 staff and has also created an insurance mutual and a travel co-operative who trade under the Capricorn brand.
The Chief Executive, Trent Bartlett said, ‘This workshop has been
about our DNA, our values, our principles, what makes us different and
it has been a great experience. The challenge now is how to continue
learning. The challenge is how to perpetuate the learning about co-ops.’
Bob Jenkinson, Capricorn’s Membership Manager was very familiar with the co-operative ideal. Bob was born in Heywood, near Rochdale and worked for CIS in Manchester before emigrating to Australia in the 1960’s. He remembers his time in Manchester with great fondness and was delighted to be able to work for a co-operative ‘down-under’. He still misses Manchester but ‘prefers co-operation with sunshine that is the case in Perth rather than the regular rain of the North-West.’
The second workshop was delivered at the Integrated Logistics Centre
of Murray Goldburn, Australia’s biggest dairy farmer co-operative.
Based in Melbourne Murray Goulburn was founded in 1950 and has an annual
turnover in excess of $2 billion and is responsible for processing 3.55
billion litres or 40% of Australian milk and has a growing international
export market to over 100 contries. They have over 3100 members, 2300
employees and own the Devondale and MG Nutritionals brands.
Ian McAulay, the Chairman of Murray Gouldburn commented ‘‘I have learnt that I can’t slacken off with the rest of my team. The workshop has refreshed my vigour to keep on reinforcing the co-operative message. This has been a successful experiment for Murray Goulburn.’
Then on to Melbourne
An open programme was delivered in Melbourne for a wide audience of co-operatives from across Victoria and New South Wales
Graeme Charles a director of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria
commented, “For the first time in many years, there have been a
series of workshops on the co-operative identity and how this is integral
to the business goals and strategies of co-operatives. We have some very
strong co-operatives committed to co-operative values and principles
but unsure of their relevance and potential to be integrated into business
practice. What the workshops have demonstrated is that co-operative values
and principles can drive business growth and are a marketing advantage.”
Comments fro other members, managers and directors included: ‘The course has re-visited our values and been a good reminder for me. It was really challenging and forced me to think hard.’
‘Coming from a corporate background it was great to learn about co-operative values.’
I’ve got a better understanding of what a co-op is and what its advantages are.’
‘This is the first co-op I have worked for, the workshop has shown me what co-ops are about and how we are part of a global movement, its been great to see things differently.’
‘This has been fantastic. I’m now clear about what the differences are between corporates and co-operatives, very valuable.’
‘This was my first exposure to co-operative knowledge and it has been great to do it with the board and management.’
‘The challenge now is how to continue learning. The challenge is how to perpetuate the learning about co-ops.’
Co-operatives - Australian Style
The Australian Co-operative Movement is very different to the UK Movement.
This is partly because of the federal structure in Australia which means
that each of the six states have their own legislation and co-ops wishing
to do business outside their home state have to register in the new state
as a ‘foreign co-operative’ and meet that States compliance
regime. This has two impacts. Firstly, many co-operatives do not expand
outside their home state and secondly some co-operatives chose to register
under the national Companies Act and become unlisted companies which
enables them more freedom to expand and to work across Australia. An
example of this is Capricorn Society which operates in all six states.
The method of registration does not necessarily affect the way in which
the organisation operates as a co-operative, in fact with Capricorn it
acted as a spur to re-affirm their co-operative identity so that there
would be no doubt about their intentions.
Chris Cooper said, ‘This was a first class opportunity to share with other co-ops the work that the College has been doing in the UK over the last ten years. For many of the managers, directors and members this was a new experience that they valued and enjoyed. The College hopes to return to Australia in 2007 to deliver another series of workshops, which will include strategic reviews, training for middle and first line managers, training trainers and ‘co-operative champions and developing elearning to build capacity within Australian co-operatives to build and sustain the message of co-operation within Australia.’
For further information please contact Chris Cooper by email