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Effective collaboration between international charity regulators has become increasingly important to address complex global issues ranging from terrorist financing to natural disaster and war according to Australia’s top charity cop. Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Commissioner Sue Woodward said her recent meeting with international regulatory counterparts in London reinforced that working together was much better than working alone to address common challenges. Read more and listen to our podcast interview with Sue at the Community Advocate.

A leading democracy advocate has warned that the US election result serves as a cautionary tale for Australia about the fragility of democratic institutions and trust in government. Hear more from Australian Democracy Network executive director Saffron Zomer on the Community Advocate podcast. #democracy

Contentious changes introduced by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) requiring up to 155,000 not-for-profit organisations to submit self-review returns or risk losing their tax concessions have cost taxpayers more than $5.4 million. The news comes as a Senate inquiry report into the implementation of the new ATO guidelines recommends transferring responsibility for the process to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

Gender bias persists in Australian newsrooms, despite gender equality's vital role in strengthening democracy and encouraging civic engagement, according to a new report. A study released today by the Women's Leadership Institute Australia (WLIA) shows that while women have made gains in the “high-status" area of political reporting business news remains dominated by male reporters and experts. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has admitted it is on track to fall massively short of its target requiring more than 155,000 eligible not-for-profits to lodge a self-review tax return by March 31. NFPs used the public hearing of a Senate inquiry into implementation of the ATO changes to vent its frustration over the new regulatory requirements and question why they are being introduced. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

The Antipoverty Centre’s Kristin O’Connell has first-hand experience of living in economic disadvantage. As the nation reflects during Anti-Poverty Week, she is on a mission to change how others talk about and respond to poverty and unemployment. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has revoked the charity status of 60 of the 70 charities it threatened to deregister for failing to lodge overdue Annual Information Statements (AIS) by this week's deadline. A full list of the deregistered charities, which include the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Ltd, Change for Good Foundation, Kids Outreach International and the Australian Federation of International Students Incorporated, has been published in an excel spreadsheet on the ACNC website. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is under fire for allegedly ignoring the for purpose sector by making it harder for charities and not-for-profits to navigate its online help resource. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

Today (September 18) is Childhood Dementia Day. With many Australians unaware that thousands of children are suffering and slowly dying from this cruel genetic twist of fate, the time for action is now, says the founder and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, Megan Maack. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.

International Day of Charity (September 5) reminds us of the profound impact that compassion and support can have on individuals and communities, says founder of The Warrior Woman Foundation Jessica Brown. Read the full story in the Community Advocate.