duncan brown: hands on learning

“Working with Hands on Learning is fundamentally different to what I do every day in the office and has really allowed me to gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of what the not-for-profit sector contributes to society.”

Social Ventures Australia (SVA) is a not-for-profit organisation (NFP) with a unique model of social investment that aligns the interests of philanthropists with the needs of social entrepreneurs to combat some of Australia’s most pressing community problems.

General Manager of Solutions at Dimension Data, Duncan Brown, had been with Dimension Data for 11 years when he joined SVA’s Community Advisor Program (CAP). Brown was paired with a social organisation called ‘Hands on Learning’ (HOL) as a business mentor.

Fifteen other Dimension Data executives also participated in the CAP program in 2007. SVA matched the Dimension Data executives with 16 social entrepreneurs. The aim was for the corporate leaders to help the entrepreneurs scale their businesses and to use proper methodology to attract funding and deliver profitable return on investment.

Brown says the relationship he developed with HOL was mutually beneficial.

“Working with HOL is fundamentally different to what I do every day in the office and has really allowed me to gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of what the not-for-profit sector contributes to society,” says Brown.

HOL helps students who have disengaged from the academic program at their school to learn through an alternative, hands-on approach. Students are engaged one day per week working on ‘real’ creative projects in their local community. They remain involved in their normal school program the other four days.

“I have learnt a great deal about the challenges kids face at school during their adolescent years, which allows me to relate better to my colleagues when they are dealing with their own kids’ issues,” says Brown.

“HOL provides a break from the intensive nature of school studies. Research into the program has shown it has sustainable success because most of the kids who participate go on to complete their academic studies, or find employment, training or further studies.”

HOL operates in six Victorian schools and has plans to expand nationally. It has also recently been incorporated as a registered NFP and Brown has become a board member.