How to build a healthy working relationship

Mel Yates FCPA

Director reporting, Red Tape Reduction and Corporate Services, Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC)

I’m a director at the ACNC, responsible for overseeing the collection of reporting from 59,000 registered charities across Australia. I also oversee our corporate services as an organisation, and that’s how I know Shelley. 

I started working with Shelley in 2018, when I took on corporate services.

Shelley is very bubbly, very vivacious. She’s always happy, always got a smile on her face. Shelley is someone I respect because she’s got a very varied work history – she used to be a music teacher.

Shelley has got so much life experience, and that’s the thing that I really love about working with her – she’s very pragmatic. She’s raised four kids, and now she’s doing her studies to become a CPA.

There are always new and varied things that we’ve got to think about in government. We’ve got to be transparent, and we’ve made sure that we set a high bar for ourselves in terms of that accountability and use of public funds.

Shelley will just have a go at anything. If something new comes in – a return or a new report or some new obligations that we’ve got to meet – Shelley will go and research and put together a draft. The majority of times it is really on point.

Shelley doesn’t necessarily have the background – the context – but when a task is given to her, she might ask a couple of questions, and she just goes away and gets it done. It’s to a high standard and it exceeds the bar.

She will work with different people across the organisation to get the best outcome for the organisation.

This may not necessarily be the best outcome for her, but she’s very considerate and very aware that we are a team.

Shelley tends to doubt herself or not back herself. I encourage Shelley to really back her judgement, because she’s got good judgement and she produces really good work.

Sometimes she will ask for assistance on something when, realistically, she does know the answer, because she wants that reassurance.

We work well together – we get the work done, and we’re always able to laugh at life.

Even when things seem like they’re going “down the toilet”, Shelley will still be able to make people laugh and see the brighter side of things.

We both love our food, so when we used to be in the office together, it was very common for us to be sharing food. Shelley would quite often come up to me and leave something on my desk, or perhaps be a bit of a “mum” and make sure that I was being nourished.

One thing I would change about Shelley

I’ve watched Shelley try to manage her studies while she works full-time and while she is looking after the family. The one thing I probably would change is that I would like Shelley to have her qualification, because she’s very capable and is most of the way through her CPA Program.

Shelley Hicks ASA

Finance and governance officer, ACNC

I am a finance officer at the ACNC, and I’m also acting in the governance officer role.

Mel became my direct manager in 2018. Mel is lovely, personable and approachable. As a manager, he has very high expectations, and what you see is what you get. When working with Mel, you know exactly where you stand, and he provides guidance to find a solution to a problem or a situation.

Mel’s strength is his attention to detail, and this ensures that our submissions are of the highest standard. His skill in this area has taught me to be thorough and accurate, which is imperative to my career aspirations and progression.

Mel expects me to rise to the challenge, but he supports me to do this.

I have found the responsibilities in my current role to be sometimes overwhelming. However, Mel has put strategies in place to support me. Mel has taught me how to delegate and how to achieve great results through working with others. By working as a team, we have completed many significant projects.

Mel is a great writer and public speaker. He presents articulately to a wide-ranging audience. He can present emotional messages with composure. I am still learning this skill and admire his expertise in this area.

Mel has a great sense of humour, and we laugh a lot, even in the midst of chaos. We have a great team culture encouraged by Mel’s leadership, and I enjoy working with Mel and the ACNC.

One thing I would change about Mel

Maybe stop eating the out-of-date chocolate.