Not-for-profits… even for The Profits

When most people think of not-for-profits they think of the ill and the disadvantaged and helping cure a disease or improving quality of life, however my new role is one that challenges this traditional thinking. The members and recipients of the not-for-profit organisation Pro Subi are the businesses of the Subiaco CBD, which varies from bars and cafes, to bookshops and clothing stores. You may ask why these stores need the help, can they not market themselves and handle their own Public Relations. The answer is ‘yes’ they can, however due to increased competition for the decreasing disposable income, the importance of marketing Subiaco as a strong, united brand has bought about the necessity for the work of Pro Subi.

Despite the uniqueness of the beneficiaries of Pro Subi the challenges and rewards of the work are the same. The two employees that run Pro Subi have a passion for what they do, work tirelessly through lunch breaks and battle against limited budgets with high expectations.  I have already experienced the reward of the work that Pro Subi does, as it feels like a community with people interacting and expressing their thanks for the work we do for them not only on an individual level but for the benefits for Subiaco as the brand.

My first jobs in the first few days was database entry, and editing and updating the database, which seems to be the first jobs of many interns and upon assignment is followed by an apology for the tedious nature of the job. I would like to pass on this piece of advice to my fellow PR interns is that database work may not require a tertiary education but do not underestimate its importance. Throughout my time in work experiences I have come to learn the value of this “tedious” jobs, as not only is the database worth a lot of money but also in most cases can lead to the success or failure of events and initiatives.  

Now 8 days into my internship and I can reassuringly tell you that having completed working on the database I have moved on to further utilising my PR skills.