Who Do I Talk To About?
Every Friday, we try and have team lunches together as part of getting to know and hang out with each other. Usually, the lunch place / picnic things are decided the same day, maybe a few minutes before.
If you have any suggestions, thoughts, or dietary restrictions please let Base Team know. We're vegan, vegetarian, paleo, FODMAP, and... basically everything else friendly!
If your Fellowship is happening in another city to Base Team, or we're catching up remotely, Fellows are welcome to choose their own place for lunch (as a team, or individually) and expense it to Code for Australia, up to $20 per person (or $25 remotely).
Before claiming your expense...
For Fellowship Related Expenses, check with the others on your team that they are ok with the shared funds being spent this way and that you're within the allowed amount. Also double check we don't have what you need already
For Travel Expenses, check that it is an expense Code for Australia will cover and that you're within the allowed amount
Make sure you get and keep the tax invoice receipts so we can reimburse you
You can use Xero or the Xero Expenses app to manage expense reimbursements
Base Team review and approve all expenses via Xero
Using the app:
Download the Xero Expenses app from the App Store or Google Play​
Login using your Xero login
Scan your receipts
Allocate it to the correct account and tracking code - this is your Fellowship's project number in our accounting system
Base Team review and approve these once a fortnight, in line with payroll schedule
Money will come back to you in the next payroll and it will be itemised on your payslip
Where do I find my Xero login? Interactive Accounting (our finance people) emailed your Xero login to the email address you provided when you filled in the payroll setup form (waaaay back, possibly before you started). This is also the same email address that your fortnightly payslip is sent to.
If you can't find your Xero login, please let us know.
We often get asked to be part of conferences. If it looks like we’re going to something you’re keen on, just let the Base Team know and we’ll try smuggle you in.
If you want to attend a conference, we'll try our best to get you there, or you can use your team budget for attending. If you’re speaking about your Code for Australia work, we’re happy to give you the time off and cover travel expenses. Check with Base Team for details on when this is possible.
Talk to the Base Team. You probably have a fantastic suggestion and we should update our processes.
If it's a suggestion for this GitBook - jump right in and make a suggestion! Find out more here.​
If you come across something that requires a signature, talk to the Base Team.
If it has legal language on it that seems to be binding the company to some kind of agreement or arrangement, Base Team should be signing it.
We'd love to hear if you have any articles, resources, news or events you think our community would appreciate reading.
You can talk to Esther (@Esther on Slack) about your ideas anytime. She loves inspiration.
Also watch this if you have time for hashtag inspiration.
We encourage all our Fellowship teams to blog, sharing their highs, lows, and progress. It also helps maintain transparency throughout the whole process.
We're big fans of Medium as you don't have to worry about formatting things, and there's a pretty good community on it.
Never used Medium? Check out Hubspot's getting started guide.
Want to see what others have written? Head to our blog and start reading.
No worries! Using a template and answering a set of questions every couple of weeks can help give your writing consistency. Plus is much easier than starting with a blank page.
Check out the template here for some questions to get you started, or if you're feeling creative, these blog post ideas here. This is also a classic guide to writing well (in eight points).
Grace is here to help you share your story, so feel free to message her anytime for help getting started, editing or proofreading.
We have a whole bunch of people who've reached out to become mentors. Let the Base Team know what you're looking for and we'll put you in touch with someone we admire.
We're also working out a better system for this, so if you have any ideas, we'd love to hear them!
Take a deep breath. Don't keep it to yourself. Let's talk!
Reach out to your team members, or one of the Code for Australia team, or your mentor, or a friend.
We can only help when we know of a possible problem, though. So make sure you talk to us in some form!
As a last resort, if you don't feel comfortable sitting down for a chat with the Base Team, you can use our anonymous feedback form here.
Whether it is with your team, your government partner or with the Base Team, follow our Dispute Resolution Policy (linked and below) or talk to Base Team. We're here to help you get through it.
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That's what the Base Team are here for. Remember our government partners are our allies, not our adversaries. They may not always get it right, but we're here to help them raise the bar and create change. Sometimes that process isn't easy, fast or smooth.
Talk a deep breath, come and talk to any of the Base Team and we'll help you to resolve the matter.
As a last resort, if you don't feel comfortable sitting down for a chat with the Base Team, you can use our anonymous feedback form here.
We’ve seen some terrible things happen in our time together as a community, which is why you’re seeing this card.
A crisis may befall you, a loved one or your community, unexpectedly and quite out of the blue. It's super important to look after yourself at these moments, because we want the best for you and that means processing what's happened in your own way.
If you want to talk about it with us, please reach out to Base Team and we will do our best to support you in whatever ways we can. We also offer free and confidential counselling sessions with qualified and professional counsellors for our team and their immediate family.
Below are some links to some other things that could be helpful too. Please feel free to add in any other useful links or articles you come across.
Looking after yourself after a crisis
A video on processing upsetting news ​
How to cope with traumatic news (an illustrated guide)
Lifeline 13 11 14 (available 24 hours)
Beyondblue 1300 22 4636 (online chat available too)
Contact your doctor
