The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney branch of 180 Degrees provides students with the opportunity to work on consulting projects with non-profit organisations. Working in teams, our consultants spend the semester researching and preparing quality recommendations to help organisations create a positive social impact.
We take applications during the first week of semesters one and two, and encourage students from all disciplines to apply. Regular updates are posted on our Facebook page and if you have any enquiries, please email usyd@180degreesconsulting.org.
Want to know more about our projects?
Question and Answer with team leader Wilma Gillies (180 Degrees) and Annabelle Chauncy (School for Life)
What was the focus of the 180 Degrees project? The School for Life Foundation is a community focused NGO that aims to achieve sustainable development through education. The 180 Degrees project focused on consolidating administrative operations in Australia to optimise the social impact of development activities in Uganda.
What were the project outcomes? At the end of the semester, the 180 Degrees team presented key recommendations to the School for Life board of directors on methods to improve their financial, monitoring and risk frameworks.
What was your role as a 180 degrees team leader? Wilma: Managing a group consultancy project with 180 Degrees, developed my communication, teamwork and leadership skills. As a team leader, I organised client meetings, storyboarded project deliverables, delegated research tasks amongst my team, synthesised the analysis into a consultancy report, and presented key recommendations to the client.
What were the project’s key success factors? Wilma: I found effective client communication and story-boarding project deliverables essential to the project’s success. Discussing organisational issues with the client, built a contextual understanding of current problems and potential barriers to solutions. Delegating and time management ensured quality analysis and that project deadlines were met before time.
How did you find working with a team from 180 Degrees? Annabelle: The team at 180 Degrees was extremely professional from the very outset of our communication. I was approached to take part in the program as I run a non-profit organisation called School for Life Foundation. The purpose of 180′s projects and objectives were clearly defined and made the process very customer friendly. The team who worked on our project had an incredible empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by non-profit organisations and were able to clearly define practical, step by step ways to overcome them. The team kept me informed throughout the process of compiling the report and delivered a very articulate report which even assisted our organisation with practical ways for implementation. The level of professionalism and initiative taken by 180 Degrees at every level was as high, if not higher than that found in the corporate consultancy world.
Where you pleased with the final result? Annabelle: School for Life Foundation was thrilled with the final report delivered by the 180 Degrees team. The report was thorough, well researched and developed, as well as excellently presented and explained. SFL is in the process of implementing 180 Degrees’ advice and frequently references the report. We were so excited when we were given the opportunity to work together with 180 Degrees again and hope we can maintain a strong partnership with the organisation in the future. The results delivered far exceeded our hopes and will go a long way towards furthering our Foundation’s objectives and strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What organisations have you worked with in the past?
In 2012 the Sydney University 180 Degrees Chapter undertook 30 projects in total. Some of the organisations we have consulted for include Dymocks Children’s Charities, Cerebal Palsy Alliance, Red Cross, White Ribbon Foundation, and Ride for life.
2. What types of projects do you undertake?
Each semester we undertake a wide variety of projects, covering everything from marketing strategy to environmental sustainability to social media.
3. What sort of training does 180 Degrees Consulting provide?
All 180 Degrees Consultants receive extensive training by a prestigious top-tier consulting firm. There are also training sessions targeted at the needs of specific project teams, as well as professional mentoring for team leaders.
4. What commitment is required?
Consultants are normally required to:
- Participate in consultant training at the beginning of semester
- Meet with the non-profit client at least three times throughout the semester
- Attend a weekly one-hour team meeting throughout the semester
- Conduct business research, and assist in writing the consulting report
- Present key recommendations to the client near the end of semester
This equates to an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week.
5. I do not have any previous experience in consulting. Should I still apply?
Yes. Many non-profit organisations benefit from simply having people come in with fresh eyes to offer creative solutions to problems they are facing. Experience is not a prerequisite to making good recommendations. Furthermore, when we form consulting teams we generally try to match more experienced consultants with students who have less (or no) experience. The professional training that is provided to all consultants also helps improve your consulting ability.
6. Should only business students apply to join a consulting team?
Certainly not. We encourage students from all courses and years to apply. While some projects have more of a focus on business management, many projects do not.
Executive Board
President: Lovelle D’Souza
Vice President: Sam Monk
Treasurer: Matthew Wallace
Secretary: John Tsaousidis
Social Director: Amelia Morris
Legal Officer: Neha Kasbekar
Sponsorship Director: Shayan Ganeshan
Recruitment & Marketing: Wilma Gillies
Consulting Directors: Vanessa Lee, Michael Goldman, Claudia Yeap, Henrietta Ellice-Flint, India O’Neill
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