Vale Fran Hayes.

Fran Hayes was the first paid organiser for the Australian Social Welfare Workers Union (now part of ASU). Fran was a powerhouse for community workers rights, and led the successful campaign for workers in the community sector to have a Federal Award.

This video is a great tribute to the achievements of Fran and all of our predecessors who fought so hard to have the work of the community sector recognised, and to preserve the rights of workers in our sector.

Thank you Fran, for all you did to make the sector a better place to work!

‘NSW Women of the Year’ award nominations are open!

The NSW Women of the Year Awards celebrate the incredible women and girls improving the lives of people in NSW.

Do you know an inspiring and extraordinary young woman or girl?
Help recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions of young women and girls in your community who challenge inequality and inspire us all. The NSW Young Woman of the Year category is for women aged 16 to 30 years who demonstrate incredible potential or achievement in her chosen field, passion or area of interest. The Ones to Watch category is for girls and young women aged 7 to 15 years who demonstrate a single act or ongoing acts of courage, bravery, strength, determination or kindness to help and support those around them.
 
Nominations close on 15 September 2024. 

Build and motivate your boards and committees!

At Community Industry Group, we know first hand how building and motivating effective Boards and Committees of Management is crucial to the success of an organisation. To strengthen your current Board and prepare for leadership transitions, it’s essential to focus on leadership development, strategic planning, and fostering a collaborative culture. Providing leadership training in areas like governance, media relations, and financial literacy helps Board members feel confident and prepared. This enables them to navigate challenges and opportunities with clarity. Click below to book.

New report recommends improved safeguards for out-of-home care.

A new report (Link below) tabled in the NSW Parliament by the Office of the Children’s Guardian highlights major issues with Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs), such as motels and holiday rentals used for child placements. The report identifies key problems including inadequate oversight, lack of necessary support services, challenges in staff recruitment and retention, the over-representation of Aboriginal children, and the scarcity of suitable care options. CI Group supports the recommendations which include improving therapeutic residential care, establishing a carer engagement committee, and enhancing complaint-handling powers for the Office of the Children’s Guardian. The report stresses the need for comprehensive reform within the broader child protection system and suggests considering an independent Child Protection Commission with an Aboriginal Commissioner.

Strengthening out-of-home care and the broader child protection system (nsw.gov.au)

R U OK? download your guide here.

R U OK? Day is on Thursday, 12 September, but everyone is encouraged to ask friends, family, and colleagues on any day, are you okay?  Visit the website for guides, resources, and information on hosting R U OK? Day events.

Make ethical decisions, evaluate and implement realistic care / case plans.

Gain practical tools and strategies to enhance your decision-making skills and apply critical thinking in your daily practice. Learn how to evaluate and implement realistic care and case plans while maintaining ethical standards. This workshop will empower you to make informed decisions that positively impact both your clients and your organisation. Don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen your professional practice and contribute to better outcomes for those in your care! Click below to secure your place.

We welcome our latest STARS!

This week we welcomed two new STARS to our team of Volunteers. They bring more than just experience! Our STARS volunteers embody a unique blend of skills and experiences that make them exceptional in their roles. With backgrounds in aged care services, including residential, independent living, and home care, they bring a wealth of knowledge to their volunteering. Their excellent communication and interpersonal skills, combined with a compassionate understanding of older people’s perspectives, allow them to form meaningful connections. These volunteers are well-organised, effectively manage their time, and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information. Their empathy and patience ensure they provide the best possible care, making a lasting positive impact on the lives of those they assist. With STARS volunteers by their side, and older person in hospital will receive personalised assistance navigating their transition from hospital into aged care. STARS offer time and experience to help an older person explore options. STARS provide independent, confidential support to help the older person.

Calling all not-for-profit CEO’s and executives!

Join our media training workshop led by experienced journalist and media consultant, Nick Hartgerink. Learn exactly what journalists want from you and how to prepare for interviews while staying on message. This session will cover how to handle issues management when delivering ‘bad’ news and provide strategies for effective media engagement. You'll also gain practical skills in writing media releases, alerts, invitations, and more. Equip yourself with the knowledge to confidently manage media interactions and enhance your organization’s public image. Don't miss this chance to strengthen your communication skills and boost your media presence! Click below to book your place.

For the culturally and linguistically diverse members of your community.

This week we wanted to highlight some of the great work MCCI Illawarra are doing in offering their ‘CALDWays’ Courses. Aimed at the older members of our community, these modern initiative tailored to enhance service for our culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) elderly clients. Their engaging courses provide practical knowledge for attendees, ensuring that our support for the CALD community is both effective and helpful.

MCCI Illawarra plays a vital role in enriching lives across the Illawarra region and continues to support the community through a range of essential services. Their Youth & Community programs foster growth and engagement, while Refugee Support ensures a welcoming environment for newcomers. Seniors Wellbeing initiatives promote health and happiness among older adults, and Diversity & Inclusion efforts champion a more inclusive society. For more information, click the link below.

Our social support meeting a hit!

The South Coast Aged Services Interagency and the Eurobodalla Disability Interagency Network, established by CI Group, have launched a Social Support Coffee Club. Starting in September 2024, the group meets every Wednesday to foster connection, community, and networking among care sector employees. These professionals, who spend their days prioritising others, now have a space to focus on themselves. The first gathering was a success, with attendees from various organisations enjoying conversation and camaraderie. For more information contact Eliza Miller, Project and Policy Officer. [email protected]. M: 0447 903 675

Will you be ready?

The Salvos offer a community service where generous solicitors prepare simple Wills in return for a modest contribution to The Salvation Army. These events provide a wonderful way to make sure you have a legally valid and up to date Will which reflects your wishes. Payments received from our Wills Days help to support important local community programs. Appointments are essential. Please note this is not a free service

FREE - an interactive sector workshop for coercive control.

There is strong evidence on coercive control that highlights the patterns of abuse and their impact on women, including the risk of coercive control in intimate partner homicide. However, there is relatively less evidence – and less focus in the research, policy and practice landscape – on the impact of coercive control on children and young people. ANROWS will share evidence from research on the unique experiences of children and young people living with coercive control. Participants will build on the research-based evidence with their practice knowledge and expertise, helping to fill the gaps in how we understand and respond to children living with a parent’s, mostly their fathers and step-fathers, use of coercive control.

Together we’ll develop evidence-informed practice priorities and work in teams to develop a plan to implement what we know into our everyday work with children, young people and their families. Book your Interactive Sector Workshop - Understanding and responding to coercive control: A spotlight on children and young people Interactive Sector Workshop. Hosted by Association of Children's Welfare Agencies.

Join the SAHSSI Board of Directors: seeking expertise in construction related fields, finance or information technology.  

Position: Voluntary Board Member. Organisation: SAHSSI (Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra). Location: New South Wales, Australia. Commitment: Part-Time, Volunteer 

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4009814130/

Have your say and contribute to the TEI program specifications.

CI Group is seeking feedback from local TEI providers on the draft Program Specifications to . We are particularly interested in your insights regarding the following areas: 

• Program Structure/Service Types, 

• Increased Focus on Evidence in service design/delivery, 

• List of Evidence Informed Parenting Programs, 

• Service Systems Outcomes & Key Program Requirements

To contribute, please send through feedback to Donna (Policy & Project Officer): [email protected] by 20th September 2024

The updated specifications ( Key TEI program resources | Communities and Justice (nsw.gov.au) ) introduce several key changes with the hope of enhancing program effectiveness and integration. TEI and Family Connect and Support will be merged into a single, unified program, with a simplified and streamlined reporting process through DEX. FCS will remain a distinct model within this framework. There will be a greater emphasis on early intervention, supported by evidence integration and the establishment of program-wide logics. The revisions also focus on cultural safety, specifically improving outcomes for Aboriginal people within the TEI Client Outcomes Framework and will include TEI service system outcomes and program requirements with an increased emphasis on flexibility.

For further information about TEI, please visit the Communities and Justice page Targeted Earlier Intervention program | Communities and Justice (nsw.gov.au).

Have your say and contribute to the TEI program specifications.

CI Group is seeking feedback from local TEI providers on the draft Program Specifications to . We are particularly interested in your insights regarding the following areas: 

• Program Structure/Service Types, 

• Increased Focus on Evidence in service design/delivery, 

• List of Evidence Informed Parenting Programs, 

• Service Systems Outcomes & Key Program Requirements

To contribute, please send through feedback to Donna (Policy & Project Officer): [email protected] by 20th September 2024

The updated specifications ( Key TEI program resources | Communities and Justice (nsw.gov.au) ) introduce several key changes with the hope of enhancing program effectiveness and integration. TEI and Family Connect and Support will be merged into a single, unified program, with a simplified and streamlined reporting process through DEX. FCS will remain a distinct model within this framework. There will be a greater emphasis on early intervention, supported by evidence integration and the establishment of program-wide logics. The revisions also focus on cultural safety, specifically improving outcomes for Aboriginal people within the TEI Client Outcomes Framework and will include TEI service system outcomes and program requirements with an increased emphasis on flexibility.

For further information about TEI, please visit the Communities and Justice page Targeted Earlier Intervention program | Communities and Justice (nsw.gov.au).

‘Growing Regions Program’ - round 2 release of program guidelines.

On 17 August 2024 the Hon Catherine King PM, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government announced the release of the Growing Regions Program - Round 2 Program Guidelines ahead of the round’s expected opening on 5 September 2024. 

The Australian Government has committed $600 million over three years, commencing in 2023-24 for the program to provide funding for capital works projects that will enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia. The Growing Regions Program - Round 2 continues to invest in regional communities following the announcement of 40 projects funded under the first round of the program. The program is an open competitive program with funding awarded on a merit basis. 

Potential applicants can now read the Program Guidelines and review initial eligibility criteria on the program’s web page at Growing Regions Program | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Kind regards
Growing Regions Team 
[email protected]

FREE - learn the basics of how to write, manage and maintain funding.

Grants, funding, procurement, scholarships and awards are often held up as the holy grail of a successful arts career, but this revenue stream also takes hard work, dedication and patience. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘free money’. Funding Fundamentals is a workshop showcasing the basics of preparation, application, and acquittal for any kind of funding, as well as getting organised for future applications. It’s packed with information and suitable for novices and more experienced funding-seekers alike. There is always more to learn about funding!

Participants will learn all the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:

• The different kinds of funding available, from grants to procurement and more.

• Creating a Funding Folder and Deadline Calendar for regular applications.

• Writing the Application – and avoiding the most common errors.

• Getting the money right, with budgeting and income (including templates).

• The Acquittal Process – and how to recover from setbacks.

• The five main ways to avoid ‘failing’ at funding.

Dates: Tuesday 22 October
Times: 2pm-4pm
Location: The Music Lounge, Corner Of Crown & Kembla Street, Wollongong.
Facilitator: Cat Dibley

Local Business Expo is on!

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore stalls by local businesses across a range of industries including design, photography, education, construction, maintenance, policy, research, arts, crafts and more. You can also buy unique, locally produced gifts, clothing, books and educational resources. If you have a Reconciliation Action Plan and/or are interested to learn more about local Aboriginal businesses, what they can provide and how to buy from them, come along to meet them! Organised by Wollongong City Council.

For more information visit: wollongong.nsw.gov.au/business-expo

Entry Cost: Free for everyone
Dates: Thursday 17 October
Times: 11am-1pm
Location: Wollongong Town Hall

Thank you to our partners: Illawarra Indigenous Business Network, BlueScope, Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Join us! - businesses, government and non-government stakeholders.

Organised by Wollongong City Council, this event offers a unique platform to exchange information and foster meaningful connections. If you are interested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement you won't want to miss this great opportunity!

Visit Eventbrite to book your free spot.

Entry Cost: Free for everyone
Dates: Wednesday 16 October
Times: 6pm-8pm
Location: Inside Industry Coniston

Thank you to our partners: Illawarra Indigenous Business Network, BlueScope, Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Grant Opportunities

Members News

What’s on for our Members This Week?

Guidelines: If you are a member and want to add something to our Newsletter email your flyer to [email protected].

Member Jobs / Positions Vacant