Community Industry Group Newsletter

Community Service Awards 2023

We are excited to announce that tickets to our Community Service Awards Night have SOLD OUT!!

However, if you are a finalist and have not purchased tickets yet please contact our office at 4256 4333 or email [email protected], and we can arrange some tickets for you!

It is less than a month until the Awards Night on Friday 22 September! Get ready for a night full of celebration, fun and lots of pearls! Find out all the details about the evening over on our website.

Free Diversity Training with Rebecca Schmidt-Lachlan

Altered Abilities aims to raise awareness and build capacity around people living with different abilities.

Using her personal story after a catastrophic and highly unusual type of Stroke in 2008 – Brain Stem Stroke – Rebecca will share her 7½ month hospital journey and 2½ years as a rehabilitation patient.

Left unable to move anything from the eyes down, her world changed drastically overnight and brought a new insight into the challenges and adversities that can happen to anyone at any time!!!

Join Rebecca to hear about the insights and strategies she has learned over the past 15 years.

Register Here

Check out Rebecca’s amazing work over on her website or share the flyer: Altered Abilities Awareness Flyer

National Child Protection Week

National Child Protection Week is from the 3 – 9 of September 2023

In 2023, the message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ will be complemented with the theme ‘Where we start matters’.

National Child Protection Week serves as a crucial annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. This week-long campaign aims to highlight the collective responsibility of individuals, families, communities, and institutions in ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. By drawing attention to issues such as child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and the various challenges faced by children, Child Protection Week fosters open discussions, education, and action.

Throughout the week, various activities, workshops, seminars, and community initiatives have been organised to engage people from all walks of life in understanding the warning signs, prevention strategies, and interventions needed to protect children from harm. It underscores the importance of fostering strong and healthy relationships, providing emotional support, and advocating for policies and practices that prioritise children's rights.

CI Group staff pledge our support and remind all that the well-being of children is a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in creating a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential. By empowering communities to actively address child protection issues, this initiative contributes to building a stronger, more compassionate, and safer society for all children in Australia.

For further information, resources and training opportunities please visit: FINAL - Official Program Webinars & Events 2023 - NAPCAN 

Get Involved! 

Have Your Say - National Housing & Homelessness Plan

SUBMISSION: National Housing & Homelessness Plan

CALL-OUT FOR COMMENT & CASE STUDIES:

Community Industry Group is seeking input from our members to contribute to our submission on the National Housing & Homelessness Plan. Access to housing is regularly reported by members as the number one issue facing clients, and real-life examples tell a powerful story, so we ae asking you to contribute both recommendations and case studies.

The Australian Government is developing the National Housing and Homelessness Plan in collaboration with state governments to improve access to secure and affordable housing across the country. The plan aims to create a unified approach involving different government levels to enhance housing outcomes and address homelessness.

The plan's main objectives are:

• Understanding the current housing situation and homelessness causes in Australia.

• Defining a forward-looking vision for housing policies.

• Addressing diverse housing needs in different areas.

• Improving data utilisation for effective policies and evaluation.

• Learning from successful international policies for reducing homelessness.

• Fostering collaboration among governments and sectors for better support.

• Setting national goals and strategies for housing and homelessness.

To view the issues paper:

Developing the National Housing and Homelessness Plan – Issues Paper | engage.dss.gov.au 

We invite members to share their valuable insights and experiences through the provision of case studies and comments. Your input will significantly enhance the quality and depth of our submission.

Please submit your comments or case studies to [email protected], or feel free to call the office to discuss 4256 4333.

Have your Say - Aged Care

SUBMISSIONS: Aged Care Taskforce Funding Principals and Foundations of the New Aged Care Act consultations

Thank you to all of our members and stakeholders who contributed to our submissions for the Aged Care Taskforce Funding Principals and Foundations of the New Aged Care Act consultations.

The funding principals submission has been finalized and submitted, but there is still time to contribute to our submission for the Foundations of the New Aged Care Act. To have your views included, please contact Project and Policy Officer Katelin at [email protected] by 5 September.

Copies of these submissions will be shared in our next newsletter.

Have Your Say at the Illawarra Bus Passenger Forum

The NSW Government has announced the creation of a Bus Industry Taskforce to make recommendations to improve the reliability, quality and effectiveness of bus services across NSW.  

The Taskforce is engaging directly with passengers and local communities to hear what people want to get from their bus services.  

Members of the public and representatives from community groups, local businesses and non-government organisations will be invited to have their say at Bus Passenger Forums across NSW.

The next Bus Passenger Forum is being held in your area on Monday 11 September 2023 at City Diggers, Owen Room, 82 Church Street, Wollongong 2500. 

Register to join one of two sessions on the day: 

• Monday 11 September 2023, 6:00pm to 6:45pm 

• Monday 11 September 2023, 7:00pm to 7:45pm 

If you are unable to attend, you can still provide your feedback by visiting haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/bus-industry-taskforce 

Suicide Alertness safeTALK Training - Dapto

Community Industry Group in conjunction with LivingWorks Australia will be holding a free 4-hour training session on Wednesday 18 October in the Illawarra focusing on suicide alertness via SafeTALK training.

SafeTALK is a half-day training session to help participants recognise a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training.

Continuing Professional Development: SafeTALK and provides continuing professional development points for:

• Australian Psychological Society (APS)- 4 hours, accredited, details uploaded by member.

• Australian Counselling Association (ACA)- 4 points, accredited, details uploaded by member.

• NSW Education Accreditation Authority (NESA)- 4 hours, accredited, details uploaded by LivingWorks to eTAMS once the training is completed. For teachers/early childhood educators.

• Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

• Royal Australian College GP's (RACGP)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

• Australian College of Nursing (ACN)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

Limited spots available - Register Here

Member Update Guidelines: If you are a member and want to add something to our Newsletter email [email protected]. Please keep all submissions between 50 and 100 words with a link to further info (images are also welcome).

National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health

Take the 2023 National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health and help shape child mental health planning and policy.

Emerging Minds is conducting the National Workforce Survey for Family, Parent and Child Mental Health again following the success of the inaugural survey in 2020-21. The survey will inform strategies and policy to meet the needs of health, social and community services workers across Australia, and support improved outcomes for infants, children and families.

Complete the survey for your chance to win an iPad. There are 5 iPads to be won over two draws. The first two prizes are drawn in September 2023 and the last three prizes are drawn in November 2023. Be sure to complete the survey early for a chance in both draws.

The survey closes on Wednesday, 15th November 2023. Check out the Emerging Minds website for the latest resources or to read, download, watch or listen to the results of the previous survey in 2020-21.

Rethink Addiction, Invest in Prevention Forum

The Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) aims to make our communities safer, healthier and stronger by reducing the harms from alcohol and other drugs through evidence-based, primary prevention activities.

This special forum is open to everyone, especially community and health workers, to network and share ideas. Hear from innovative leaders and people with lived experience, and support those seeking help.

Tuesday 12 September at Shellharbour Civic Centre.

Register for free here

See the flyer with all details here: Rethink Addiction, Invest in Prevention 

Exciting News At Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre

Wollongong City Council are renovating Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre (BNC) and we are so excited and grateful.

Unfortunately, this means we will have to temporarily close BNC for a period of time. We understand this is a bit inconvenient however we will reopen with a beautiful fresh space.

The dates we will be closed are from 19 September until 11 October. Depending on how the renovations go we will attempt to be available for limited services on the 12 October. Please understand we need a week to pack up the whole Centre and then a few days to unpack.

For the 2 weeks of the school holidays staff and volunteers will not be on site. We will take this time to take part in learning and development opportunities.

Psychological Declutter Coaches, Recovery Coaches and Volunteers Needed

Inside Out Recovery

• Psychological and Recovery Coach Positions

• Volunteer Position

Care Positions

• Home Instead CareGivers

• Catholic Care Various Positions

New Grant Opportunity Coming Soon! 2023-24 Volunteer Grants

Volunteer Grants support the work of local community organisations by enabling the inclusion of vulnerable people and promoting awareness to increase participation in volunteering.

The 2023-24 Volunteer Grants Opportunity is expected to open for applications in the second half of 2023.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 will be available to assist eligible not-for-profit community organisations support the efforts of their volunteers.

The Grant Opportunity Guidelines are on GrantConnect with other supporting documentation to be published when the opportunity is open for application.

To receive the latest information for this upcoming grant opportunity, please subscribe to the Community Grants Hub or GrantConnect.

Find out more here: New grant opportunity coming soon!