Affordable Housing

Access to safe, accessible and affordable housing remains one of the leading issues for members across all of our sectors. Not only is lack of housing impacting service delivery to individuals, families and communities experiencing disadvantage, but it is also a structural barrier to employment of staff for our members right across southern NSW. 

Community Industry Group presented at the recent Affordable Housing Taskforce on the challenges for the sector, and on strategies to support the sector to supply more housing options. We also participated in the recent workshop to progress actions to address the affordable housing crisis in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, together with several of our member organisations. Business Illawarra has been leading a collaborative project with representatives from the business, property and community services sectors, which resulted in an advocacy report which launched last year. The workshop developed strategies towards an integrated advocacy campaign.

CI Group is highly supportive of strategies which promote affordable private rental and purchasable properties, but also continues to campaign to increase critical social housing options. Community Housing is a vital element of housing solutions, as is Aged Care, and we continue to lobby for increased investment in these sectors. Our recommendations include:

• Capital Grants for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and NFP Aged Care. This will not only build supply, but also build balance sheets, which increases access to finance to faclitate futher developments.

• Changes to the taxation system to direct negative gearing incentives towards social and affordable housing.

• Mandatory Inclusionary zoning to deliver social housing, to be managed by CHPs.

• Raise the rate to increase income for people on income support.

• Commonwealth Rent Assistance which is linked to actual housing costs

• Access to the Housing Affordability Future Fund for providers of aged care. 

• Exemptions for NFPs from some costs of development approvals, and access to grants to enable ‘shovel readiness’. 

• Earmark land for independent living and aged care in new land releases. Aged care developments require hectares of land, which must be allocated in the planning stage.

• Generous height, density and parking allowances for social and community housing.

• Increase funding to Specialist Homelessness Servivces until housing supply is improved.

Nicky Sloan CEO

Draft TEI - Illawarra / Shoalhaven Consultation Session

With specifications due to be released mid April, DCJ’s Early Intervention Teams are currently undertaking various activities to prepare and support Commissioning and Planning teams and inform and consult the sector about recommissioning in 2025. 

Join Amanda Jones Co – Manager Early Intervention Evidence and Strategy and Claire Edmonds Co- Manager Early Intervention Evidence and Strategy to consult about the work they are doing and to provide valuable feedback and advice about the changes being made.

Children & Family Service Interagency
Date: Tuesday 30 April 2024
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Location: ECTARC Warrawong – Unit 2/210 Shellharbour Rd, Warrawong
RSVP: Tracey Kirk-Downey |  Community Development Worker - Children and Families [email protected]

Foundations of LGBTQIA+ Training

Hoarding & Squalor Training

No formal preparation needed!

Community Industry Group in conjunction with Living Works Australia will be holding 2 free 4-hour training sessions. One on Wednesday 22 May in Dapto and another on Thursday 23 May at Nowra 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 that can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training.

LivingWorks safeTALK Suicide Alertness Training Illawarra - May 22
https://20240522LivingWorksSuicidePrevention.eventbrite.com.au

LivingWorks safeTALK Suicide Alertness Training Shoalhaven - May 23
https://20240523LivingWorksSuicidePrevention.eventbrite.com.au

Grants & Funding Opportunities

The latest round of DOHAC Grant Funding for Growth is now open to Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers. 

The grant opportunity is a targeted growth round with $100 million available in the 2024-25 financial year for providers looking to increase the availability Domestic Assistance, Home Maintenance, Allied Health and Therapy and Transport services. 

The grant opportunity seeks to attract new providers currently delivering other similar services that are focused on supporting the care economy, including those for aged care, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Disability Support Scheme. 

Applications in June 2024. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Grants & Recovery Support - available for recent flood affected communities

Grants available for recent affected flood areas:  Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.

2024 Community Grants | NSW Ports

The NSW Ports 2024 Community Grants Program is open to Australian registered not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and schools that have a clear vision and goal to enhance the communities living nearby our ports and intermodal terminals through projects, programs or initiatives.

Click here for more information about our local operational areas.         

How to apply
For consideration in the NSW Ports 2024 Community Grants Program, you must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below and submit an Application Form (including all supporting information) by no later than 5 pm on Sunday, 28 April 2024.

Please read the Program Guidelines and Terms and Conditions for the full eligibility criteria, prior to beginning your Application Form.

Grant Finder! Having trouble keeping up to date with grants for your organisation? Get the latest grants available customised to your organisation straight to your inbox!

Click Here to access our grant finder portal and start your search.

Community Industry Group is the peak body for community organisations in southern NSW. We provide a voice, influence, and leadership for not-for-profit community organisations so that they can support vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. Membership is open to non-profit community-based social or welfare organisations that are based in, or work in the Southern NSW region, and to individuals. Associate membership (non-voting) is open to private non-government organisations and government bodies. Further information about how to become a member is available here.

Member News

Join COORDINARE’s Community Advisory Committee

One of 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia, COORDINARE is the PHN for South Eastern NSW, and is currently seeking expressions of interest to join their Community Advisory Committee.

COORDINARE's Community Advisory Committee contributes specialist knowledge and expertise to provide the COORDINARE Board with a community perspective on:

 - How best to improve health and wellness in our region;
- Insight into identified health issues;
- How best to engage health consumers and communities to have a say on projects and commissioning activities.

 The EOI closes on 17 April 2024. Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

A new portable long service leave scheme

Share your thoughts on a new portable long service leave plan for the community services sector introduced by the NSW Government. This plan ensures that workers in the sector continue to accumulate long service leave regardless of job changes within the field.

Community services workers in NSW are renowned for their commitment to social inclusion and wellbeing, yet many face challenges like stress, burnout, and job instability. Employers in the sector are dealing with rising demand for services while grappling with workforce issues, including retention and recruitment.

Learn more and participate in the consultation process at "Have your Say - Portable long service leave for community services" website. You can complete a survey, give feedback, or share your experiences until April 30, 2024. Detailed documents and a draft bill are available on the site. For inquiries, contact [email protected] .

Information Session:
Join NSW Fair Trading Policy & Delivery team about the proposed portable long service leave online via Teams on Thursday 18^th April 2024 (1.30pm – 2.30pm).  

  The session will provide information about:  

• Scope and eligibility for the scheme 

• Leave entitlements and funding 

• Administration and governance 

• Transition and implementation  

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards!

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual event hosted by
The Centre for Volunteering. The Awards aim to recognise the contributions, dedication and excellence of volunteers from across every part of the NSW volunteering sector.  There are eight award categories in which to nominate, from Young Volunteer of the Year to Volunteer Team of the Year. 

Nominations for the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards open from Monday 18 March and close on Friday 14 June.  

Details regarding the Awards and how to nominate can be found below.

Youth Week Starts Today!

Thursday 11 April and runs through to Sunday 21 April. This year the theme is Express. Empower. Get Loud! Our 2024 Youth Advisory Council explain the theme: Express – Youth week is a chance for every young person from across NSW to be themselves! It gives young people the opportunity to showcase their talents, get involved and celebrate where they are from, their culture, their sexuality, gender and identity. Empower – It’s time for young people in NSW to have their voices heard on issues that matter to them. Get Loud! – It’s time for youth across NSW to stand up and get at local community events and across NSW during Youth Week. 

Young people can find out about events in their community here. Please remind young people in your networks to apply to the YAC here. Membership of the YAC is open to all children and young people aged between 12-24 years living in NSW

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).

Member Position Vacant

Food for thought

Short Film ‘Recovery & Healing’ shines a light on the ongoing violence within our community - advocating for national investment.

This incredible short film by local, award winning film maker Phil Crawford highlights the impact domestic, family and sexual abuse has on victim-survivors and is a call to action about what is needed in our health, legal, finance, housing, political, social and cultural systems to support recovery and healing. The Australian Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Recovery Alliance officially launched the film at Parliament House in Canberra hosted by Stephen Jones in February, and NSW Parliament House in March, hosted by Anna Watson MP.