_{NSW VET Review}

It was great to attend the NSW VET Review roundtable at the North Wollongong TAFE campus on Wednesday August 16. The roundtable was attended by two of the panel members leading the review, Dr Michele Bruniges AM (chair) and Jason Ardler.

We heard from TAFE Illawarra representatives, local training organisations, business groups, employers, community peaks and the university sector on the challenges faced and what they believe needs to be addressed to rebuild and strengthen TAFE NSW and address the current and future skills needs in our region.

The roundtable is the second in a series of meetings happening around the state. Key themes that emerged were the need to address inadequate funding for NSW TAFE and VET providers, that remain well below what is needed to deliver great educational outcomes for students from all backgrounds and to deliver skilled workers where they are needed, and the need to find better ways to connect VET providers, employers, industry groups and schools.

CI Group will be providing a written submission and you can send your input to us at [email protected]. You can subscribe to updates on the review from the department here, submit written submissions to [email protected]​ or take part in the Have Your Say survey

New ACNC Advisory Board members announced

The Government has announced eight appointments to the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits (ACNC) Advisory Board.

Congratulations to former Interim CEO of CI Group, Anna Bacik, who has been appointed to the Advisory Board.

The new ACNC Advisory Board members are:

• Ms Sarah Davies - part-time Chair and general member;

• Ms Heather Watson - part-time Deputy Chair and general member; and

• Ms Anna Bacik, Mr David Crosbie, Mr Ian Hamm, Ms Sara Harrup, Ms Rosina Loria and Dr Myles McGregor‑Lowndes OAM as part-time general members.

CI Group Training Calendar July - December

Our Community Industry Group July - December 2023 training calendar is here!

CI Group Training Calendar July - Dec 2023.

Please note this is a guide, we may add additional training subject to demand.

To register for any of our training go to our website here: CI Group Training and Events for any enquires contact us at 4256 4333 or at [email protected].

Community Service Awards 2023 - Tickets are selling out fast!

Preparations for the 2023 Community Industry Group Community Service Awards on Friday 22^nd September are in full swing.

Tickets are selling fast, and even though we are using a bigger venue more than three-quarters of available seats have been taken already. Get your tickets HERE.

Tickets are $100 for members and $150 for non members and includes entry and a 3 course dinner. Thanks to our wonderful Sponsors we will be able to offer some subsidised tickets to finalists from our smallest or most under-resourced member organisations, especially those from regional and remote areas. We will contact the lucky recipients soon.

Find out everything there is to know about the awards night over on our website.

Get on Board

Do you struggle finding new board members? Are you worried about the sustainability of your board?

If you are a board member, this training is for you!

Learn all about board recruitment, succession planning and ongoing viability, and, member induction, retention, and support in our Get on Board training.

Join us at Community Industry Group Mortlock House for the morning on Friday the 15th of Sep with our brilliant trainer Judy Daunt. Morning tea and refreshments will be provided.

Book your tickets 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).

2023 Voice Referendum Discussion event

A 2023 Voice Referendum Discussion event with Indigenous Lawyer and Uluru Dialogue member, Eddie Synot. We will be asked in a Referendum whether to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by creating a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

To enable an informed choice, I would like to invite you to this event. Eddie Synot will present & discuss what is a First Nations’ Voice and why it is needed, as well as objections raised.

Eddie Synot is a Wemba Wemba First Nations public lawyer and researcher. Eddie is a Lecturer at Griffith Law School, Griffith University and a Research Fellow at the Indigenous Law Centre (ILC) UNSW. Eddie has worked with the Uluru Dialogue and the ILC UNSW since 2018. Eddie’s research focuses on Indigenous peoples and the law, especially public and constitutional law. The Illawarra Centre for Enablement's Youth Council will be involved in this event. It will include an audience Q&A.

When: Thursday 14 September 2023 6.30pm for a 7pm start – 8.30pm

Where: The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy Meadow. Upstairs Auditorium.

Cost: $15 plus a booking fee by Tickets.org. (includes tea/coffee). All net proceeds from this event are being donated to the Uluru Dialogue.

Register here

Registrations close on 13 September 2023 5pm.

ACON Regional Outreach

These FREE sessions are open to service providers and other organisations in the Nepean Blue Mountains, Wingecarribee, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Murrumbidgee, Far West and Southern NSW Regions. They are entirely online, COVID Safe, and provide a great introduction to LGBTQ+ health, wellbeing, and inclusivity. Included in the 60-minute online sessions:

• ACON services and programs

• Gender and sexuality 101

• HIV 101

• Health disparities for sexuality & gender diverse people

• Why visibility & inclusion are important

We had two wonderful sessions in June and July with some great feedback from those who attended. We still have spots available for our sessions for the rest of 2023 if you missed out earlier.

• Wednesday 16 August 10am – 11am

• Thursday 14 September 10am – 11am

• Friday 13 October 10am – 11am

• Monday 13 November 11am – 12pm

• Tuesday 12 December 11am – 12pm

You will need to register via this link to select your preferred session. Closer to the date you will receive the email link to join your session.

Tuning Into Teens Parenting Program

Please see flyer for more details and feel free to contact SCMSAC on 1800 267 327 and ask to speak with Kylie Skillen or call: 0490 073 336 if you have any questions or wish to attend.

Carer Education Workshop

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Carer Program is running the free, three-day face-to-face Carer Education Workshop in Bomaderry this September.

This workshop provides information and resources to unpaid carers, who are supporting a family member or friend because of illness, disability, mental health issues, or who are frail/aged.

5th, 12th, and 19th September at Bomaderry Bowling Club, 154 Meroo Road, Nowra

For more information or to register contact [email protected] or call 0422 004 119. Registrations are currently open.

Flyer is available here.

FREE Introduction to the Common Approach webinar on 

Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth are running a FREE Introduction to the Common Approach webinar on Tuesday 22 August, please let your colleagues who have not previously trained in The Common Approach know about this wonderful opportunity by sharing the attached flyer.

Don’t forget if you participated in this refresher training you are eligible to enrol in their new eLearning package at a special discounted price of $200 this offer ends at the end of the month. Reach out to the Common Approach team via email for more info.

Annual Illawarra Public Dementia Forum

Venue: Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy Meadow.

Time: 10am - 3pm - doors open at 9.30am

MC: A/Prof Lyn Phillipson

Speakers: Maree McCabe AM, CEO Dementia Australia, Dr Clair Langford, Geriatrician, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Robert Pinchin, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Professor Lezanne Ooi, University of Wollongong, Dr Frances Healey, Director Dementia Data Awareness & Community, Engagement, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Panel of carers of people living with dementia from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.

Free bus transport is available for people from the Shoalhaven.

Check out the Flyer.

Dying to Know

Wednesday 23 August 2023
2pm - 4pm

This is a great opportunity to hear from a panel of local experts on Death and Dying related services and support. The panel will consist of;

• End of Life Doula

• Bereavement Services

• Funeral Home

• Legal Services

• Cemetery

The panel will share an outline of the services they offer to the community and to organisations, with the opportunity for questions from the group. Some questions could include topics around Guardianship, Wills, Advance Care Planning, Finances, Councilling, etc. This is the first time the Illawarra Interagency has themed its meeting on this topic, so it is a great opportunity to equip yourself with this information for your organisation, your clients, or yourself. Register Here This meeting will be held via Teams.

Please note: Emotional triggers may be experienced in this meeting. Please exercise self-care and if you need to, leave or take a break as needed. Lifeline: 131114.

Care Positions

• Home Instead CareGivers

• Catholic Care Various Positions

_{Disability Worker COVID-19 Leave Grant}

The Disability Worker COVID-19 Leave Grant is being delivered on behalf of the Department of Social Services. This funding will ensure permanently employed and casual disability workers who have insufficient sick leave continue to have access to income where they have not attended work due to being COVID-19 positive (and are unable to work from home) and have been able to demonstrate they have lost income as a result.

Applications are now open and close 9:00 pm AEDT on Tuesday 30 January 2024 . Find out more on GrantConnect.

_{COVID Leave Grants for Aged Care Providers}

The much-anticipated Aged Care Worker COVID-19 Leave Payment grant round was released on 10^th August 2023. Australian Government funded aged care providers, both residential and home care providers, will be able to apply for reimbursement of sick leave payments for directly employed permanent and casual workers, where the eligible employee is unable to attend work due to a COVID-19 infection and has insufficient sick leave.

The grant is available through the Grant Connect website

iAccelerate Scholarships Available

Scalapay Scale-Up Scholarship

This scholarship worth $10,000 will support Illawarra-based Entrepreneurs looking to scale their business at iAccelerate.

LIFT Scholarship for Women

This scholarship will support women from diverse communities and backgrounds to participate in iAccelerate’s pre-accelerator program Activate.

Scholarships for Social Enterprises
This scholarship will support social enterprises to participate in iAccelerate’s pre-accelerator program Activate.

To see more information and to apply click here.