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Breadcrumb links
Community
CommunityCONNECT
Overview
In an effort to support and build greater strength and capacity within local community and not for profit groups, the Shire has developed CommunityCONNECT – a volunteer and community group support program. The program has five main objectives (STARR):
Click on the link to access theCommunityCONNECT brochure.
Supporting
The Shire's Community Development team is committed to promoting development opportunities and providing ongoing assistance to its volunteers and community groups.
Each year, the Shire is excited to host a “Thank a Volunteer Day” Celebration in December, to recognise the achievements of volunteers and thank them for their hard work in the community.
Sundowners are also held from time to time; a great opportunity for community groups to get together and network.
Community Network Group
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has re-launched the Community Network Group (CNG), previously known as the Community Network Committee, inviting all human service, not for profit, community based organisations and interested community members to attend the next meeting scheduled Wednesday, 27 February 2013.
Established in 2006, the group was formed to improve communication, networking, coordination and sharing of resources and ideas between the stakeholders who provide services within the shire.
Hot topics regularly discussed include disability access and inclusion, youth, health, education, community safety, leavers, active ageing, funding, volunteering, training and other development opportunities.
The CNG is open to not-for-profit service providers, Government representatives (Local, State and Federal) community groups, individuals and organisation concerned with human or community service provision in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River (including education and voluntary organisations).
For more information regarding the CNG or to register your interest to attend the next CNG meeting please contact Acting Senior Community Development Officer,Gene Hardy on 9780 5241 or email ghardy@amrshire.wa.gov.au.
Training
The lifeblood of any community group is its people. Training and up-skilling your committee members is therefore vital to ensure the longevity and financial sustainability of your community group.
If you would like to receive information on various training courses that are being held throughout the year, add your details to the CommunityCONNECT Register.
Some organisations that provide useful training to community groups are:
Volunteer South West
Phone: 9791 3214
Website: www.volunteersouthwest.org.au
Email: volunteer.south.west@bigpond.com
Information: Provides training to support volunteers in their roles.
Volunteering WA
Phone: 9482 4333
Website: www.volunteeringwa.org.au
Information: Ongoing training not only equips those who are new to working with volunteers with the tools they need, but also contributes to the continued professional development of those who have been in the field for a while.
Western Australian Council of Social Services WACOSS
Phone: 9420 7222
Website: www.wacocc.org.au
Information: Training schedule is based in the Perth metro area, however training courses can be customised and run in regional areas.
Financial Counsellors Association of Western Australia (Inc) FCAWA
Phone: 9325 1617
Website: www.financialcounsellors.org
Email : eo@financailcounsellor.org
Information: Provide both training and financial support to facilitate training in the following areas:
• Financial literacy
• Budgeting
Access to funding
For funding opportunities, visit the Grants & Sponsorships page.
Resources
Volunteers
Are you an individual looking for the perfect volunteering opportunity? Visit the Volunteering page.
Or, are you a community group trying to find the right volunteer? Volunteer South West provides a volunteer referral service, linking individuals wanting to volunteer with relevant not-for-profit organisations in the South West region.
Contact Volunteer Southwest by calling (08) 9791 3214, emailing volunteer.south.west@bigpond.com or visit their website.
CommunityCONNECT Register
The CommunityCONNECT register contains contact details for community groups located in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
Visit the Groups and Services page to access this.
Community Events
For information on resources that are available to assist you with organising community events, visit the Groups and Services page.
Community Trailer
The Shire has a trailer which can be lent to community groups at no cost. Contact Steve on (08) 9780 5643 or Gary on (08) 9780 5640 at the Shire depot.
Useful links
Writing project proposals:
Writing funding submissions:
Community assistance and support:
- Pro Bono Australia - resources for not for profit committees
- Club Doctors - free counseling service providing advice to enhance the work of volunteers in the community
- Starting a community group
- Department of Sport and Recreation
- Department of Sport and Recreation South West
- Our Community
Incorporated Associations:
- A Guide for Incorporated Associations in WA
- Running an Incorporated Association
- Altering the Rules of an Incorporated Association
Volunteers:
- Attracting and retaining volunteers: Busselton/Dunsborough Volunteer Centre
- Free internet advertising for not-for-profit community organisations looking for volunteers: Go Volunteer
- Volunteering WA
- The National Volunteer Skills Centre Project
Holding meetings:
- Questions and answers on the conduct of meetings and the constitutions of voluntary bodies. nickrenton.com
Other:
- Tips to make your community group more welcoming
- Privacy Issues: Office of the Privacy Commissioner
- Labour relations, incorporated association: Department of Commerce
- Guide to Risk Management: WA Sports Federation; Risk Management for Community Organisations Government of Western Australia
- Delivering powerful presentations: Regional Development Australia – Southwest
- Our Community a one stop shop for community groups to access valuable and relevant information for their community and not for profit group. Our Community promotes themselves as a world-leading social enterprise that provides advice and tools for Australia's 700,000 community groups and schools, and practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, business and government. Includes links to the Easy Grants newsletter which provides information about the billions of dollars of Federal and State Government, philanthropic and corporate grants funding available in Australia.
- Australian Learning Communities Network
- Understanding community sector jargon: Glossary of Terms from the Australian Council of Social Service
Research
The Shire is committed to developing and expanding the CommunityCONNECT Program in the future and will continue to research initiatives, activities and opportunities that can be incorporated into the program.
Please contact us if you have any suggestions on how to improve our current program, or if you would like to submit an idea to be considered for the future.
For more information contact:
Katie Taylor, Community Development Administration Officer
- Hours
- Tues - Thurs: 9.00am to 5.00pm
- Telephone
- 08 9780 5233
- Fax
- 08 9757 2512