Category: Regional Updates

  • Sunshine Coast Region August Update


    It’s been a busy time for us since our first forum  earlier this year. A quick update to let you know what’s been going on.

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  • Community Development Conference 2013 – ‘Unlocking Citizen Led Change’

    The Deception Bay Child & Family Alliance and CD QLD invite you to the 2013 Community Development Conference which will be held in Deception Bay at the Bay Youth and Sports Centre on Friday 1st November 2013.  This year’s conference will explore how, in the context of significant change confronting the community sector in Queensland with shrinking resources from government and an ever-increasing demand and expectation for services, we can embrace the opportunities to work in our communities that promote and enhance citizen led change.

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  • QCOSS: Community Services Industry Body discussion

    The steering committee looking at the viability of a Community Services Industry Body (CSIB), outlining what a potential body might look like and the role it may play in Queensland is seeking consultation on their proposals.

    It is important now that we develop a board level analysis of what WE as board members of community organisations feel would benefit our communities and the small and medium organisations that service them.

    Consultancy is now open and NOW is the time to read the Working Together Green Paper, the full report, and the CSIB FAQ’s and join us in an open discussion about the implications and opportunities that this project presents AND comment below.

    Here is a summary from QCOSS:

    • An industry body is proposed in the Working Together Green Paper that was commissioned by the Futures Forum.
    • A group of interested organisations decided to get together (independently of the Futures Forum) to investigate the idea of establishing an industry body further and they sought resources to engage a consultant to undertake the initial investigation.
    • The Industry Body would work on the “business of the business”.  Things like promoting the sector, IT systems, HR, IR, and business development would be in its remit. The CSIB Fact Sheet explains it in more detail.

    Members of the steering group which has commissioned the work to date are:

    • Carmel Marshall, Capricorn Community Development Association
    • Mark Henley, QCOSS
    • Anna Moynihan, UnitingCare Queensland
    • Wallis Westbrook, Health and Community Services Workforce Council
    • Trevor Carlyon, Carlyon and Associates (author of Working Together)

    The Coalition of Community Boards have shown interest in being involved in discussions, and will be approaching QCOSS and the steering group to discuss important factors that affect us all.

    Please comment below, so we can build a board level analysis of the issues and opportunities surrounding this proposal and work towards having a voice in the development of this.

    Key documents:

     

  • Sunshine Coast Discussion Forum

     Are you a board member of a small to medium Sunshine Coast community organisation?

    Feeling frustrated with the state of the Queensland funding cuts?

    Worried about the future of your organisation?

    Want to contribute to the future of our sector?

    You are invited to join in a discussion join fellow board members to discuss how individually and collectively we can ENSURE the survival of our organisations and deal with the crisis we are facing.

    The host of this event is Narelle Poulsen, Vice President of Nambour Community Centre and guest Dr Ann Ingamells, from the Coalition of Community Boards.

    Date:  Wednesday 20th March 2013

    Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm

    Place:  Nambour Community Centre

    Contact:  0466211021 or admin@cocb.org.au

    Download Flyer (pdf version)

    Raising Our Voices Discussion Forum SunshineCoast

  • CCB on 7:30 report

    Coalition of Community Boards on ABC 7:30 report

    Featuring TAASQ and Patricia Ferrier President of Deception Bay Community Centre

  • Get Set for Work campaign

    The state government has a statutory obligation to provide ’employment skills development programs’ like the Get Set for Work Program and describes the characteristics of the program. I have also included some briefing notes which give a bit more detail about the program and its value.

    The Get Set for Work Program was one of the 7 programs in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative by the Newman Government.  The Vocational Education Training and Employment Act 2000 states that the Chief Executive of the Department of Education Training and Employment must ensure that employment skills development programs are accessible and available to young people who are aged 15-17 years who fall within the compulsory participation phase of their Education as required by the Education ( General Provisions) Act 2006.

    The success of the program was that it targeted highly disadvantaged communities and located the contracts in community based organisations who had strong links to their community. In Deception Bay we had an 80% success rate which was  great value for money.

    Representations have been made to the Minister and the Premier but we have not had a response to this matter.

    Resources:

    Notes on Government responsibility to provide training programs

    Radio interview with Trish Ferrier