[Edited extract from public address]
Community members play a huge role in informing Council and Networks on lived experiences and help guide decisions for future plans.
This issue includes some fantastic opportunities for community groups to pass onto their members and share amongst their networks.
There is a call to action to Have Your Say on Council Budget and Plan, to participate in a Rooming House Network and to join the Older Persons Advisory Committee. Please share these opportunities onto your active community members.
Training and Professional Development
OPAC | GATHERING | Ageism Awareness Session | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 15 June | Wednesday 14 June 2023 | 11am–12noon
Join members of The City of Port Phillip’s Older Persons Advisory Committee (OPAC) to learn about ageism, a key driver of elder abuse. Now in its 22nd year, OPAC works with Council to advocate on all matters relating to the health and wellbeing of older residents.
Join us to learn about what ageism is and find out what you can do to address ageism. The session is free, places are limited.
Grants and Funding
ARTSPAY | GRANTING | Inaugural Grants Program | applications close 9 May 2023
Since its launch in October 2021, The ArtsPay Foundation has been working hard to establish a new source of funding for the arts driven by payment processing fees. The ArtsPay Foundation announces its first call for applications from independent artists and small arts organisations.
Led by an experienced board, this pilot round will assist them to learn, grow and best understand how the Foundation can play its part in supporting artists and small organisations into the future.
The purpose is to hear from applicants about how they can assist their creative and artistic developments to build a pathway to a long term sustainable vision for the Arts. In this first year, The ArtsPay Foundation will provide six $5,000 grants to independent artists and two $10,000 grants to small arts organisations.
ArtsPay encourage applications from a range of artistic mediums such as Performance Art, Theatre, Dance, Music, Literature, Visual Art, Multi-Art Form, Community and Cultural Development, Experimental and new art forms, Fashion and Gaming.
Metro’s Reconciliation Action Plan community partner funding | submissions close Friday 12 May 2023
Metro Trains Melbourne is seeking expressions of interest from Indigenous community organisations for a partnership opportunity, in line with their second Reconciliation Action Plan.
They are looking for a community based and First Nation’s led organisation to partner with, that is focused on supporting their local community to deliver excellent initiatives and outcomes.
The partnership aims to build a strong relationship that will benefit the chosen organisation and the community.
The funding available for a project is approximately $120,000.
Events
Heritage Talk: Merchants, Makers and Innovators | Tuesday 30 May 2023 | 6.30–8pm
During the second half of the 19th century, factories making ships biscuits, candles, town gas, sugar, coffee and spices, glassware and bottles, starch, chemicals and spirits emerged along the foreshore of Port and South Melbourne and in Fishermans Bend.
In this talk, David F Radcliffe will explore the merchants, entrepreneurs, artisans, and engineers behind this wave of industrialisation and the influence of geography and serendipity.
- Where: Emerald Hill Library & Port Phillip Heritage Centre, 195 Bank Street, South Melbourne 3205
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: essential, online through Trybooking
Other Programs and Initiatives
Council Plan and Budget Community Consultation
Council is conducting community engagement on the Council Plan and Budget between 20 April 2023 to 17 May 2023.
Specific information about the process can be found at Council Plan and Budget | Have Your Say Port Phillip.
If your group or members have any feedback about activities, services or initiatives that you want Council to consider for the Council Plan and Budget, please submit your feedback between the previously specified dates through the form on the Have Your Say webpage.
If you prefer, you can also provide your feedback in-person at one of the pop-up Neighbourhood Conversations being held across Port Phillip in May 2023. Specific dates and locations of these pop-up sessions will be published on the Council Plan and Budget | Have Your Say Port Phillip webpage.
All types of feedbacks received will be consolidated together and presented to Council for consideration.
On 7 June 2023, Council will conduct a hearing of community feedback for anyone who wishes to talk to Council in-person about their submitted feedback.
After the 7 June 2023 Council Meeting, you will get a Council letter in the first week of July 2023 containing Council’s response to your feedback following the adoption of the Council Plan and Budget 2023/24, which will also be available at
Council Plan and Budget | Have Your Say Port Phillip.
Inner South Rooming House Network Review – calling for expressions of interest in participating
The Inner South Rooming House Network (ISRHN) is a group that exists to improve the quality of life for rooming house residents of the Inner South and be a voice for change.
The network brings together organisational professionals working in information and service delivery, nursing, community and allied health, outreach and community development within the Inner South catchment, along with people who have a lived experience of living in a rooming house.
There is currently a review being conducted to help shape the future of the ISRHN, to ensure it is effective and that resources are being well-targeted. The process includes a survey and potential workshop, depending on the findings of the survey.
Port Phillip Writing Awards 2023 | entries close Friday 30 June 2023
Entries are NOW OPEN for the Port Phillip Writes: Seniors Festival Writing Awards 2023,.
Port Phillip Writes is an annual event that showcases the imagination, writing skills, and creative expression of Seniors within the City of Port Phillip.
Open to all City of Port Phillip residents, workers, and Library members aged 55 years and over.
Committee Members Wanted for Older Persons Advisory Committee (OPAC)
Do you want to assist Council by providing feedback on all issues that affect the health and well-being of older residents in the City of Port Phillip? Consider becoming a member of the Older Persons Advisory Committee (OPAC)
The OPAC assists Council by providing advice and feedback in relation to policies, plans, and services affecting older people and also supports and advocates for the delivery of significant Council events, activities, and services relevant to older persons.
SGA | WEBINAR | Gardening for Renters | Tuesday 20 June 2023 | 7–8.30pm
Growing a flourishing garden in a rental is possible! Join this free online Zoom session held by Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) to hear expert tips on how to make the most of your rental garden.
This session will cover the following topics:
- Sustainable design for renters
- Thrifty gardening
- Growing in containers and vertically
- Transportable solutions
- Moveable composts and worm farms
- Gardens for habitats and biodiversity
- Your rights and obligations
- Working with your landlord
- Where: Online event access details will be provided by the event organiser.
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: essential, online via Trybooking
Community Profile
Christ Church Mission Community Centre
What is the name of your organisation/group and when did it start?
Christ Church Mission Community Centre has been providing support, assistance, activities and programs for nearly 20 years commencing in 2003.
What is your organisation or group’s elevator pitch?
Recognising that poverty of resources and poverty of relationships can lead to social exclusion, the Centre offers opportunities for social interaction and personal growth particularly through:
- A weekly free community meal,
- Emergency Support,
- Volunteering Opportunities,
- Engagement in free or low-cost activities, and
- Community outreach.
We receive no ongoing funding to assist in our provision of programs and services. It is only through the generous donations we receive from the community and grants we continually work to acquire including those this year from the City of Port Philip that we are able to operate.
What is your name and role in the organisation/group?
My name is Elizabeth Rooney. My primary role is manager of the Community Centre which in broad term means I do everything from writing reports, seeking funding, to packing crates, sweeping floors and peeling potatoes.
How many active members do you currently have?
We currently have over 50 active members and are always seeking more volunteers to become part of our team.
How can someone become a member?
People are welcome to contact the Community Centre either by email: community centre@ccm.org.au or phone: (03) 9534 9250 with an enquiry regards volunteering with our organisation. They will then be contacted by our volunteer coordinator to discuss the various types of programs and sent a volunteer information pack to complete and return.
Currently we are actively recruiting volunteers to assist with collecting items for the ‘Emergency Support’ program, mowing lawns for the ‘Garden Nomads’ program or preparation of the ‘Open House’ meal. Give us a call or drop us a line, being part of the Community Centre will create a smile.
What was the organisation or group’s proudest achievement in 2022?
Throughout 2022 many organisations in the City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip temporarily suspended or changed their services. By adapting our programs to reflect safety requirements of the pandemic and personal needs created by rising inflationary pressures we have been able to continue operating. This has led to significant increase in demand for the Emergency Support: Community Food project, particularly for families, and people who have previously not had contact with or sought assistance from the not-for-profit sector providing community relief.
Through the project we provide a free community meal ('Open House') each Thursday evening while Emergency Support in the form of food items, meals, and toiletries to marginalised, financially stressed, isolated and homeless people from the City of Port Philip and surrounding areas is provided each weekday. In 2019 prior to the pandemic more than 4,200 meals were distributed and 852 people provided with Emergency Support by our organisation. In contrast due to the pandemic and rising living costs we distributed more than 18,300 meals and provided more than 3,600 people with Emergency Support in 2022. An increase of more than 75%. These numbers are continuing to rise in 2023 and confirm our Emergency Support: Community Food Project is successfully addressing and meeting the needs of people and families experiencing difficulties and hardship. We actively train staff and volunteers in an all-inclusive approach to take when engaging with people visiting our organisation. This creates a positive relationship, particularly with those contacting us for emergency relief. This enables us to support them to access other forms of assistance from the network of agencies with whom we have built relationships.
We remain one of the few emergency outlets which sets no pre-conditions to access our services as we do not ask for pension cards, require residence in a specific geographic region or request a person provide any proof of need.
What project or activity is coming up that you want everyone to know about?
In partnership with Port Philip Community Group, we are holding the FREE ‘Work this Way’ program. It’s a fun and interesting chance for participants to develop cooking and gardening skills while also having the opportunity to spend time with others. With plans to hold the program 4 times this year, the 7-week programs run for 2 hours per week at our premises: Hospitality training each Monday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and Garden Maintenance training each Wednesday 1.30pm to 3.30pm. The first program is currently running and we encourage people to join in.
These FREE basic, introductory level courses are suited to people who are re-entering community activities and are designed especially for people who are interested in learning and developing skills through hands on participation. The course may also provide a pathway towards further education, employment or volunteering. Participants who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Can you tell us one thing that works really well in your organisation/group and why it works well?
Our ability to build upon the strength of existing partnerships and extend connections with other services enables us to continue providing onsite at the Community Centre Emergency Support from 10.30am to 1.30pm each week day and the Open House free community meal 5.30pm to 7pm each Thursday evening. These programs deliver meals and emergency relief essential for people experiencing financial stress and other difficulties within the City of Port Phillip and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The programs work well due to the direct positive interaction many people have with our staff and volunteers. Through this, those who visit or contact us, particularly children and families, also receive regular community engagement and support. This helps them access other forms of assistance to become independent, self-supporting and contributing members of the community.
