There are some great opportunities in this edition of Community Sector News that can help you put your best for forward for 2024. Have you been thinking of starting a community group and want to know what you need to do?
Also, please note that the Community Awards nominations close this month. You can self nominate or nominate a community hero that deserves to be celebrated.
Training and Professional Development
VIC | JUCO | WEBINAR | Starting a Not for Profit | Tuesday 30 January 2024 | 12.45–2pm
Setting up a not-for-profit organisation but not sure where to start? Justice Connect (JUCO) is here to help.
We’ll cover:
- Key steps when starting out
- The pros and cons of incorporation
- Legal structures
- Basics of charity status and tax concessions
- Additional resources to help with the process
This FREE introductory webinar will help you understand the legal basics of setting up and getting started. You'll learn how to set up and register your organisation, which legal structure is best for you and whether you should incorporate.
- Where: Online
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: Registrations essential: Fill out registration form
Grants and Funding
Play it forward with our Youth Access Grants
Youth Access Grants help young people aged 12 to 18 in our community enjoy more recreational activities.
The Youth Access Grant Program has two categories:
Stream one: Get Involved grant
Get Involved funding provides up to $500 for a young person aged 12 to 18 years to participate in recreational activities.
Young people between 12-17 years old need parental consent for their application. In this case, it is the parent or carer's responsibility to manage the funds and provide acquittal report.
Stream two: Recreation Programs grant
The Recreation Programs Grant is available for organisations to apply for up to $15,000. They must provide a free or low-cost recreation program for young people aged 12 to 18 years of age.
Key dates include:
- Youth Access Grants Information Session 2023: Tuesday 5 December 2023 | 10–11am
- Grant Writing Workshop: Tuesday 12 December 2023 | 6–8pm
- Grants applications close: Sunday 7 January 2023
Events
Aged Care Reform information session | Wednesday 6 December 2023 | 4–6pm
The Australian Government has made changes to how it funds services for older people. City of Port Phillip is proposing some changes to the aged care services they deliver.
Council is hosting a community workshop, so you can have a face-to-face
conversation with our team about what these changes could mean for you, and
how you would like older people supported in Port Phillip into the future.
- Where: Middle Park Community Centre Multipurpose Room, 254-256 Richardson Street, Middle Park
- Download: Poster
CoPP | AKC | Artists for Kids Culture for the end of year celebration
The AKC 'artsbus' has created arts opportunities for children at Park Towers, South Melbourne with 30 free weekly arts programs for children aged 5–14 years between February to December 2023 engaging local lead artists across all arts disciplines and presenting a final outcome exhibition.
The Artist Kids for Culture artsbus project incorporates multiple art forms in programs: visual arts, music, dance, theatre, multimedia, crafts.
- Exhibition Opening: Thursday 14 December 2023 | 5–6.30 pm
Bookings essential: online via Humanitix - Gallery open: Friday 15 December 2023 | 11am–5pm and
Saturday 16 December 2023 | 12noon–4pm - Where: Brightspace Gallery. 8 Martin Street St Kilda
- Download: Poster
Other Programs
CoPP | CALLING | Nominees for the Proudly Port Phillip Community Awards | nominations close 22 December 2023
Proudly Port Phillip Community Awards celebrate the extraordinary community contributions that make us proud to live, work and play in our City. This is your chance to acknowledge the local groups, people and projects that play a key role in shaping our neighbourhoods - the small and the large efforts, the individual and collective efforts.
Award Categories:
- Port Phillip Citizen of the Year Award
- Port Phillip Young Citizen of the Year award
- Sustainability Project/Initiative Award
- Community First Award
- Small Business of the Year Award
Nominations are now open until Friday 22 December 2023. Hard copies of the nomination form are also available from ASSIST customer service counters at the St Kilda and Port Melbourne Town Halls.
All finalists are invited to the awards presentation evening, which will be held on Thursday 14 March 2024.
- For more information: please visit City of Port Phillip’s Have Your Say webpage.
- Download: Poster
AUST | CDA | OFFERING | Free membership now for Community Directors Australia
The best-practice governance network for the members of Australian not-for-profit and government boards and committees, and the senior staff who work alongside them – providing ideas and advice for community leaders.
- Receive ‘responsible person’ status from the ATO
- Receive notifications when changes are made to policies
- Credentials: recognition through post-nominals (MICDA; FICDA)
- Membership - NOW FREE
Community Profile
FEATURING | St Kilda South Port Uniting Church (SKSP)
This month we feature SKSP and if you have time browse their website you will find amazing community connection opportunities with everything from providing a drop in space, to meditation to make and mend, a craft group.
What is the name of your organisation and when did it start?
We are St Kilda South Port Uniting Church (SKSP). Following agreement between the three parishes of South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and St Kilda we finally joined to form one regional community on 11/12/22. Despite the apparent recency of our amalgamation we have been here at Dorcas Street South Melbourne with our iconic bluestone church since 1860.
What is your organisation’s elevator pitch?
We are a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community open to all faiths and none.
What is your name and role in the organisation/group?
My name is Wendy Atkinson and I am the recently appointed Community Development Co-ordinator.
How many active members do you currently have?
Difficult to define by numbers, as we have clusters of communities throughout Port Phillip. Notably our Engagement Hub in St Kilda behind the church on the corner of Carlisle and Chapel Streets provides a daytime home to an average of 80 vulnerable community members daily. Our Thursday evening Social Meals program at Dorcas Street attracts around 40. But outreach is broad and growing all the time when you consider all our FTF and online programs.
How can someone become a member?
There are absolutely no barriers to entry. Just turn up. Or contact one of our ministers – Alex Sangster or John Tansey or myself to discuss your preferred style of engagement.
What was the organisation’s proudest achievement in 2022?
Probably that we finally achieved our vision to amalgamate and consolidate our physical spaces and move forward as one.
What project or activity is coming up that you want everyone to know about?
Well of course Christmas is coming up and that must be the highlight of our year! But it’s not about trees and tinsel, although there will be plenty of vigorous carol singing, but about nurturing community connection, reaching out to those in our communities who are most vulnerable and isolated.
Can you tell us one thing that works well in your organisation and why it works well?
I think that there is a wonderful sense of pursuing possibilities, a commitment to searching for meaning and celebrating life. This community challenges the stereotypes of stultified Christianity and opens up to exploring new ways of being.