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| Community and Place News |
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| AUGUST 2021 |
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Kaya/Hello,
WALGA acknowledges the many traditional owners of the land on which we work throughout Western Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, and present.
Community and Place News is a monthly publication produced by WALGA's Resilient Communities Team, part of the broader WALGA Strategy, Policy and Planning Unit.
In this issue...
Funding opportunities, resources, upcoming training and contacts:
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| Feedback and Advice Required - Draft State Infrastructure Strategy |
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WALGA has identified issues of sector-wide importance in the Draft Strategy and is seeking your feedback on matters identified, as well as any themes, sectors or issues of importance that are not included and should be.
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When adopted by Government, the State Infrastructure Strategy is likely to have a very strong influence on why and how public infrastructure investments are made. There are many linkages and interdependencies between State infrastructure and Local Government service delivery. Consequently it is important that Local Government is able to clearly articulate issues of sector-wide importance, in response to the draft Strategy.
To facilitate feedback and advice from across all Local Governments the Association has identified relevant issues across the Themes and Sectors identified in Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow: the Draft State Infrastructure Strategy. For each are proposed advocacy positions, largely based on existing policy positions and questions where there are currently no agreed policy positions. This framework is available here. |
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| Please send your comments to infrastructure@walga.asn.au by COB Monday, 23 August. |
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| Aboriginal Engagement and Reconciliation Forum |
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This year, the theme is ‘Doyntj Doyntj – Come Together’ and it will be a day of learning and celebration of the positive work occurring between Local Governments and their Aboriginal communities.
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The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, will provide the opening address on State Government policy developments and partnership opportunities with Aboriginal people.
 Date: Wednesday, 22 September
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Cost: $150 (Incl GST) Local Government and community organisations
$180 (Incl GST) State Government and corporate organisations
Venue: Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood
RSVP: Wednesday, 15 September.
The forum aims to assist Local Governments to develop strong, ongoing relationships with local Aboriginal communities that recognise our shared cultural heritage, create opportunities for Aboriginal empowerment, and celebrate successes. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate panel discussions and a round-table yarn with Aboriginal elders and leaders.
Image source: Artwork by Jade Dolman, a young Whadjuk/Ballardong Nyoongar, Eastern Arrernte, Irish woman from Perth. |
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| To register or view the speaker program, please visit the WALGA website. For more information, please contact WALGA Event Manager, Ulrike Prill or call (08) 9213 2043. |
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| Funding For Local Government Responses to Homelessness |
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| The State Government has announced the first of four annual grant rounds of the Local Government Partnership Fund for Homelessness. |
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The key objectives of the Fund are to:
- Enable the development of place-based initiatives that respond to and prevent homelessness;
- Create opportunities for Local Government, the community sector, business and philanthropic organisations to collaborate and co-fund initiatives that will address homelessness and service gaps in their local community; and
- Encourage the development and delivery of locally designed, innovative initiatives that support implementation of All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia's 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030.
The fund will provide one-off financial co-contributions ranging from $25,000 to $200,000. Joint applications are accepted and Local Governments are encouraged to partner with each other when appropriate.
The first grant round is open for a 10-week period until 4:00pm, Friday, 15 October. |
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| For more information, view the Community Grants Program page or email the Department of Communities Grants Team. |
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| EOI for Webinar on Grant Program to Support Childcare Accessibility in Regional Western Australia |
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| WALGA and the Department of Communities are seeking expressions of interest from regional Local Governments interested in participating in a webinar to discuss a Grant Program to support childcare accessibility in regional Western Australia. |
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As part of their election commitments, the McGowan Government committed $5.1 million towards a range of initiatives to improve accessibility and affordability of childcare in the regions. Of this funding, $1 million has been allocated to a capped grant fund ($250k pa) to Local Government Authorities in regional areas to fund attraction and retention workforce packages for childcare workers.
In partnership with the Department of Communities, WALGA will be hosting a webinar to seek feedback from Local Governments to inform the scope and support the delivery of this grant program.
Topics for discussion will include:
- Barriers to workforce attraction and retention, including those imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Potential initiatives that the grant program may support; and
- Feedback on grant rollout: including funding amounts, equitable distribution and collaboration between LGAs.
Local Governments will have the opportunity to provide feedback on additional early childhood education and care topics, such as the review of the National Quality Framework and the development of a National Workforce Strategy.
The webinar will be facilitated in late August or early September. |
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| To express your interest in participating in a webinar and for more information, please email WALGA Community Policy Officer, Alina Hobson or call 9213 2092. |
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| Funding for Regional Arts and Cultural Investment |
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| Grants up to $50,000 are available through the DLGSC's Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning program. |
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The arts and creative industries play an important role in the social, cultural, and economic growth and vitality of regional communities. The Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning program supports regional Local Governments with up to $50,000 available to work collaboratively to develop creative and cultural plans, and up to $25,000 to implement an activity or project identified in an existing plan.
The current round is now open and closes on Thursday, 9 September.
Creative and cultural plans should align with Strategic Community Plans, promote the value of arts, culture and heritage and facilitate activities that foster the regional creative and cultural industries, including cultural tourism.
DLGSC also has funding available to Local Governments through the Community Participation and Inclusion Program and Regional and Remote Festivals Fund. These programs are a part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program. |
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| More information on the grants and other news in the cultural and arts is available on the DLGSC website. |
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| Social Housing Economic Recovery Package Grants Program |
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| The Department of Communities have provided a briefing on the upcoming Social Housing Economic Recovery Package (SHERP) Grants Program. |
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The aim of the SHERP Grants Program is to assist the community housing sector to provide safe and secure housing outcomes for vulnerable West Australians. This significant grant funding opportunity will open on 1 September 2021 to support the construction of new community housing properties and the refurbishment of existing properties to extend their useful life or increase their capacity. This grants program will also fund maintenance works within remote Aboriginal communities.
The Department of Communities hosted a livestream presentation on Wednesday, 11 August, which covered both the eligibility requirements and application process for the upcoming SHERP Grants Program. This will soon be available on Department website.
This will be followed up with a webinar provided by WALGA, Department of Communities and Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries on Wednesday, 1 September to provide a further briefing on the funding opportunity and answer any questions. A link and time will be sent out closer to the day. |
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| For more information, please contact WALGA Principal Policy and Advocacy, Kelly McManus or call on 0429 483 273. |
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| Call for Interest: WA Celebration of Trees Festival |
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| The City of Stirling is leading a project to coordinate a Tree Festival in 2022 and is seeking interest from Local Government to be involved. |
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The WA Tree Festival aims to bring together Local Governments working to find solutions for declining tree canopy. The Festival is based on UK model, in which Local Governments promote their tree events and initiative on one website at the same time of year - creating an annual celebration of trees.
Events can be both face-to-face or online and range from library story time under the trees, expert forums, tree planting, kids’ workshops and place activation – to name a few. It’s a great opportunity to promote what you are already doing to a wider group (non-residents) or invite your residents to take part in an activity run by another LGA.
See the City of Stirling's brochure for more information about the initiative. |
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| For more information, contact City of Stirling staff Cressida Cullity or Joanne Burgess. |
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| Online Community Development Evaluation Framework Launched |
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| LG Professionals has launched the online version of the Framework to include interactive tools. |
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Following on from the launch of the Community Development Evaluation Framework earlier this year, the new online resource enables users to interact directly with the toolkit and extract templates with ease.
Providing greater functionality and more useable elements than the standalone PDF, the online resource incorporates user-friendly templates and options to download and save your work as a word document. In coming weeks, the online resource will be further developed to incorporate explanatory videos. |
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| To access the toolkit and for more information, visit the LG Professionals website. |
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| Community Organised Resource Exchange Now Live |
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| WACOSS's Community Organised Resource Exchange (CORE) platform enables the sharing of resources between the business and non-for profit sectors. |
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 The CORE platform aims to assist businesses and non-for-profits to coordinate resources at a local level. The concept of the CORE platform came about during the development of the WA Food Relief Framework, as the need for an online portal for stakeholders was identified in consultation with over 150 charity food organisations. |
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| To access the portal and for more information, please visit the CORExchange website. |
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| Nominations Open for WA Seniors Awards |
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| Nominations are open to all Local Governments. Nomination submissions to be received by COB Friday, 24 September 2021. |
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The 2021 WA Seniors Awards program will be delivered by COTA (WA) on behalf of the State Government and is funded through Department of Communities.
The nomination process is for five (5) awards. The recipients are selected by a panel, with an awards ceremony held during WA Seniors Week (7-14 November 2021).
The following is the format for the 2021 WA Seniors Awards:
Five (5) categories
- WA Senior Metropolitan
- WA Senior Regional
- WA Age Friendly Business
- WA Age Friendly Local Government
- WA Seniors Advocate
A nomination pack is available here. |
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| Nominations are to be submitted electronically via email to Dana Moore by COB Friday, 24 September 2021. |
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| Gathering and Growing Program launched by Local Government Minister John Carey to raise the profile of community gardens and strengthen the network in WA. |
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In a speech at the launched event, Minister Carey (pictured below) talked about the power of community gardens, and the importance of government support for these important community hubs. Most community gardens are on Local Government land, and the Network is keen to build stronger partnerships with LGAs.
Gathering and Growing 2021/22 will be based around six core events, one in each of the Noongar Six Seasons starting in September. In addition, community gardens and other stakeholders will be invited to register events under the Gathering and Growing banner.
Image Source: John McBain |
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| For more information, please contact Paul Bodlovich, Gathering Organiser. |
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| Commonwealth's $1 billion Closing the Gap Implementation Plan |
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| On Tuesday, 5 August, the Commonwealth released its $1 billion Implementation Plan on Closing the Gap. |
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The Implementation Plan intends to turn the commitments of the National Agreement, signed in July 2020, into actions and provide accountability to the Commo nwealth to implement its commitments towards equalising life outcomes for all Australians. The 17 targets aim to close the gap on health, education, justice, housing and employment for Indigenous Australians.
The Prime Minister announced the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme to invest $378.6 million to assist the healing of Stolen Generation survivors in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory.
Read the full Commonwealth Implementation Plan here. |
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| For more information, please see the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Media Statement or visit the Closing the Gap website. |
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| Keeping Our Kids Safe Guide Released |
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| The National Office for Child Safety has released a guide on cultural safety and the National Principles for Child Safe organisations. |
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 The National Office worked with SNAICC - National Voice for Children to develop resources that put a cultural lens on the National Principles of Child Safety, that were developed in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, to promote child safety in a culturally appropriate and safe way. This includes the Guide and an animated video.
The Guide identifies the roles and responsibilities across different levels of an organisation and provides actions and outcomes at all levels from leadership to operational staff for each National Principle. |
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| For more information, visit the National Officer website. |
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| 100 Families Final Report WA Launched |
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| The Project has followed 400 families over its three year lifespan, including regular fortnightly interviews with 100 of those families, to gain a deep understanding of the lived experience of disadvantage in Western Australia. |
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The 100 Families Report found that disadvantaged Western Australian families are increasingly being trapped in a cycle of poverty and hardship by the same system that is designed to support them in crisis.
The report has identified the need for broad systemic change from State and Federal Government policy right through to service delivery by the community sector. The next phase of the project will strive for solutions, together. |
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| To find out more and read the whole report visit the 100 Families WA website. |
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| Waterwise Greening Scheme |
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| The Water Corporation's Scheme provides the opportunity for Local Governments to receive up to $10,000 of co-funding each year to support waterwise initiatives. |
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 Eligible Local Governments must be an endorsed Waterwise Council and have an approved waterwise verge policy. Local Governments can receive funding to subsidise plants for ratepayers, verge programs, and gardening workshops.
The Waterwise Greening Scheme supports the improvement of water quality, community health and well being, biodiversity, local amenity and cooling local communities. |
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| For more information, visit the Water Corporation website. |
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| Lotterywest's Record Breaking Year of Returns |
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| Lotterywest announced a return of $864.9 million in 2020-21 in community grants and lottery prizes. |
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A total of $313.4 million of returns went to the WA Community through statutory and direct grants. This is the highest ever achieved by Lotterywest.
WA non-for-profit groups and Local Governments benefitted from the $122.2 million distributed through the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund during 2020-21.
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| For more information, read the full Media Statement or visit the Lotterywest website. |
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| Healthy Sporting Club Grants |
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| Healthway is accepting summer applications to fund WA community sporting clubs to promote healthy food and drink habits. |
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Grants of up to $4000 are available for community sporting clubs competing in recognised competitions over the 2021-22 summer.
Objectives for the program include increasing the availability of healthy food and drink choices at club-run canteens or kiosks, reducing the promotion of unhealthy messages or brands and improve club member knowledge of the importance of healthy eating.
Successful applicants will be able to attend the WA School Canteen Association’s Fuel to Go & Play™ Program.
Local Governments are not eligible for this funding, but are encouraged to share the availability of the grants with local sporting clubs.
Applications for the grants close 12:00pm, Friday, 24 September. |
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| For more information, visit the Healthway website. |
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| Upcoming Events |
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The Department of Health has partnered with the City of Bayswater to host a free workshop designed for Local Government environmental health officers, planners, wastewater industry and Site and Soil Evaluation (SSE) consultants involved with wastewater management processes.
Date: Friday, 27 August
Venue: The Rise, Maylands
Local Government Professionals - Community Development Conference
This professional development event will showcase an educational and informative program, designed specifically for Local Government officers working in community development. The conference theme is 'Creating community impact - awareness, action, influence.'
Date: Thursday, 9 September and Friday, 10 September
Venue: Crown, Perth
Bringing Children and Young People into View – FDV Conference 2021
The purpose of the conference is to strengthen the understanding of children and young people’s experiences and needs, and to consider the responses that can be put in place to support their safety, health and wellbeing and improve their opportunities.
Date: Monday, 13 September to Wednesday, 15 September
Venue: Crown, Perth
2021 WA Local Government Convention
The WA Local Government Convention is presented specifically for those engaged in the Local Government sector.
Date: Monday, 20 September and Tuesday, 21 September
Venue: Crown, Perth
Aboriginal Engagement and Reconciliation Forum
Themed ‘ Doyntj Doyntj – Come Together’, this will be a day of learning and celebration of the positive work occurring between Local Governments and their Aboriginal communities.
Date: Wednesday, 22 September
Venue: Crown, Perth
SAVE THE DATE
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| WALGA |
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: info@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au |
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| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014 |
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