Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Yarra Gives - opportunities to volunteer or donate
Many local organisations are looking for opportunities to volunteer or donate – and they are looking for them on YarrraGives.
Make sure you list your community organisation so that you too can benefit from these opportunities. To do this, go directly to YarrraGives and sign up there.
Yarra Gives is an initiative of the City of Yarra, in association with Our Community, to encourage and support giving in the Yarra community and to assist community groups with fundraising. Yarra Gives is the practical place to explore all the ways you can help your local community, by donating, volunteering and giving locally.
For Community Groups: Register to start collecting online donations - a FREE service offered by the City of Yarra.
For Donors: Search for a Yarra community appeal that you would like to donate to - you can give online or by phone, fax or mail.
Make sure you list your community organisation so that you too can benefit from these opportunities. To do this, go directly to YarrraGives and sign up there.
Yarra Gives is an initiative of the City of Yarra, in association with Our Community, to encourage and support giving in the Yarra community and to assist community groups with fundraising. Yarra Gives is the practical place to explore all the ways you can help your local community, by donating, volunteering and giving locally.
For Community Groups: Register to start collecting online donations - a FREE service offered by the City of Yarra.
For Donors: Search for a Yarra community appeal that you would like to donate to - you can give online or by phone, fax or mail.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Re: Don’t dump new arrivals in towers. Steve Price, Herald Sun, May 4, 2010
The members of the Yarra Settlement Forum take strong exception to tone and content of Mr Price’s article।
Mr Price’s visit to Atherton Gardens Estate in Fitzroy lasted an hour। He appears to have spoken to two residents, including “Reg”, who apparently does not enjoy living there and, presumably, invited Mr Price into the building where he lives. It is not clear whether Mr Price actually entered a flat; he writes only of laundries and stairwells. He sees some residents of the building; most of those he sees are apparently from Africa and he concludes that they are the dominant group. Otherwise, he relies entirely on “Reg” for the information on which he bases his opinion of the estate.
It is a pity that the only statistic given by “Reg” that Mr Price seems to have checked is the report of 26 Somalis living in one flat; he admits that neither the Minister for Housing nor his own observations confirm this figure, but takes the trouble to repeat “Reg’s” assertion।
“Reg’s” reliability as an informant can be assessed immediately by the misinformation he presents about the Anglicare Centre in Napier Street। There is no soup kitchen there; food parcels are given out, but only to holders of pension or health care cards, and each recipient is entitled to and receives no more than eight parcels a year, under Commonwealth legislation. Records are strictly maintained and anyone who attempts to subvert the system loses their entitlements.
It would be interesting to know if Mr Price made any attempt to speak to any other of the approximately 2000 residents of the estate, or to the very active Atherton Gardens Residents Association about their experience of living there। Did he check any of the information “Reg” gave him with the Office of Housing?
Here are some relevant facts:
· There are approximately 2000 residents, living in 800 flats, in four 20-storey blocks. Of this number, around 30% are Vietnamese, 15-20% are Chinese and 15% are from Africa. The balance consists of smaller numbers of people of many ethnic backgrounds, including Anglo-Australian.
· While there were serious problems some years ago with security, the Neighbourhood Renewal Program run by the State Government from 2002 to 2009 has led to major renovations of the buildings, both of individual flats and of the public areas, including entrances; this upgrade has provided much improved security, with much tighter control of access to the buildings.
· All residents have computer access in their flats and there is also a very well-used computer hub in the community meeting area.
· The Neighbourhood Renewal Program has created employment opportunities for residents through the development of the Community Contact Service, which trains and employs residents to work as concierges at the entrance of each building. The service is managed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and is an outstanding example of cooperation between a local community agency, residents and the government.
· Every second year since the start of the Neighbourhood Renewal Program, the University of Melbourne has conducted a survey of 300 residents to discover their attitudes to living on the estate. Their answers have been increasingly positive.
· There are no plans to develop more gardens or basketball courts।
In any community of 2000 or so, there will inevitably be disagreements from time to time, but what is remarkable about Atherton Gardens to those of us who have spent a lot more time there than Mr Price has, is how harmonious the community is overall. To suggest, as he does, with no evidence to support his view, that “these people” are being “dumped” in public housing towers (a phrase conjuring up images of silos) because “we” are “flushing them into the country” would be laughable if it did not pander so obviously to the bigotry of some against anyone wishing to settle and contribute to life in a multicultural Australia.
Mr Price’s visit to Atherton Gardens Estate in Fitzroy lasted an hour। He appears to have spoken to two residents, including “Reg”, who apparently does not enjoy living there and, presumably, invited Mr Price into the building where he lives. It is not clear whether Mr Price actually entered a flat; he writes only of laundries and stairwells. He sees some residents of the building; most of those he sees are apparently from Africa and he concludes that they are the dominant group. Otherwise, he relies entirely on “Reg” for the information on which he bases his opinion of the estate.
It is a pity that the only statistic given by “Reg” that Mr Price seems to have checked is the report of 26 Somalis living in one flat; he admits that neither the Minister for Housing nor his own observations confirm this figure, but takes the trouble to repeat “Reg’s” assertion।
“Reg’s” reliability as an informant can be assessed immediately by the misinformation he presents about the Anglicare Centre in Napier Street। There is no soup kitchen there; food parcels are given out, but only to holders of pension or health care cards, and each recipient is entitled to and receives no more than eight parcels a year, under Commonwealth legislation. Records are strictly maintained and anyone who attempts to subvert the system loses their entitlements.
It would be interesting to know if Mr Price made any attempt to speak to any other of the approximately 2000 residents of the estate, or to the very active Atherton Gardens Residents Association about their experience of living there। Did he check any of the information “Reg” gave him with the Office of Housing?
Here are some relevant facts:
· There are approximately 2000 residents, living in 800 flats, in four 20-storey blocks. Of this number, around 30% are Vietnamese, 15-20% are Chinese and 15% are from Africa. The balance consists of smaller numbers of people of many ethnic backgrounds, including Anglo-Australian.
· While there were serious problems some years ago with security, the Neighbourhood Renewal Program run by the State Government from 2002 to 2009 has led to major renovations of the buildings, both of individual flats and of the public areas, including entrances; this upgrade has provided much improved security, with much tighter control of access to the buildings.
· All residents have computer access in their flats and there is also a very well-used computer hub in the community meeting area.
· The Neighbourhood Renewal Program has created employment opportunities for residents through the development of the Community Contact Service, which trains and employs residents to work as concierges at the entrance of each building. The service is managed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and is an outstanding example of cooperation between a local community agency, residents and the government.
· Every second year since the start of the Neighbourhood Renewal Program, the University of Melbourne has conducted a survey of 300 residents to discover their attitudes to living on the estate. Their answers have been increasingly positive.
· There are no plans to develop more gardens or basketball courts।
In any community of 2000 or so, there will inevitably be disagreements from time to time, but what is remarkable about Atherton Gardens to those of us who have spent a lot more time there than Mr Price has, is how harmonious the community is overall. To suggest, as he does, with no evidence to support his view, that “these people” are being “dumped” in public housing towers (a phrase conjuring up images of silos) because “we” are “flushing them into the country” would be laughable if it did not pander so obviously to the bigotry of some against anyone wishing to settle and contribute to life in a multicultural Australia.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Clever Ideas Forum
18 May - Selling FAST!Date: Tuesday 18 May, 2010Time: 9am-1pmVenue: Seminar Room 1, City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, MelbourneCost: $40 inc. GST per person ($20 inc. GST for VCOSS Members).
Need help with strategic planning, graphic design, marketing, websites, sorting out your tax status, running an event, speakers at an event, mentoring or HR advice?Come along to Clever Ideas 2010 and hear more about what can be achieved, how to get started and tips on how to ensure the best outcomes.
Listen to goodcompany’s tips on how to scope skills gaps in your organisation and how to write an effective job description to appeal to the right volunteersDiscuss your clever idea with skilled volunteer brokers who can assist your organisation to access an appropriate skilled volunteer, including goodcompany, Great Connections, Leadership Victoria, PilchConnect, Skill Share (supported by Oxfam Australia) and Volunteering VictoriaLearn how to access university students from Monash University.
Feedback from participants who attended this session previously: “Helped to get you thinking of ways to do those things that you constantly put aside because of time, finances and expertise” “Great concepts, ideas. Showed pitfalls to look out for.” “Quick, punchy and informative” “Helped greatly with shaping an approach to accessing skilled volunteers” Register now: www.vcoss.org.au/clearinghouse/clearinghouse%20docs/FLY_100401_CleverIdeas.docFor more information please email kate.johnson@vcoss.org.au
Need help with strategic planning, graphic design, marketing, websites, sorting out your tax status, running an event, speakers at an event, mentoring or HR advice?Come along to Clever Ideas 2010 and hear more about what can be achieved, how to get started and tips on how to ensure the best outcomes.
Listen to goodcompany’s tips on how to scope skills gaps in your organisation and how to write an effective job description to appeal to the right volunteersDiscuss your clever idea with skilled volunteer brokers who can assist your organisation to access an appropriate skilled volunteer, including goodcompany, Great Connections, Leadership Victoria, PilchConnect, Skill Share (supported by Oxfam Australia) and Volunteering VictoriaLearn how to access university students from Monash University.
Feedback from participants who attended this session previously: “Helped to get you thinking of ways to do those things that you constantly put aside because of time, finances and expertise” “Great concepts, ideas. Showed pitfalls to look out for.” “Quick, punchy and informative” “Helped greatly with shaping an approach to accessing skilled volunteers” Register now: www.vcoss.org.au/clearinghouse/clearinghouse%20docs/FLY_100401_CleverIdeas.docFor more information please email kate.johnson@vcoss.org.au
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