 |
|
|
| Community and Place News |
|
|
|
| JUNE 2020 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Kaya/Hello,
Community and Place News is a monthly publication produced by WALGA's Community Team, part of the broader WALGA Strategy, Policy and Planning Team.
WALGA acknowledges the many traditional owners of the land on which we work throughout Western Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
In this issue...
Funding opportunities, resources, upcoming events and contacts:
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| National Reconciliation Week: Local Government Digital Stories |
|
| During National Reconciliation Week, WALGA produced a series of digital stories highlighting the amazing work many Local Governments have been undertaking in implementing a Reconciliation Action Plan. |
|
Celebrating this year’s theme ‘In This Together’, the digital stories feature the following:
- Cr Brooke O’Donnell - City of Kalamunda
- Aboriginal Reference Group Chair, Gail Beck - City of Cockburn
- Community Development Officer Aboriginal Engagement, Kezia Jacobs-Smith - City of Rockingham
- Aboriginal Engagement Officer, Iyeesha Jetta - City of Melville
- Community Development Officer Aboriginal Projects, Shahna Rind - City of Perth
- Aboriginal Engagement Officer, Brendan Moore - City of Fremantle
- Acting Manager People and Place, Kerry Shaw - City of Bunbury
- Aboriginal Engagement Officer, Leanne Woods - City of Melville
The digital stories can be accessed here.
This initiative forms part of WALGA's Reconciliation Action Plan that was launched in March 2018.
Around the State, many Local Governments celebrated the week with a diverse range of activities, including lighting up landmarks, sharing interviews with Elders and senior Local Government management on the importance of reconciliation, showing the movie ‘In My Blood It Runs’, displays of Aboriginal artworks and banners, community art projects, sharing historical milestones and truthtelling materials, and themed Baby Rhyme Time sessions. |
|
| If you would like to join the WA Local Government Reconciliation Network, email WALGA's Policy Officer Community, Susie Moir. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Supporting Isolated Senior Australians to Stay Connected |
|
| The Commonwealth Government is supporting senior Australians to prevent loneliness and social isolation through two new initiatives. |
|
Almost $5 million will be used to significantly expand Friend Line, a national telephone support service for older Australians, to answer 60,000 calls a year. Friend Line (1800 4 CHATS) will expand to be available outside normal business hours, seven days a week.
The Government has also awarded $1 million in grants to 215 local community organisations to provide at-risk seniors with digital devices such as mobile phones and laptops.
The latest investment comes on top of a new support line offering specific advice and counselling for senior Australians seeking assistance because of COVID-19. Established in conjunction with the Council on the Ageing Australia, National Seniors Australia, the Older Persons Advocacy Network and Dementia Australia, the COVID-19 support line will operate Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 6:00pm on 1800 171 866. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fact Sheet: Information, Support and Services for Older Western Australians |
|
| The State Government, through the Department of Communities, formed the Seniors COVID-19 Taskforce. |
|
Including representation from WALGA, the Taskforce's focus is on ensuring the needs and concerns of older Western Australians are well understood and considered in the development of COVID-19 responses.
A fact sheet was developed by the Seniors COVID-19 Taskforce as a quick guide for supports and services for older Western Australians. |
|
| The fact sheet can be accessed here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Regional Achievement and Community Awards |
|
| Since the creation of the Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards in 2002, it has aimed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural Western Australia. |
|
The categories this year are:
- Insurance Commission of Western Australia – Regional Safety Award
- RAC – Volunteering Award
- Ricoh Australia – Customer Service Award
- Rinehart - Development of Northern Regional WA Award
- Curtin University, School of Education – Teaching Excellence Award
- Prime Super – Employer Excellence in Aged Care Award
- Woolworths – Community Group of the Year Award
- Prime Super – Agricultural Innovation Award
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Making a Difference Award
Nominations for the awards close on Friday, 7 August. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| WALGA Webinar Summary: Local Government Support for Aboriginal Language and Placenames |
|
| On Thursday, 28 May more than 150 participants joined WALGA’s webinar on Local Government Support for Aboriginal Language and Placenames. |
|
Participants heard from Professor Len Collard and the Community Arts Network about the Placenames Project; the Shire of Katanning and Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation about their participation in CANWA’s Project; Landgate about place naming in WA and the Draft Guidelines for Aboriginal and Dual Naming; the City of South Perth about the Mindeerup Project; and Main Roads WA about the Aboriginal Journey Ways Project.
The interactive feedback session showed that many Local Governments are active in supporting Aboriginal language and place naming, particularly through interpretive projects. The greatest barriers to undertaking projects are uncertainty about how to engage and consult appropriately. Funding, guidance on consultation requirements and section 50D positions for Aboriginal staff were identified as facilitators for future projects. |
|
| Further information, including presentations and the feedback report, are available here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mappa Launch - Online Health Services Tool |
|
| The countdown for the Mappa launch has begun, with the free online health services tool available from Tuesday, 30 June. |
|
Mappa will provide a connection of health services, clinicians, and clients/patients across and throughout WA. All Western Australians will be able to get ‘the right care in the right place, at the right time.’
The tool includes facility contact details, addresses, opening and closing hours, services provided, programs and Aboriginal programs delivered, plus other resources. Mappa will allow individuals to:
- find a health service(s) and specify a location (e.g. town/region)
- search by a category (e.g. ACCHS, Hospital, WACHS, AoD services etc.), and
- find out more information about services.
Mappa is distinctive, in that it displays significant information that raises awareness of the importance of upholding Cultural Safety and Cultural Appropriateness, when working with Aboriginal people and their communities. It promotes a safer and more culturally appropriate health care system that can help people with language, lore time and also Aboriginal interpreters. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Commonwealth Parliamentary Inquiry into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence |
|
| On Thursday, 4 June the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs adopted an inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence. |
|
The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Women, Senator Hon. Marise Payne, and the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Hon. Anne Ruston.
Through this inquiry the Committee will seek to inform the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The scope of the inquiry is detailed in the Terms of Reference. The Inquiry will be accepting written submissions until Friday, 24 July, with public hearings and community statements to be collected thereafter. |
|
| For more information or to provide a written submission, email the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, or click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Planning Minister, Hon. Rita Saffioti is encouraging Local Governments to fast-track community infrastructure projects to help support small businesses and local jobs during Western Australia's economic recovery from COVID-19. |
|
The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) is inviting applications to use cash contributions collected from developers to undertake improvement works on open space, community facilities and infrastructure.
As the State responds to the impacts of COVID-19, greater flexibility will be provided to Local Government to reinvest these funds to help kick-start local economies.
Community-enriching projects funded via this program in the past have included sporting facility upgrades, nature-based playgrounds, skate parks and recreation centre improvements. Opportunities to refurbish or replace ageing community infrastructure such as toilet blocks, shade structures, barbecues, cycle paths and footpaths will also be considered. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Local Help at Hand for Coronavirus Fallout |
|
| A purpose-built, locally targeted campaign to help people across a number of communities in the south west of the State deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has been launched. |
|
| Alcoa is partnering respected charities Foodbank WA and Anglicare WA to deliver the support near where the resources company operates its two bauxite mines and three alumina refineries. The support will be provided in the Local Government areas of Kwinana, Murray and Waroona, as well as parts of the Shires of Harvey and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
Through its global charity, the Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa will provide more than $420,000 over the next 12 months to ensure local people have food on their table as well as access to important support services for things like mental health, accommodation, dealing with domestic violence, and financial and family counselling.
|
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Local Governments Support Food Security with Community Pantries |
|
| Many Local Governments in Western Australia are assisting vulnerable community members to access free food and hygiene items through community pantries. |
|
Increasing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 has made community pantries all the more important in recent times.
The Wanneroo Urban Pantry was established in July 2019 by local residents with the assistance of the City of Wanneroo, whilst the Shire of Esperance supports two community pantries run by Hope Community Services, which are located in the grounds of Esperance Public Library and a local church. The Shire of Goomalling also supports a community pantry. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Waroona Vibrancy and Colour Coming to Lift Our Spirits |
|
The Shire of Waroona has allocated $28,709 in funding towards 18 locally led creative projects, as part of the Angels of Art micro grants.
|
|
The project will brighten public spaces to promote health, happiness and wellbeing, as we come out of what has been very difficult times. Art and creativity have strong links to positive mental health.
The Angels of Art micro grants allow a citizen-led approach to neighbourhood building using short-term, low cost interventions. The grants will empower local people to add their creative touch, building on the pre-existing professional art installations located across the Shire. The fund attracted applications from local artists, groups and businesses; all vying to bring creativity and vibrancy to locations across the Shire.
The Angels of Art micro grants are supported by the WA Primary Health Alliance, as part of the Alliance Against Depression. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Local Government Community Development Measurement and Evaluation Survey |
|
| Local Government Professionals Australia WA commissioned the Centre for Social Impact, the University of Western Australia (CSI UWA) to develop an Evaluation Framework and Toolkit for Local Government Community Development Officers. |
|
The purpose of these resources is to inform and support the Officers and their respective Local Government to evaluate community development work undertaken.
The aim of the survey is to understand the context of work undertaken, and baseline skills and abilities, in order to construct an appropriately designed Evaluation Toolkit. Given the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey also seeks to learn how COVID-19 is affecting work, evaluation practice, and how community development may assist with post-pandemic recovery. |
|
| For more information, contact UWA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Work and Mental Health – Implications of COVID-19 |
|
| The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre is committed to providing the analysis and expert commentary needed to understand how COVID-19 is impacting the West Australian and Australian labour market and economy. |
|
There is significant concern about rising mental distress as a result of the pandemic and its economic consequences; with rates of anxiety, loneliness and stress increasing.
Increased stress and anxiety may have been driven primarily by isolation and health concerns at the beginning of the pandemic, but this will likely be replaced very rapidly by job loss and financial security concerns. Mental health support services and funding will be as important as ever, but having a secure job and economic security will be the real panacea.
The latest report provides insights into the potential mental health effects of this COVID-19 induced shift in work circumstances and prospects. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heart Foundation Position on Active Streets |
|
| There is a considerable body of evidence that well-planned neighbourhoods, healthy street design and access to public green spaces make it easier for people to be more active and lead heart-healthy lives. |
|
| With increased numbers of people reported to be exercising in their local area, it is important to ensure sufficient space is provided to maintain social distancing (1.5m in Australia).
The Heart Foundation is calling on Local Government to ensure all Australians have safe streets for walking and cycling by:
- allocating extra street and footpath space for people walking and riding bikes to support social distancing
- reducing vehicle speeds on local neighbourhood streets, and
- automating street crossings to eliminate the need to touch the ‘push buttons’.
. |
|
| For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| WA Mental Health Awards 2020 |
|
| The Awards aim to recognise and reward the achievements of those who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and initiative in supporting consumers of mental health services, their families, and carers; and showcase best practice in WA’s mental health sector to inspire others. |
|
The Awards are hosted by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health, with the support of the WA Mental Health Commission.
Nominations will close at 4:00pm, Wednesday, 16 September.
Finalists will be announced during WA Mental Health Week in October. The official Ceremony and celebration function will be held in November. |
|
| For more information or to nominate for the Awards, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Local Government Internships for Enthusiastic UWA Students |
|
| The McCusker Centre for Citizenship recently signed a partnership agreement with the WA Local Government Association and Local Government Professionals WA to offer UWA students more internships in Local Government. |
|
The Centre facilitates 100-hour community service internships designed to foster caring, connected and socially-engaged students. 95% of host organisations recommend the Centre’s award-winning internship program.
Since the program began in 2016, more than 1000 students have completed internships to contribute more than 100,000 hours in service to the community. Read about student intern and host supervisor experiences in the Local Government Internships booklet. |
|
| For more information, contact Internships Coordinator, Sam Andrews on 6488 7553 or click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| WALGA |
|
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 |
|
| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
