Many communities around Victoria have very high percentages of newly arrived refugees and immigrants. My own constituents in Moonee Valley include over 5,000 public housing tenants, about 30% of whom have immigrated from the Horn of Africa – escaping desperate poverty and war. When political discussion around the country centres on immigration and refugees, communities can be divided and insecurities can be heightened.
As councils and community groups work towards creating more inclusive and cohesive communities, it helps if language that reflects these goals is used in the media and by our political leaders. Let’s hope this week brings more empathetic and compassionate discussion about immigration and management of refugee issues so that it is not left to councils and communities to create inclusive communities and spread the message of multicultural harmony.
WorkCover
Councillors are generally very reluctant to ask for improved working conditions such as higher remuneration, expenses, superannuation and now WorkCover. Serving our communities is not done with mercenary intent, but with commitment to our communities.
However, it is fair and reasonable to be covered by WorkCover when undertaking duties as a councillor. Many councils do afford insurance cover to councillors. Extending the accident compensation scheme to councillors can provide the following:
* Unambiguous insurance coverage for accidents that occur while undertaking council duties
* Equal coverage for all councillors
* Certainty for council staff in dealing with councillor accidents
* Minimal cost to councils and ratepayers
Minister Wynne has asked for an urgent response from the sector to the State Government’s proposal to extend accident compensation cover to councillors. We have already indicated our in principle support for this measure. We will be writing to him very soon with further information.
I have forwarded further information about this to councillors this morning and welcome any feedback, questions and comments.
2009 VLGA Annual General Meeting & End of Year Drinks
Members and friends should mark the following two dates in your diaries:
AGM – Thursday 5 November Further details including two small constitutional changes approved by the Board to be considered at the AGM will be sent to you later this week.
End of Year Drinks – Thursday 3 December Join Minister Wynne, the Board and Staff and me for end of year celebrations. We should also be in a position to introduce our new CEO to you at this occasion.
Localities Enhancing Arts Participation (LEAP) Councils Announced
VicHealth and three local governments are embarking on a multi-year journey which will utilise the communicative and expressive nature of arts and cultural activities to reduce social isolation and strengthen local communities. This ambitious and innovative program is called ‘Localities Enhancing Arts Participation’, or LEAP for short.
The three project sites – Casey, Ballarat and the Central Highlands, and Mildura – represent a cross-section of outer suburban growth corridor, rural/regional and remote municipalities. LEAP is an evolution of VicHealth’s arts engagement and is designed to build on current knowledge about the value to health of the arts as well as strengthening sustainable local networks, organisations and partnerships.
By extending arts and cultural activities into a range of new settings LEAP will provide opportunities for the whole community to participate both as creators and consumers of the arts.
VicHealth and the participating councils invite you to join them in launching this exciting three-year program.
Ballarat – from 10am Thursday 29 October
artHALL
323 Sunraysia Highway
Learmonth
Casey – from 10am Friday 30 October
Factory Rehearsal Centre for the Arts
65 Berwick-Cranbourne Road
Cranbourne East
For further information about each of the approaching launches email leap@vichealth.vic.gov.au
Please note the respective LEAP Launch RSVP details:
Ballarat 29 Oct event – RSVP by Oct 20 to Sahn Cramer
Ph: 5320 5643 Email: sahncramer@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Casey 30 Oct event – RSVP by Oct 28 to Rebecca Whiting
Ph: 9705 5200 Email: rwhiting@casey.vic.gov.au
Road Safety (General) Regulations 2009 and Road Safety Road Rules Amendment Rules 2009
On 29 September, the Governor in Council at the Executive Council confirmed the Road Safety (General) Regulations 2009 and Road Safety Road Rules Amendment Rules 2009. These regulations form part of the Road Safety Regulations changes which VicRoads has been updating you on throughout the year.
The new regulations will come into effect on 9 November 2009, and are available for download from the Thinking Transport website
Events
2009 Annual Stegley Lecture – 11 November
This year’s Stegley Lecture on 11 November at the Hawthorn Campus of Swinburne University will feature a conversation between VLGA Life Member, Mike Hill and the VLGA’s Governance Patron, Hayden Raysmith.
From 1973 to 2001 the Stegley Foundation was one of Australia’s most progressive philanthropic organisations. Before winding up in 2001, it made a final grant to enable this Centre to hold an annual lecture exploring the theme of philanthropy and social change.
Hayden and Mike will discuss supporting partnerships between local governments and their communities and explore how this approach can work in a contemporary context. Areas to be explored will include: environmental sustainability; social justice; and engagement and participation in local affairs by excluded or minority groups.
For further details, please see the invitation loaded on our Upcoming Events Calendar.
RSVP by Monday 9 November to Carolyn Oates coates@swin.edu.au
Transport, Social Inclusion and Well-being: Where to from here? Conference - Thurs 19 November
The Transport and Social Inclusion Committee invites you to attend its Transport, Social Inclusion and Well-being - Where to from here? Conference.
The Conference will help raise the level of debate and broaden the understanding of transport and social inclusion. It will aim to identify current and emerging transport issues and options that support and encourage a socially inclusive Victoria.
Some of these issues include climate change, minimum service levels and service innovation. It will also highlight the findings of the Australian Research Council Study Grant, Investigating Transport Disadvantage, Social Exclusion and Well-Being in Metropolitan, Regional and Rural Victoria. The study investigated the level of transport disadvantage and social exclusion and the link to the well-being of Victorians.
The conference is being held in Melbourne on Thurs 19 November 2009 from 9am to 5pm.
For more information, refer to the attached document (or visit www.thinkingtransport.org.au). Places are limited!
I trust this eNews finds you well!
Regards
Cr Rose Iser
President
0414 959 427 or rose@vlga.org.au
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