“Democracy’s reliance on some version of the collective wisdom”, James Surowiecki writes in his 2004 book The Wisdom of Crowds, “would make it an excellent decision making system.” He goes on to explain that drawing on the community’s collective wisdom promotes good policy and the public good. Collective wisdom depends on good relationships which, in turn, rely on meaningful communication. One of the hallmarks of democracy is open, transparent representation and decision-making. The challenge is: how can we make sure that we are reflecting the views of those we represent? I have been reflecting on the question of feedback from, and dialogue with, our members for some time. While I agree that our weekly newsletter is an important instrument for staying in touch with our membership, there are ways of improving the conversation. We are currently exploring a number of options for more effective feedback mechanisms through our website and are looking at ongoing improvements. In the meantime, we have decided to make a start and set up a profile on Facebook. So if you are on Facebook, why not join us for comments, blogs and discussions. Many of our local government and community organisation members are tackling the pros and cons of a social media presence. There is little doubt that Facebook and other tools will increasingly be used to gather quick member feedback, and at the VLGA we are aware that this needs to be done sensitively and sensibly. If you use Facebook, please join the VLGA on Facebook and participate in our dynamic discussions and updates.
Could you do with a little help to realise local transport projects?
Through the VLGA’s Local Government Transport Facilitation Project we are keen to know what you need and the best ways we can assist. Our online Local Government Transport Barrier and Capability survey is designed to assist local governments to implement sustainable transport networks by determining the resources and people-power available in each local government. It will also help us identify gaps in information and resources holding local governments back and assist the VLGA on how we can best assist local governments to achieve these outcomes. Please encourage staff working on transport projects to fill in this survey here to help us maintain our services and provide valuable advice about your needs so in turn we can advise the Victorian Government on transport priorities for your communities. For more information please email Gordon Young at gordon@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7943.
Is the 2010 Victorian Senior of the Year living in your community?
The hunt is on again for nominations for this year’s Victorian Senior of the Year awards. Nominations open 17 May and close 23 July. Seniors over 60 who are Australian citizens, reside in Victoria, and who have made an exceptional achievement or contribution to the community can be nominated for an award in four categories: the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year; the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victorian Senior Achiever Awards; the ‘Go for your Life’ Award; and the Veteran Community Award. Please nominate any outstanding seniors who you consider worthy of these awards. For more information please phone Marta Zyznowska at DPCD on (03) 9208 3190 or email marta.zyznowska@dpcd.vic.gov.au.
Sorry Day, Wednesday 26 May – a time to reflect on past wrongs and how we can help right them
Take a few moments right now or on Wednesday 26 May to check out how you can act now.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) calls for a year of recommitment to reconciliation. Ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of Australians walked across bridges in support of reconciliation. We have much to be proud of in looking back over the past ten years, but injustice and disadvantage continue to affect Indigenous Australians. What next?
The National Sorry Day Committee has a 10 year campaign – 2007 to 2017 – inviting all Australians to adopt one of the Bringing Them Home Report's 54 recommendations. So far only two have been adopted. Help to bring about its full implementation by the year 2017.
VicHealth Food for All Program
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) invites expressions of interest from individuals and organisations to apply for funding to undertake the dissemination of Food for All (FFA) resources. Expressions of interest are due by 5pm on 7 June. VicHealth has recently developed resources including micro-movies and information sheets to illustrate learnings from the five-year FFA program, a food security program led by Victorian local governments which focused on improving access to healthy foods by people living in disadvantaged communities. The full expression of interest and additional information can be found here. For further information, phone Fiona Florakx (VicHealth Senior Project Officer, Environments for Health) on (03) 9667 1334 or email to fflorakx@vichealth.vic.gov.au.
Watch this space
Smoke Free Policies
The VLGA is pleased to be represented on the recently formed advisory group established by the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria to encourage the up-take of smoke-free policies in outdoor settings in local government areas, based on a model successfully pioneered by the Heart Foundation and Cancer Council in New South Wales. We’ll keep you updated on this project. We acknowledge that each local government needs to decide what is appropriate for their community, and we will be seeking your views in the near future. In the meantime if you’d like more information please email Cr Stefanie Perri at stefanie@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7980.
VLGA events for your diary
The Great Debate: Community Input in Planning Decisions, Help or Hindrance?
Thursday 3 June 2010, 6-9pm
VLGA rear meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Places are filling fast for our great debate! Debate moderator – and VLGA Founding Member and Inaugural President – Liana Thompson will preside over the debate.
Arguing that community input in planning decisions is helpful will be VLGA President Cr Heinz Kreutz, ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake and Melbourne Uni Urban Planning Lecturer Dr Clare Mouat.
Debating that community input can be a hindrance will be PIA (Vic) President David Vorchheimer, MGS Architects Director Rob McGauran and UDIA (Vic) Executive Director Tony De Domenico.
If you haven’t already registered for this not-to-be-missed event, register here before it’s too late.
Local Government Preventing Violence Against Women
Tuesday 15 June 2010, 10am-3.30pm
VLGA rear meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
This VLGA event is a practical workshop for local government officers about how to build relationships and work with councillors to support change. Unravel the mysteries of getting prevention of violence against women high on your local government agenda. Our panel will include an experienced councillor, a CEO and a senior corporate manager, and participants will have the chance to make some useful connections and learn from the experts. More information here or phone Linda Bennett on (03) 9349 7904 or email to linda@vlga.org.au. Registration form can be downloaded here.
Other upcoming events
The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Safety Centre
Friday 28 May 2010, 9am-12.30pm
The Royal Children’s Hospital – Ella Latham Meeting Room, 1st Floor
RCH invites you to SAFE PLAY – The Risk of Injury through Play vs. Child Obesity. Registration/tea & coffee 9.00am (9.30am sharp start). Please RSVP to (03) 9345 5085 or email to safety.centre@rch.org.au.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
VLGA President
0438 006 656
heinz@vlga.org.au
Could you do with a little help to realise local transport projects?
Through the VLGA’s Local Government Transport Facilitation Project we are keen to know what you need and the best ways we can assist. Our online Local Government Transport Barrier and Capability survey is designed to assist local governments to implement sustainable transport networks by determining the resources and people-power available in each local government. It will also help us identify gaps in information and resources holding local governments back and assist the VLGA on how we can best assist local governments to achieve these outcomes. Please encourage staff working on transport projects to fill in this survey here to help us maintain our services and provide valuable advice about your needs so in turn we can advise the Victorian Government on transport priorities for your communities. For more information please email Gordon Young at gordon@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7943.
Is the 2010 Victorian Senior of the Year living in your community?
The hunt is on again for nominations for this year’s Victorian Senior of the Year awards. Nominations open 17 May and close 23 July. Seniors over 60 who are Australian citizens, reside in Victoria, and who have made an exceptional achievement or contribution to the community can be nominated for an award in four categories: the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year; the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victorian Senior Achiever Awards; the ‘Go for your Life’ Award; and the Veteran Community Award. Please nominate any outstanding seniors who you consider worthy of these awards. For more information please phone Marta Zyznowska at DPCD on (03) 9208 3190 or email marta.zyznowska@dpcd.vic.gov.au.
Sorry Day, Wednesday 26 May – a time to reflect on past wrongs and how we can help right them
Take a few moments right now or on Wednesday 26 May to check out how you can act now.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) calls for a year of recommitment to reconciliation. Ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of Australians walked across bridges in support of reconciliation. We have much to be proud of in looking back over the past ten years, but injustice and disadvantage continue to affect Indigenous Australians. What next?
The National Sorry Day Committee has a 10 year campaign – 2007 to 2017 – inviting all Australians to adopt one of the Bringing Them Home Report's 54 recommendations. So far only two have been adopted. Help to bring about its full implementation by the year 2017.
VicHealth Food for All Program
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) invites expressions of interest from individuals and organisations to apply for funding to undertake the dissemination of Food for All (FFA) resources. Expressions of interest are due by 5pm on 7 June. VicHealth has recently developed resources including micro-movies and information sheets to illustrate learnings from the five-year FFA program, a food security program led by Victorian local governments which focused on improving access to healthy foods by people living in disadvantaged communities. The full expression of interest and additional information can be found here. For further information, phone Fiona Florakx (VicHealth Senior Project Officer, Environments for Health) on (03) 9667 1334 or email to fflorakx@vichealth.vic.gov.au.
Watch this space
Smoke Free Policies
The VLGA is pleased to be represented on the recently formed advisory group established by the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria to encourage the up-take of smoke-free policies in outdoor settings in local government areas, based on a model successfully pioneered by the Heart Foundation and Cancer Council in New South Wales. We’ll keep you updated on this project. We acknowledge that each local government needs to decide what is appropriate for their community, and we will be seeking your views in the near future. In the meantime if you’d like more information please email Cr Stefanie Perri at stefanie@vlga.org.au or phone (03) 9349 7980.
VLGA events for your diary
The Great Debate: Community Input in Planning Decisions, Help or Hindrance?
Thursday 3 June 2010, 6-9pm
VLGA rear meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
Places are filling fast for our great debate! Debate moderator – and VLGA Founding Member and Inaugural President – Liana Thompson will preside over the debate.
Arguing that community input in planning decisions is helpful will be VLGA President Cr Heinz Kreutz, ALGA President Cr Geoff Lake and Melbourne Uni Urban Planning Lecturer Dr Clare Mouat.
Debating that community input can be a hindrance will be PIA (Vic) President David Vorchheimer, MGS Architects Director Rob McGauran and UDIA (Vic) Executive Director Tony De Domenico.
If you haven’t already registered for this not-to-be-missed event, register here before it’s too late.
Local Government Preventing Violence Against Women
Tuesday 15 June 2010, 10am-3.30pm
VLGA rear meeting rooms, 60 Leicester St, Carlton
This VLGA event is a practical workshop for local government officers about how to build relationships and work with councillors to support change. Unravel the mysteries of getting prevention of violence against women high on your local government agenda. Our panel will include an experienced councillor, a CEO and a senior corporate manager, and participants will have the chance to make some useful connections and learn from the experts. More information here or phone Linda Bennett on (03) 9349 7904 or email to linda@vlga.org.au. Registration form can be downloaded here.
Other upcoming events
The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Safety Centre
Friday 28 May 2010, 9am-12.30pm
The Royal Children’s Hospital – Ella Latham Meeting Room, 1st Floor
RCH invites you to SAFE PLAY – The Risk of Injury through Play vs. Child Obesity. Registration/tea & coffee 9.00am (9.30am sharp start). Please RSVP to (03) 9345 5085 or email to safety.centre@rch.org.au.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
VLGA President
0438 006 656
heinz@vlga.org.au
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