VLGA President’s Message
Last Thursday night’s Annual General Meeting was one of the most enjoyable in recent years. As well as dealing with the usual AGM business, including the receipt of our Treasurer’s Report with a modest surplus of $72,626, and other highlights included in our 2010-2011 Annual Report, I also had the great pleasure on behalf of the Board to confer Life Membership status on Liana Thompson. VLGA Life Memberships celebrate a continuous and outstanding commitment to the VLGA, the Victorian community and local government sector. I had the opportunity to reflect on some of the historical accounts of the VLGA’s journey, including those of our Governance Patron Hayden Raysmith – ‘Remembering the past’, and Life Member Mike Hill – ‘Making the future’. When you read these historical accounts, it’s easy to be proud of all those involved with the VLGA, and to understand that the future of the VLGA is strongly shaped by values. We are a very committed bunch, and it makes me very proud to be your President. Many laughs were had and wonderful speeches of thanks were made, acknowledging Liana’s incredible commitment to the sector. Yes Liana, you may indeed be a self-described ‘local government tragic’, but we love you for it! Our guest speaker was Child Safety Commissioner Bernie Geary OAM, who reminded us that communities and local governments can ‘get involved’ with solutions to the dreadful abuse many young people experience. Bernie’s frank delivery is refreshing, and his messages to local governments and communities simple. We should not see vulnerable young people as a problem. Rather, we should invest in truly inclusive ways to support them. And this does not mean imposing ‘top-down’ solutions but ‘fair dinkum involvement’ with vulnerable young people. A truly challenging yet inspiring speech, and I encourage you to view the webcast. I hope to see many of you at our end of year function on Thursday 1 December – invites will be sent to you shortly. I look forward to seeing you around and about. In the meantime please don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss issues of interest to you on 0407 364 509, or drop me a line via email. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn, President
Keeping you up to date
ALGA finalises position on Constitutional Recognition
As previously discussed in this eNews, the campaign for constitutional recognition is being led by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), including their Victorian constituent, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). The VLGA has determined not to duplicate this approach, but to make submissions on the basis of our knowledge of our members’ overall views and our approach to the key issues which support and build capacity for local government. Our Board has resolved to support the ALGA campaign for constitutional recognition. Key issues made by the VLGA in our submission to the Expert Panel include:
* Democratic local government should be recognised in the Australian Constitution as the third level of government in Australia; and
* This recognition should be in a way which guarantees, constitutionally, the capacity of the Australian Government to fund local governments directly when this is appropriate. We note that ALGA has now finalised its position which is stated in its submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government. Notwithstanding the difficulty of achieving any change to Australia’s constitution, ALGA has based its position on extensive polling and member consultation, establishing that the majority of Australians support recognition, and figures rise significantly in relation to ALGA’s preferred position of financial recognition. The VLGA encourages all members to be aware of ALGA’s position, as we will all need to work hard to convince our communities that this change is worth supporting.
Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas: A 2011 survey of Victorian local governments
On 3 November 2011 the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria released a report – 2011 survey of Victorian local governments following a survey undertaken earlier this year. The survey found that as of May 2011, 32 local governments (41 per cent) had smoke-free policies in some outdoor areas. Of the 79 local governments in Victoria:
* Nineteen local governments (24 per cent) had policies that cover entrances of council owned buildings
* Seventeen local governments (22 per cent) had smoke-free swimming pools * Six local governments (8 per cent) had smoke-free playgrounds.
* Two local governments had smoke-free beaches.
The Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria have developed a resource kit to assist local governments adopt smoke-free policies in outdoor areas. You can download the resource kit here. For more information on smoke-free outdoor areas please contact Kate Bolaffi, Policy and Project Officer at the Heart Foundation on (03) 9321 1508 or via email.
Participation: The Happiness Connection
IAP2 have alerted us to the release of the online Journal of Public Deliberation which is hot off the press. The journal contains an article by Brian Martin and Chris Barker called Participation: The Happiness Connection which you can access here. Here’s an excerpt of the article which is definitely worth a read: ‘participation in decision-making has the potential to contribute to greater happiness. To explore this connection, we examine three areas: the family, the workplace and politics. In each of these areas, happiness research suggests that greater participation should increase happiness, most directly via the channels of personal relationships and helping others. There is some empirical research suggesting that participation contributes to happiness. It is useful to consider the connections between the three areas. In particular, examination of participation-happiness connections within families and workplaces can provide some insights for promoting a stronger connection at the level of politics’.
Exclusive Urban Climate Justice Research Network (UCJRN) Roundtable
What does the ‘climate-just’ Australian city look like? Please join us in Melbourne for this inaugural and exclusive event of the Urban climate justice research network (UCJRN) jointly hosted by the VLGA, Griffith University, Curtin University, Macquarie University, Monash University and RMIT. The roundtable will be held on Tuesday November 29 from 9am-12.30pm and will be held at RMIT Storey Hall, Building 16, Level 7 Conference Rooms 1 & 2 (342 Swanston Street, Melbourne). Numbers are limited to 60, so to register your interest in being part of the network and/or to RSVP attendance to the Melbourne roundtable please email the VLGA via email or call (03) 9349 7999 by close of business Thursday November 24, 2011. The aim of this roundtable is to bring together a caucus of diverse members of our community to identify and advance climate justice imperatives and opportunities within the Australian city context. The emphasis is on collaborative engagement, deliberation and dialogue focused around key questions such as - what is the climate-just city? How do the practices and stories of climate justice connect people with other elements of the natural world? How does the notion of a ‘climate just’ city challenge, complement, or replace current rights and privileges? Who dominates, who benefits and who gets left behind? The key objectives of the roundtable are to:
* Identify key issues and opportunities for achieving the climate-just Australian city
* Better understand how different groups (e.g. policy and decision makers, advocacy and service practitioners, and communities) imagine, conceptualise and practice climate justice at various scales; and
* Advance (with a view to applying) innovative/creative methods for putting climate justice issues into urban policy practice within the context of Australian cities
Exciting new training opportunity from ECO-Buy in partnership with Social Traders - Social Procurement masterclass
Social procurement is key in the development of social enterprise as it recognises and places value on the benefits that social enterprises provide. In so doing it increases the amount of work available to social enterprises. This masterclass on Monday 17 November 2011, 9am-4pm will be presented by Mark Daniels of Social Traders. For more details and to register your place, please use this link. Members of ECO-Buy are entitled to a discount on this full day course. Details are on the registration form. Prompt registration will be appreciated on behalf of the facilitators.
On the edge: peri-urban food production
It’s not often we publish poems in this eNews but we thought we would make an exception for a very important topic – the survival (or otherwise) of peri-urban farming land to ensure that Victoria’s food supply is protected. These issues (including food security) were recently discussed at a forum run by Village Well, called ‘On The Edge: a forum on sustainability around Australian Cities’. You can view the presentations here. The following poem was read out by Gillian Stewart, the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Rural Business Officer.
A Peri-Urban Space – for all and one to grace!!
On the edge of the big cities but before the bush does start
Lies a very important region that separates the two apart
It is known as peri urban, where a lot is going on
More than most imagine in this divide amongst the throng
Peri urban must you ask, what on earth does all that mean?
Well if you’ve got some interest I can set for you the scene
It takes no time to travel down the freeway with much ease
To open, green, wide paddocks scattered all amongst the trees
To look a little closer though one clearly can observe
Paddocks full of ripening produce up against a road reserve
For the space is quite restricted, with high demand to fill the gaps
With houses, sheds and buildings and put new suburbs on the maps
A peri-urban paradise that is what you all can see
The ocean, hills and shopping all in close proximity
There’s food ‘n’ fun and fabulous adventures near and far
All within a driving distance from the city in a car
They come in droves; they move their gear a tree change does belie
Whilst working up the city on the freeway they do fly
And others are so lucky for they live and work and play
Each day in peri urban mode, there is no other way
But we cannot take for granted that all will be OK
For life is ever changing much to ones dismay
Demand for land so precious it is a matter of such course
And we need to make so sure we protect our main resource
So bear a thought please can you so for the soils and the water
For we need to value what we have we really really oughta
The birds, the trees, the landscape are the assets to behold
We sit on what could be so termed our rich but natural gold
For these regions they are fragile and we must take the best of care
To ensure they are protected and enhance their natural flair
They are deemed for all and sundry, the landscape and the hedges
Known so far and wide as the city’s critical green wedges
So pause a moment, take a breath and scan the view around
And help your peri-urban region stand its fragile ground
National Food Plan Update and Perth Declaration on Food Security
Speaking of food security, on Thursday 27 October, Senator Joe Ludwig, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, announced the next steps in developing the National Food Plan at a Rural Press Club event in Melbourne. As outlined by the Heart Foundation in a bulletin sent out late last week, the key announcements were:
* There will be a 2-stage process for development of the National Food Plan. A green paper will be released for public consultation, outlining the objectives for the National Food Plan and potential policy changes (no indication yet of when the green paper will be released). Following consultation, the National Food Plan will be released as a white paper
* The objectives for the National Food Plan have been finalised and are documented in the Minister’s media release:
o Identifying and mitigating potential risks to Australia’s food security
o Contributing to global food security
o Reducing barriers to a safe and nutritious food supply that responds to the evolving preferences and needs of all Australians and supports population health
o Supporting the long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability of Australia’s food supply chain
o Supporting the global competitiveness and productivity growth of the food supply chain, including through research, science and innovation
o Reducing barriers faced by food businesses to access international; and domestic markets
o Contributing to economic prosperity, employment and community wellbeing in regional Australia
The Minister’s speech at the Rural Press Club picked up on a number of points raised in submissions to the National Food Plan issues paper. Most submissions to the National Food Plan including the VLGA National Food Plan Submission are now available on the website. Information is now also available on the National Food Plan website about the Roundtables that were held in August and September. Also, over the weekend, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth agreed a set of principles for addressing food security, known as the Perth Declaration on Food Security. This is what Julia Gillard had to say about the Declaration at her press conference:
“We also recognised that food security is one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing the world. Half the world's one billion hungry are in the Commonwealth and we've all seen incredibly distressing humanitarian situations in the Horn of Africa and that crisis in the Horn of Africa highlights the challenge. Leaders noted that population growth and scarce land and water are intensifying pressures on food security. The challenge is simply huge. Global production will need to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to feed an expected global population of 9.3 billion people. Leaders agreed to the Perth Declaration on food security, setting out principles that should guide us as we grapple with this challenge. The declaration commits us to the importance of reducing barriers to trade in agriculture, improving agricultural productivity and making it easier for farmers in developing countries to grow food and to get it to markets. That is, it addressed food security both in the sense of immediate issues of aid, but also in the sense of improving capacity for food security through agricultural research, lifting productivity and through the better functioning of markets”
Social connection program for problem gamblers: can you help?
Contemporary research is showing that problem gamblers are more likely to be isolated from family, friends and other social and support networks. Some local governments are already acting on this research by running ‘social connection projects’. Moreland’s ‘MoreConnect Project’ builds on the (Re)Making Meaning Project model, which was a highly successful and well-evaluated pilot project funded by the Department of Justice last year, and run as a partnership project by Chrysalis Insight Inc, Gamblers Help Eastern & the VLGA. ‘MoreConnect’ builds the social confidence of former problem gamblers to use alternative entertainment in and around Moreland. It is the first of its kind being run at a local government level, made possible by the revenue raised by a differential rate on gaming venues. This project does not focus on gambling problems, but rather on re-finding meaning and joy in life after gambling. It links people in with activities, non-gaming entertainment and programs already running in Moreland at low or no cost (many of them local government programs). It promotes local non-gaming businesses in Moreland. The active part of the project starts next weekend, with a weekend 'join-up' experience for all participants and volunteers. The subsequent 7 months will see participants and the support volunteers take part in regular get-togethers which will be a mixture of educational, mentoring and social opportunities. If you know of participants who could benefit from this program, or you would like to volunteer, there are still 7 participant places and 4 volunteer places to fill. If you can help in anyway please call Gabriela Byrne on 0408 707 871.
Events for your diary
VLGA events Essential Councillor Retreat: making the 4th year count!
Friday 18 – Saturday 19 November
Peppers The Sands Resort Torquay
It’s not too late to register for the Essential Councillor Retreat will feature a number of expert-led practical workshops and networking opportunities pertinent to how councillors approach the 4th year of the council term. There will be a focus on: identifying and addressing public emotion and outrage; engaging effectively with local communities; taking stock and leaving a legacy; governing in the final year of council’s term; and ‘beyond Facebook and Twitter: communicating in ways that suit community needs’. You can download the program and registration form from our website.
Making human rights real – Warrnambool, Melbourne and Ballarat workshops
Tuesday 8 November (Warrnambool)
Wednesday 16 November (Melbourne CBD)
Friday 18 November (Broadmeadows) Tuesday 22 November (Ballarat)
Learn more about human rights and how to translate them into the work of your organisation. The Australian Centre for Human Rights Education at RMIT, the VLGA and VCOSS are hosting a series of free participatory workshops across Victoria to facilitate people's understanding of human rights and to develop a human rights approach to service delivery and policy development in locally based organisations. The workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. The workshops are designed for both the community and local government sectors – for management, service delivery workers, board members, councillors, advocates and members of vulnerable groups – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshops will be held in:
* Warrnambool: Tuesday 8 November, 10am-1pm; South West TAFE, Timor St, Warrnambool (OEA Conference and Events Centre Building B, Level 3, WB3.28)
* Melbourne CBD: Wednesday 16 November, 10am-2pm; RMI T University, Melbourne (corner Russell & Victoria Streets, Building 13, Level 3, Room 07)
* Broadmeadows: Friday 18 November, 10am-1pm; Hume Global Learning Centre Council Chamber, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
* Ballarat: Tuesday 22 November, 10am-1pm; Ballarat Town Hall – Trench Room, Sturt St, Ballarat
To register for the workshops, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online for the workshop closest to you. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.
Other events
North East Branch ALGWA ‘Think women for local government 2012’ Forum
Saturday 12 November, 1-4pm
Strathbogie Shire Civic Centre, Bury Street, Euroa
To be opened by Hon Jeanette Powell MP, this forum will share information and support the North East Local Government Women’s Association in encouraging women candidates for the local government elections in 2012. Enquiries and RSVP to Cr Marg Attley, North East ALGWA President, on 0400 256 035 or via email; or to Cr Colleen Furlanetto, North East ALGWA (Interim) Secretary, on 0427 537 522 or via email.
Community power conference: Australian communities taking charge of their energy use
Monday 14 – Tuesday 15 November
Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo
Are you looking for practical, achievable ways to reduce the impact of electricity price rises in your community? This conference aims to showcase how regional Australian communities are developing innovative energy projects; helping to reduce local economic shocks; and can take practical action to hedge against rising energy prices. The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, in its third biennial conference on renewable energy, is partnering with the Central Victoria Solar City project, part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program, and the City of Greater Bendigo, to deliver an exciting exploration of current energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies and actions being taken by Australian communities. For more information and to register, go here.
9th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 November
Melbourne
As an endorsing partner, the VLGA has secured a massive 50% discount for our members to this conference. With a strong focus on issues relevant to local governments, guest presenters include Ballarat and Melbourne CEOs Anthony Schinck and Dr Kathy Alexander. There are three easy ways for VLGA members to register: on the internet; by telephone (02) 9080 4307; or via email. Make sure you quote the following exclusive VLGA event code: P11M41 with your booking. For more information and to see the program, go here. To stay connected to this conference, follow it on LinkedIn, Twitter (#victransport), the Informa blog, or Youtube.
Deadly In Gippsland Conference
Thursday 17 – Friday 18 November
Sale
Brought to you by the Sale Local Indigenous Network and Wellington Shire, the program has a mix of whole of conference and breakout sessions. You will be able to choose from an excellent range of speakers, primarily showcasing Gippsland initiatives and partnerships, for the conference topic areas of:
* Sustainable Futures: learning and employment (including training, mentoring initiatives)
* Walking Together: promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
* Health and Well-being
The conference aims to:
* Strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, organisations and communities
* Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent and showcase regional initiatives
* Highlight the ‘deadly’ work being done by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their communities
The Conference registration deadline has been extended to Monday 7 November. Go here to register your place at Deadly in Gippsland, and see the Program here.
5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities Conference is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.
Local government promising practice forum – preventing violence against women
Wednesday 14 December, 12.30-5.00pm
Department of Human Services, 1st Floor, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The MAV’s Local Government and Community Partnerships Program – preventing Violence Against Women will hold this forum as part of their process of developing a PVAW Leadership Statement. For more information and to register, contact Project Coordinator Sophie Gale via email or (03) 9667 5555.
Last Thursday night’s Annual General Meeting was one of the most enjoyable in recent years. As well as dealing with the usual AGM business, including the receipt of our Treasurer’s Report with a modest surplus of $72,626, and other highlights included in our 2010-2011 Annual Report, I also had the great pleasure on behalf of the Board to confer Life Membership status on Liana Thompson. VLGA Life Memberships celebrate a continuous and outstanding commitment to the VLGA, the Victorian community and local government sector. I had the opportunity to reflect on some of the historical accounts of the VLGA’s journey, including those of our Governance Patron Hayden Raysmith – ‘Remembering the past’, and Life Member Mike Hill – ‘Making the future’. When you read these historical accounts, it’s easy to be proud of all those involved with the VLGA, and to understand that the future of the VLGA is strongly shaped by values. We are a very committed bunch, and it makes me very proud to be your President. Many laughs were had and wonderful speeches of thanks were made, acknowledging Liana’s incredible commitment to the sector. Yes Liana, you may indeed be a self-described ‘local government tragic’, but we love you for it! Our guest speaker was Child Safety Commissioner Bernie Geary OAM, who reminded us that communities and local governments can ‘get involved’ with solutions to the dreadful abuse many young people experience. Bernie’s frank delivery is refreshing, and his messages to local governments and communities simple. We should not see vulnerable young people as a problem. Rather, we should invest in truly inclusive ways to support them. And this does not mean imposing ‘top-down’ solutions but ‘fair dinkum involvement’ with vulnerable young people. A truly challenging yet inspiring speech, and I encourage you to view the webcast. I hope to see many of you at our end of year function on Thursday 1 December – invites will be sent to you shortly. I look forward to seeing you around and about. In the meantime please don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss issues of interest to you on 0407 364 509, or drop me a line via email. Cheers.
Cr Samantha Dunn, President
Keeping you up to date
ALGA finalises position on Constitutional Recognition
As previously discussed in this eNews, the campaign for constitutional recognition is being led by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), including their Victorian constituent, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). The VLGA has determined not to duplicate this approach, but to make submissions on the basis of our knowledge of our members’ overall views and our approach to the key issues which support and build capacity for local government. Our Board has resolved to support the ALGA campaign for constitutional recognition. Key issues made by the VLGA in our submission to the Expert Panel include:
* Democratic local government should be recognised in the Australian Constitution as the third level of government in Australia; and
* This recognition should be in a way which guarantees, constitutionally, the capacity of the Australian Government to fund local governments directly when this is appropriate. We note that ALGA has now finalised its position which is stated in its submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government. Notwithstanding the difficulty of achieving any change to Australia’s constitution, ALGA has based its position on extensive polling and member consultation, establishing that the majority of Australians support recognition, and figures rise significantly in relation to ALGA’s preferred position of financial recognition. The VLGA encourages all members to be aware of ALGA’s position, as we will all need to work hard to convince our communities that this change is worth supporting.
Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas: A 2011 survey of Victorian local governments
On 3 November 2011 the Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria released a report – 2011 survey of Victorian local governments following a survey undertaken earlier this year. The survey found that as of May 2011, 32 local governments (41 per cent) had smoke-free policies in some outdoor areas. Of the 79 local governments in Victoria:
* Nineteen local governments (24 per cent) had policies that cover entrances of council owned buildings
* Seventeen local governments (22 per cent) had smoke-free swimming pools * Six local governments (8 per cent) had smoke-free playgrounds.
* Two local governments had smoke-free beaches.
The Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria have developed a resource kit to assist local governments adopt smoke-free policies in outdoor areas. You can download the resource kit here. For more information on smoke-free outdoor areas please contact Kate Bolaffi, Policy and Project Officer at the Heart Foundation on (03) 9321 1508 or via email.
Participation: The Happiness Connection
IAP2 have alerted us to the release of the online Journal of Public Deliberation which is hot off the press. The journal contains an article by Brian Martin and Chris Barker called Participation: The Happiness Connection which you can access here. Here’s an excerpt of the article which is definitely worth a read: ‘participation in decision-making has the potential to contribute to greater happiness. To explore this connection, we examine three areas: the family, the workplace and politics. In each of these areas, happiness research suggests that greater participation should increase happiness, most directly via the channels of personal relationships and helping others. There is some empirical research suggesting that participation contributes to happiness. It is useful to consider the connections between the three areas. In particular, examination of participation-happiness connections within families and workplaces can provide some insights for promoting a stronger connection at the level of politics’.
Exclusive Urban Climate Justice Research Network (UCJRN) Roundtable
What does the ‘climate-just’ Australian city look like? Please join us in Melbourne for this inaugural and exclusive event of the Urban climate justice research network (UCJRN) jointly hosted by the VLGA, Griffith University, Curtin University, Macquarie University, Monash University and RMIT. The roundtable will be held on Tuesday November 29 from 9am-12.30pm and will be held at RMIT Storey Hall, Building 16, Level 7 Conference Rooms 1 & 2 (342 Swanston Street, Melbourne). Numbers are limited to 60, so to register your interest in being part of the network and/or to RSVP attendance to the Melbourne roundtable please email the VLGA via email or call (03) 9349 7999 by close of business Thursday November 24, 2011. The aim of this roundtable is to bring together a caucus of diverse members of our community to identify and advance climate justice imperatives and opportunities within the Australian city context. The emphasis is on collaborative engagement, deliberation and dialogue focused around key questions such as - what is the climate-just city? How do the practices and stories of climate justice connect people with other elements of the natural world? How does the notion of a ‘climate just’ city challenge, complement, or replace current rights and privileges? Who dominates, who benefits and who gets left behind? The key objectives of the roundtable are to:
* Identify key issues and opportunities for achieving the climate-just Australian city
* Better understand how different groups (e.g. policy and decision makers, advocacy and service practitioners, and communities) imagine, conceptualise and practice climate justice at various scales; and
* Advance (with a view to applying) innovative/creative methods for putting climate justice issues into urban policy practice within the context of Australian cities
Exciting new training opportunity from ECO-Buy in partnership with Social Traders - Social Procurement masterclass
Social procurement is key in the development of social enterprise as it recognises and places value on the benefits that social enterprises provide. In so doing it increases the amount of work available to social enterprises. This masterclass on Monday 17 November 2011, 9am-4pm will be presented by Mark Daniels of Social Traders. For more details and to register your place, please use this link. Members of ECO-Buy are entitled to a discount on this full day course. Details are on the registration form. Prompt registration will be appreciated on behalf of the facilitators.
On the edge: peri-urban food production
It’s not often we publish poems in this eNews but we thought we would make an exception for a very important topic – the survival (or otherwise) of peri-urban farming land to ensure that Victoria’s food supply is protected. These issues (including food security) were recently discussed at a forum run by Village Well, called ‘On The Edge: a forum on sustainability around Australian Cities’. You can view the presentations here. The following poem was read out by Gillian Stewart, the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Rural Business Officer.
A Peri-Urban Space – for all and one to grace!!
On the edge of the big cities but before the bush does start
Lies a very important region that separates the two apart
It is known as peri urban, where a lot is going on
More than most imagine in this divide amongst the throng
Peri urban must you ask, what on earth does all that mean?
Well if you’ve got some interest I can set for you the scene
It takes no time to travel down the freeway with much ease
To open, green, wide paddocks scattered all amongst the trees
To look a little closer though one clearly can observe
Paddocks full of ripening produce up against a road reserve
For the space is quite restricted, with high demand to fill the gaps
With houses, sheds and buildings and put new suburbs on the maps
A peri-urban paradise that is what you all can see
The ocean, hills and shopping all in close proximity
There’s food ‘n’ fun and fabulous adventures near and far
All within a driving distance from the city in a car
They come in droves; they move their gear a tree change does belie
Whilst working up the city on the freeway they do fly
And others are so lucky for they live and work and play
Each day in peri urban mode, there is no other way
But we cannot take for granted that all will be OK
For life is ever changing much to ones dismay
Demand for land so precious it is a matter of such course
And we need to make so sure we protect our main resource
So bear a thought please can you so for the soils and the water
For we need to value what we have we really really oughta
The birds, the trees, the landscape are the assets to behold
We sit on what could be so termed our rich but natural gold
For these regions they are fragile and we must take the best of care
To ensure they are protected and enhance their natural flair
They are deemed for all and sundry, the landscape and the hedges
Known so far and wide as the city’s critical green wedges
So pause a moment, take a breath and scan the view around
And help your peri-urban region stand its fragile ground
National Food Plan Update and Perth Declaration on Food Security
Speaking of food security, on Thursday 27 October, Senator Joe Ludwig, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, announced the next steps in developing the National Food Plan at a Rural Press Club event in Melbourne. As outlined by the Heart Foundation in a bulletin sent out late last week, the key announcements were:
* There will be a 2-stage process for development of the National Food Plan. A green paper will be released for public consultation, outlining the objectives for the National Food Plan and potential policy changes (no indication yet of when the green paper will be released). Following consultation, the National Food Plan will be released as a white paper
* The objectives for the National Food Plan have been finalised and are documented in the Minister’s media release:
o Identifying and mitigating potential risks to Australia’s food security
o Contributing to global food security
o Reducing barriers to a safe and nutritious food supply that responds to the evolving preferences and needs of all Australians and supports population health
o Supporting the long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability of Australia’s food supply chain
o Supporting the global competitiveness and productivity growth of the food supply chain, including through research, science and innovation
o Reducing barriers faced by food businesses to access international; and domestic markets
o Contributing to economic prosperity, employment and community wellbeing in regional Australia
The Minister’s speech at the Rural Press Club picked up on a number of points raised in submissions to the National Food Plan issues paper. Most submissions to the National Food Plan including the VLGA National Food Plan Submission are now available on the website. Information is now also available on the National Food Plan website about the Roundtables that were held in August and September. Also, over the weekend, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth agreed a set of principles for addressing food security, known as the Perth Declaration on Food Security. This is what Julia Gillard had to say about the Declaration at her press conference:
“We also recognised that food security is one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing the world. Half the world's one billion hungry are in the Commonwealth and we've all seen incredibly distressing humanitarian situations in the Horn of Africa and that crisis in the Horn of Africa highlights the challenge. Leaders noted that population growth and scarce land and water are intensifying pressures on food security. The challenge is simply huge. Global production will need to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to feed an expected global population of 9.3 billion people. Leaders agreed to the Perth Declaration on food security, setting out principles that should guide us as we grapple with this challenge. The declaration commits us to the importance of reducing barriers to trade in agriculture, improving agricultural productivity and making it easier for farmers in developing countries to grow food and to get it to markets. That is, it addressed food security both in the sense of immediate issues of aid, but also in the sense of improving capacity for food security through agricultural research, lifting productivity and through the better functioning of markets”
Social connection program for problem gamblers: can you help?
Contemporary research is showing that problem gamblers are more likely to be isolated from family, friends and other social and support networks. Some local governments are already acting on this research by running ‘social connection projects’. Moreland’s ‘MoreConnect Project’ builds on the (Re)Making Meaning Project model, which was a highly successful and well-evaluated pilot project funded by the Department of Justice last year, and run as a partnership project by Chrysalis Insight Inc, Gamblers Help Eastern & the VLGA. ‘MoreConnect’ builds the social confidence of former problem gamblers to use alternative entertainment in and around Moreland. It is the first of its kind being run at a local government level, made possible by the revenue raised by a differential rate on gaming venues. This project does not focus on gambling problems, but rather on re-finding meaning and joy in life after gambling. It links people in with activities, non-gaming entertainment and programs already running in Moreland at low or no cost (many of them local government programs). It promotes local non-gaming businesses in Moreland. The active part of the project starts next weekend, with a weekend 'join-up' experience for all participants and volunteers. The subsequent 7 months will see participants and the support volunteers take part in regular get-togethers which will be a mixture of educational, mentoring and social opportunities. If you know of participants who could benefit from this program, or you would like to volunteer, there are still 7 participant places and 4 volunteer places to fill. If you can help in anyway please call Gabriela Byrne on 0408 707 871.
Events for your diary
VLGA events Essential Councillor Retreat: making the 4th year count!
Friday 18 – Saturday 19 November
Peppers The Sands Resort Torquay
It’s not too late to register for the Essential Councillor Retreat will feature a number of expert-led practical workshops and networking opportunities pertinent to how councillors approach the 4th year of the council term. There will be a focus on: identifying and addressing public emotion and outrage; engaging effectively with local communities; taking stock and leaving a legacy; governing in the final year of council’s term; and ‘beyond Facebook and Twitter: communicating in ways that suit community needs’. You can download the program and registration form from our website.
Making human rights real – Warrnambool, Melbourne and Ballarat workshops
Tuesday 8 November (Warrnambool)
Wednesday 16 November (Melbourne CBD)
Friday 18 November (Broadmeadows) Tuesday 22 November (Ballarat)
Learn more about human rights and how to translate them into the work of your organisation. The Australian Centre for Human Rights Education at RMIT, the VLGA and VCOSS are hosting a series of free participatory workshops across Victoria to facilitate people's understanding of human rights and to develop a human rights approach to service delivery and policy development in locally based organisations. The workshops are funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as part of a project to identify the importance of human rights education. The workshops are designed for both the community and local government sectors – for management, service delivery workers, board members, councillors, advocates and members of vulnerable groups – and use case studies to highlight human rights and how to support human rights for people in local communities. The next workshops will be held in:
* Warrnambool: Tuesday 8 November, 10am-1pm; South West TAFE, Timor St, Warrnambool (OEA Conference and Events Centre Building B, Level 3, WB3.28)
* Melbourne CBD: Wednesday 16 November, 10am-2pm; RMI T University, Melbourne (corner Russell & Victoria Streets, Building 13, Level 3, Room 07)
* Broadmeadows: Friday 18 November, 10am-1pm; Hume Global Learning Centre Council Chamber, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
* Ballarat: Tuesday 22 November, 10am-1pm; Ballarat Town Hall – Trench Room, Sturt St, Ballarat
To register for the workshops, please phone Michelle at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or register online for the workshop closest to you. To see the workshop flyers, click on our VLGA Events Calendar. For further information, contact the VLGA’s Human Rights Policy & Project Officer, Gary Jungwirth, via email or phone (03) 9349 7999.
Other events
North East Branch ALGWA ‘Think women for local government 2012’ Forum
Saturday 12 November, 1-4pm
Strathbogie Shire Civic Centre, Bury Street, Euroa
To be opened by Hon Jeanette Powell MP, this forum will share information and support the North East Local Government Women’s Association in encouraging women candidates for the local government elections in 2012. Enquiries and RSVP to Cr Marg Attley, North East ALGWA President, on 0400 256 035 or via email; or to Cr Colleen Furlanetto, North East ALGWA (Interim) Secretary, on 0427 537 522 or via email.
Community power conference: Australian communities taking charge of their energy use
Monday 14 – Tuesday 15 November
Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo
Are you looking for practical, achievable ways to reduce the impact of electricity price rises in your community? This conference aims to showcase how regional Australian communities are developing innovative energy projects; helping to reduce local economic shocks; and can take practical action to hedge against rising energy prices. The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, in its third biennial conference on renewable energy, is partnering with the Central Victoria Solar City project, part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program, and the City of Greater Bendigo, to deliver an exciting exploration of current energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies and actions being taken by Australian communities. For more information and to register, go here.
9th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference
Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 November
Melbourne
As an endorsing partner, the VLGA has secured a massive 50% discount for our members to this conference. With a strong focus on issues relevant to local governments, guest presenters include Ballarat and Melbourne CEOs Anthony Schinck and Dr Kathy Alexander. There are three easy ways for VLGA members to register: on the internet; by telephone (02) 9080 4307; or via email. Make sure you quote the following exclusive VLGA event code: P11M41 with your booking. For more information and to see the program, go here. To stay connected to this conference, follow it on LinkedIn, Twitter (#victransport), the Informa blog, or Youtube.
Deadly In Gippsland Conference
Thursday 17 – Friday 18 November
Sale
Brought to you by the Sale Local Indigenous Network and Wellington Shire, the program has a mix of whole of conference and breakout sessions. You will be able to choose from an excellent range of speakers, primarily showcasing Gippsland initiatives and partnerships, for the conference topic areas of:
* Sustainable Futures: learning and employment (including training, mentoring initiatives)
* Walking Together: promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
* Health and Well-being
The conference aims to:
* Strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, organisations and communities
* Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent and showcase regional initiatives
* Highlight the ‘deadly’ work being done by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their communities
The Conference registration deadline has been extended to Monday 7 November. Go here to register your place at Deadly in Gippsland, and see the Program here.
5th ‘State of Australian Cities’ National Conference
Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
University of Melbourne, Parkville
Australia’s society and economy are dominated by its cities and regions, and the future of Australia’s environment is also linked to urban sustainability. The State of Australian Cities Conference is a national forum, held biennially, to share scholarship directed at the complex and multidimensional issues facing us as an urban nation. Australian cities are highly ranked internationally for their liveability, and have continued to grow strongly through a global financial crisis. Yet we are confronted with significant challenges. These challenges should not blind us to opportunities. For the first time in two decades, the Federal Government is talking about the need to address the infrastructure gap in cities. A growing body of urban researchers is interested in the policy implications of their work, while policy-makers are increasingly turning to the developing evidence base. Unlikely coalitions are springing up to address intertwined social, economic, environmental, governance, and infrastructure issues.
Local government promising practice forum – preventing violence against women
Wednesday 14 December, 12.30-5.00pm
Department of Human Services, 1st Floor, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The MAV’s Local Government and Community Partnerships Program – preventing Violence Against Women will hold this forum as part of their process of developing a PVAW Leadership Statement. For more information and to register, contact Project Coordinator Sophie Gale via email or (03) 9667 5555.
No comments:
Post a Comment