News & Resources

June 2023

In this newsletter, you’ll find News, Stories of Impact, Local Community Heroes, Research, Events and Career Opportunities from across Queensland.

A message from our CEO, Em James

Neighbourhood Centre Sector Reforms  

As the work of the Strategic Repositioning Committee reaches its final stages, I am excited about the reforms imminent for the sector.  These reforms are based on extensive consultation with Neighbourhood Centres and NCQ, including through the online sector forums and previous research such as NCQ’s recommendations for a new reporting and performance framework.  

The reforms include longer-term contracts for the sector, ensuring more security for Neighbourhood Centre operations from October 2023.  The contracts will be accompanied by new, comprehensive guidelines and specifications for Neighbourhood Centres that will feature an agreed purpose and three activity dimensions for centre activities. Reporting which supports these activity dimensions will change from existing reporting requirements.  This will better reflect the core work of Neighbourhood Centres.  Finally, in coming months the Department will launch a Neighbourhood Centres shared vision document. This provides an overview of the partnership between the Queensland Government and the sector, and the new strategic framework for our sector.   NCQ is supporting the Department to provide opportunities to unpack these new reforms with centres as new contracts and associated information is released over the coming months.   

NGO Indexation Support Rate raised to 5.63%  

We are pleased with the Queensland Government’s announcement that it will raise the indexation support rate for non-government organisations to 5.63 per cent, up from 3.88 per cent. This will support the National Fair Work Commission’s increase to award wages (5.75 per cent), from 1 July 2023.  

Statewide Disaster Strategy Launch 

Alongside Neighbourhood Centres across Queensland, NCQ are proud to have published the Queensland Neighbourhood Centres Strategy for Disaster Resilience 2023-2026! The report is significant in that it establishes an evidence base on the role and the significance of Neighbourhood and Community Centres in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Codeveloped with Neighbourhood Centres, it outlines key strategies to provide a collective vision and clarified direction for action across our sector.  

The strategy will be officially launched at our upcoming Growing Resilience Forum on the Gold Coast, with over 80 neighbourhood centres and disaster resilience stakeholders in attendance. 

Registrations for Neighbourhood Centres State Wide Gathering now live! 

NCQ are looking forward to welcoming Neighbourhood Centre staff and volunteers involved in centre coordination or community development at our Neighbourhood Centres State Wide Gathering at the Qld Community Development Conference in Moreton Bay on October 16th.  The gathering is free to attend.  Please register your attendance to secure your place.  

NCQ Attends the International Community Development Conference

Chris, Sian and Alana from NCQ headed to the International Community Development Conference in Darwin last week.

The Conference was an incredible event with some great insight and learnings about how Community Development is practiced across the world. 

People attended from across Australia and the globe, and there was great representation from the QLD NCC Sector with attendees from Laidley, Lockyer, Benarrawa, SANDBAG, Communify, and Hervey Bay Centres.

The team had the opportunity to catch up and connect with Community Development workers from QLD Councils and CD academics and practitioners from across the state. Neighbourhood Houses from Victoria were also in attendance alongside people from LCSA (the NSW peak for NCCs).

One highlight was Chris Mundy, (NCQ's Sector Development Lead in Research, Policy and Networks) who did a presentation on NCQ's participatory advocacy approach that lead to increased funding for the sector and a stronger focus on Community Development in QLD NCCs.

The Conference highlighted the importance of not only applying community development principles after funding is given, but designing funding alongside community so their desires are built from the ground up.

The Conference also featured the work of many First Nations led initiatives from across the globe including remote NT communities as well as exploring Aboriginal Community Development frameworks and methods of evaluation.

Sian was fortunate to attend a practice exchange with local Aboriginal groups and spoke of this as a highlight of her experience a the event.

Despite the temperature being a very humid 30 degrees, the team had an incredible experience at the conference, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring Darwin and  riding e-scooters around the CBD.

Building lasting connection with First Nations Community: The relational work of Leichardt One Mile Community Centre 

Leichardt One Mile Community Centre explores, connects and builds relationships with First Nations community members through thoughtful work projects and practices such as their Yarning Shed, hosting a Voice to Parliament and providing support and financial assistance to community Elders for sorry business. 

Leichardt One Mile Coordinator Kym Tuuta and their Community Connect Worker Emma Eastwood describe the Yarning Shed as a safe, weekly space for First Nations Men to come together to connect with culture while discussing important issues impacting the community including mental health, domestic and family violence and crises responses.  

“Yarning Shed provides space for men to catch up on Saturdays to discuss brain health, connection to country, culture, yarning and dreamtime stories from Elders. [They engage in learning about] the knowledge keepers and generational impacts from DFV, alcohol & drugs exposure, mob expectations and adjusting to crisis situations. A BBQ breakfast and lunch is provided too. 

They come together to support each other through challenges they are experiencing and getting assistance from their peers.” 

“One gentleman attending Yarning Shed that says it helps develop interpersonal skills to improve how he communicates with others.” 

Meet James Turner, Volunteer Youth Mentor for over 15 years at Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre and this month’s Local Community Hero! 

James Turner has volunteered with Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre in their Youth Mentoring program for over 15 years. 

During that time, James has supported dozens of students and vulnerable young people through weekly mentoring. A life-long volunteer, James was involved in other forms of volunteering before he became inspired to join the youth mentoring program in Hervey Bay.  

“I first heard of the Youth Mentoring Program in the 1990's but didn't ask about it as I was involved in other voluntary activities, such as YMCA holiday activities, Interchange and St John Ambulance. It wasn't until relocating to Hervey Bay in 2007, that I found a page for the Youth Mentoring Program and made a follow-up enquiry.. The rest, as they say, is history, with me completing the training course in late September of that year and being matched to a thirteen-year-old Year 8 boy of aboriginal background at a local high school in October.” 

Leeanne Harris speaks up about the Cost of Living Crisis

“People are telling us - I can’t send my kids to school because I don’t have any food...they haven’t got shoes; they haven’t got all those sorts of things.”

Leeanne Harris from Mount Isa Neighbourhood Centre spoke with Zara Margolis from ABC North West Queensland about the cost of living crisis impacting her local community and how her Neighbourhood Centre is responding to support their community.

People seeking emergency food relief has increased about 30% in the past year, but the issue of unpaid electricity bills is also an increasing concern. Mt Isa has only one energy provider, and those unable to pay their bills risk having their electricity cut off, and no way to cool down in 40 degree heat.

2023-2024 State Budget Updates

With almost 150 Neighbourhood and Community Centres across Queensland on the frontline of supporting people in their communities through the cost of living crisis and the housing crisis, there are mixed feelings about what has just been announced in the Queensland Budget 2023-2024.

The budget addressed the cost of living crisis with some relief:

• Electricity rebates, including a $550 rebate on electricity bills to all Queensland households and a $700 rebate for vulnerable households
• $315,000 to provide grant funding to Foodbank to deliver critical food relief
• 15 hours per week of free kindy for 4 all year olds
• $23.1 million to reduce the cost of replacing Queensland driver licences, photo identification cards and industry authority cards to $35
• $83.2 million for a Textbook and Resource Allowance for secondary school students
• $70.3 million (over four years) to increase accommodation and fuel subsidies under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme
• $670.5 million towards the Government Managed Housing Rental Rebate Scheme

The Housing Crisis has been responded to with the following investments:

• $1.1 billion for social housing infrastructure, including:
  • $322 million to boost Quickstart target by 500 homes
  • $249.1 million to retain and upgrade dwellings
  • $64.3 million for emergency accommodation in Brisbane
  • $28 million for Immediate Housing Response Package
  • $128 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Iander Peoples
  • $30 million to Help Seniors Secure their Homes

Monto Live Better Community Services create Short  Disaster Resilience Documentary

Monto Live Better is a Neighbourhood Centre that has created a short documentary to capture how their regional communities have coped with recent disasters, highlighting how people have come together to help each other out.

The documentary shares stories of people living in Eidsvold, Biggenden, Monto, Mundubbera and Gayndah, in areas that have experienced droughts, floods and fires. Despite this, they have survived and thrived.

Celebrating Culture and Connection in Refugee Week 2023

Last week Neighbourhood and Community Centres (NCCs) celebrated Refugee Week (June 18-24). NCCs' incredible ability to bring people together, to create new connections and strengthen existing ones. This ability makes Centres the perfect places to foster relationships and connections between newly arrived and refugee peoples and their local communities

Many Centres across Queensland work to provide innovative services, programs, activities and opportunities for social connection to newly arrived, migrant and refugee community members in their local areas. 

The Neighbourhood Hub in Mackay has an intentional focus on providing a welcoming space to bring people from all cultures together and to celebrate their traditions, histories, customs and stories. They host regular groups including the World Café, a free culture-sharing group that meets every week and engages in arts, crafts, small projects, workshops and conversational games. TN Hub also has a Multicultural Women’s Group, another free social club for women from a range of cultural backgrounds to come together and a Migrant Drivers Program which supports migrants in the community to learn to drive and obtain their licences.

MultiLink Community Services Inc. has been providing tailored supports to migrant and culturally diverse peoples in the Logan community for many years. They are currently facilitating Logan Community Leader Partnership Forums alongside SSI and the Logan City Council. These events bring together over 40 culturally diverse community leaders joined to explore the importance of language, communication and cultural accessibility to support health needs and health literacy. They also recently hosted a gathering and community BBQ for the Logan Somali Community to learn about their Centre’s new program to increase access and engagement with support services for local Somali people.

Redbank Plains Community Centre is run by Multicultural Australia, an organisation that supports 5,000 newly arrived migrants in Queensland every year. Their Centre hosts a great range of events and programs in celebration of culture. They are hosting a Multicultural Jobs Forum which is an opportunity for local employers and job seekers to connect with one another. They have also hosted the annual lantern parade in their area for 2 years, which brings people from all walks of life together to create and showcase their lanterns while enjoying food and music from different cultures.

Neighbourhood and Community Centres Supporting Men's Health & Wellbeing

Men's Health Week is celebrated every year from June 12-18. Men's Health Week is a time to encourage healthy ways of living, thinking and help-seeking for men around the globe.

Neighbourhood and Community Centres regularly host a range of initiatives and activities for men across Queensland. Many host father and child parenting groups, mental health support groups, men's sheds, sports groups among so many more.

Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre hosts a Men’s Program, a social gathering every week with a focus on mental health and wellbeing. The Men’s Program is an important opportunity of men of all ages in the community to come together to have a “big belly laugh”, a chat and learn about mental health from guest speakers.

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre auspices the Airlie Beach Men’s Shed which provides local men with an opportunity to come together, be creative and learn amongst one another. Their Centre also supports free online connection groups for men.

To celebrate Men’s Health Week, MDSS Moranbah hosted a breakfast, bringing local businesses in to support the event which saw local men come together, socialise and find formal and informal supports.

These are just a few examples of the ways in which Neighbourhood and Community Centres work to bring men together, foster connection and find soft entry points for providing vital supports to men in the community.

If you, or anyone you know is looking for a group to join, needs support, wants to start a new hobby or find someone to just sit and have a cuppa with, visit your local Neighbourhood or Community Centre and see what’s on: www.ncq.org.au/find-a-centre

Neighbourhood Centres Ongoing Work With Older Community Members

Elder Abuse Awareness Day occurs on 15 June. The date highlights the unfortunate reality that many older people face abuse and mistreatment as they reach the later stages of their lives. Considerable research has found that support, information and social relationships are critical to reducing instances of abuse of older Australians. (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2023)

By their very nature, Neighbourhood and Community Centres are hubs of community engagement, with most running programs and initiatives designed to support the inclusion, development and support of older people.

The Donald Simpson Community Centre in Cleveland offers an impressive variety of activities and programs 7 days a week that are suited to seniors, including theatre groups, art classes, woodworking, chair yoga, Qi Gong, day trips and information sessions. It's a warm welcoming Centre with a cafe, library and people to connect with.

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre hosts fortnightly senior bingo sessions, providing a fun and engaging opportunity for older community members to come together and socialise. They also provide one on one digital learning sessions every week, where older community members can bring along their devices and learn how to use them most effectively.

Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre has a huge array of programs and activities for older community members. They host Planning For Retirement senior lunches featuring games and presentations by guest speakers. They also host weekly armchair yoga sessions to build mobility, strength and mindfulness.

Graham House Community Centre hosts an informal senior’s morning tea each month as a way of bringing together older members of the community for a laugh, a chat and a delicious meal.

The Community Place holds monthly Enquiry Line sessions, an important state-wide initiative that works to educate older people and their families and carers by providing service referrals, supports and information.
Find out what’s happening at your local Neighbourhood or Community Centre: www.ncq.org.au/find-a-centre

Community Development Conference registration now open!

Ticket registrations and presentation proposal opportunities are now open for Queensland's 24th state-wide Community Development Conference. 

This year's theme is Regenerating Community - Getting Our Hands Dirty

Join us from October 16-18 to share knowledge and explore ideas around the following themes:

• reimagining your practice for social justice
• rediscovering your passion for the work, people and place
• regenerating your community, neighbourhood, projects and groups
• reigniting community and civic participation.

Tickets are now available, Early Bird registrations are available until July 15

Information about the Neighbourhood Centre State Wide gathering the day before the conference on October 16 is now available

A Silver Lining: Community Development, Crisis and Belonging

A Silver Lining: Community Development, Crisis and Belonging explores the role of community development in Queensland’s recovery from the January 2011 floods.

The report was written by Under 1 Roof who held a forum with 63 community sector and government practitioners explored different strategies for building on community spirit demonstrated during the flooding crisis, means of restoring and strengthening social fabric, community building ideas to support people with trauma, future orientations and grief, and strategies to strengthen community’s ongoing capacity to show leadership, plan and engage to find solutions to the problems created by the floods.

Disaster Resilience Community Recovery Contact Brochures

Disaster Resilience Community Recovery Brochures contain a range of local and general community support services available to individuals and their families living in Queensland districts who are experiencing financial and emotional hardship as a result of being impacted by a natural disaster or unforeseen event.

Career Opportunities

Volunteer Positions: Board Treasurer & Board Member
St David's Neighbourhood Centre

Applications close: Ongoing

Accounts Administrator
St David's Neighbourhood Centre

Applications close: ASAP
Expected start date: 3 July 2023

Coordinator (Case Management Team)
Better Together Community Support

Job posted on: 16 June 2023
Applications close: 17 July 2023

Clinical Care Navigator (OT, Social Worker, Nurse, Psychologist)
Communify Qld

Job posted on: 5 June 2023
Applications close: 4 July 2023

Community Development Neighbourhood Centre Lead
Community Plus+ Queensland Inc

Job posted on: 21 June 2023
Applications close: 5 July 2023

Upcoming dates of recognition or celebration

24 June - 9 July School Holidays
1 July Coming of the Light
2 - 9 July NAIDOC Week
30 July International Day of Friendship
30 July National Tree Day
1 - 31 August Multicultural Queensland Month
4 August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
9 August International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
12 August International Youth Day
12 - 20 August National Science Week
19 August World Humanitarian Week
21 - 27 August National Skills Week
25 August Wear it Purple Day

NCQ acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the Country; we pay our respects to their Elders, ancestors, land and seas.

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