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Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online | |
| Editions > 2004 > May | Friday May 25, 2012 - Melbourne Time: 00:25:50 |
Community Business Partnerships Brokerage Service regional seminar series launched in BendigoMinister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, launched the regional seminar series of the Community Business Partnerships Brokerage Service in Bendigo on 6 May. The Bendigo seminar is the first in an Australia wide series to promote the benefits of community groups and businesses joining together to strengthen their local community. Twelve seminars, developed in coordination with Local Governments, are scheduled to be held across Australia between May and September this year. The City of Greater Bendigo Mayor, Councillor Greg Williams, and Chief Executive of Our Community, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, hosted the first of the free regional seminars. It was attended by representatives from Local Government, community groups and business, and focused heavily on the range of benefits that could be experienced from participating in partnerships. Mayor Williams said the City of Bendigo was a strong supporter of the need for closer business and community partnerships and was proud to host the inaugural seminar.Seminar aimsThe regional seminars are a key element of the brokerage service and an initiative of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership (PMCBP) established in 1999 to advise the Australian Government on ways of developing and promoting a culture of corporate and individual social responsibility in Australia. One of the key roles of the Partnership is promoting the value of community business partnerships. The regional seminar series aims to achieve this by covering such topics as:
PartnershipsPartnerships benefit all concerned – business, community groups and, of course, communities themselves. There is no doubt a business will better understand its local community and the needs of its customers through the closer ties that a community business partnership generates. Evidence shows that businesses with a prominent and active role in the community have greater loyalty and commitment by their employees. Community organisations also strengthen their networks through closer relationships with the business sector and build a greater capacity to attract financial and volunteer support. Community business partnerships make good business sense. They not only increase the profile of an organisation but also allow it to better understand and connect with its market. Most importantly, partnerships make communities stronger and a better environment in which to live. Brokerage ServiceIn 2003, the National Community Business Partnerships Brokerage Service was set up to help promote partnerships on a national level and offer practical resources to small and medium sized businesses and community groups. Our Community Pty Ltd was awarded the contract to deliver this service with its partners, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The brokerage service targets community groups and businesses, particularly small and medium sized organisations who want to connect, make a difference and find out more about forming a partnership – all with the aim to create and inspire more community business partnerships. Key features of the brokerage service include:
To supplement the range of information available on the web site, a brokerage resource kit has also been developed. This kit contains a 21 page booklet on how to get a strong partnership up and running, posters, postcards and several fact sheets designed to help people learn about partnerships. For a copy of the brokerage service resource kit or to enquire about the regional seminar series, call Our Community Brokerage Service Project Officer, Denis Moriarty on (03) 9320 6812. Partnerships WeekThere will also be eight capital city seminars, which will be held during National Community Business Partnerships Week from 19–23 July this year. Partnerships Week, led by the PMCBP, also involves the State and Territory presentations of the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships, round table discussions with past Award winners, displays highlighting the work of successful partnerships and public lectures featuring high profile spokespeople discussing the benefits of community business partnerships. The Prime Minister’s Community Business PartnershipThe Partnership is a group of prominent Australians from the community and business sectors that operates on the premise that communities are stronger and more cohesive when individuals, not-for-profit organisations, governments and business all work together – each offering its own set of unique skills. The Partnership’s goals include identifying and addressing incentives and impediments to philanthropy and the creation of community business partnerships. Business has long recognised the benefits of linking its reputation to what it is doing environmentally and socially. Community organisations find that strategic partnerships with business and long term relationships with philanthropic supporters assist them to develop stronger and more dynamic approaches to meeting the needs of their community. The Partnership is supported by a secretariat in the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services. Membership of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership
Regional Seminar series dates1 July Morwell – Latrobe City Council For further information or to register for a seminar, contact Lidia Milevski on (03) 9320 6807. Information about the Partnership and its activities can be accessed from the web site at www.partnerships.gov.au. For more information on the Partnership contact Glennys Purcell, Director, Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership Secretariat, Department of Family and Community Services on 1800 359 918 or email cbp.inbox@facs.gov.au |
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