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Membership of Community Industry Group brings many benefits including: Invitations to contribute to regional responses to key government inquiries, discussion papers, and policy dialogue to help us form submission responses. Significant discounts on all training run by Community Industry Group. Access to Community Industry Group’s extensive sector knowledge, advice and consultation from our highly experienced staff members. As it is now a new financial year, existing membership renewals are now due. Thank you to our members who have already paid. For more details click here. To renew your membership click here. For new memberships click here.

Organisations which receive funding from Family and Community Services NSW have been advised that they will receive indexation of just 1.75% for the next financial year. This rate is the lowest in many years, and will have direct impacts on staffing and therefore on service delivery. The National Wage Decision this year was for an increase of 3% for workers employed under the Award. This means a deficit of 1.25% for wages alone, let alone all of the other costs associated with delivering services. We urge you to write to the Premier, to the Treasurer, to the Minister for Family and Community Services, and to your local MPs to ask for a review of this indexation rate. We have drafted template letters below. Please feel free to use these as a basis for your own correspondence. Feel free to change and to personalise them as you see fit. We need […]

There was an overwhelming response to the forum held on Wednesday 19 June 2019 at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club. More than 150 delegates from a variety of different services and many TAFE students enjoyed the guest speaker presentations and the popular 2 minute Power Pitches from the market place service providers. Local Elder, Uncle Gerald Brown, from the Illawarra Koori Men’s Group gave a Welcome to Country and spoke about the mental health challenges faced by Aboriginal people, especially the men and boys he sees at the group. Deputy Commissioner Pamela Routledge spoke about the NSW Mental Health Commission’s Living Well policy document and the current review. She encouraged everyone to visit the website (https://nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au/) to contribute comments to the review. She congratulated Community Industry Group on organising the forum and agreed that one of the biggest issues for sufferers and carers is navigating the system. Dr Alex Haines, […]

Dagmarsminde Care Home in Denmark May Bjerre Eiby is working at the forefront of dementia care in Denmark. Her care home, Dagmarsminde, which opened three and a half years ago is home for 10 residents with severe dementia. May is an RN with a Masters degree and a keen interest in the humanistic model of care. She bases her care on 18th century principles – use hands, skills, nature and the environment, rather than relying on medication. Staff ratios are 1:4 and are all RN’s or EN’s, and they do everything with residents including therapy, cooking, personal care and activities. The only other staff are cleaners who do all the facility’s cleaning. The facility, which is in a country area, has been designed and furnished to look like a home. It has no institutional furniture. The animals which include dogs, cats, chickens and goats are looked after by the residents with the […]

Community Industry Group is pleased to present a forum for members and other stakeholders to hear the latest developments in the local mental health services system on Wednesday 19 June at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club. This free event is particularly targeted to non-mental health service providers, carers/supporters, front line staff in schools, GPs, housing, neighbourhood centres, Job Network providers, multicultural & refugee services, faith communities etc. Back by popular demand – Mental Health Services participating in the marketplace will have the opportunity to present their two minute ‘Power Pitch’. The forum will be followed by a light lunch and networking. Mental Health Service Providers are encouraged to book an information table please contact Tessa on tparsons@cigroup.org.au or call our office on 02 4256 4333. Click here to book your place now.