Latest News

Community Industry Group is proud to launch the CareForce Hub, a purpose-built website which will be the ‘go-to’ place to find your next career in the disability, aged and home care sectors. The CareForce Hub features job vacancies, tools and tips for job seekers, resume templates, employer information and loads of information about the huge variety of roles available. “The CareForce Hub is an initiative of our Care Careers project,” said CEO of Community Industry Group, Nicky Sloan. “And to coincide with the launch of the CareForce Hub, we are also announcing our Care Careers Jobs Pledge. We were hoping to have employers pledge 150 jobs over the next 12 months, but we look like well and truly exceeding that number. On the very first day, we have received pledges for 124 jobs across the region!” To check out our Media Release about the CareForce Hub and Pledges click here. […]

Our latest annual report is out now! Click here to check it out.

Community Industry Group is excited to offer the Resources entwined with Support of Wellbeing (ReSoW) project! Community service organisations played a vital role during and after the bushfire crisis leaving many management committees, staff and volunteers in a state of increased fatigue. Not for profit organisations in bushfire-impacted regions of Southern NSW will be able to access subsidised supports to build capacity and resilience in staff and volunteers to support them in supporting the community. We are offering a variety of opportunities to help your organisation and staff thrive such as training opportunities, external supervision, leadership development and more.  For more information click here.

The Care Career Project aims to raise the profile of careers in the aged, home and disability care sector. We want to engage with service providers to capture core competency requirements for a new employee before starting work in your organisation. We invite you to take part in this important research by participating in our short survey here. All information collected by the Care Careers Project provides a foundation for attracting people and designing effective employment pathways. We aim to ensure that care sector jobs and careers are well known and highly regarded across the Illawarra and the South Coast. To find out more about the Care Careers Project, please contact Tanya Southworth here.  

We invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting featuring special guest speaker Jonathon Welch AM, creator of the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ choir on Thursday 28 October 2021, 11.30am-1.00pm, online via zoom. Jonathon Welch AM is a multi award winning singer, conductor, teacher, composer, director and recording artist who has performed around the world with some of our biggest stars. His work creating choirs for the homeless and disadvantaged in Australia was the subject of the internationally acclaimed ARIA, Logie and Helpmann award winning TV documentary ‘Choir of Hard Knocks’. In 2009 Jonathon created and launched ‘Social Inclusion Week’ making Australia the only country in the world to celebrate Social Inclusion nationally. He is also the driving force behind the arts, cultural and wellbeing program ‘Play IT Forward’. For more information about Jonathon see https://www.jonathonwelch.com/. For more information and to book your place click here.

The Australian Government has recently announced that the Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue will inquire into and report on the contribution of tax and regulation on housing affordability and supply in Australia. Community Industry Group will be developing a submission to the Inquiry and we encourage everyone to have their say on this important issue. Remember, you don’t need to write a detailed, academically referenced paper – a simple email is fine. And you can find some simple, sector developed recommendations on the Everybody’s Home website. Inquiry terms of reference and how to make a submission are available here.  

Charities and not for profit organisations (NFPs) need your support. Write a letter to your local Members of Parliament to protect the rights of charities and NFPs to participate in direct, or indirect, advocacy activities. The Federal Government is proposing significant changes to ACNC Governance Standard 3. If passed, the draconian regulations will prohibit charities and NFPs from participating in, or supporting other organisations with, peaceful protests and common advocacy activities. 59,000 charities across Australia work tirelessly on limited resources to support disadvantaged and vulnerable communities across Australia. They now face being restricted by severe and excessive regulation for giving voice to the communities which they serve. Organisations will need to demonstrate compliance with the new regulation, increasing the administrative burden charities and NFPs already face, and diverting more resources away from frontline service delivery and into paperwork. A list of Federal MPs is available here for you to contact. […]

Our Project and Policy Officer, Mel Breuker, can help answer your DEX related questions. One commonly asked question is, ‘How many clients do I need to report SCOREs for?’. In the Target Early Intervention (TEI) program, SCORE (Standard Client/Community Outcomes Reporting) should be reported for the majority of your clients. Circumstances, Goals and Satisfaction SCORE are used to report outcomes for individual clients. Community SCORE is used to report outcomes for groups or community activities (i.e. unidentified group clients). Recording SCORE Circumstances SCORE and/or Goals SCORE: An initial and at least one subsequent Circumstance SCORE should be recorded for at least 50% of individual clients. Satisfaction SCORE: At least 10% of individual clients, per reporting period should be recorded. Community SCORE: The community SCORE should be recorded for the majority of group or community activities where it is not feasible to record SCORE for individual clients. Please note that service […]

We all experience challenges in our lives. It may be our work, family, community, environment or concerns about world events. In order to be able to continue to deliver vital community services, we need healthy ways to care for ourselves. People who work in the community services sector consistently provide care or support to others. In addition to our working lives, we also juggle various demands on our time and energy from family, friends and the broader community. Having good self-care practices in place will minimise the risk of burnout and help sustain your relationship with others and with yourself. Community Industry Group is proud to offer this free online micro course. Check it out now. http://communityindustrygroup.org.au/courses/resilience-and-self-care-micro-course/  

In 2020, Community Industry Group received funding through the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) for a regional custom grant portal. NGOs are able to use the portal to find grant opportunities which are available in our region. Each grant will be summarised in a one-page template, and the portal will include search, planning and automated notification functionality. Members are able to create a profile on the portal to store their grant info and preferences, and notifications will be sent when appropriate grants are available. It’s easy to use and can track your grants too. Check out this video for more information: https://vimeo.com/515536162 Check out Grant Guru here: http://communityindustrygroup.org.au/grants/

A great night was had by all at the glittering We Do Magic Community Service Awards held at the Novotel Wollongong on Friday 4th June 2021. Our members came from across the Illawarra and far south coast to celebrate the magic performed in order to continue to offer critical support to vulnerable people. The pressures from disasters like drought, bushfires, floods, and a global pandemic have dramatically impacted the lives of the most vulnerable individuals, families and communities. Demand for community support has dramatically increased in areas such as homelessness, food relief, mental health, and domestic and family violence over the past 18 months. Community service providers have gone to extraordinary lengths to meet this demand and incredible stories of service, innovation and collaboration were heard and celebrated. While category winners were announced, it certainly was a night to celebrate absolutely everyone who works in the sector. Click hear to […]

On 15 April 2021, Minister Linda Reynolds – Minister for the NDIS announced a pause to the roll out of Independent Assessments (IAs) until after a second pilot is finished and evaluated. She has also announced that she will consult with stakeholders across the country. There is no doubt that the postponement is good news, and a response to significant lobbying by people with disability, their families and supporters, and service providers. However, ‘consultation’ on this new initiative, which could have significant impacts on NDIS plans, has so far been somewhat questionable. Independent Assessments were first floated in November 2019 when then Minister, Stuart Robert announced the new model of assessment using standardised tools. A trial was rapidly rolled out, with very positive results announced, despite the fact that respondents had yet to see the plan developed as a result of the assessment. Further concerns were raised about the veracity […]

Book in now for our Time Management (with breakfast!) training. Wednesday, 5 May 202, 8:30am – 10:30am Nowra School of Arts, 12 Berry Street, Nowra Learn to set goals that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Timely), use systems for prioritising effectively and improve productivity for yourself and other through effective time management techniques, all while enjoying a delicious breakfast. At the end of the training you will: Improve productivity for yourself and others through effective time management techniques Competently select and use a system for prioritising goals and tasks Prepare work schedules and learn to prioritise according to importance and urgency Set goals that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Timely Click here to book your ticket.  

Community Industry Group is pleased to announce our training and events for March 2021 including: Four Legs Not for Profit Leadership Program Understand and Respond to Hoarding and Squalor Breakfast Series: Time Management Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention Toolkit Training Click here for a printable flyer. Click here for a flyer with booking links.  

Monday 8 March 2021  Module 1: 10am -11am Monday 15 March 2021 Module 2: 10am – 11am We are offering an online course on Understanding & Responding to Hoarding and Squalor Situations: An Introduction, in March 2021. Support providers often encounter challenging situations involving hoarding and squalor. Responding appropriately requires a fundamental understanding of hoarding disorder and its underlying causes. This on-line training will take place over two days and consist of 2 x one hour live facilitated discussions with a self paced reading package. Click here for more information.

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) Health Promotion Service is partnering with Community Industry Group to offer one-off seeding grants. Eligible not-for-profit community organisations within the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region can apply for funding for local project activities supporting mental health and physical wellbeing. Funding of up to $2000 is available. Background Information – Protecting Mental Health Grants Application Form – Protecting Mental Health Grants  

Illawarra South Coast Aged & Disability Services Workforce Forum, Tuesday 16 February 2021, 8:30–10:30am. Aged and disability service providers are facing significant challenges attracting the right staff who are suitable and safe for direct support work. The Illawarra Workforce Action Group (IWAG) invites you to this online forum with representatives from a range of organisations related to the sector including: Residential and community support service providers Registered training providers Local Health District Government agencies The forum will drive discussion on aligning workforce strategies and priorities for providers in the region and seek to gain commitment across participating organisations to a Charter of Collaboration to strengthen the aged and disability service sectors. Click here to book your ticket now. Click here to view the agenda.

We’ve created a 2021 Calendar that includes the Parliament of NSW Sitting Dates and the NSW School holidays. Click here to download your pdf version.  

We are back in the office and look forward to working with, and advocating for our members in 2021. Community Industry Group: Voice – Influence – Leadership

Check out this short video highlighting all the work the Community Industry Group team achieved in the 19/20 Financial Year.

Our CEO, Nicky Sloan, has been appointed to the Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce for the Illawarra South Coast region. The Local Jobs Program supports tailored approaches to accelerate reskilling, upskilling and employment in 25 regions across Australia. The program will provide for 25 Employment Facilitators across 25 regions, a Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce in each region, a Local Jobs Plan developed for each region and projects funded through a Local Recovery Fund in each of these regions. Click here for more information about the representatives for the Illawarra South Coast region. View the Local Jobs fact sheet here.

To support the NFP sector across Southern NSW, Community Industry Group are extending an Expression of Interest for participants in a leadership program we would like to offer across the region commencing in March 2021. The Four Legs Leadership Program is a holistic leadership program designed to provide participants with the tools, skills and insights to build resilient, innovative and collaborative teams and deliver outstanding results. Exceptional leadership is the ability to deeply understand and effectively manage yourself, even in the most challenging times and create a psychologically safe environment where your teams can thrive and consistently deliver their best work. It’s about how you are able to influence all of the stakeholders you connect with. For more information please see: Community Industry Group EOI form and brochure here. Four legs brochure here. Expression of Interest Applications close 13 November 2020.