Community and Neighbourhood Centres … the heart of our community Pre-Election 2014 Survey Results Thriving Communities – How Will You Support Them? 3 key things which ensure communities thrive: Equal and respectful partnerships Sustainable resourcing for - o community capacity building activities o sector development Better community outcomes through a well resourced Together SA Gill McFadyen, CEO 1/25 Naldera Street, Glandore, SA 5037 T: 08 8371 4622 E: [email protected] W: www.communitycentressa.asn.au Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 3 Political Party: Australian Greens (SA) .................................................................................. 4 Political Party: Australian Labor Party (SA) ........................................................................... 9 Political Party: Dignity for the Disabled ................................................................................ 13 Political Party: Family First (SA) .......................................................................................... 15 Political Party: Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division) ........................................................ 18 Political Party: Powerful Communities ................................................................................. 19 Other responses ................................................................................................................. 22 The economic contribution of the network of community centres is significant. It includes … enabling people to engage in further learning and work through volunteering, foundation skills courses and breaking down barriers to participation such as through literacy and numeracy and the provision of childcare that enables engagement and participation. South Australian Centre for Economic Studies: Economic and Social Impact Study: Community and Neighbourhood Centres Sector November 2013 2 Executive Summary Community and neighbourhood centres work with and for people and local communities to bring about positive social change through community development, good health and wellbeing, social inclusion, education and life skills activities and programmes. Centres do this important work in complex and challenging environments. They are skilled and cost effective in supporting and empowering people with multi-faceted needs and building their capacity as well as the capacity of the community in which they are situated. Frequently community centres rely on short-term project based funding, with a small number of paid staff, supported by community volunteers. Centres are a critical part of the community sector in South Australia, with a unique contribution to make through their local, ‘place-based’ approach. They work within a strength-based, community development model and are open to all. Community development is sometimes seen as “soft” leaving our sector and the communities we work within vulnerable. To be effective advocates for our communities we must be politically aware and politically active. As we approach a State election, community and neighbourhood centres and their communities want to know if what is important to them is also important to candidates standing to represent them, and whether and how candidates will support community and neighbourhood centres into the future. To help us get informed and understand this, we invited all candidates in the upcoming state election to respond to key questions and share their views and intentions about our community and neighbourhood centres sector. We distributed a survey ‘Thriving Communities – How will you support them?’ asking about 3 key things which enable communities to thrive: Equal and respectful partnerships Sustainable resourcing for community capacity building activities and sector development Better community outcomes through a well resourced Together SA We received responses from (in alphabetical order), Australian Greens (SA), Australian Labor Party (SA), Dignity for the Disabled, Family First, Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division), Powerful Communities and several individual responses. These were returned in varied formats including hard copy, online survey, email and letter, all of which are included in this report. Responses have been encouraging, recognising the value of our sector in prevention and early intervention and the importance of collaborative work that is measureable and outcomes focussed. This report will now be distributed to all community centres, their participants and stakeholders for reference as they meet with candidates. We thank all candidates who responded to the survey and who wished us well as we also wish them well, and look forward to the opportunity of meeting with them in coming weeks and months. Rille Walshe OAM Chairperson 3 Survey: Thriving Communities – How Will You Support Them? Response from Mark Parnell Greens Parliamentary Leader and Candidate for Legislative Council for 2014 State Election Political Party: Australian Greens (SA) Equal and respectful partnerships The Human Services Partnerships Forum is progressing priority areas for the sector through three working groups: Sustainability and Innovation, Government – Non Government Partnerships and Workforce Development including volunteers. Questions Will you support the work currently underway to improve the effectiveness of working relationships, reduce red tape and improve the sustainability of the sector? The Greens support the work of the Human Services partnership forum currently underway to improve the effectiveness of working relationships, reduce red tape and improve the sustainability of the sector at large. We recognise the value and worth of the contribution the sector makes across the community at large. How do and how can equal and respectful partnerships between the government and community centres enhance community and sector capacity? The Greens believe for change to be real, meaningful and sustainable in the long term it needs to reflect community values and aspirations. It is only by actively understanding and reflecting the needs of a local community that any policy can really be effective at a government level and it is only through genuine community consultation and engagement processes that the community can have their needs heard. Government in turn needs to respect the will of local communities and not run roughshod over it, as has happened so often in the past. What do you think are the elements of an equal and respectful partnership between the government and the community and neighbourhood centres sector? The Greens recognise that an equal and respectful partnership between the government and the community and neighbourhood centres sector will rely on open and transparent communication, participatory decision making and a clear recognition of the value the sector plays in the development of strong, vibrant and resilient communities. The Greens policy on community participation reflects this. See http://greens.org.au/policies/community-participation. This acknowledges the inherently valuable 4 contribution that a diverse range of groups and perspectives provides to the political process and the role of ongoing community participation in the making of laws and policy. NGOs and the community sector in particular provide a vital democratic role as advocates and as providers of services and often are at the coalface of dealing with marginalised, disenfranchised and otherwise disadvantaged sectors of the community. The Greens believe community participation in planning and decision making that affects communities should be legally enshrined and be an ongoing process, supported by the provision of sufficient information in plain language to enable meaningful participation in all levels of government. It is essential that government agencies consider the time and money required by community groups to participate in consultation and deliberation processes and for there to be strong Freedom of Information (FoI) Laws in place that exempt community groups from fees for material gained under FOI, alongside effective whistleblower protection legislation to enhance transparency and accountability. How will you approach and develop these partnerships? The Greens have detailed policies on community participation that will redress that imbalance that currently exists between government and the community sector and wish to see community participation developed and strengthened and protected. See http://greens.org.au/policies/community-participation Sustainable resourcing for community capacity building activities Opportunities for people to re-engage in community and improve overall health and wellbeing through social participation and community learning are vitally important and provide significant social and economic benefits for South Australia. People are often in need of a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’ Questions What is your response to: People need meaningful opportunities to contribute to their community? The Greens agree that all people need meaningful opportunities to contribute to their community. We believe in a caring society, one in which people can connect meaningfully with others in their communities. We recognise and support the role of grassroots organisations and volunteers who make such a meaningful contribution to the ongoing development, capacity building and enrichment of their local communities. 5 Social participation