Posts related to 'participation'

Glen Park Community Centre - Celebration for the cafe

Published by Alex Makin on Friday 17th of October, 2008

Glen Park Community Centre, based in Bayswater North, has been operating a volunteer run cafe to encourage community participation and development. The cafe provides a welcoming atmosphere and volunteer opportunities, particularly for people with disabilities or people who are socially isolated or experience mental illnesses.

While community houses receive State Government funding to assist in delivering courses and training, community development work does not receive this assistance. As a result there is a shortfall in funding that is jeopardising the future of the cafe.

The cafe was able to operate until mid October and today Glen Park organised a public meeting so that members of the Glen Park community could speak about their personal experience with the cafe and the benefits that this community meeting place provides.

In true Glen Park spirit today’s meeting was not to commiserate the closure of the cafe but to celebrate the opportunities it has provided.

Glen Park is seeking a combination of Local, State, Federal and community funding to enusre that its vital community development activities can continue. For further information on Glen Park please visit www.glenparkcc.com.au.

Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 15th of October, 2008

This afternoon I met with a representative of Learning and Reconciliation Maroondah to sign the Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation. The document reinforces my commitment to working towards an inclusive society that provides opportunities for all all people, including indigenous Australians.

Learning and Reconciliation Maroondah is one of two local groups that aim to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. Like Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation, Learning and Reconciliation Maroondah aims to to educate the community about the need for reconciliation and to raise awareness of Indigenous cultures and communities.

A copy of the statement and covering letter is available within this post.

(Read more…)

Glen Park Community Centre Financial Briefing

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 1st of October, 2008

Glen Park Community Centre, based in Bayswater North, near the boundary with the City of Knox, differs from most other community houses through its strong emphasis on community development alongside the many courses it runs. The centre provides a community facility and meeting hub within one of the lower socio-economic areas within Maroondah and is a key community meeting point for local residents within Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges.

Glen Park’s welcoming and friendly atmosphere is due in part to its cafe, which is staffed and managed by volunteers. This friendly atmosphere has been known as the ’spirit of Glen Park’ and reflects the centre’s emphasis in welcoming people with disabilities, as well as communities that are socially isolated.

While community house courses receive State Government funding, community development does not receive similar assistance, despite it having positive benefits through ensuring socially connected communities and providing support networks.

As a result, there is a current financial shortfall which may force Glen Park to close its cafe and reduce a part-time community development position that is provided by the community house. To address this situation, Glen Park Community Centre held an information briefing this evening to identify potential sources of funding.

It was encouraging to see the meeting being attended by Maroondah Councillors, as well as representatives from State and Federal Government and the Department of Planning and Community Development. Glen Park provides a critical service to the Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges community and it is essential that its community development emphasis continues.

Maroondah must assist Glen Park Community Centre in finding a sustainable basis for its community development activities and I offer my support as a local Councillor to assist in achieving this objective.

There is a particular need for Knox Council to take an interest in the community house and provide funding assistance. Almost half of the participants are Knox residents and community facilities such as Glen Park, should not be restricted by arbitrary council boundaries.

All levels of government, including local councils that benefit from such facilities, must work together to encourage social inclusion and civic participation. It would be a shame to diminish the ’spirit of Glen Park’ due to a lack of suitable funding.

For more information on Glen Park Community Centre please visit www.glenparkcc.com.au

Media Release: Ringwood Athletics Track ready for new season

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 10th of September, 2008

Little Athletics is a uniquely Australian sport for children from 5 to 16 years. As the name suggests, it is based upon the sport of athletics (track and field) and offers a wide range of events from running, jumping, throwing and walking, each modified to suit the age and ability of the children.

Maroondah has two athletic centres: at Town Park on the corner of Norton and Mt Dandenong Roads in Croydon; and the AC Robertson Track, Sylvia Grove, Ringwood.

“The Little Athletics season commences on Saturday 4 October at 8.30am, and families new to Little Athletics are welcome to come along to either centre and discover the benefits of participation. Registration will still be available on this day,” said Cr Makin.

The registration date for the Ringwood Little Athletic Track and Field Season is Saturday 20 September between 9.30am and 11am at the AC Robertson Athletics Track, Sylvia Grove, Ringwood.

For more information on Little Athletics in Maroondah, contact Carolyn Scott, Croydon Little Athletics Centre on 9733 4352 or Kathryn Moss, Ringwood Little Athletics Centre on 9879 5461.

Media Release: Maroondah’s immunisation team working with Royal Children’s Hospital

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 6th of August, 2008

Maroondah City Council’s Immunisation team is working with the Royal Children’s Hospital to establish HealthNuts, a research study on food allergy and children.

Councillor Alex Makin said HealthNuts is being run by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“The HealthNuts project team are working with Maroondah’s immunisation team to recruit participants for the study via selected immunisation sessions over the coming weeks,” said Cr Makin.

“With the incidence of food allergy rising, the project aims to measure how many people are affected by food allergies, why the number is increasing and which children are at greatest risk,” said Cr Makin.

“The HealthNuts team will be at a number of Maroondah immunisation sessions where they will provide information on the research project and invite parents of children under one year of age to participate, initially with an assessment of their allergy status,” said Cr Makin.

Participation is voluntary and will take approximately 20 minutes during the post-immunisation waiting period. Parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire relating to their own and their child’s diet and lifestyle, and their child will be required to have a skin prick test.

A positive skin prick test does not automatically mean your child has an allergy, however all children with a positive skin prick test will be invited to attend The Royal Children’s Hospital allergy clinic for further testing.

Participation in the study is voluntary and parents can withdraw at any stage of the study without any reduction in care from the participating organisations.

For more information on Council’s immunisation service contact Maroondah City Council on 1300 882 233.