education Archives

Monkami Luncheon – Introducing Alarming Art

Posted on 29 September 2010 by alex

The Monkami Centre is located in Croydon and is a not-for-profit disability services provider for people with intellectual disabilities. The Centre has a strong emphasis on empowering its clients and provides a range of educational, employment and community development activities.

This afternoon I attended a luncheon organised by the Monkami Centre to provide an introduction to their latest project, ‘Alarming Art’. The project includes the transforming of the former Croydon Fire Station into a community art space, featuring artwork from Monkami’s clients and other artists.

Today’s lunch also provided an opportunity for Monkami to discuss their other projects, including volunteer and employment opportunities that exist for their clients. These projects are critical in demonstrating that people with intellectual disabilities can contribute positively to our community and I commend Monkami for its emphasis on developing and enhancing the skills of its clients.

An official launch of Alarming Art is planned for 6.30 pm on Thursday the 14th of October at the former Croydon Fire Station, 14A Croydon Road in Croydon.

Delegates’ Report: Disability Services and Community Partnerships

Posted on 20 September 2010 by alex

On the 3rd of September I had the pleasure of attending the Ringwood Spiders Trophy Presentation Evening, a football team for people with disabilities, which competes in the Football Integration Development Association (FIDA) league comprising of teams across Victoria.

The Trophy Presentation Evening provides an opportunity to reflect on the Spiders achievements throughout the year, including the formation of a second team and the continuation of their Junior Development Squad, which has seen new members over the past season. In addition, the Ringwood Spiders Cheerleader Squad continues to provide an opportunity for people unable to play football to still support and be a part of the team.

The Ringwood Spiders are eagerly awaiting the 2011 Football Season but have a range of activities planned over the summer months, including lawn bowls organised in partnership with the Ringwood Bowls Club. The Ringwood Bowls Club is one of the many organisations that have formed partnerships with the Ringwood Spiders and it was great to see the Trophy Presentation Evening held once again at the Bowls Club.

On the 9th of September I attended the Spring Formal of the Croydon Special Development School. The school specialises in education for people with disabilities while providing connections with the wider community. The Spring Formal demonstrated the strength of the school’s connections to the wider community, with several students from local high schools being partners to participants in the formal.

It was fantastic to see students from local high schools supporting students from the Croydon Special Development School and I commend each of them for their involvement in the Spring Formal.

On the 15th of September I attended the Eastern Volunteer Business Booster Breakfast, a new initiative of Eastern Volunteers designed to create mutually beneficial partnerships between the business and community sectors. The breakfast included the launch of Friends of EV, a new program which will create partnerships between Eastern Volunteers and the business community. It is worth noting that Eastern Volunteers is a stable organisation that has existed for 30 years, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable and positive outcomes for the community.

Lastly, on the 20th of September I participated in the filming of Monkami’s Drama Group, “Hey Hey It’s Monkami”, the fourth production from the Group. Hey Hey It’s Monkami, is the fourth performance of the group and will be performed on Thursday the 28th of September at the Karralyka Centre.

Filming for the Monkami Drama Production – Hey Hey Its Monkami

Posted on 20 September 2010 by alex

Monkami is a not-for-profit disability service provider in Croydon, which provides educational, employment and lifestyle opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Monkami has developed a strong arts based program to encourage confidence and expression with their participants, including the Monkami Drama Group, which is now in its fourth year of productions.

This afternoon I volunteered to be part of the filming for the Monkami Drama Groups, “Hey Hey Its Monkami”, the title and theme of this year’s production. A scene takes place at the Council Chamber and will form part of the production that will be performed at the Karralyka Centre on the 28th of October.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week Initiatives at Marlborough Primary

Posted on 19 August 2010 by alex

NAIDOC week, which is held in the first full week of July each year celebrates Indigenous culture and has a strong educational focus during the week.

This afternoon I was invited to Marlborough Primary School, located in Heathmont, to attend the presentation of awards to two students who celebrated Indigenous culture through art. The students, in grades six and one, were selected from over 112,000 entries and represents the strong interest and respect Marlborough places on Indigenous culture.

As a former student of Marlborough it was great to be back at the school and congratulate these students on their achievements.

Mullum Mullum Cultural Heritage Trail – National Green Jobs Corps Team

Posted on 23 July 2010 by alex

The Mullum Mullum Cultural Heritage Trail is located between Warrandyte Road and Highland Avenue and is part of the Mullum Creek Trail, which provides a remnant bush trail along the Creek, through Ringwood and Croydon.

The Cultural Heritage Trail includes interpretative signage, identifying the remnant bush and the significance the valley had for the Wurunjderi, the first inhabitants of what is now the City of Maroondah. The trail also features carvings of native fauna, as well as garden beds that include some of the native plants used by the Wurundjeri.

Alex speaking with members of the Green Corps Team along the Mullum Mullum Trail

This afternoon I was invited to be part of the launch of the National Green Jobs Corps for the Mullum Mullum Cultural Heritage Trail. The project involves 16 young people, aged between 17 and 24, for a six-month duration. The participants will undertake revegetation and signange works along the trail, between the Mullum Mullum Reserve and upstream to Oban Road.

The project aims to provide both employment and educational pathways for its participants and is a partnership between several organisations including:

Mission Australia,
Maroondah City Council,
Melbourne Water,
Waterwatch Melbourne,
Swinburne TAFE,
Mullum Mullum Creek Bushcare Group,
CRISP Community Nursery
and the Platypus Conservancy.

Alex with participants of the Mullum Green Corps Team

The work undertaken by the participants will deliver significant benefits to the local community and the Mullum Mullum Cultural Heritage Trail, as well as providing valuable employment skills and training in modules from the Certificate II Conservation and Land Management.

It is fantastic to see so many organisations coming together to improve not only the amenity of our natural bush trails but also to provide new skills and opportunities for younger people that have experienced unemployment.

Media Release: Maroondah Interfaith Network gets a funding boost

Posted on 21 July 2010 by alex

Maroondah City Council has welcomed an $8800 Victorian Multicultural Commission grant which will assist the Maroondah Interfaith Network with its leadership training and education programs.

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Alex Makin accepted the grant last Wednesday.

“Since the Maroondah Interfaith Network was established in November 2009 it has grown to include more than 35 leaders from a range of faiths,” Cr Makin said.

“The $8800 grant will assist the network to launch a leadership training program which will target the areas of conflict resolution, project management and media relations,” Cr Makin said.

“Participants will be able to attend training sessions and neighbouring municipal interfaith networks will be encouraged to assist as mentors,” Cr Makin said.

“The funding will also allow the Interfaith Network to be more actively involved in the coordination and participation of events that promote tolerance and celebrate the diversity of faiths in Maroondah like faith-based seminars and conversation cafes,” Cr Makin said.

The Maroondah Interfaith Network aims to bring together diverse faith and cultural groups to promote community harmony, education and awareness of racial and religious diversity. It also hopes to increase understanding of varied faiths and cultures among the wider community.

– ENDS –

2010 NAIDOC Ball and Awards Evening

Posted on 9 July 2010 by alex

NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July and provides an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture and achievements. NAIDOC traces its history back to the 1920s when the first organised groups were formed to advocate for the recognition of Indigenous rights and culture. In the 1950s a committee was formed (then known as NADOC) to oversee a day of remembrance and celebration of Aboriginal culture, later expanding to to cover an entire week in July. In the 1990s the committee became known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) in recognition of the distinct Torres Strait Islander culture.

At the conclusion of NAIDOC week, several NAIDOC Balls are held across Australia, including one in eastern Melbourne. The NAIDOC Ball includes an awards night that provides an opportunity to recognise achievements within Indigenous communities. This evening I attended the 2010 NAIDOC Ball in Croydon, where I was joined by Cr Rob Steane and several Councillors from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, as well as many non for profit organisations, businesses and Indigenous elders.

NAIDOC provides an opportunity to not only celebrate Indigenous culture but also to recognise the many individuals, organisations and businesses that are working to improve health, education and opportunities for Indigenous communities within Melbourne’s eastern region and beyond.

Launch of the Victorian Early Intervention Pilot Program

Posted on 6 July 2010 by alex

The Victorian Early Intervention Pilot Program (VEIPP) is a youth alcohol diversion program, aimed to assist younger people at risk of alcohol abuse.

The program is a pilot project between Victorian Police, Department of Health, Eastern Access Community Health and Turning Point Alcohol and counselling and diversion programs to prevent ongoing criminal convictions.

The City of Maroondah was chosen as the location for the pilot program due to alarming trends that have emerged with teen drinking within the municipality. While these trends are concerning, it is encouraging that the Police and other organisations are taking a proactive role in trying to reverse these trends.

This morning I accompanied Kieran Walshe, Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police and Dr Karleen Edwards, Executive Director, Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division of the Department of Health, in launching the Victorian Early Intervention Pilot Program.

The speech delivered during the proceeds is included within this post:

Continue reading “Launch of the Victorian Early Intervention Pilot Program”

Maroondah Journal: Ready to let games begin

Posted on 15 June 2010 by alex

The Glen Park Sports Pavilion was one of several projects identified through the Glen Park Future Directions Masterplan, which aimed to improve the amenity of the Glen Park Precinct and provide facilities for the Bayswater North community.

Projects within the Masterplan have been completed through a mixture of Local, State and Federal funding and the Maroondah Journal has reported on the recently completed works at the Pavilion,:

Mayor Alex Makin said the new multi-purpose pavilion was home to the East Ringwood Junior Football Club, catering to 200 families of all backgrounds and currently fielding eight teams ranging in ages from under 8s to under 16s. The park is also home to the South Croydon Cricket Club with two senior teams and four junior teams, one of them a female team, using it during the cricket season.

Glen Park is being revitalised into a multi-purpose community hub, complete with new sporting, recreational and educational facilities. This project complements recent works including a Men’s Shed, tennis court upgrades and the soon to be re-opened Glen Park Community Centre. The need for sustainability improvements has been embedded into the pavilion providing both energy and water efficiencies.

Cr Makin said the pavilion would harvest water from the roof to be stored in a water tank for flushing toilets. Solar hot water has also been installed.

Further projects will be delivered shortly at Glen Park, including the completion of the redeveloped Community Centre, which is scheduled for the next weeks and a new play space, which will be completed later this year. These projects have been possible through a partnership approach between all of government, ensuring that the community receives positive outcomes, through new and improved facilities.