Status: In progress

On this page:

Updates

Responses and Supporting Resources page

We have created a Responses and Supporting Resources page to respond to questions and suggestions provided in the feedback.

Where we can identify information we can provide in response to questions or suggestions, we will include the information on this page. This page will be updated throughout the review of feedback.

Visit the Responses and Resources page

What you said about community needs

You can read the overview of feedback received to the survey.

Go to the survey news update

The project

The City's Community Partnerships Unit have dedicated resources to support the community. The Unit wants to assess if the resources are being allocated in the best way. Knowing what the needs of the community are, in the areas we cover, will help us be responsive, effective and fair.

When we refer to the City or City of Greater Bendigo, it is referring to the organisation. This includes the staff, services, projects, resources, infrastructure, programs etc.

When we refer to Council, this means all the Councillors collectively. A Councillor is an individual member of Council.

The Community Partnerships Units goal

The goal is to work with the community to deliver on the City’s commitment to:

What do the teams in the Community Partnerships Unit do?

Disability Access & Inclusion For example: working with the Disability Inclusion Reference Committee to identify areas for improvement within City policies, services and programs. Community expos such as ‘Be Well, Be Connected’

Cultural Diversity & Inclusion For example: Multicultural Week events, City and community training and education

Indigenous Reconciliation For example: NAIDOC Week events and flag-raising ceremony

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex & Queer Support For example: education and training, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) flag-raising event

Violence Prevention For example: 16 Days of Activism calendar of events

Gender Equity For example: Women in Leadership Network, Gender Equity Action Plan to support the City to be equitable in policies, programs and services, Gender Equity workforce training

Human Rights For example: applying the Social Justice Framework across all the City does



Community Organisation Development For example: support the set up of community groups, network for Neighbourhood Houses

Community Volunteering For example: supporting Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre

Social Infrastructure Planning & Management For example: Heathcote Civic Precinct, Marong Community Hub

Community Leadership For example: support for Committees of Management of City-owned buildings (community halls)

Social Housing – affordability, homelessness, sleeping rough For example: Protocol for Connecting with People Experiencing Homelessness, outlining operational response for City staff

Community Safety For example: the Greater Bendigo Drug and Alcohol forums

Community Grants For example: providing small, medium, essential and festive community grants, as well as the larger Partnering for Impact grants

Children & Youth Empowerment & Leadership For example: Youth Council, YO Bendigo, Youth workshops

Positive Ageing For example: Seniors Week events, Seniors Expo

Community Engagement For example: Let's Talk community engagement

VicHealth Local Partnership Lead For example: the Smoking and Vaping Project, which includes the trial of smoke and vape free locations at a number of public sites

Early Years & Family Events For example: City run early years centres, Funloong Children's event

Intergenerational Programs & Activities For example: Intergenerational Nature Journalling Workshop event

Social Connection For example: CONNECT Greater Bendigo, free low cost events

The project purpose

We know many people in our community need support. The cost of living and housing crisis are putting more pressure on services. Your feedback, current evidence and local expert advice will help us make decisions to address community needs fairly.

The City doesn't provide all services to the community and can't address every need. But there are different roles we can play to help support the community
Your feedback will help us understand where we could focus our efforts. We can’t increase our services, so doing more in one area, will mean doing less in another. We could partner with other organisations to deliver services, or help service providers work together better
Sometimes we can't make decisions or intervene in a particular issue. We could play a role in advocating to State and Federal Governments on behalf of our community. Our role could be to educate community on the issue, raise awareness, and help change behaviours

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Community feedback opens

    September 20, 2024

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Community feedback closes

    October 23, 2024

  • Timeline item 3 - active

    Community feedback reviewed

    October - November 2024

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Community informed of outcome

    December 2024 - January 2025

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about this project, contact us below:

Name Senior Planning and Policy Officer - Community Partnerships
Phone 1300 002 642