Victoria's Action Plan - Strengthening Community Organisations

The Victorian Government has released a 25-point action plan aimed at reducing red tape, building the capacity of sector workforce and strengthening the long term sustainability of community organisations.

The plan is in response to extensive consultation and two reviews commissioned by the Victorian Government – the Stronger Community Organisations Project, led by Professor Alan Fels and the Review of Not for Profit Regulation, led by the State Services Authority.

The action plan will be led by the Minister for Community Development, Peter Batchelor and includes $6.6 million to increase the capacity of the sector by:

– Establishing a new Office for the Community Sector as a focal point across government to enhance working with community organisations for the next three years;
– Setting up a portable long service leave scheme to help the sector retain skilled workers;
– Expanding access to information and support services that help not-for-profits meet challenges such as performance, long-term strategy and capacity development;
– Providing funding for the sector to consider establishing a new representative body for community organisations;
– Funding a feasibility study for a National Academic Centre of Leadership Excellence for the sector; and
– Developing a Community Services Workforce Capability Framework, which will focus on ways Not for Profits can develop the skills and capabilities needed to improve service delivery.

Premier, John Brumby says the Government will seek to ensure that, in its direct dealings with community and NFP organisations, including regulation, contracting, grants and various forms of collaboration and partnership, it acts in ways which are simple, direct, easy to navigate and designed to maximise public benefit and value to the community.

Secondly, the Government says it will assist community organisations to invest in their own capabilities and long term sustainability, by broadening their services and activities, developing new skills and methods and establishing new partnerships, while remaining a diverse and dynamic sector.

In broad terms, the action plan will
– develop partnerships between government and NFPs, and establish a long term agenda for the development of community organisations
– reduce the administrative burden faced by community and not-for-profit organisations
– promote innovation and efficiency in the provision of services
– establish a clear base of information and evidence for future decision-making
– strengthen collaboration and coordination across the Victorian Government, and
– pursue intergovernmental collaboration to enhance the operation of community and non-profit organisations across Australia.

The actions are set out in five themes covering responses to the detailed recommendations of the two reviews and the strengthening of existing government support for the Victorian NFP sector.

The themes are

– reducing the regulatory burden and streamlining interaction with government
– building the capacity of community organisations
– supporting innovation and growth
– enhancing the role of NFPs in local community life, and
– recognising community organisations and coordinating effort across government.

Details of the Victorian Government Action Plan can be downloaded at: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/Web14/dvc/rwpgslib.nsf/GraphicFiles/SCO+Action+Plan+word/$file/SCO+Action+Plan+web+word+version.doc