Community Projects Toolkit

A new toolkit to help build community projects and improve the safety and wellbeing of children has been launched.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, launched a guide to the toolkit at the national conference of Family Relationship Services Australia in Melbourne.

Collins says the toolkit will help more community groups follow in the footsteps of Family Life’s Creating Capable Communities program.

She says groups around Australia will benefit from the use of the toolkit which provides support to families that need some extra help.

The Creating Capable Communities program has been funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs since 2004. This year, it will receive $102,500 from the Government’s Community Investment Program to train volunteers and develop resources.

The toolkit has been produced as part of this partnership.

Key activities provide a focus for coming together, strengthening families and promoting the wellbeing of children.

The five focus areas are:

• A breakfast club for school children, which demonstrates healthy eating and facilitates referral to other services;
• An after-school club, where children can participate in sport, craft activities and get help with their homework;
• Community houses, where playgroups, coffee and chat groups, craft and cooking classes provide a welcoming environment for isolated families;
• A community bubs program, promoting parent-child attachment;
• The Creating Capable Leaders Project, informal training to develop community leadership skills.

The toolkit is available online at www.familylife.com.au