investing $2m into our community social mayday pages · mayday appeal 2019 $60,000 raised to...

ISSUE 2 2019

Give Where You Live Foundation is supported by these Platinum Partners:

INVESTING $2M INTO OUR COMMUNITY

GROW REPORTS TO THE REGION

VOICES OF GROW

SOCIAL PAGESSURF COAST TREK

DUFFS DIAMOND GOLF CLASSIC

BTS ADMIN BREAKFAST

GROW REPORT CARD

BIG BREAKFAST

MAYDAY APPEAL 2019

$60,000 RAISED TO SUPPORT OUR

COMMUNITY

FEED GEELONG

RAISING FUNDS THIS OCTOBER

givewhereyoulive.com.au

ISSUE 2 2019

Keep up to date with the Give Where You Live Foundation:


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STAY IN TOUCH

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

I’m excited to announce two new Innovation Grants; Good Cycles and Bethany Community Services, both of which you can read about further into the magazine.

These grants are just part of our larger investment of over $2 million into our community which also includes the important work we undertake in the GROW initiative (G21 Region Opportunities for Work), Feed Geelong and our Direct Assistance Voucher Program. Together our grants and programs will work across our region to improve the equity and equality of all people within our community.

The start of the new financial year is always an exciting time. It’s a chance to implement new ideas and strategies and of course work with those organisations who have received one of our grants, providing support as they deliver their programs. We have some exciting changes that we are working towards and look forward to sharing these with you as they come to fruition throughout the year.

This month we also welcome our 54th intake of Loaned Executives. This iconic program supports our Workplace Giving program – the backbone of our fundraising strategy. I urge all workplaces across our region to get on board with Workplace Giving. Contact us today to arrange a presentation from a Loaned Executive and we’re here to help if you need some assistance getting the program started in your workplace.

I’d like to thank our corporate partners for supporting the Foundation for another year, led by our Platinum Partners AWA Alliance Bank, Fagg’s Mitre 10, Ford Australia and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

Finally, I look forward to working with you over the coming year and updating you on the progress of our work and that of our community partners.

Disadvantage is everyone’s business – make it your business and help make an impact!

Welcome to our 2019 community impact issue of GMag.

This is always an exciting time of year, as we celebrate the work your donations have allowed us to complete over the last twelve months and the work the Foundation will support in the forthcoming year.

We are proud to announce that the Foundation will invest over $2 million into our community this year, including grants of $1.3 million to over 60 community organisations.

FRONT COVERThere are hundreds of vulnerable people in our community who currently identify as homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.

From couch surfing with family and friends to sleeping rough in cars, according to the 2016 Census, there are approximately 883 people in the G21 Region who identify as homeless (ABS 2016).

The causes of homelessness are varied; domestic violence, a shortage of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse may all contribute to homelessness in the region.

Through the Give Where You Live Foundation’s Survive and Thrive grants, we aim to address this issue and support those who may not have such a basic need. This year our grants are being delivered by Lazarus Community Centre, Samaritan House Geelong and Uniting. See the full listing of our grants on pages 3-7.

Investing in our community 3

2019 Give Where You Live Foundation Grants – Live & Learn Grants 3 – Live & Earn Grants 4 – Survive & Thrive Grants 6 – Innovation Grants 6

GROW Reports to the Region 8

Q&A – with Melissa Ligonis 9

Partner Spotlight 10

BIG Program partners 11

Workplace Giver in the Spotlight: – Belinda Hotchin, Gforce Employment Solutions 11

Upcoming Events 12

Loaned Executive Program 13

MAYDAY Appeal 13

Events Social Pages 14

Playing their Part 16

Feed Geelong Appeal 16

Bill MithenChief Executive Officer, Give Where You Live Foundation

Our work focuses on important areas including education, employment and life crisis and makes sure that those who are most vulnerable in our region receive the support and help they require, ensuring they thrive like the rest of the region.

The Give Where You Live Foundation not only awards grants to address these issues, but runs our own initiatives and programs such as the GROW initiative, our own Direct Assistance Voucher Program and Feed Geelong.

The Foundation is proud to announce our latest grant allocations under the Live and Learn, Live and Earn and Survive and Thrive Program areas as well as our Innovation Grants as outlined over the following pages.

THANK YOU TO COMMUNITY GRANTS REVIEW PANEL

The Foundation is extremely proud of its strategic and transparent grants allocation process.

This year over 130 members of our community have come together to read and review over 100 grant applications. This is an enormous amount of work and dedication but one that is extremely important to us. We thank sincerely every one of our Grant Review Panellists for their assistance in this process.

Research confirms that ensuring access to and supporting students through education is a pathway out of disadvantage. The education level of a person is an important predictor of future employment, welfare and health outcomes as well as improving a person’s ability to participate socially and economically within the community.

Education is of paramount importance to the Foundation and a major focus of our work. Our Live and Learn grants focus on the learning aspirations of all children across our community and supports programs working with parent engagement, early years learning, successful transitions throughout education and disengaged young people.

The following Live and Learn Grants were awarded in the Community Grant round, June 2019:

ARDOCH YOUTH FOUNDATION, $18,750

To improve early literacy skills, develop oral language and social skills, build confidence and support the school readiness of children aged 4-6 years in disadvantaged Geelong communities through the Early Language and Literacy program.

BLUEBIRD FOUNDATION, $30,000

To improve long-term educational outcomes for children aged up to 5 years in the 3214 postcode through arts-based parent and child groups.

COTTAGE BY THE SEA, $25,610

To support young people aged 11-14 years from Corio and Norlane through their transition from primary to secondary school through the Recreation, Education, Environment, Friendship program.

EDCONNECT AUSTRALIA, $29,700

To improve the education outcomes of disadvantaged students (primary and secondary) through mobilising an army of Learning Support Volunteers to provide academic support, and Mentoring Volunteers to provide social and emotional support within the school environment.

MACKILLOP FAMILY SERVICES, $30,000

To break the correlation for youth, between disadvantage and living in Out of Home Care, and to stop the intergenerational cycle of issues such as low education standards, poverty and poor life outcomes through piloting Therapeutic Life Story work.

OPERATION NEWSTART VICTORIA, $30,000

To facilitate early intervention for disengaged youth aged 14 to 17 years, through the support of a specialist youth worker to work with these young people who are not attending school on a regular basis.

SKYLINE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA, $23,000

To strengthen educational and social engagement and assist the transition through VCE to tertiary education or a career of choice, for gifted and academically talented young people aged 16-18 years from socially and financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER THEATRE COMPANY, $30,000

To re-engage at risk young people aged 12-19 years in learning through Nobody’s Fool Theatre.

THE SONG ROOM, $20,000

To support Whittington Primary School students aged 5-12 years to engage with school and learning to improve social and emotional wellbeing through participation in Arts Learning program.

Thanks to your donations, the Foundation is thrilled to announce our investment of $2 million into our community, including $1.3 million in grants, for programs to be implemented over the coming year.

If you or your work team would like to get involved in future reviews please contact our grants team:

[email protected] 03 5229 4364

LIVE & LEARN GRANTS

INVESTING $2 MILLION

INTO OUR COMMUNITY

2 givewhereyoulive.com.au 3

Evidence clearly illustrates that one of the most effective ways to reduce persistent and entrenched disadvantage in a community is to reduce joblessness, specifically, long-term joblessness.

The evidence suggests that not only do jobs need to be generated in disadvantaged communities, but they must also be actively linked to long-term jobseekers, who, in turn, require support to ensure that the employment opportunity provides them with the maximum life benefit.

The Foundation’s work in employment includes, implementing and being the major funder of the GROW initiative and providing grants under our Live and Learn program that supports employment pathways and transitions and overcoming barriers once in employment for vulnerable populations including those living with a disability, youth, the long term unemployed and those from refugee/asylum seeker backgrounds.

The following Live and Earn Grants were awarded in the Community Grant round and the Foundation’s Pitch Up Geelong event in June 2019.

CLANN, $22,900

To support those who have been out of the labour market, particularly women, to become home-based carers, while creating a healthier environment for children who are in informal care through the Family Care program and online platform.

COLAC OTWAY DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION, $7,500

To support people with disabilities to learn and develop employability skills with an intended pathway to supported employment and / or independent volunteering by upgrading accessibility at The Leap Shop.

ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SERVICES, $10,000

To develop practical, social and employability skills of people living with a disability by improving access (particularly for people in wheelchairs or with mobility restrictions) by expanding the current nursery at Encompass’ 7-acre farm, The Paddock.

THE AVIARY CAFÉ, $27,433

To provide confidence, skills and work experience to assist people from Norlane to find employment through a workplace training program at the Aviary Café, a social enterprise of Norlane Community Initiatives.

A COLLABORATION OF AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS, NATIONAL DISABILITY COORDINATION OFFICER PROGRAM AND TICKET TO WORK NETWORK, $30,000

To strengthen educational, employment and social participation of young aged 15-19 years living with disability and experiencing disadvantage through the support and delivery of the Passport 2 Employment Program.

THE PADDOCK, $27,500

To increase the employability, social and practical skills of people with a disability through a long-term transitional program at The Paddock, a social enterprise of Encompass Community Services.

The Foundation understands the impact a life crisis can have on the lives of individuals and families and their ability to thrive within their community.

The work the Foundation undertakes in this area focuses around supporting basic needs (such as hunger and homelessness), building resilience through the prevention and early intervention efforts related to family violence and sexual assault, addiction, mental health, and family breakdown; as well as promoting community connections through tackling social isolation and supporting social participation.

The following Survive and Thrive Grants were awarded in the Feed Geelong and Community Connections Grant rounds in October 2018 (Community Connections grants are proudly supported by AWA Alliance Bank) and our Community Grant round, June 2019.

BACK TO BACK THEATRE, $10,000

To promote community connections for people with disabilities through the delivery of arts workshops and performances which assist these people to reach their full potential and challenge societal attitudes towards disability.

BARWON CHILD, YOUTH & FAMILY, $30,000

To reduce family conflict, a risk factor of and precursor to family violence; by strengthening family relationships and reducing financial stress through increasing families’ financial knowledge, literacy, management, skills and resilience through the Strengthening Family Connections Plus program.

BELLARINE COMMUNITY HEALTH, $9,900

To reduce social isolation and increase health outcomes among older people in Portarlington through piloting a Volunteer Social Visiting program.

BLUEBIRD FOUNDATION, $10,000

To support social participation of disadvantaged young people, by providing supported pathways into creative arts workshops that align with their personal artistic interests and passions.

BELLARINE LIVING AND LEARNING CENTRE, $28,500

To increase the food security and provide improved health education to Whittington residents through FoodConnect, a program to develop enhanced food literacy and food preparation skills.

BELLARINE LIVING AND LEARNING CENTRE, $1,998

To support participants at the Whittington Centre to prepare nutritious and wholesome meals through cooking classes, meal preparation and access to appropriate food through the Centre’s Foodbank program.

BRAVEHEARTS FOUNDATION, $10,000

To educate, empower and protect children from sexual assault through the preventative education program Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure show for kindergarten and junior primary school children.

CHRIST CHURCH COMMUNITY MEALS PROGRAM, $4,160

To improve the health of some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community by providing consistent access to milk through the Breakfast program.

COMMUNITY HUB, $10,000

To promote the social and economic participation of disadvantaged young people aged 16-20 years through the L2P program which assists learner drivers to gain driving experience and acquire mandatory driving hours required to obtain their probationary licence.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTORIA, $30,000

To support prevention and early intervention efforts related to family violence by building the capacity of Family Violence Regional Integration Committees to better understand and utilise data for decision making and practice.

DRYSDALE FAMILY SUPPORT, $30,000

To provide food security for those on the Bellarine Peninsula who do not have access to appropriate and nutritious food through support of the Foodbank.

EAT UP AUSTRALIA, $1,000

To support vulnerable children to take advantage of learning opportunities and succeed in education by ensuring that they have access to nutritionally adequate lunches while at school.

FOUNDATION 61, $30,000

To build the resilience of Geelong men facing life-controlling issues such as addiction, through residential care and rehabilitation.


To build confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem and resilience for socially disadvantaged and isolated women who have been affected by life controlling issues by developing relationships and supporting opportunities for engagement in social and recreational activities.


To support the socially disadvantaged in Whittington to develop relationships, build confidence and self-esteem as they share nutritious weekly meals in a non-threatening environment.

GEELONG FOOD RELIEF CENTRE, $30,000

To fight food insecurity in the G21 region by providing adequate fresh, nutritious and relevant food to vulnerable individuals and families in need.

GEELONG FOOD RELIEF CENTRE, $4,980

To support improved access to nutritious food, particularly pre-prepared frozen meals, by increasing the capacity of the Centre to store meals in a new freezer at the Smythe Street/CBD mini-mart.

GEELONG HIGH SCHOOL, $5,000

To improve the well-being, attendance, behaviour and academic outcomes at Geelong High School through the implementation of a breakfast program for students experiencing food insecurity.

GEELONG MUMS, $4,880

To reduce social isolation of vulnerable families by providing car restraints and prams to facilitate their mobility so that they can access the library, travel on local transport (with a pram), attend doctors’ appointments, take siblings to school and more.

LAZARUS COMMUNITY CENTRE, $1,000

To ensure access to regular, fresh, high quality, nutritious meals and improve community connections by providing community meals in a shared setting.

LAZARUS COMMUNITY CENTRE, $12,000

To provide a welcoming place which provides activities, food and cleaning facilities for those who are experiencing homelessness or isolation within the community.

LIVE & EARN GRANTS SURVIVE & THRIVE GRANTS

Developing employability, practical and social skills at The Paddock

54 givewhereyoulive.com.au

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

Do you remember the first time you applied for a job? How long it took to find that great opportunity in the newspaper or online and then to piece together your resume and cover letter? Then how nervous you felt in your interview, worried about jumbling up your words and a shaky voice?

Now imagine how it must feel to have only learnt how to speak English, understanding some but not all of the words used by the people around you and to have only settled in a new country a couple of years ago.

Thanks to your donations, Diversitat received an Innovation grant of $175,000 for the New Futures Program. Aiming to bring together people with diverse refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, this program provides them with training in understanding the Australian workplace, volunteering opportunities to practice their English and ultimately the skills needed to find and obtain a job.

Recently, the first group graduated from the program and came together to share their experiences. One of these participants is Mukhles.

“When I arrived to Australia three years ago, it was the first two weeks that was very hard as a new arrival. At that time, we were the first Arabic and Syrian families in Geelong. The settlement program was not familiar with people from these different nationalities. Because every community has different needs so you have to deal with it differently.

With this program I learnt new skills, I have got a job interview and was able to practice my interview with the group first so that made me more confident and I now have a job at Diversitat as customer administrator.”

The Foundation is pleased to announce our two new Innovation Grants awarded in 2019:

GOOD CYCLES, $175,000 OVER THREE YEARS

The Good Cycles Innovation grant aims to engage vulnerable young people in our community and help transition them into and employment pathway. Bikes are the vehicle used. Participating young people learn practical skills through building bikes and working in a community bike store located in Centrepoint Arcade, Geelong. The store specialises in second-hand bike sales, servicing and cycling accessories.

A Give Where You Live Foundation Innovation Grant of $175,000 will support Good Cycles (a social enterprise who use their commercial revenue to deliver their programs and provide immediate employment opportunities) to scale up their Transitional Employment Model in Geelong.

BETHANY COMMUNITY SUPPORT, $149,474 OVER TWO YEARS

The cycle of prisoners re-offending is routinely accompanied and made more difficult by the disadvantage-offending-disadvantage cycle. In Victoria, 50% of prisoners come from 6% of the state’s most disadvantaged postcodes; including our local 3214 postcode (Vinson, Rawsthorne, Beavis & Ericson, 2015).

There is also strong representation amongst this population of low education levels, chronic health conditions, family violence, drug and alcohol overuse as well as mental health and intellectual disability.

Unfortunately, little to no ex-prisoner-specific coordinated support is available at present which is contributing to high levels of re-incarceration. This population experiences discrimination and marginalisation from services and the broader community which undeniably impacts on their capacity to seek help and successfully rebuild their lives.

A Give Where You Live Foundation Innovation Grant of $149,474 will allow Bethany Community Support to develop a model of reintegration support for released prisoners within the Corio-Norlane community and break the cycle of reoffending. The development of this model will be facilitated through a co-design process with project partners include Deakin University and the Department of Justice.

MEET OUR 2019 INNOVATION GRANT ADVISORY GROUP

Following a shortlisting process all Innovation Grant applicants must make a presentation to our Innovation Grant Advisory Group which is made up of experts and knowledge leaders in the philanthropic and community services sectors. This panel reviews our Innovation Grant applications and makes recommendations for funding in this grant round to the Give Where You Live Foundation Board.

Thanks to our 2019 Innovation Grant Advisory Group for volunteering and sharing their expertise, pictured here: Col Duthie, Austin Paterson, Sarah Davies, Bill Mithen, Liza Whitmore, Cynthia Scherer and Lesley Lightfoot.

The Foundation’s Innovation Grants are aimed to support community/charitable organisations to develop creative and innovate solutions to problems and needs it sees in the community.

These grants not only support innovative (new or improved ways) to create change but ways that go to the root causes of the problem, often challenging the very ways our current systems work. Each year, the Foundation provides multi-year grants up to $175,000 to a small number of organisations to test or scale up solutions and ideas.

INNOVATION GRANTSLIFE EDUCATION GEELONG, $5,000 To empower children and young people to make safer and healthier choices through the Drug and Health Education program delivered at partner schools.

LEISURE NETWORKS ASSOCIATION, $30,000 To decrease gender inequality (a key driver of family violence) by changing culture, behaviours and power imbalances by piloting strategies to build stronger, respectful and gender equal relationships between men and women in sporting clubs through engaging more women and girls in decision making roles.

NORLANE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, $30,000 To address issues of food security, health and well-being and employment and education through the delivery of five everyday small-scale food initiatives within walking distances of people’s homes in Norlane.

NORLANE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, $2,500

To overcome barriers to food insecurity for Norlane residents, including the cost of food, transport issues and lack of food preparation skills through support of the ‘Longroom Café’, an affordable and nutritional volunteer staffed community café open five days per week.

OCEAN MIND, $30,000

To decrease the effects of mental health issues and social isolation for young people aged 8-18 years by harnessing the therapeutic benefits of surfing and mentoring.

ONECARE GEELONG, $30,000

To support individuals and families who are experiencing multiple aspects of disadvantage by fostering meaningful relationships and building resilience through the C.O.A.C.H. Mentoring program.

ONECARE GEELONG, $10,000 To address the effects of isolation and social disadvantage by connecting volunteer mentors with families and individuals seeking change through the C.O.A.C.H. Community Mentoring program.

ONECARE GEELONG, $1,000 To ensure the provision of nutritious, culturally appropriate and diverse foods to the participants in the Community Meal and English Around the Table Meal programs.

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED-BARWON CENTRE, $5,000 To support social participation for disabled young people through therapeutic horse-riding activities.

ROSEWALL NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, $9,500

To reduce social isolation for people from multi-cultural backgrounds, who have disabilities, young people and seniors through the provision of a community-based pottery program.

SAMARITAN HOUSE GEELONG, $30,000 To help break the cycle of homelessness amongst men aged over 18 years by supporting the provision of crisis accommodation and on-going support for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

SAMARITAN HOUSE GEELONG, $1,000 To support homeless men to thrive mentally and physically by providing access to nutritious and sustaining shared evening meal.

SIROVILLA, $10,000 To reduce social isolation and build resilience in older people aged 55 years and over through a pilot program that uses positive psychology as a tool to support older people in responding to the challenges they face.

THE POWER IN YOU (COMMUNITY VERACITY), $30,000

To build resilience for up to 40 participants, who are affected by mental health and life controlling addictions.

THE SANCTUARY COUNSELLING CENTRE, $30,000 To build resilience for those experiencing a life challenging illness or bereavement (and their carers) to prevent mental health issues, family breakdown and education disengagement.

THE STROKE ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA, $9,360 To reduce isolation, improve emotional wellbeing and support the long-term needs of stroke survivors and their careers through social, emotional and community engagement activities that support recovery after a stroke.

UNITING (VICTORIA AND TASMANIA), $30,000 To find homes for those who are homeless and assist people at risk of homelessness to maintain their accommodation by advocating for and providing specialist expertise to those in most in need.

UNITING (VICTORIA AND TASMANIA), $10,000 To increase the social participation of people experiencing disadvantage living in the Norlane community by offering a welcoming place where they can engage with other community members and learn skills to build their independence and resilience by developing a hub for services at the Dorothy Thompson Centre.

UNITING (VICTORIA AND TASMANIA), $3,381 To support access to nutritious and healthy food to those that are food insecure by purchasing nutritious and culturally appropriate food for various emergency food programs. The grant will also assist with the upgrade of the washing and preparation area for fresh fruit and vegetables in the food room at Grovedale.

WELLWAYS AUSTRALIA, $10,000 To reduce social isolation of disadvantaged LGBTIQA+ community members by connecting them with LGBTIQA+ peer volunteers through piloting The Stepping Out project.

WESLEY CHURCH GEELONG, $3,500 To allow vulnerable people seeking asylum, or who have only temporary protection in Australia, to access culturally appropriate fresh food on a regular basis during periods of no income, limited income or financial difficulty.

WESTERN EDGE YOUTH ARTS, $10,000 To promote social inclusion for young people from refugee backgrounds in North Geelong through a youth theatre project which develops connections between cultural communities, challenges prejudice and promotes greater diversity.

3216 CONNECT, $1,000

To provide food assistance along with counselling assistance, to single parents, women fleeing domestic violence, homeless persons, refugees and others facing economic hardship in the 3216 postcode.

Read the full story: givewhereyoulive.com.au


GROW REPORTS TO THE REGION

Q. Can you tell us about your role at the Foundation?

A: As Partnerships Manager, my role consists of managing the Workplace Giving program and its accompanying 54 year old Loaned Executive program. I also work closely with our corporate partners including those contributing to our BIG program and of course our Tiered Corporate Partners, working alongside a wonderful team in the Marketing and Fundraising department at the Foundation.

Q. What are you currently working on?

A: I’m ecstatic that the Loaned Executive Program for 2019 has begun with 27 amazing individuals from a diverse range of businesses across Geelong. All have taken up the common goal of wanting to make a difference and knowing you don’t have to give a lot, a lot of people just need to give a little.

Q. What do you enjoy about your role?

A: Having a background in Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, what I enjoy the most is going to work every day, doing a job you love and knowing you are making a difference for people who need it the most.

Q. What do you feel is so unique about Geelong?

A: I am astounded by the amount of not only corporate social responsibility in Geelong, but compassion and the need to help in all communities around Geelong. Living here for three years now, I can see the clear distinction that Geelong has an amazing sense of pride to all come together for the greater good.

Q&A MELISSA LIGONIS,

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Over

$85,000 was raised for the

Give Where You Live Foundation’s

End of Financial Year Appeal

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR APPEAL 2019Thank you to everyone who generously donated to the Foundation’s End of Financial Year Appeal. Over $85,000 was raised.

Addressing place-based disadvantage in our region through inclusive economic growth.

The GROW initiative is tackling barriers to sustainable and sustaining employment by bringing together business, government and community working to change everyday business practices, driving inclusive growth in the G21 region and targeting jobs for people from Norlane, Corio, Whittington and parts of Colac.

At the third annual report to the region (attended by local business representatives, GROW Compact Signatories and representatives from all levels of government), Bill Mithen, Give Where You Live Foundation CEO reported the following highlights:

The impact of GROW comes from over 100 organisations who have committed to embedding the principles of GROW into their day to day business practices.

We welcome new Compact Signatories: Accessible Tourism & Recreation Guides,

AWA Alliance Bank, CPB Contractors, Geelong Sustainability Group, Good Cycles, Hamilton Group, Hanlon Industries, Harvest Talent Recruitment and People Solutions, Jacobs and South Western Alliance.

During a recent review of the start-up phase of GROW, key partners and GROW Compact Signatories shared their stories of change. Change that has occurred within their business or regionally, through their involvement with, and commitment to, GROW. Following are some brief extracts from some of these stories:

“I think (GROW) has shown incredible leadership from Geelong. Incredible thought leadership to challenge the way government’s fund or support economic growth.

How they can now look at social impact as a genuine part of the economic narrative and how people can make small changes potentially to their hiring practices, their procurement practices, to achieve long-term and positive change in people’s lives from a place-based area.”

- Jennifer Cromarty, Committee for Geelong

“Historically, our organisation has faced a recruitment challenge on a yearly basis to source unskilled labourers.

“GROW has opened our eyes from a narrow focus of how we were achieving this to being able to look at things differently. The training for managers about disability and job carving has proven we can achieve business outcomes. Workers are motivated and happy.”

- Cameron Shepherd, AusPits

“Our GROW Compact Action Plan has created internal awareness. It is reported to Senior Management and actions are reviewed annually. To date we have achieved all our action items; which is a great achievement. Some of the actions were quite simple but some of them are quite challenging.

“We have learnt that simple awareness and education does make a difference, so we encourage anyone who is new to this space to make an effort.”

- Jim Ryan, Barwon Water

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

286

247 jobs and 39 employment pathways created by Compact Signatories since 2016 60 jobs and 12 employment pathways created in 2016 75 jobs and 7 employment pathways created in 2017 112 jobs and 20 employment pathways created in 2018

COMPACT SIGNATORIES

11057 organisations signed the GROW Compact by May 2017

+25 by May 2018

+28 by May 2019

COMPACT ACTION PLANS

72

1,211 planned actions in total

713 actions completed or in-progress 23% undertaking employment and workplace change actions 30% undertaking actions as buyers and suppliers in the region 48% taking action as enablers and leaders

MOBILISING FUNDING

$780k

$30,000 received from Helen McPherson Smith Trust for Colac GROW Our Own project

$750,000 received from Victorian State Government, matching Give Where You Live Foundation funds until 2022 for GROW backbone activity

To read the full Report Card visit: grow.g21.com.au

AusPits’ Breakwater site

VOICES OF GROW

WELCOME TO NEW GROW

COMPACT SIGNATORIES

BOARD FAREWELLS

The Give Where You Live Foundation bids farewell to long standing Board Member Justin Hartnett as he retires from our Board following nine years of continued volunteer service.

During his tenure Justin has assisted with the iconic decision to disassociate with United Way and form the organisation we now know as the Give Where You Live Foundation, the Foundation’s first Strategic Plans and the Theory of Change. Justin has also served on our Audit and Risk Committee.

We sincerely thank Justin for his work and dedication to the Geelong community and wish him all the very best.

The Foundation also bids farewell to Bronwyn Charleson following two years of volunteer service.

Bronwyn has been an extremely valuable member of the Board and her contribution will be missed.

Barwon Water trainees, 2018


With over 15 years as part of the Gforce Employment Solutions team, Belinda Hotchin, HR Officer, is also a long time, generous donor to the Give Where You Live Foundation. As a Workplace Giving contributor, Belinda donates a regular, tax-deductible amount from each pay to the Foundation that supports our programs and grants.

“It’s such an easy and nice thing to be involved in. By signing up all those years ago, I give back to my community and don’t even miss the deduction from my pay as it’s the same amount as a coffee a week.

“I definitely feel that my donations, along with the accumulation of Workplace Giving contributions from others, truly makes a difference to those most in need.” For Belinda, it’s also important that her workplace supports this initiative.

“One of the great things about Gforce Employment Solutions is that there is a conscious community focus. It feels good to be part of a workplace that gives back – gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling.”

WORKPLACE GIVER IN THE

SPOTLIGHT BELINDA HOTCHIN

GFORCE EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS

The Give Where You Live Foundation’s BIG Program offers small to medium businesses the opportunity to support the community in which it operates by setting up a manageable monthly donation.

As a business owner, you decide on a manageable monthly donation.

With a minimum donation of $50 per month, please join other local businesses in thinking BIG and sign up today!

WELCOME TO NEW BIG PROGRAM PARTNERS

From compliance to helping with the recruitment process, Strawberry Seed Consulting is a HR consultancy that specialises in supporting small businesses.

“Having personally been involved with the Foundation in the past, I am excited to be able to provide ongoing support through the BIG Partner Program with Strawberry Seed Consulting. Most of our team live in the region and we are all looking forward to further supporting our local community.”

Carli Saw, Director

strawberryseed.com.au | 4216 5200

Car Detailing Geelong is a local family owned business who aim to deliver the best service possible in the industry.

“Our donation, combined with the support of other Geelong donors, ensures we can make a change and benefit to the community, where it is most needed. We feel privileged to be involved in this strong Foundation for Geelong.”

Tania Goss, Secretary General

cardetailinggeelong.com.au 0409 562 452

For further information or to join the BIG program please contact Melissa Ligonis:


If you’d like to become a Workplace Giver please contact your payroll and get started.

If your organisation would like to be part of the Give Where You Live Foundation’s Workplace Giving program please contact Melissa Ligonis:

[email protected] | 03 5229 4364Strawberry Seed Consulting’s Director Carli Saw

Brad and Tania Goss from Car Detailing Geelong

The Give Where You Live Foundation receives support from a number of local businesses including our Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Tiered Partners and our GROW Compact Signatories.

We welcome the following Tiered Partners led by our Platinum Partners AWA Alliance Bank, Fagg’s Mitre 10, Ford Australia, and Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

FAGG’S MITRE 10

Fagg’s Mitre 10 is a stalwart of the Foundation’s Tiered Partners. The whole team across all stores are involved in supporting the Foundation from a corporate donation, staff Workplace Giving and fundraising and participation in the annual Loaned Executive team.

faggs.com.au | 03 5221 2899

INCITEC PIVOT

Incitec Pivot have been a Tiered Partner of the Foundation for the past couple of years with the staff also supporting through Workplace Giving and participation in the Loaned Executive Program.

incitecpivot.com.au

McHARRY’S BUSLINES

Long time supporters of the Foundation the team at McHarry’s Buslines have been responsible for safely transporting participants of our regular Seeing is Believing tours around town. The team also support the Foundation through a corporate donation and Workplace Giving.

mcharrys.com.au | 03 5223 2111

NOVOTEL GEELONG

A Gold Donor of the Foundation the team at the Novotel Geelong are dedicated to supporting the community in which they live and work.

The team are pictured here hosting one of their many fundraising activities they hold to support the Foundation.

novotelgeelong.com.au 03 5223 1377

To learn more about our Tiered Partners and how your business can get involved, please visit givewhereyoulive.com.au or contact Melissa Ligonis:


THINKING BIG WITH SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESSES

DONATE NOW You can support the Give Where You Live Foundation with a once off donation or sign up to the Committed Giving program with a monthly manageable donation.

July 2019

PLATINUM PARTNERS

SILVER DONORS

BRONZE DONORS & MARKETING MATERIAL SPONSOR

GOLD DONORS


Thank you to our wonderful donors for supporting families in our region most in need, raising in excess of $60,000 during the 2019 MAYDAY Appeal.

Special thanks to the organising committee of Auction @ the Mill, raising in excess of $40,000, the local team at Metricon Homes for donating $500 for every home sold throughout May, resulting in a donation of $15,000, and the team at bay 93.9 for their support throughout May and for the ‘must attend’ event the bay 93.9 Trivia Night and all of local businesses who participated in Footy Colour morning tea.

Your donations will ensure that the Foundation continues to support programs and services working to alleviate disadvantage and increase social participation for those most vulnerable in our community.

FEED GEELONG PROGRESSIVE DINNERTHURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2019 VARIOUS EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF AGENCIESJoin us for a special evening as we learn of the hunger crisis facing our community and raise valuable funds to assist; as we make our way around some of the region’s emergency food relief agencies and experience a dinner you won’t forget.

Tickets $110 per person Register online: givewhereyoulive.com.au

Please note this is an alcohol-free Feed Geelong dinner. Tickets are limited.

UPCOMING EVENTS

E&S GOLF CLASSICMONDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2019. CURLEWIS GOLF CLUBGather your friends and work colleagues for a golfing day of fun followed by a gourmet buffet luncheon hosted by Ian Cover, featuring entertainment, live and silent auctions and our famous Wall of Wine.

Don’t miss out on this terrific opportunity!

2 Player Platinum Sponsorship: $1,750 4 Player Platinum Sponsorship: $2,250

Register online: givewhereyoulive.com.au or phone the events team: 03 5229 4364

With thanks to:

THE LARAPINTA CHALLENGETHURSDAY 28 MAY 2020 THE LARAPINTA TRAIL, NORTHERN TERRITORY Expressions of interest are now open.

Join us on a 5 day trek experience of a lifetime! This fully guided trek, heading out of Alice Springs will take us along some of Australia’s most spectacular bushwalking trails, along the ridgelines of the West MacDonnell Ranges, taking in some of the region’s most iconic landmarks including Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge.

The trek is rated ‘moderate’ and after your day’s adventure you can unwind and relax with a chef cooked meal camping under the desert starts in eco campsites while raising valuable funds for your community.

If you are interested in joining the Give Where You Live Foundation on this amazing adventure OR are interested in sponsoring this event, please let us know:

Email: [email protected] or phone Sheridan Salmon or Kirsty Whitehead: 03 5229 4364

Incitec Pivot 2019 Loaned Executives Luke and Jennie

SCHEDULE IN YOUR WORKPLACE GIVING VISIT NOWEach year the Loaned Executive team play a pivotal role in the success of the Foundation’s Workplace Giving Program, which is the backbone of our fundraising.

Throughout August and September, our Loaned Executives will be visiting Geelong workplaces, providing information on the Foundation’s impact and encouraging employees to sign up to Workplace Giving or increase their donations to the Foundation, supporting the most vulnerable people in our community.

Presentations will take approximately 10 minutes and our Loaned Executive participants are happy to visit your team at a time that suits your organisation.

A perfect opportunity for your employees to hear how their donations are making a difference, and learn about the wonderful projects happening in our region to assist people facing the effects of disadvantage.

To schedule a visit to your workplace or for further information, please contact Melissa Ligonis, Partnerships Manager:


Thank you to our Loaned Executive program supporters:

FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES: $60,000 RAISED TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

Bill Mithen, Give Where You Live Foundation CEO with Simon Taylor, Metricon Regional West Manager

Thanks to the bay 93.9 team for raising in excess of $6,500 at the annual MAYDAY Trivia Night

Patrick Rowan & Associates take part in the Footy Colours Morning Tea

Guests were in for a treat with plenty of bargains on offer at Auction @ the Mill

Photographer credit: Latonia Crockett


DUFFS JEWELLERS DIAMOND GOLF CLASSIC

Held at Curlewis Golf Club, the Duffs Jewellers Diamond Golf Classic saw over 70 women

competing to take home Duffs Jewellers diamonds. It was a day of fun and fundraising with the day raising in excess of $18,000. Special thanks to Naming Rights Sponsor Duffs Jewellers, Gold

Sponsor Peter Toyne’s Clubhouse Golf and Putting Competition Sponsor Waurn Ponds Hotel.

EVENTS SOCIAL PAGES

Samantha Baensch and Leanne Harvey

Leonie McLure and Glen Gault

Lou Stepins and Lisa Jones

Prue Ploughman, Gabrielle Nagle and Christine Edge

GROW REPORT CARD Held at Baptcare Coasthaven, the annual GROW Report to Region event brought together over 80 guests including local business and representatives of all levels of government. This event showcased GROW’s collective progress over the last year of their wins, challenges and future opportunities.

EVENTS SOCIAL PAGES

Anne O’Brien and Lenny Jenner

Kim Sinnott and Freya Fidge

Rob Thompson and Manu Bandara

Sean Moran, David Maddock, Steve Jackson and Paul Brennan

Laura Arnold, Kristina Nikolovskz and Ebony Rochow

Zina and Tanya Yakimov

Lucy Brown and Sharon Collier

Danni Synot, Mark Bieser and Christina Di Martino

SURF COAST TREKAn amazing experience for over 900 trekkers as they took on the challenge of walking 40km from Aireys Inlet, crossing the finish line at Torquay for the 2019 Surf Coast Trek. The Trek raised in excess of $256,000 for the Give Where You Live Foundation and event partner Kids Plus.

Ben, Joff and Bill Mithen

Paul Ryan & Mat Steenvoorden

Paul Heenan and Sarah Foley

Brianna Barr, Nicola Herry, Jayne Brumby and Geraldine Mitchell

Rebecca Clancy and Fabian Gargano

BIG BREAKFASTWonderful to have so many local small businesses

come together for the annual BIG Program Breakfast held at the Geelong Library & Heritage

Centre. Huge thanks to Les Watson from Get More Time for providing the tools on how

to manage your time, your business and your corporate social responsibility.

BTS BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS BREAKFASTHeld at The Pier Geelong, the annual BTS Business Administrative Professionals Breakfast saw over 350 people coming together to enjoy breakfast with special guest speaker Kirstie Clements, raising in excess of $35,000. Special thanks to Naming Rights Sponsor BTS - Business Technology Specialists, The Pier Geelong and Duffs Jewellers.

Chloe Greenwood and Pip Phongpagdi

Cr Anthony Aitken, Bruce Francis and Stan Corner

Samantha Krajina and Kirsty Cassidy

Carmel Bertuna, Kelly Langdon and Mel Staines

Elaine Carbines, Richard Marles MP, Christine Couzens MP and Bill Mithen

14 givewhereyoulive.com.au 15


[email protected] 5229 4364

18 Myers Street | Geelong VIC 3220

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Give Where You Live Foundation is supported by these Platinum Partners:

PLAYING THEIR PART…We love it when local businesses come up with some great ideas to help raise money to support their community – every bit truly makes a difference!

MARNGONEET AND KARREENGA CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

Huge thanks to the prisoner group at the Marngoneet and Karreenga Correctional Centres for their donation of $500 through their community movie fundraisers.

GEELONG CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Thanks to the parents, children and educators at Geelong’s Children Centre for donating $315 from their annual Winter Solstice celebration in June. What an evening to get together over a warm campfire!

MH CAR AND BIKE CLUB INC.

The Foundation was thrilled to be the recipient of a $1,500 donation from the MH Car and Bike Club in April.

This club has been running in Geelong since 2015 and was established to provide a single club for owners of bikes and cars over 25 years old.

LUNCHBOX LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP SERIES

This monthly lunchtime series aims to support leaders - aspiring, emerging and established – who are looking to enrich their toolkits with fresh ideas, practical resources and evidence-based approaches.

With hosts and presenters providing their time, effort and experience at no cost, an amazing donation of $4,300 was made to the Foundation in May.

Did you know that at estimated 711,883 meals are provides annually by the Geelong food assistance system? That’s the equivalent of 2,000 meals a day! (Food for Thought

Report, 2018).

Feed Geelong exists to help address Geelong’s growing food insecurity crisis, helping to raise awareness of the issue on our doorstep and provide essential funding to assist those organisations working within the Geelong Emergency Food Relief System.

BROWN PAPER BAG DAY WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2019

Join sponsor Goop Digital on World Food Day by getting the team together and donate what you you’d normally spend on your lunch and help those who otherwise might not have lunch today.

To register your organisation: [email protected] 03 5229 4364

FEED GEELONG PROGRESSIVE DINNER THURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2019

Join us on a special evening as we learn of the hunger crisis facing our community and raise valuable funds to assist; as we make our way around some of the region’s emergency food relief agencies and experience a dinner you won’t forget.

Tickets $110 per person: feedgeelong.org.au

Please note this is an alcohol-free Feed Geelong dinner. Tickets are limited.

DONATE NOW

Please visit feedgeelong.org.au for further information and to donate anytime. Feed Geelong donations can also be made at:

18 Myers Street, Geelong VIC 3220

FEED GEELONG

APPEALThis October we need your help to FEED Geelong!

Throughout October we ask you to make a special donation or get involved with one of the Feed Geelong activities throughout the month.

investing $2m into our community social mayday pages · mayday appeal 2019 $60,000 raised to...

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