Minister's Praise for Delivery of Community Infrastructure

The Minister for infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, has praised local councils for delivery of the Regional and Local Infrastructure Program funded under the Federal Government's two Stimulus packages. The Minister said the 5,000 projects were 'an incredible example of efficiency and have been extremely well received.'

Speaking at a Council of Capital City Lord Mayors' Summit at Parliament House yesterday, Mr Albanese said that the relationship between Federal and local government had changed substantially under the Rudd Government with the Australian Council of Local Government firmly on the agenda of mayors and substantial funding for nation-building projects for road, rail and port infrastructure. He said the Federal Government for projects had three criteria: productivity, sustainability and livability.

Mr Albanese confirmed the Major Cities Unit was continuing to develop a national urban policy which is due for release by the end of the year. COAG's capital cities' agenda requires that state governments need to ensure that their capital city strategic plans are finalised by 2010. Mr Albanese stressed that this was 'not an attempt by the national government to take over planning.' However, he said, there was a role for the national government to achieve a Commonwealth perspective on Australian cities.

The Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran, also addressed the Summit. Mr Moran said that the Commonwealth Government was strongly engaged with local government and particularly acknowledged the constructive role played by the Australian Local Government Association. He said the Federal Government was committed to developing strategic and coordinated and integrated plans for our cities but was critical of the general quality of major infrastructure proposals put forward by state governments and how they failed to integrate with urban planning.

Mr Moran said the COAG Reform Council was reviewing the planning strategies and that membership of an expert advisory panel to assist the council would be announced shortly. The aim of the COAG planning agenda was to achieve 'best practice planning systems oriented to meet future challenges' to ensure better coordination between all levels of government in the areas of infrastructure, land use and transport.

The NGA is only two weeks away

Be sure to register for the National General Assembly (NGA) coming up on 14-17 June, if you haven't already done so. It promises to be a huge event. We have an impressive line-up of political speakers including the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, the Leader of the Nationals Warren Truss and the Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Bob Brown and are still awaiting a formal response from the Prime Minister. We will also hear from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese, the Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten.

An exciting and insightful component of the NGA will be a keynote presentation by respected journalist and presenter Kerry O'Brien, followed by an election panel of leading journalists who will provide their view of how the election will play out.

Comedian and commentator Wendy Harmer will facilitate an exciting discussion on Women in Politics, which includes an impressive panel of current and former MPs and Ministers.

There is plenty of time for debate on motions. Following the success of last year's composite motions process, the same format will be followed in relation to the 126 motions received this year. The themes for this year's NGA - Population, Participation and Productivity - have been used as the principal drivers for the Government's Intergenerational Reports and key projections about the macro-economic and policy settings for Australia's future. Delegates will examine the strategies and look at solutions to address these issues at local level. In an election year, local government is in an ideal situation to play a role in influencing policy platforms.

The anticipated arrival of US President Barrack Obama has already meant accommodation is at a premium and becoming scarce, so take advantage of ALGA's block bookings and fill out a registration form online

The NGA Business Papers are now available here.

Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists

Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists are a vital component of Australia's Defence Force. Major General Greg Melick is Australia's senior Defence Reservist and he oversees the organisation that liaises between Defence, Reservists and their civilian employers. He tells us about how Reservists can make a difference to business and how his people can work with employers for mutually beneficial outcomes.

1. Why are Defence Reservists such an important part of Australia's military?

Currently there are several hundred Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists deployed on operational service in Australia and overseas. These Reserve members come from the Australian community and most have civilian jobs or are in business. They contribute real capability to the Australian Defence Force. Let me give you an example. The ADF contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands consists overwhelmingly of Army Reserve members, including the Commander of the 100-strong contingent. The current high operational tempo of the ADF could not be maintained if it were not for the efforts and contributions of the Reserve. It has been estimated that the Reserve currently contributes about 10% of the ADF capability.

2. How do you help civilian employers of Reservists when their staff members are required for Defence service? Are there any incentives for employers to help Defence?

We help civilian employers in a number of deliberate ways. One of these is through the Employer Support Payment Scheme (ESPS) which was introduced by the Government in 2001. ESPS can provide them with the Australian average weekly earnings for the period an employee is serving, after a short qualifying period. Medical specialists can receive significantly higher payments.

3. Do employers have to release their staff for Defence service?

Technically the answer is "Yes". The Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001, makes it a criminal offence to hinder Reserve service. However, although the Act has been law now for eight years, it has never been used. We seek resolution of any disputes with employers through discussion and always apply a 'reality test' to these sensitive situations. I think the fact the Act exists is a testimony to the importance the Australian Government places on Reserve service. The compensating fact that it has never been used is evidence of our ability to successfully resolve release issues through discussion.

4. Do you arrange any activities to help employers understand what Reservists do in the Defence Force and the types of skills they gain and develop during Defence service?

Yes we do. Committees of the Defence Reserves Support Council comprising Defence and employer members operate in each capital city and many regions. Their role is to work with industries and employers to build an informed and healthy relationship through social contact and information sessions. These committees work with Defence personnel to arrange "Executive Stretch" exercises where local employers experience for themselves the service training their Reserve employees receive. As another example, our national office arranges "Exercise Boss Lift" where we take employers to where their employees are serving to see what these Reservists actually do while in uniform. Recent Exercise Boss Lifts have involved taking groups of 20 or more employers to locations such as Malaysia and the Solomon Islands.

5. What types of skills do Reservists bring to civilian workplaces and how can these help improve a business' bottom line?

On a recent Boss Lift to the Solomon Islands a group of CEOs discussed this very issue. They concluded that Reserve service by their employees provided their companies with a personnel development program so good "money could not buy it" and this directly improves their business bottom-line. Can we make it better? Yes. Currently we are working to improve the way Reserve training is recognised in the civilian qualification environment.

6. How can local councils play a role in assisting Reservists?

Local Councils are encouraged to have a clear HR policy for employee participation in the Defence Force Reserves with provision for defence leave, acknowledging that Reserve training enhances job performance as well as contributing to national security. Councils can contact our DRS State offices for more information and help on how to develop your own leave policy.

For more information on Defence Reserves Support click here or phone 1800 803485.

CCCLM are wrong on local government input into city planning

The challenges that face Australia's major urban areas are important - not just for the 75% of Australians who live in our 17 largest cities - but for all Australians. That's why ALGA has long called for a national urban policy to complement regional approaches. ALGA therefore welcomes the interest in this matter of the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) who yesterday released their national urban policy.

We agree with much of their submission. They rightly identify the two key challenges facing Australia's major cities as climate change and a growing and ageing population. Their call for a new Major Cities Program and better integration of planning for land use, settlement and climate adaptation is also consistent with ALGA's approach. Identifying the need for action in areas such as population planning, strategic planning, improved transport, infrastructure, broadband, urban water issues, affordable housing, active transport (including cycleways) and social inclusion is beyond reproach. These are issues which face all councils throughout metropolitan areas, and indeed many other councils as well. ALGA has been championing these issues with the Australian Government and state governments through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and various ministerial councils for a number of years.

However, where we differ from the CCCLM view is on its proposed tripartite governance structure for a new Major Cities Program, comprising the Federal Government through the Local Government Minister, the state and territory governments through Premiers and Chief Ministers and local government through Lord Mayors. We certainly agree that it is important that local government should be formally included in future governance arrangements, but we believe that representation should fully reflect the interests all councils in metropolitan areas - not just the capital city councils.

The CCCLM proposed governance model is as na?ve as it is arrogant. No capital city council covers the entire metropolitan footprint of their respective city. The closest is the City of Brisbane, but even that mammoth council is only 54% of the greater Brisbane metropolitan area. The City of Brisbane is certainly a very important stakeholder in developing the local government view of the future planning of Brisbane, but it is not the only one.

The contrast is even starker with the other capital cities. The City of Sydney covers only 4% of Sydney's population, the City of Melbourne 2%, the City of Adelaide 2% and the City of Perth is less than 1%. The idea that the parochial interests of the capital city Grand Poobahs with their tiny constituencies (the City of Brisbane aside) should be afforded precedence above the interests of all other metropolitan councils is, frankly, exasperating and insulting. Indeed, the very idea brings Paul Keating's observation of 'unrepresentative swill' to life.

To demonstrate the fundamental failings of the CCCLM model, take Melbourne as an example. Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle sees fit to describe those from outside inner city Melbourne as 'bogans'. It's hard to see how such bogan councils could ever hope to have their say with him representing their interests. Indeed, Melbourne doesn't even belong to its state association (the only council in Victoria which doesn't) which gives a sense of how it views collaboration with the broader local government sector. To be fair, this isn't typical of all capital cities and, for example, Brisbane - despite its far greater size and significance - takes a very different approach in engaging closely and enthusiastically with its neighbouring South East Queensland councils.

However, effective city planning in the future demands a collaborative approach at least across all metropolitan councils, and ideally also with an opportunity for input from other councils in the rest of a state as well. If anything, the most crucial councils in future city planning are those representing middle suburbia and outer growth corridors because it is how well transport infrastructure and planning are handled in these areas which will have the greatest bearing on future livability in our cities. Such input is best achieved through existing state association structures which include all councils rather than through the tiny fiefdom at the centre.

The need to ensure that local government continues to play a central role in planning at the local level is something ALGA and state associations continue to push very strongly in ministerial councils, often to the discomfort of Federal and State ministers. Our objective in this has not been to hinder reform in areas such as housing supply, but rather to highlight two things: the importance of maintaining community engagement in planning decisions and the fallacy of suggesting that curtailing local government planning processes will somehow solve housing supply issues.

I look forward to the Australian Government's continued interest in urban issues. However, it's vital that local government contributes to future city planning through representative structures that allow the involvement of all affected councils, not just the ivory towers in which our capital city Lord Mayors inhabit.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

Rates increase for councils

Council rates are set to soar by more than $200 for some Victorian homeowners this year, writes Evonne Barry in the Herald-Sun on 22 May. Skyrocketing residential property prices have delivered one of the biggest shake-ups to council budgets in a decade.

The result will be largely unpredictable hits on the hip-pockets of ratepayers across Victoria. Some are bracing for increases of up to 10 per cent. While the average inner-city resident can expect their council rates bill to actually fall this year, Melton home owners are among those who will suffer a rise. The average home owner in Melton must pay an extra $216.

Overall, rates increases will be as high as 9.95 per cent. Castlemaine resident Ken Boal, who lives in the Mount Alexander Shire, where rates will jump by 8.5 per cent, is among those who are fed up.

"We have seen it go from reasonable rates to the ridiculous," said Mr Boal, 77, who has lived in the region for more than six decades. We are really peeved about the way the council is performing, so why should we have to pay more?"

Councils have defended the increases, saying they are under greater pressure to provide extra community services. Municipal Association of Victoria president, Bill McArthur, claims that the State Government was using councils as "a collection agency". Cr McArthur said it was a myth that the soaring property market equated to a windfall for councils, because their budgets were set regardless of property prices.

According to Melton Resident, Grant Pender, the State Government's land levy is part of the problem. "It's like they suck you in with the home-buyers' grant, and then take it back via the councils," he said.

Of all the councils surveyed, Stonnington residents pay the least amount in rates per dollar value of their property - just 0.0011 cents. This compares with 0.3343 in Mount Alexander. Stonnington, like many metropolitan councils, does not rely as heavily on rates for income because of higher levels of parking revenue.

Roads to Recovery program extension?

The Australian Local Government Association has commissioned a study into the state of local roads across Australia as part of its efforts to have the Roads to Recovery program extended beyond 2014. The ALGA has engaged consultancy, Jeff Roorda and Associates, to undertake the study.

ALGA President, Geoff Lake, says the findings of the research will be used to put a business case to the Federal Government to extend Roads to Recovery. Cr Lake says solid data on the deficiencies of the local road network is needed to reinforce the case for extending the program and a sample of councils will be approached for information.

The number of councils that will be involved in the study and the time-frame of the research are still being determined by the ALGA. However, the association does expect to report the findings to its annual Roads and Transport Congress in October this year.

News of the push to extend Roads to Recovery follows a recommendation to the Federal Government that it needs to strengthen the governance framework of the national local road funding program.

The Australian National Audit Office made the recommendation after conducting an audit of the program that found many councils had taken advantage of it to cut back on their own road spending.

The audit focused on aspects of the program which involved the allocation of $1.537 billion to councils between July 2005 and June 2009. It found a "significant number" of councils did not maintain their expenditure in one or more of those years and some councils failed to maintain spending in any year.

The audit said a fundamental principle of the Roads to Recovery Program was that funding provided to councils was to be additional to their existing road funding.

Councils fear cost of heritage shift

Heritage is the next battle looming between local councils and the State Government in Tasmania, according to Philippa Duncan in the last Sunday Tasmanian. Local councils, recently robbed of water and sewerage revenue, fear that the State Government's planned shake-up of heritage laws will be another move which will reduce their financial viability.

The Government plans to hand councils the responsibility for thousands of heritage-listed houses, judged to be of "local" significance. The Tasmanian Heritage Council, which manages the Tasmanian Heritage Register of more than 5,400 properties, would only keep properties of "state significance", such as St David's Cathedral.

The proposed changes in the State Government's draft Heritage Bill are part of a national push to streamline planning and could result in owners of listed houses only needing heritage approval to do external works. Heritage council chairman Michael Lynch estimates that one in five of the properties on Tasmania's heritage list would become the responsibility of local councils.

He said that would create huge workloads for smaller councils, such as the Southern Midlands and Tasman councils, which have a large number of heritage-listed properties. "Local councils are saying, quite rightly, you can't just lump this responsibility on us without giving us the skills and resources to deal with this," he said. "It's not only an impost on local government if you don't provide those resources, we run the risk of losing a substantial amount of our heritage."

There is already a backlog of more than 2,000 properties nominated for heritage listing waiting for assessment by the Tasmanian Heritage Council, another task that could be passed to local councils.

Local Government Association chief executive, Allan Garcia, said that councils could not pick up the cost of the heritage reforms. "We do need to protect our heritage but the critical issue is resources," he said. "It's a massive example of cost shifting."

The National Compact

The National Compact is a starting point towards a stronger, more productive relationship between the Australian Government and the Third Sector. The Compact outlines shared aspirations and goals, including that we will "communicate openly with each other" and "support networks and mechanisms that strengthen our ability to work together."

The Australian Tax Office is taking steps to share information that may help organisations from across the Sector by providing free updates on key tax issues affecting the NFP sector.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website has a section dedicated to Non-Profit Organisations. This Section includes:

• Message from the Commissioner - processing and refunds
• Tax concession charities - answers to frequently asked questions
• Non-Profit News Service - subscribe to free updates on key tax issues affecting the non-profit sector
• Non-Profit administrators - information and services to assist you in your role

Please visit www.ato.gov.au/nonprofit/ to read more or sign up for the free updates.

Increasing Indigenous home ownership

The Australian Government has released a discussion paper on increasing home ownership by Indigenous Australians. The Government is determined to increase opportunities for home ownership for those Indigenous people who aspire to owning their own home.

Indigenous home ownership has increased from around 19 per cent in 1991 to 36 per cent in 2006. However, Indigenous Australians are still only half as likely to own their own home as non-Indigenous Australians, and are over-represented in social housing. Around 29 per cent of Indigenous people are renting social or community housing, compared to around 5 per cent of non-Indigenous people.

The discussion paper provides the community with an opportunity to provide information about how to increase home ownership for Indigenous Australians. Representatives from all levels of governments, peak bodies and non-government organisations will be invited to provide information.

Since 2007-08, the Australian Government's Home Ownership Program has assisted more than 800 families buy a home mainly in urban and regional areas. In remote Australia, the Government is vigorously pursuing land tenure reforms to facilitate tenancy reforms in social housing and to provide for expanded home ownership opportunities.

In the Northern Territory, the implementation of two township leases has enabled loans to be issued under the Home Ownership on Indigenous Land program, with demand growing. Under the National Affordable Housing Agreement, the Government is committed to reducing Indigenous disadvantage by improving access by Indigenous Australians to mainstream housing, including home ownership.

Jenny Macklin, MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, encourages the community to provide information to this discussion paper, and help deliver more home ownership opportunities for Indigenous Australians. For more information on the discussion paper and to provide submissions please click here.

Test drive for 2011 Census

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, is encouraging residents in selected parts of Australia to play a vital role in helping get Australia's population count right by taking part in a test run for the 2011 Census.

"With population now firmly on the national agenda, the Census of Population and Housing is more important than ever," the Assistant Treasurer said. "It provides comprehensive data about the number of people in Australia, their key characteristics and where they live."

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will conduct the rehearsal between 31 May and 2 July 2010 and the test run will include a sample of 20,000 dwellings and several remote and Indigenous communities.

2011 Census Rehearsal Areas and Dates:

New South Wales - 15 June 2010

• Marrickville
• Blacktown
• Kingsford
• Dubbo

South Australia - 15 June 2010

• Port Augusta
• Salisbury

Western Australia and South Australia - 31 May - 2 July 2010

Several remote Indigenous communities in:

• The Pilbara
• East Kimberley
• Central Desert
• Port Augusta

Note: These communities will be told approximately when the count will occur in their area prior to 31 May.

Also, it is important to remember that representatives from the ABS will be available to talk with councils on a range of ABS surveys and projects at the forthcoming NGA 2010.

Citizenship Test, Resources and New Citizenship Course

The Australian Government commissioned the Australian Citizenship Test Review Committee (the Review Committee) in April 2008 to consider the operation of the citizenship test and whether there were ways to improve its effectiveness as a pathway to citizenship. It found that vulnerable and disadvantaged people should not be excluded from becoming citizens because of the citizenship test.

A number of changes to citizenship testing have been, or are soon to be introduced, in order to ensure that everyone who wishes to become an Australian citizen is given a fair opportunity to do so. Additional study resources will soon be made available to assist clients in preparing to sit the citizenship test, including an audio-visual DVD presentation and translations of the citizenship test resource book in 37 languages.

The Review Committee also recommended the introduction of a citizenship education program to provide an alternative pathway to citizenship. A new Australian citizenship course, Our Common Bond: A Course in Australian Citizenship, will be introduced from 31 May 2010 as an alternative citizenship test for particularly disadvantaged or vulnerable applicants. The course addresses community concerns that the citizenship test presents a barrier to citizenship, particularly for individuals with low levels of English literacy.

As with the computer-based citizenship test, all course participants will be required to demonstrate that they have a basic knowledge of the English language. Participants will also have to successfully complete a number of competency-based assessment tasks during the course to demonstrate that they have an adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

Information about citizenship course requirements, availability and eligibility will be made available online at: www.citizenship.gov.au in the near future. This range of preparatory resources and alternative pathways for vulnerable or disadvantaged clients caters for the differing learning needs, literacy skills, life experiences and personal circumstances of clients.

Good governance - vital to democracy

South Australia's Local Government Association has welcomed the South Australian Ombudsman's recent reports indicating the Charles Sturt Council had taken responsible steps in consulting the community and had made no administrative errors in relation to the St Clair land issue.

LGA President Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis said Councils in SA worked hard to deliver excellence in governance which was not always appreciated or understood by communities.

"However this is no reason for us to be complacent and community expectations in this area continue to rise," she said. The LGA is conducting a seminar for Council governance officers in Adelaide this week.

Mayor Lewis said Councils play an important role in the Australian political system and manage more than $14 billion worth of community infrastructure in SA and services worth about $1.4 billion a year.

"Local Democracy is vital for communities to have a say in how their neighbourhoods are run and to ensure their views are heard by other governments and excellence in Local Government occurs when it is underpinned by integrity, accountability and openness," Mayor Lewis said.

Sessions at the seminar include:

• Constitutional Recognition - implications for governance
• Current and future governance issues
• Standards of good public administration
• Assessing good governance
• Council member allowances
• Local Government elections and accountability
• Inducting a new Council post election

"The importance of this seminar to Council staff is underscored by the fact that every available place is taken," Mayor Lewis said. "We take governance issues very seriously."

Acclaimed author Nick Earls hit Logan

Internationally published author Nick Earls was the guest speaker for Logan Libraries Australian Book Week celebrations last Friday night.

More than 100 people attended the event, at Fitzy's Tavern, Loganholme which proved to be a very entertaining evening. Nick kept the audience enthralled as he told hilarious tales about the trials and triumphs of becoming a published, and of course well recognised author.

Nick Earls is the author of 13 books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses, Perfect Skin and World of Chickens.

Cow power

Dairy farmers could soon find themselves in the computer business, with the cow manure powering computer data centres. According to Ashlee Vance, in the Financial Review 20 May, the idea plays on two trends: the building of computing centres in more rural places, and dairy farmers' efforts to deal with cattle waste by turning it into fuel.

Hewlett-Packard engineers suggested in a research paper that farmers could rent out land and power to technology companies and recoup an investment in the waste-to-fuel systems within two years. The average cow makes enough manure per day to power a 100 watt light bulb. Companies need to build their computing centres near large cities, but it has become hard to find enough cheap electricity and real estate. The rise of higher speed data transfer networks, however, has enabled companies to move away from highly populated areas. Google and Amazon.com and Microsoft have been trying to find places with enough electricity and plenty of land.

Dairy farmers want to deal with the enormous quantities of smelly cow waste, and turning it into "bio-gas" could be a possibility - to make bio-gas, the farmer must buy equipment that runs the manure through an anaerobic digestion process, which results in a large quantity of methane that can be used as a natural gas or diesel replacement.

Parking fine quotas

The Local Government and Shires Associations have rejected today's allegations that NSW councils impose parking fine quotas on their parking enforcement officers. President of the Local Government Association, Cr Genia McCaffery, said that claims of quotas can usually be traced back to a misunderstanding of council's financial reporting requirements.

"Councils are required to provide budget income expectations for the coming financial year as part of sound and transparent financial planning," she said. "This doesn't mean officers are tasked with meeting those forecasts - generally councils are just complying with financial reporting requirements."

Cr McCaffery also said that if people are not parking illegally, they can't be fined. A review ordered in 2007 and conducted under the then Minister for Local Government backed up Local Government claims. "That review was prompted by a similar trial by media, and it did not find any evidence that councils use parking enforcement primarily as a revenue-raising tool," she said. "It also noted that Parking fines are set by the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW, a state authority, not individual councils."

Cr McCaffery maintained that parking fines are for the well-being of the entire community. "Public safety is the number one concern for councils, but we also have to consider managing traffic and making sure everyone gets proper access to the available parking.

"Councils issue parking fines for those reasons - they're not to make money, they're intended as deterrents and have to be high enough to discourage illegal parking. Councils work with their traffic committees to take into account the needs of the whole community when planning their parking policies - from local residents, to businesses and customers to bus and taxi operators and tourists. Community consultation plays a crucial role in the traffic committee process and members of the public have the opportunity to address traffic committee meetings."

ALGWA breakfast

To celebrate the 2010 Year of Women in Local Government, the Australian Local Government Women's Association Inc (ALGWA) is teaming up with the Heart Foundation this year to host a women's breakfast, featuring Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Maxine McKew, and Dr Gillian McFeat Lin, President of the National Heart Foundation, ACT.

The breakfast is on Tuesday 15^th June at 7.15, concluding at 8.30. It will be at the Fitzroy Room, National Convention Centre, 27-31 Constitution Avenue, Canberra. Cost per person is $50. A cooked breakfast will be served. ALGA delegates, members and friends are invited to join the ALGWA National Executive for this networking breakfast.

Many Australian women remain unaware of the heart disease risk they face. Only 20 per cent of women are aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. It is a common misconception that heart disease is a male problem, with women tending to dismiss their symptoms. But heart disease should not be underestimated and there are many things women can do to reduce the risk, such as improving diet, doing exercise, stopping smoking and also getting a health check with a GP to assess blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk.

To raise awareness, the Heart Foundation launched the Go Red for Women (GRFW) campaign in 2006. Those who attend the breakfast are invited to wear red as a symbol of their awareness of this campaign.

Register for the breakfast at www.algwa.net.au

Encouraging strong families, leadership and volunteering

Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has announced a $19.6 million investment in our local communities. The Rudd Government is providing $19.6 million for more than 220 community projects across Australia to encourage strong families, leadership and volunteering.

These projects provide on the ground, practical help for people facing social and personal challenges and also help strengthen communities through locally developed initiatives. The Community Investment Program projects have a strong focus on supporting vulnerable children and families, and building cohesive and strong communities.

Local organisations deliver each project in response to community needs, such as early intervention parenting support, support for volunteering and mentoring and camps for young people. The Government values the enormous contribution these organisations make to local communities.

By working with organisations with local knowledge and links we can help build strong communities. For example, in Adelaide, South Australia, Hackham West Community Centre will receive about $120,000 to run a project that improves parenting and relationship skills and helps vulnerable families become self-reliant. Activities include a range of parenting and educational courses, women's support groups and community reference group activities.

A number of projects include a strong focus on supporting vulnerable children and families. For example, in Bathurst, New South Wales, Shine for Kids will receive more than $105,000 to provide educational support for children and young people with an imprisoned parent or relative, to help break the cycle of crime, particularly in Indigenous families.

This project, Breaking the Cycle - Supporting Children and Young People, provides support for homework, writing, reading and researching projects on the internet, as well as a peer mentoring program to provide positive role models and alternatives for children with an imprisoned parent, and assistance for inmate parents to work with their children's carer to keep their children safe. A full list of the projects is available here.

Recycled phones to help plant 30,000 trees

Australians are being urged to recycle their old and broken mobile phones to help protect some of the Nation's most endangered species and contribute to rehabilitating two of Australia's agricultural heartlands - the Murray River and West Australia's central-eastern wheat-belt.

MobileMuster has again partnered with Landcare Australia to run its 'Old Phones, More Trees' campaign. For every kilogram of mobiles sent in for recycling between 1 May and World Environment Day on 5 June 2010, a tree will be planted at one of four key project sites including Far Northern Queensland, along the Murray River and WA.

'Old Phones, More Trees' will run from 1 May until World Environment Day on 5 June 2010.

All mobile phones collected by MobileMuster during this period will count towards supplying trees for the Myola Basin (Far North Queensland), Lower Lakes and Barmah-Millewa Forest (The Murray River) and the Wallatin and O'Brien catchments (West Australia).

Recycling an old mobile phone is free and easy, simple:

1. Drop them off at your mobile phone retailer/local collection point - to find out where go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070
2. Post them in by picking up a free MobileMuster recycling satchel from Australia Post
3. Post them in by printing off a reply paid mailing label from www.mobilemuster.com.au

Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards 2010

Do you know of a program that has reduced crime and violence in your area? Are you involved in a project that works towards a safer community?

Nominations for the 2010 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Awards, recognising programs to reduce crime and violence in Australia, are now open. Last year 30 projects from around Australia received awards of up to $15,000 in support of their efforts.

Programs of all sizes that help to reduce crime and violence against children, women, men, Indigenous people or ethnic communities, are encouraged to nominate.

National winners will be flown to Canberra for the awards presentation at Parliament House. For more information on how to nominate visit www.aic.gov.au, email acvpa@aic.gov.au or call 02 6260 9216.

Nominations close on 16 June 2010

2010 ACVPA, GPO Box 2944, Canberra ACT 2601
A joint Australian, State and Territory government initiative