June Issue
Welcome to the latest issue of the Greater Whitsunday Communities E-Newsletter.
Greater Whitsunday Communities acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live, and work and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
In 2020 Mackay Regional Council for Social Development Ltd embarked on a revisioning process, that saw the emergence of Greater Whitsunday Communities. This transformation not only resulted in a new name, but also a new look and governance structure for the organisation. I was privileged to be appointed to the role of Executive Officer and join an incredible team who work tirelessly towards a future where our regional communities achieve and enjoy a high level of social wellbeing. We know that when people feel connected, safe, and supported – our communities thrive. We have showcased some of the remarkable work the team is doing in this newsletter.
As Social Development practitioners and the peak regional body we campaign on important issues and uphold the social sector as a major contributor to the economic growth and prosperity of the Greater Whitsunday region. Our work is underpinned by growth centered development which encourages cohesion, community capital and community building. Our staff are embedded in our communities, and we seek to provide individuals opportunities for involvement in community which ultimately contributes to a sense of belonging.
Recently Greater Whitsunday Communities engaged our members in a survey to assist with our 5-year Strategic Plan for our organisation. Feedback from our members is critical to the Strategic Planning process so we can align our developmental work to the needs of our community.
We asked our members a range of questions regarding their membership, and what they felt were key issues in the community. Affordable housing and young people seemed to come out as top community concerns for our members. We also asked our members what support they wanted from Greater Whitsunday Communities and other areas to assist and improve their organisations. Read more for a snapshot of the information collected. The Greater Whitsunday Communities’ Board and Staff are currently finalising the Strategic Plan that will guide our work over the coming years which leads us into an exciting phase for our organisation. Meet our newly appointed Board Members via our website here.
Finally, in closing, I would like to acknowledge and thank the team in which I am honoured to be a part of. The Greater Whitsunday Communities’ Board has supported, guided, and uplifted me whilst I have transitioned into the role of Executive Officer. The staff, Dorne, Antoinette, Lauren, Courtney, and Sam have continued to work with professionalism, grace, and adaptability in a changing work environment, reflecting their dedication to the communities of the Greater Whitsunday region.
Carol Norris
Executive Officer
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Update | Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce Project
Greater Whitsunday Communities Suicide Prevention Project Officer Courtney has been connecting with people with lived experience and others working in the Mackay Isaac and Whitsunday regions to find place-based solutions for individuals who are experiencing mental health distress, are at risk of suicide and have difficulties navigating and accessing services through a Co-Design process. Read more>
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Update | Better Together Housing
In preparation for the next 12 months of Better Together Housing in Mackay- we are reviewing the 12 months that have gone before. Project Worker Lauren Pattie kicked this off with a stakeholder check-in and will follow with participant feedback and Regional Advisory Group review Read more >
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Current Project | Building Social and Economic legacy
Greater Whitsunday Communities is working to further develop our region’s understanding of, and increase interconnectedness and synergy between, social and economic development in the Greater Whitsunday region. Read more > |
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Enriching Leadership | ClermontConnect
Clermont CONNECT is a not-for-profit collaborative community owned and driven organisation, committed to ensuring a resilient and sustainable Clermont district by securing future community services, opportunities and initiatives through a stronger united voice for future generations. To ensure sustainability through enriched member capacity, GWCommunities has built in a number of Community Leadership activities along the way. Read more>
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Skill Building | ColourSpectrum Workshop in the Whitsundays
As part of Greater Whitsunday Communities' commitment to professional development, community groups and Service Providers in Collinsville and Bowen attended Professional Development workshops facilitated by Heather Ellis, founder of BlueWren Connections. Read more>
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Community Leadership Star | Jess Szalinski
We would like to acknowledge Jessica Szalinski, the President of Little Diggers Childcare in Collinsville with a big shout out & round of applause!! She has been a major driver in establishing a community based Childcare facility in Collinsville over the past two years Read more>
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Target Reached | YOL1000 conversations completed!
The Youth Engagement Team have reached their goal of 1000 conversations with young people between 10-21 to find out what they liked and didn’t like about growing up in Mackay. The data is being collated to be put into a report. WATCH THIS SPACE!
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FREE Resource | Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder
Did you know you can have access up to 87 Billion dollars worth of grants through the Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder which is now available via our website?
Read More >
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Interactive Tool | Organisational HealthCheck
The Organisational Resilience HealthCheck is a free 15 minute self-assessment tool to help you evaluate resilience attributes and identify opportunities to improve resilience capability in your organisation. Read More>
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GWCommunities Event Calendar
Keep up to date with Greater Whitsunday Communities and other local events through Community Diary via our Website here>
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