FRAMEWORK+b.Community+Partnerships

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= Background = A key component of Advance is the development of a partnership between young people, the school and a community organisation, to deliver one or more community projects or a series of volunteering activities. Community projects or volunteering activities can take a variety of forms including:
 * Taking part in existing volunteering opportunities, such as Conservation Volunteers Victoria
 * Planning and implementing an information campaign;
 * Developing, implementing and evaluating a community event; or
 * Producing a resource for their community.

In some cases, more than one community organisation may need to be involved to satisfactorily implement the project/s or volunteer activities the young people have chosen. Young people may also choose to work in partnership with multiple community organisations on a range of different volunteering activities.

= **Advance School Community Notification Form 2017** =

The **School Community Partnership Notification Form** has been developed to assist schools and community organisations to identify key aspects of their partnership. Schools involved in Advance **may** elect to share this information with the Department of Human Services by emailing their completed form to: **advance@dhhs.vic.gov.au**. This form allows schools to enter a notification for up to 5 partnerships. Additional notifications should be entered on a separate form.



= Community Partnerships =
 * The Partnering Toolbook** offers a concise overview of the essential elements that make for effective partnering. The book was written by Ros Tennyson and produced by the The Partnering Initiative in co-operation with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). []

= Community Organisation Directories =

1. Victoria's Volunteering Portal
More than 1.5 million Victorians volunteer their time, skills and experience, and in one way or another make a huge contribution to our local communities. Victoria’s Volunteering Portal is a free online resource to support volunteering in Victoria. [|http://www.volunteer.vic.gov.au]

2. Ourcommunity.com.au
Ourcommunity.com.au have established 21 themed directories to make it easy for you to get connected to some of the 700,000 community groups that make Australia such an exciting and diverse place to live. Visit: []

= Links Between Advance and Community Organisation Projects = Following is a sample of possible links bewtween Advance and community prganisatons:

1. Building a Raingarden - Melbourne Water
A raingarden is a terrific way to use stormwater when creating a garden. Find out how to build one, and why by visiting:

[]

 * 2. Epilepsy Peer Educator Program - Students Supporting Diversity **

The Epilepsy Foundation provides services to people living with epilepsy and their families, and works to raise awareness of epilepsy in organisations and the broader community to reduce the stigma and create a more welcoming and inclusive society.

The Foundation's Peer Educator Program provides an opportunity for students from Years 5-12 to be involved in a meaningful community based partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation to raise awarene ss and understanding of epilepsy in the community.

The main goal of the Peer Educator Program is for Peer Educators to learn about epilepsy and the impact it can have on individuals and their families. Then using the Epilepsy Foundation's Prezi presentations educate other students about epilepsy. The Foundation believes increased understanding of epilepsy can enhance the quality of life for those living with epilepsy.

Simultaneously the program strives to educate all students involved to recognise and value diversity in themselves and others.

If you would like more information about the Peer Educator Program, please [|visit the Epilepsy Foundation website] or contact Janita Keating on 03 88090670 or jkeating@epilepsy.asn.au.


 * 3. High Resolves Global Citizenship and Leadership Programs **

High Resolves is currently accepting a limited number of new schools for 2013 for their **Global Citizenship and Leadership Programs**, which meet Advance requirements.

The High Resolves programs together offer a three‐year transformational experience for high school students in Years 8 to 10. The foundation level Global Citizenship Program is for all Year 8 students. This can then be followed by an advanced two-year Global Leadership Program for a selected group of Year 9 and 10 students. The program is delivered by specially-trained High Resolves facilitators, committed to helping students develop the mindsets, skills and confidence to become purposeful global citizens and leaders. To see a short video with student feedback, please visit [].

To express interest, or to arrange a meeting/presentation at your school, please contact Victorian Program Director Terry Robb on 03 9671 7079 or tr@highresolves.org

Relay For Life is an overnight, community event where teams of 10-15 participate in a relay style walk or run and raise funds for Cancer Council Victoria.
 * 4. Relay for Life - Cancer Council Victoria **

**5. The Music Generation (MGen)** MGen is providing for the opportunity for young musicians to start their own music group!

Whether it be an indie pop band or classical music ensemble, skilled and experienced teachers guide students through the fundamental steps of collaborating with other musicians. Students are provided with the tools they need to establish and maintain a music group of their choice! A great way to strengthen musical skills as well as friendships and collaborative skills.

Throughout the program they'll also pick up some basic event planning skills as they prepare for and organise a small performance where they can showcase their hard work in front of peers, family and friends!



To find out more, visit the [|Music Generation website.]

**6. Victoria Walks** Victoria Walks is a walking-for-transport health promotion charity managed by an independent voluntary board. Its website has been designed to help local people to actively encourage walking. It has lots of information to help young people join in the action and create a neighbourhood that is safe, friendly and pleasant for walking around. The website includes tips on everything from how to find or start a local walking group, to checklists to help work out how to make a neighbourhood better to walk around. It also has information on how to work with local and state governments to support walking in your community. []

7. Westside Circus
//“I would highly recommend this program and the people who deliver it to any school or community wanting to promote teamwork, confidence and learning capabilities".// Asha, Glenroy College 2016.

Circus is a vibrant and physical art form and is an excellent discipline to develop physical health and fitness, personal goal setting, positive risk-taking, leadership skills and problem solving, confidence and creative self-expression.

Westside Circus is Melbourne’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to creating quality circus experiences for young people. They deliver friendly and accessible circus workshops with an inclusive approach that has become their trademark. In 2016, they delivered over 1,000 circus workshops, reached 5,100 unique participants and filled 14,400 workshop attendances.

Westside Circus programs can range from fun recreational activity to or socially focused engagement. Young people can find pathways into high skill training and professional circus or they can simply use circus to develop personal capacity and enthusiasm for life.

To discover the joys of circus and the strengths in your group, please contact Westside Circus on 9471 2928, email at info@westsidecircus.org.au or [|visit the Westside Circus website.]

= Your Community Partnerships and Projects Resources = This space is provided for you to share resources associated with Community Partnerships and Projects options for Advance. Note that you do need to be a registered user of wikispaces and this space to make comments and add files. Email advance@dhs.vic.gov.au to activate your membership to this group.

Please add your files below, placing your school's name in the filename for identification:


 * **(Add your file here - followed by the name of your school)**