Media Release
THIS RELEASE was put out by ourcommunity in the lead-up to the Federal election. WHICHEVER party wins the federal election, they should commit to making the health and wellbeing of all community groups a major priority come Monday, the chief executive officer of www.ourcommunity.com.au, Dr Rhonda Gabally said today.
Dr Galbally said the entire community sector needed strong support to help it stay healthy enough to provide service, support, connection and comfort to all Australians. The future of all community and non-profit groups in Australia should be a major priority for whichever party or parties that form the next Federal Government.
www.ourcommunity.com.au is an online resource providing practical advice and solutions for Australia's 700,000 community, education and non-profit groups.
"After Saturday we will thankfully say goodbye to bidding wars, goodbye to an election campaign that has become a sporting contest rather than a chance to map out a future and goodbye to a process that sees some of the best and brightest minds in the country devoted to one single objective ? winning office," Dr Galbally said.
"Imagine if we had even a fraction of that brainpower devoted to developing strategies and solutions to cement the future for all of Australia?s 700,000 community and non-profit groups.
Dr Galbally said post-election she would like to see a bi-partisan approach to supporting the entire community sector.
"In any election we see policies aimed at particular target community groups - whether that is social welfare groups, health support groups, arts groups, sporting groups, elderly groups or regional groups. Yet there is little recognition that the community sector is an amalgam of all sorts of groups and they are all in need of help.
"The entire sector needs strong leadership and action to make community groups stronger and more viable."
Dr Galbally said whoever formed Government should immediately take a leadership role in finding solutions to the issue of insurance for non-profit groups. Increased costs or refusal by insurers to cover non-profit groups had affected tens of thousands of organisations and forced cuts in many services or community activities.
"In the wake of the HIH disaster, community groups have been hit hard and the only way to steer a path through is to have a coordinated, strong approach that crosses borders, sectors and interest groups," Dr Galbally said.
In recent times we have worked with the National Australia Bank to make available a series of low-cost banking products to the community sector. The Federal Government should be urging other companies to follow that example and tailor products and services to the community sector.
Dr Galbally also said whoever formed Government should extend tax deductibility to all community groups to encourage people to support the local groups that support them.
"The argument against this is financial yet involvement in community groups is good for your health and wellbeing so whatever initial financial cost to the budget would be offset by people having less need for more expensive crisis support or intervention later on," Dr Galbally said.
"Another commitment we would like to see is that recognition of the work of volunteers doesn't come to a screaming halt when the clock strikes midnight on December 31 to bring an end to the International Year of the Volunteer."
Dr Galbally said the next Federal Government should also :
- Extend and make permanent the small grants programs set up for the International Year of the Volunteer.
- Commit to ensuring every community group can bridge the digital divide, particularly those in regional areas, by having low-cost access to internet services.
- Recognise and understand that groups should be allowed to advocate for change free from the fear that their funding will be cut because they have dissenting views.