Community Business Partnerships Seminar Program

The Community and Business Partnerships Brokerage Service has been undertaking an extensive nationwide program of seminars for small to medium businesses and community groups wanting to establish or enhance a partnership. These seminars have now been completed but further sessions may be provided.

If your council would like to hold a community business parternship seminar you can express interest on the telephone call Lidia Milevski at Our Community on telephone (03) 9320 6801 or email service@ourcommunity.com.au

A Train the Trainer Module is also provided below for use in conducting these seminars.

What is covered in the Seminars:

The Australia-wide seminar series is aimed at both businesses and community organisations wishing to investigate partnerships, and will cover a number of topics, including:

What is a community business partnership?
Explanation of the benefits to business and community groups, and the wider community, of successful partnerships;
Partnership models, including combinations of activities such as employee volunteering, in-kind support, pro-bono or discounted services, sponsorship, mentoring, etc;
What are the elements of successful community business partnerships?
What do businesses and community groups need to do before entering a partnership? and
What are the resources available to organisations seeking partnerships?

Free Training Resources:

In addition to the seminars conducted by the Brokerage Service, a Train-the-Trainer Resource Kit has been developed to allow facilitators eg. local economic development officers, community development officers; Area Consultative Committees; Councils, Chambers of Commerce; community organisations etc to conduct their own local seminar – using the free resources of the Train-the-Trainer kit and the other free resources of the Brokerage Service.

The Train-the-Trainer Resource Kit consists of two parts:

Trainer Preparation Resource
Training Tool Kit / presentation for community groups and businesses

The Launch of the Seminars:

The Regional Seminar Series of the Community Business Partnership Brokerage Service kicked off on 6 May 2004.

Federal Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, launched the seminar series, the first of which was held in the Central Victorian town of Bendigo and was attended by about 120 people.

The City of Greater Bendigo Mayor, Greg Williams and Chief Executive of Our Community, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, hosted the first of the free regional seminars. It was attended by representatives from local government, community groups and business, and focussed heavily on the range of benefits that could be experienced from participating in partnerships.

Rob Hunt, member of the Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership and Managing Director of Bendigo Bank, closed the seminar.The seminar was warmly received by participants, prompting some spirited discussions among attendees after it finished.

Minister for Family & Community Services, Sen. Kay Patterson.