Our Community is a world-leading social enterprise that provides advice and tools for Australia's 600,000 community groups and schools, and practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, business and government.
Our major offerings include:
Our Community is evolutionary as well as revolutionary. We have a number of staged developments and product offerings. Our website and our offerings are always changing.
Click here for more detailed information about who Our Community is and what we do.
Is Our Community a not-for-profit organisation?
No. We are a privately held enterprise that provides a number of business and community services. In addition to establishing our own Foundation, which provides funding for the operation of the GiveNow.com.au website and supports community groups with free training, we have also developed a number of free services on our site to further give back to the community. For too long organisations have concentrated on either being a business or community organisation, putting in place strict boundaries between the two. We believe there can be a quality balance between being a commercial business that is sustainable and ethical as well as providing a range of quality and effective services to the Australian community sector.
How do not-for-profit and community organisations get listed the Our Community website?
For you to list your organisation's details on the site's Directory of Organisations, you must be an Our Community member. This is one of the many advantages that our members receive from registering. Joining is free.
Click here to find out more about Our Community membership.
You can also sign up to be listed on the GiveNow.com.au website, which is also operated by Our Community. Click here to find out more.
How do I use Our Community's services?
To find out how to use Our Community's services, please go to this page and find the link that's relevant to you or your organisation (e.g. community group, school, government/council, individuals, business).
How do I become a member of www.ourcommunity.com.au?
You should follow the following steps in becoming a member of www.ourcommunity.com.au:
What are the benefits of membership of www.ourcommunity.com.au?
Becoming an Our Community member connects you with Australia's leading community site, entitles you to a wide array of privileges and is totally free!
Click here to find out more.
Is there a fee or charge for membership?
There is no charge to become a member and register your organisation with www.ourcommunity.com.au.
Can more than one person from each organisation become a member of www.ourcommunity.com.au?
Yes. We identify members based on individual email addresses (i.e. people), rather than their organisation's name. Therefore multiple people from the one organisation can be members; this allows you to meet your individual needs while working with an organisation with (potentially) multiple channels and chapters.
Can non-members use the Our Community website and access our products?
You can use the website, however if you want to access an Our Community product (books, newsletters, etc.) or sign up to receive online donations, you will have to become a member.
Joining is free. Click here for more information.
Can an organisation be removed from www.ourcommunity.com.au, or refused membership?
Your organisation can choose to remove itself from the www.ourcommunity.com.au website at any time. To be removed, please send an email to service@ourcommunity.com.au.
Our Community reserves the right to remove any organisation from our website at any time if it believes the organisation has supplied false or misleading information, or if we believe removal is advisable or necessary in light of applicable laws, ordinances or regulations. In such cases where we are advised an investigation or inquiry is underway by state or federal government officials, we will immediately withdraw the organisation from the website and suspend the account until a clear outcome is detailed by the necessary officials.
Does Our Community endorse individual not-for-profit or community organisations?
No. We are a link that facilitates interaction between the community organisation and members of the public. We do not endorse specific organisations, nor do we market on the behalf of specific organisations. We rely on the individual organisations to provide accurate and up-to-date information about themselves. We do not rate or review not-for-profit or community organisations. If you have questions about a specific organisation, we encourage you to contact that organisation directly.
Is my personal information safe?
We worry about security as much as you do. We take all reasonable steps to ensure the security of the personal data we hold from such risks as loss or unauthorised access, destruction, use, modification or disclosure of data.
Our Community wants to ensure that all of our customers can interact with us with complete confidence online.
Is Our Community's website secure?
Any time we ask for financial information from an individual or an organisation we use industry practice and protocols. These processes have been endorsed with Thawte Secure Certification, an industry leader in internet safety. All account and profile information located on our website is password-protected to provide additional security. All transactions conducted on our site are treated with the privacy and respect that all such transactions deserve.
For more information on our security measures, refer to our Privacy/Ethics policy.
What is Our Community's privacy policy?
Our Community is committed to protecting your privacy. Establishing a trusting relationship with our users is both good manners and good business. Our policy covers all key areas to be considered when managing an ethical and appropriate privacy relationship.
Our Privacy and Ethics Policy discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for all of our online activities and is based on the Australian Privacy Commissioner's National Principles for the Fair Handling of Personal Information. If you have comments or questions regarding our privacy statement, please contact: denism@ourcommunity.com.au
How do I contact Our Community?
By email: service@ourcommunity.com.au
By telephone: (03) 9320 6800
By fax: (03) 9326 6859
By mail: PO Box 354 North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3051
Our Physical Address: 51 Stanley Street, West Melbourne Victoria Australia
How can I get on the distribution list for the free Our Community Matters newsletter?
All Our Community members are entitled to receive the Our Community Matters newsletter. You can sign up for free membership by clicking here.
Can I reproduce or pass on articles from Our Community newsletters, or Our Community help sheets and other material provided on the website?
COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER
All Our Community newsletter publications are copyright.
The free Our Community Matters newsletter may be circulated and any article from this publication may be reproduced as long as any print article contains a small credit line "courtesy of www.ourcommunity.com.au", any online use contains a direct link to the www.ourcommunity.com.au website, and any reprint retains the disclaimer "Our Community Pty Ltd, its staff or representatives are not responsible for any actions taken by, or losses suffered by, any person on the basis of, or in reliance upon, any information in the newsletter, nor for any omission or error in this information service."
For all other Our Community publications, no part may be reproduced without permission by any process other than for the purposes of and subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act and the licensing agreement for the newsletter you have signed up for.
Our Community help sheets may be reproduced for any non-commercial use as long as you obtain permission first by emailing service@ourcommunity.com.au or calling us on (03) 9320 6815, and as long as any print article contains a small credit line "courtesy of www.ourcommunity.com.au", any online use contains a direct link to the www.ourcommunity.com.au website, and any reprint retains the disclaimer "Our Community Pty Ltd, its staff or representatives are not responsible for any actions taken by, or losses suffered by, any person on the basis of, or in reliance upon, any information in the this helpsheet, nor for any omission or error in this service."
If in doubt, please contact us by emailing service@ourcommunity.com.au or calling us on (03) 9320 6815.
DISCLAIMER: Information provided through the Our Community website and publications is intended as a guide. Our Community Pty Ltd, its staff or representatives are not responsible for any actions taken by, or losses suffered by, any person on the basis of, or in reliance upon, any information in the newsletter, nor for any omission or error in this information service.
How do I use the Search functions on the www.ourcommunity.com.au website?
There are various ways that you can search our site for information relevant to the community and not-for-profit sector.
There is a Keyword Search, which is the broadest and most generic search facility on the site. This is located on the top right-hand side of each webpage.
There are also specific search forms that will help you to search the
All of these search engines work in the same way. Click here for search tips.
I have received an Our Community newsletter but I can't open/read it. What's the problem?
Most Our Community newsletters are sent in PDF format - the most common filing system on the internet - and you will need Adobe Acrobat to read them. This can be downloaded for free at the Adobe website at: http://www.adobe.com.au/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Click here for more detailed help about downloading and reading our newsletters.
Can I get my event listed in the Calender of Key Events?
The Calendar of Key Events is our listing of nationally significant events focussed around a major community or advocacy/awareness issue.
If you believe your event fits this description, you can send the details to service@ourcommunity.com.au.
The events listing cannot cover local one-off events. To assist you in promoting these types of events we have prepared two Helpsheets (which you can download here):
Can I provide a link from my website to www.ourcommunity.com.au?
Yes. We now have button logos for those groups who want to set up links to www.ourcommunity.com.au from their own websites. Just visit www.ourcommunity.com.au/images and right click your mouse on the image you want and then click on SAVE to your own computer.
I've forgotten my password. How can I log in?
Please click here to be taken to a page where you can recover your password.
The first step to buying any or our products is becoming a member of Our Community. Membership is free and it means that you'll receive a regular update of what's happening in the community sector, among many other benefits. Becoming a member can be accomplished by clicking here and following this you will be able to order our fantastic range of newsletters and books and make use of services such as the free online donation service offered via the GiveNow.com.au website.
How much does it cost to use GiveNow?
Nothing! In line with Our Community's policy of providing a mixed business and community model, particularly in providing a comprehensive range of free services to the community, GiveNow charges no commissions for processing donations. We pass on 100% of your donation to your nominated group, less the standard fees charged to the group by the credit card companies for processed costs. We have negotiated a reduced charge for most major credit cards - this fee currently sits at 1.28% for Visa and Mastercard and 1.43% for Amex.
The key benefit of donating online is that you minimise the fees and overhead costs incurred by the organisation you are donating to, which through other fundraising activities can often be as high as 30% and even more.
How do I make a donation to a community group through the GiveNow.com.au website?
All you need is a credit card and a good heart. The GiveNow.com.au service provides giving channels that allow you to learn about and donate to a group, school, crisis, cause, charity or community that interests you.
Click here to go to the GiveNow.com.au website and find out more.
How does the donation process work?
Once you have selected the not-for-profit or community group you wish to donate to, click the Donate Now button. You will be asked to provide your name, email address, and credit card information, as well as the amount of your donation. This section of the website is totally secure.
We then verify your credit card information and provide you with an email confirming your donation. In line with legislative requirements and our own strict code of practice, we then transfer the funds into a secure bank account for passing on to the nominated organisation you have selected.
Our Community and its banking partners will make every effort to make sure your donation is processed quickly and efficiently.
Is there a fee or charge for online donation services?
No. In line with our policy of providing a mixed business and community model, particularly in providing a comprehensive range of free services to the community, Our Community deducts NO money from your donation. We pass on 100% of your donation to your nominated group, less the standard fees charged to the group by the credit card companies for processing costs (we have negotiated a reduced charge for most major credit cards).
The key benefit of donating online is that you minimise the fees and overhead costs incurred by the organisation you are donating to, which through other fundraising activities can often be as high as 30% and even more.
Because of Our Community's own policy of giving back to the community, we absorb any overhead costs that arise from the operation of the GiveNow.com.au service - a first for Australia.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Not-for-profit status does not automatically qualify an organisation for tax deductibility status. Donations to a not-for-profit or community organisation are only tax deductible when:
Can I make an anonymous donation?
No. For security purposes, we cannot process credit card transaction without full donor details.
Who qualifies to receive donations through www.ourcommunity.com.au?
All not-for-profit and community organisations which are incorporated can apply to receive online donations. This is provided that the state authorities, national registers or Australian Tax Office validate that the organisation exists.
To receive donations via the GiveNow.com.au facility, we require documentation and information regarding the organisation, including an authority to fundraise, as applicable.
Click here for more information about online donations.
Why register for online donations with GiveNow.com.au?
The GiveNow.com.au service provides information about crises and causes, as well as a searchable database of not-for-profit and community groups, all in one place. We provide individual donors with a wealth of information and make it easy for them to donate online to the group or cause of their choice.
GiveNow.com.au provides a quick, convenient and secure way for individual donors to give time or money to the causes and groups of their choice. Besides being quick and secure, there are a number of other reasons for registering your organisation:
about us | FAQ | copyright | newsletter schedule | site index | news | contact us
Our Community Pty Ltd www.ourcommunity.com.au ABN 24 094 608 705
National Headquarters: 51 Stanley St, West Melbourne Victoria 3003 Australia
(PO Box 354 North Melbourne 3051 Victoria)
Telephone (03) 9320 6800 Fax (03) 9326 6859 Email service@ourcommunity.com.au