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Community Strengthening

Our purpose: We implement collaborative and integrated actions to improve community connection, social equity, economic development, diversity, respect and inclusion.

Community Strengthening builds community capacity through community partnerships, planning and development initiatives, enabling Council and community partners to make informed, effective decisions. The team implements collaborative and integrated actions to improve community development and capacity building, economic development, gender equality, diversity, safety, respect and inclusion.

This is achieved through the provision of Council’s State legislated Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, implementation of the Gender Equality Act 2020, and associated policies and programs.

The Community Strengthening Team is responsible for the following areas:

Community Partnerships & Health Promotion:

Monash Community Grants Program (MCGP)
Health Promotion
Social Policy and Advocacy
Access and Inclusion
Cultural Diversity
Volunteering
Community Partnerships

Neighbourhoods and Place Making:

Place Making
Community Safety
Community and social infrastructure projects and planning
Delivery of Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
Building community capacity within local areas

Economic Development:

Enabling business capacity building and resilience
Encouraging further growth in Activity Centres
Fostering future jobs and skilled workers
Advocating to encourage ongoing infrastructure development and investment
Driving the delivery of the Economic Development Strategy.

Gender Diversity & Equity:

Gender Equity and leading Council’s Gender Impact Assessments as part of the Gender Equality Act 2020.
Whole-of-council approach to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women.
LGBTIQA+ inclusion through the LGBTIQA+ Action Plan & the Rainbow Tick Plan.