Community organisations with ideas on how to tackle unemployment and poverty in our local community can put their plans into action in round two of the Local Solutions Fund.
Minister for Human Services Senator Kim Carr said 10 Australian communities are benefiting from this important initiative, where communities design and deliver practical programs to help locals who need it most.
“We delivered the first round of the Local Solutions Fund in July this year and we are starting to see exciting progress on projects in Bankstown and around the country,” Senator Kim Carr said.
Jason Clare MP said the first round of Local Solutions funding had been very successful.
“The best thing we can do to support people is help them find a job, keep a job and make sure they have a safe place to live. The four projects from the first round of funding are doing just that,” Mr Clare said said.
The Bankstown’s Local Advisory Group, led by Carol Gereige have been working with the community to identify where help is needed, and what could be implemented to improve employment and education outcomes.
“I encourage people to speak to Bankstown’s Community Action Leader, Carol Gereige to discuss the local priorities for Bankstown and get more information on the application process,” Mr Clare said.
The Bankstown Local Advisory Group Chair, Cathy Quinn, said “We are looking for projects that support a different way of working, consider all of the barriers to participation and are sustainable long term. It would be great to see initiatives that harness resources and bring together a number of groups in the community to create a bigger impact.”
Daryl Melham MP said “Local people know what their community needs, and the Government’s Local Solutions Fund is one way to turn that knowledge into real solutions.”
“The Local Solutions Fund gives local organisations an opportunity to apply for funding to help design and deliver projects that respond to community needs,” Mr Melham said.
Initial expressions of interest for funding close on 4 December 2012.
For more information about the Local Solutions Fund and the application process, contact Carol Gereige on 02 8935 6854 or email
Information is also available at www.humanservices.gov.au/bfls
Media contacts:
Chris Zogopoulos (Jason Clare) 97902466
Deborah May (Daryl Melham) 9774 2111
