The Peel Community Development Group is a not for profit organisation that works to support and strengthen a positive and sustainable community development process in the Peel region, whilst advocating for and supporting the work of the community sector.
The PCDG is represented by a voluntary board of management consisting of committed individuals involved in community development with a mix of professionals from local government, service providers, state government agencies, consultants, researchers and community advocates.
Peel Says No To Violence…in Alice Springs! The Australian National Research Organization for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) in June brought together representatives from 41 Australia-wide domestic violence projects to Alice Springs…and the Peel region was there.
Peel Says No To Violence representative Justine Hansen said that the three day conference provided a space for sharing ideas, learning from other projects, and sharing successes and challenges.
“It was also an amazing cultural experience in the red centre of our wide, brown, extraordinary country!” said Justine.
“Each project is at a different stage of its development, with a few completed projects able to give some guidance from their experiences,” said Justine. “Projects’ focus ranged from women and children living in aboriginal communities (rural, remote and urban based), women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to women with disabilities. There were programs focused on perpetrators, communities developing region-wide strategic plans, and others that were developing community champions and advocates to spread the information about family domestic violence (FDV).”
There are currently 41 projects across Australia funded under Building Safe Communities for Women, managed by the Federal Department for Social Services. Peel Says No To Violence is one of the these funded projects.
Alongside of the project, ANROWS (Australian National Research Organization for Women’s Safety) is an independent, not-for-profit company established as an initiative under Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan). It is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia. www.anrows.org.au
Our Watch was established to drive nationwide change in the culture, behaviours and power imbalances that lead to violence against women and their children: www.ourwatch.org.au
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Peel Secure Housing and Employment Support Project Update
The Peel Secure Housing and Employment Support project was initiated by PCDG and the Peel Development Commission in 2015 following research conducted by PDCG into key housing issues and options for the Peel.
Following a period of further research and consultation lead by Shelter WA a business case seeking funding for the Peel Secure Housing and Employment Support Project - Mandurah Hub was submitted to the Department of Regional Development for Royalties for Regions funding consideration in August 2016 with UnitingCare West as the project lead.
The proposed Hub is designed to provide supported transitional accommodation to cohorts of 30 young people and 30 families with children, who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. The facility would notably provide support to assist the households to gain educational and/or training skills to yield employment outcomes for participants of the project. The Project aims to assist 900 young people and families and 750 children and result in cost savings to government of approximately $76.1 million over a 30-year period.
Following business case submission PCDG, Peel Development Commission and UnitingCare West have been in regular contact to discuss the project. However, due to a State election, re-prioritisation of Royalties for Regions funding and changes in the way project are assessed for funding through Royalties for Regions we have had little progress.
PCDG and the other key stakeholders are still keen to see this project progress and are holding a joint workshop in late August to discuss the current state of housing in Peel, revisit priorities and agree on a strategy to move the project forward.
For more information on The Peel Secure Housing and Support project, including the research report, please click here.
If you would like to be involved please contact Kristie Tonkin at Peel Development Commission on 9535 4140.
Allambee Counselling
Allambee Counselling is a specialist therapeutic service providing support for people affected by sexual assault/abuse and/or domestic violence.
At Allambee our focus is on changing lives, developing positive outcomes, and creating healthy futures for children, young people, and families in the Peel region. Services include individual counselling and group therapies for children, adolescents and adults, community education and a youth service supporting at risk and/or disengaged youth.
A key focus of Allambee’s service provision is preventative intervention to promote positive change in community attitudes towards sexual and family violence. Allambee provides a range of community education, awareness raising and training initiatives aimed reducing future incidence of violence in our community. This includes Protective Behaviours education in primary schools, Respectful Relationships education in high schools, Child Protection Week activities, the Annual Peel Silent March for Domestic Violence in partnership with Pat Thomas House, and is a partner in the PCDG led Peel Says No to Violence Project.
The Street Net Youth Service located at the Billy Dower Youth Centre offers information, individual support, case management, referrals and recreational and diversional activities for high school aged youth in the community who are at-risk.
This service has been operating in the Peel region since 1999 and has been managed by Allambee auspiced by the Peel Community Development Group (PCDG) for the past 5 years. Some of Street Net’s recent programs and events include Drumbeat, Respectful Relationships, Night Hoops Basket Ball and the annual Skate, Scooter & BMX Comp at Falcon Skate Park. Street Net also works closely with other local youth services on events like the Gnoonie Youth Football Cup, Nightfields Football, and Youth Week events. Allambee's website: http://allambee.org.au/ and Street Net: http://streetnet.org.au/
PCDG Board Meeting Update - July
The Peel Community Development Group meets monthly, with the location rotated to each of the five local government areas in the Peel.
In July we convened at the Edenvale Community Rooms in Pinjarra where we were joined by Leanne McGuirke, Manager of Planning at the Shire of Murray. Leanne provided an overview of the Pinjarra Revitilisation Project which, after much research and community consultation, has resulted in the development of both a Town Planning Scheme and Town Revitilisation Plan that were recently endorsed by Council.
The Pinjarra town currently has a population of around 4,000 with the Shire planning for 24,000 people, within walking distance to the Pinjarra town centre, by 2050. To meet this large growth and create a vibrant community centre, innovative planning is required enabling integration of green space with density and housing that link key nodes of activity within the town.
A key element of the planning is the main road bypass which will redirect heavy traffic out of the town centre and enable greater connectivity. The Shire’s plans are currently before the WA Planning Commission with an outcome expected later in 2017. More information can be found on the Shire of Murray website.
PCDG Board members Jodie Doherty and Brad Vitale also provided the group with an overview of projects occurring in the local government areas of Murray and Waroona, funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA). The projects are aimed at engaging with the local Aboriginal community to develop strategies to improve the mental health of young Aboriginal people. A key element to the projects is the engagement of Aboriginal people in the development, delivery and ongoing implementation of the initiatives. Both projects are in early stages and we look forward to hearing more into the future.
Our next meeting will be held in Boddington where we will receive an update from both the Boddington Community Resource Centre and the Shire of Boddington on key community issues.
