Broker / Funding Expert
6 months Flexible Hours
The Whittlesea Community Futures (WCF) Partnership takes a leading role in the municipality of Whittlesea in planning for and advocating on behalf of children, young people and families for new and improved services and facilities.
The Position
Whittlesea Community Futures (WCF) Partnership seeks experienced Broker / Funding Expert to support the WCF Executive in securing the sustainability ofthe Partnership and obtaining funding for Partnership projects.
This position offers:
- Opportunity to excel at high level brokerage
- Working with a diverse partnership with wide ranging expertise
- Flexible, well remunerated position
Aim
The aim of the position is to facilitate, resource and guide a strategic approach to joined-up investment for optimal services and community infrastructure outcomes for the Whittlesea community and showcase partnership outcomes to encourage future investment.
This role is to obtain external funding in the form of government and/or philanthropic/foundation grants to enable the continuation of Whittlesea Community Futures to deliver the required services and infrastructure identified in WCF Strategic Plan.
Key Deliverables
- Assist in completing WCF’s Advocacy Plan
- Broker mutually beneficial long term connections between philanthropic organisations / foundations and Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership and projects.
- As a result of your assessments of Federal and State government funding potential, broker relationships with appropriate senior level officers to demonstrate the success of WCF and advocate for the sustainability of the Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership and for priority projects.
- In consultation with the WCF Executive, advise on the preparation of funding applications to achieve the WCF Partnership strategic goals.
- Develop materials, proposalsto support advocacy activities.
- Obtain funding for WCF from philanthropic/foundation grants, businesses and State and Federal Government on behalf of the WCF.
- Mentor the WCF Advocacy Working Group to increase their skill base to enable the Group to undertake advocacy on its own behalf.
Background of Whittlesea Community Future’s Project
The City of Whittlesea is one of Victoria’s fastest growing municipalities with a current population of over 130,000. The City of Whittlesea is located 20km north of Melbourne. It is a large municipality covering an area of 490 km2 of both urban and rural land. Since 2001 approximately 118,000 people have moved into the City and the level of growth is predicted to remain strong for the next 25 years or more.
The municipality faces the complex and distinctive challenges of balancing the dynamics of urban and rural areas, rapid growth, social disadvantage and high demand for services. The City has one of the most culturally diverse populations, with over 57.3% of residents from Non English speaking backgrounds. Whittlesea also has the fourth highest population of indigenous people in metropolitan Melbourne and the City is characterised by pockets of high socio economic disadvantage, ranking the fifth most disadvantaged on the SEIFA index. It also ranks the third lowest on Melbourne’s Index of Education and Occupation and the sixth lowest on the Index of Urban disadvantage.
Currently, families, children and young people in the City of Whittlesea are disadvantaged in relation to the provision of local human services. In addition, local residents are geographically isolated from service centres and current service provision is not keeping pace with population growth and demand. Increased Government investment in social infrastructure and program delivery is essential to achieve a basic level of service provision.
Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership (WCF)
The imperative to increase investment in human services in the City of Whittlesea was identified in the report “Strategic Plan for Human Service Delivery in the city of Whittlesea” in 2004. A wide range of agencies contributed to the report which showed a severe lack of human service infrastructure across the spectrum of need, but especially in family support services.
In response to this need, the City of Whittlesea joined together in a substantial partnership with 40 human services agencies, community-based organisations and state government departments to deliver the WCF Project. The Project is geographically focussed in the older, established areas of Thomastown and Lalor which suffer from social and economic disadvantage and two new growth areas in Epping North and Mernda.
Aim of Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership
Since its inception, the WCF has responded to its charter to develop innovative service models and to pursue resources for services and facilities that provide improved support for families, children and young people in the Whittlesea municipality.
Structure of Whittlesea Community Futures
The WCF operates in three tiers. This includes the Partnership, the Executive, and the Working Groups for the various projects.
A total of forty three members of the Partnership are responsible for endorsing the direction, planning and budget of the Partnership. WCF Partners provide considerable resources in-kind to assist in the operations of WCF.
The Partnership Executive,comprising eleven members, operates as the core support mechanism for the WCF Project. It provides coordination and advisory support. There are seven project Working Groups comprised of community members, agency and government WCF representatives:
- WCF Advocacy
- Youth & Community Project
- Cultural Bridges
- Main Street Thomastown Precinct Planning Group
- Thomastown Precinct Early Years Group
- Thomastown Precinct Parent Education Group
- Growth Areasof Epping North and Mernda
The City of Whittlesea provides invaluable support to the WCF project through hosting the two project officers, providing managerial support, offering meeting venues and funding administrative costs.
Current Funding
Current funding for WCF is provided by the Victorian State Government's
Department of Planning and Community Development through the Victorian
Community Support Grants program, which is funded from the Community
Support Fund. This funding towards WCF will continue by the CSF within the
Department of Planning and Community Development until the end of September 2009.
WCF Strategic Plan to 2010
WCF Strategic Goals are:
- Influence and drive key policy direction, development and implementation impacting on children, young people and families.
- Plan for and obtain services, programs and facilities which are integrated, flexible and accessible focusing on prevention and early intervention for Whittlesea’s children, young people and families.
- Strengthen Whittlesea communities to achieve a culture of active and inclusive community engagement and self determination.
- Pursue resources for facilities and other infrastructure to support our strategic goals.
WCF Projects
Currently the Partnership is supporting the development of five projects within a strengths based community development framework:
- WCF Advocacy – a core mission of the Whittlesea Community Futures (WCF) Partnership. The WCF strives to be the one voice of the City of Whittlesea and to speak with clarity and impact about the issues and challenges that affect Whittlesea children, young people and families.
- Youth & Community Project –a community building project that focuses on implementing strategies for the engagement and empowerment of young people. This project has strong support from local services, agencies and schools.
- Cultural Bridges – a project designed to strengthen inter-cultural connections through the provision of a purpose-designed facility and driven by a community action group.
- Main Street Thomastown Precinct – a service delivery project with the goal of developing a holistic and responsive service system for children from early years to young adulthood and their families.
- Services and Facilities in Growth Areas - identifyingpotential resources, services and facilities required in the high priority growth areas of North Epping and Mernda.
Sustainability of WCF Partnership / Projects
External funding in the form of government grants, philanthropic/foundation grants is required for the continuation of Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership to deliver needed services and infrastructure as identified in WCF projects and in the finalisation of the Advocacy Plan. Funding is also required to sustain the WCF Projects described above.
APPLICATION FOR BROKER/FUNDING EXPERT POSITION
Key Requirements
High level networks with government and philanthropic organisations and proven success in obtaining funds. Experience in advocacy at the political and senior officer levels of state and federal government. Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to sensitively guide a large partnership in developing a strategic approach to obtaining funds. A mature, intelligent and versatile approach will be key factors in the success of the position.
Position Selection Criteria
1.Knowledge and understanding of the private and public grant environment.
2.Established networks and relationships with relevant people in private and government organisations.
3.Proven success in obtaining funding for human services/infrastructure.
4.High-level written, verbal and interpersonal communication and negotiation skills, including the proven ability to develop and produce high-level sponsorship.
5.Experience in advocacy at the political and senior officer levels of State and Federal Governments.
6.Ability to prepare or to contract the preparation of materials to support advocacy work.
Timeframe
To September 2009.
This position would suit an applicant seeking a part time contract with flexible hours.
Available Budget
$60,000 including salary, design and production of advocacy materials, travel costs etc.
Location of Position
Negotiable
Application Submission
Applicationsshould address the selection criteria and be forwarded by 28 November 2008 to:
Online applications can be submitted through: or forwarded to:
Ruth Spielman,
Whittlesea Community Futures Chairperson,
City of Whittlesea,
Locked Bag 1,
Bundoora, MDC 3083
Further Information
For further information or enquiries, please contact Barbara Jackson at the
City of Whittlesea by email: or
telephone (03) 9217 2197
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