Free skills training workshops for community organisations

Sunshine Coast Council has partnered with Volunteering Sunshine Coast to develop a series of free skills training workshops for community groups.

Scheduled to run over the first half of August 2010, the practical Nuts & Bolts sessions are hosted by local media and business experts and will focus on two separate toolboxes – Management & Promotion and Planning & Finance.

The workshops will be presented by staff from local newspapers, TV and radio stations, as well as experts in governance, legal matters, planning, council grants and other funding.

Topics covered will include:

media partnerships
good governance
how to make informed decisions on the best legal structure for an organisation
legal issues in volunteer management
strategic planning, and
financial management

Community Policy and Programs portfolio holder, Councillor Jenny McKay, said the sessions are a great opportunity for local groups to improve their skill sets and enhance organisational performance.

“These workshops have been developed in response to requests from community groups for practical skills training,” said Cr McKay.

“They are the first in a series of workshops to help community organisations become more successful and sustainable.”

With the next council major grants round opening at the end of July, the workshops will provide timely information on financial assistance available to organisations through the Council Grants Program.

Workshops will be held at the following Coast locations:


Workshop	Venue	Date	Time
Management &Promotion	Cooroy Library	Wed 4 August	10am – 12.30pm
Management& Promotion	Maleny Neighbourhood Centre	Thursday 12 August	10am – 12.30pm
Planning & Finance	Lake Kawana Community Centre	Saturday 7 August	10am – 12.30pm
Planning & Finance	Nambour Community Centre	Monday 9 August	6 – 8.30pm