Welcome to WSCF

Event Details & RSVP Information
Date & Time: Saturday 7 August 10am-4pm
Venue: Granville Youth and Community Recreation Centre
* Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.

If you know people who would like to come and learn how to advocate for better services in their area, RSVP for the Symposium before 4 August by emailing wsbustop@gmail.com or phone Hugh on 9633 5068 or Amy on 0400445420.

You can find out more online via the WSPTU blog www.wsptu.blogspot.com

What is the WSPTU?
Western Sydney Community Forum has been supporting the development of the Western Sydney Public Transport Users group (WSPTU). The WSPTU works as an umbrella organisation to support the work of local people working on transport issues in their areas. There are currently groups working in Liverpool, Bankstown, Parramatta, The Hills, Mt Druitt, Penrith and The Blue Mountains. The groups are at various stages of development, some are long established with strong local and institutional links while others are new with a loose collection of local people who are interested in transport issues.

Forum: ‘Dream or Reality?’ – Affordable Housing in Western Sydney

This forum aims to highlight the gap in housing affordability and availability facing Western Sydney and to develop powerful advocacy to address housing equity in the region.

Come, hear and question housing experts from different sectors highlight the problems, their size, and the degree to which current strategies address these. Participate in one of the workshops (in relation to refugees, affordable housing or homelessness) to discuss and prioritise strategies.

Date: Tuesday 17 August 2010 (RSVP by Wed 11 August 2010)

Time: 9:00am for 9.30 start, until 2:30pm (TBC)

Venue: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 1 Casula Rd, Casula, (next to Casula Rail Station)

The Coalition was formed from community organisations and research bodies in order to build partnerships and explore advocacy options to improve availability of affordable, secure and appropriate housing in the region. The forum ‘Dream or Reality?’ is the Coalition’s first initiative.

Click here for flyer.

50% Discount! Staff from WSCF full member organisations can participate in most WSCF trainings at half the normal price! Get WSCF membership... Did You Know? You can pay by Credit Card through Paypal when registering online now. FAQ: New to Online Registration? Watch Demo Video First. How to print Training Calendar on A4 paper? In Adobe Reader, click "Print" button, choose "Fit to Printable Area" from the drop-down list under "Page Handling" sectioin, and then print.

1. Please include a reference number consisting of attendee's name & session date when paying via bank transfer.
2. An email address is required to register online.
3. Spaces will NOT be accepted in Phone/Fax/Mobile numbers when registering online.
4. DO NOT use Back/Forward button in your browser, you MUST use Back/Next button at page bottom.

Cancellation:
To cancel your registration, please email to wscf@wscf.org.au or phone 9687 9669.

Number of Registration Per Session:
Maximum 3 (THREE) registrations per session for each organisation, should you need more places, please email to wscf@wscf.org.au or phone 9687 9669.

Success at last!

Media Release The Hon. Linda Burney MP Minister for the State Plan, Minister for Community Services Download the Media Release (PDF 50KB)

The NSW Government's 2010-11 Budget increases Community Services Grants Program (CSGP) funding by $10 million, an increase of 38%!

Brian Smith, Executive Officer of  Local Community Services Association and member of the CSGP Roundtable, says
“Together we did it! Many thought it impossible but today community development organisations and neighbourhood centres can pause in the midst of busy workloads and congratulate themselves on the success of their funding campaign. Renewable funding for CSGP community strengthening services has risen from the current $28 million, to $38 million in the 2010-11 budget, ending a 20 year funding drought!”

Mary Waterford, WSCF Executive Officer and also a member of the CSGP Roundtable, says
“This is a significant win! Let us take the time to celebrate our good campaigning, consistency of message, persistence, and our working together with peak bodies and State members. In particular Linda Burney, Minister for Community Services has been a great ally for the sector and neighbourhood centres."

Visit the LCSA website www.lcsa.org.au for more details and NSW Budget website for the full 2010-11 Budget Papers, including information on funding for Human Services and Community Services. LCSA has produced a press release you can use to let your local media outlets know about the funding increase and what this means for your community.

Join WSCF or renew your current WSCF membership today to continue supporting us in our efforts to further enable our sector's capacity in building strong communities.

Contact: Mary Waterford on 9687 5812 or Brian Smith on 9660 2044

WSCF has written a discussion paper about ‘The Gap’. The Gap refers to the difference in access between the route bus system and the community transport system. The people who usually find themselves in this gap are well older people and people with some mobility difficulty. WSCF is recommending that Transport NSW commission and independent study into ‘the gap’ and to make suggestions for solutions.

Click here to download (PDF 61KB)

WSCF has a fully equipped Training Room/Meeting Room available for hire. The Training Room/Meeting Room is self-contained with access to electronic whiteboard, overhead projector, and data projector with PC. There is plenty of natural light, and a balcony. The room holds 18-20 people boardroom style, 30 in cafe-style and up to 50 in theatre style. The WSCF Training Room/Meeting Room is wheelchair accessible, with lift access and accessible bathroom facilities.