Many of our publications are available in printed format. If you would like a copy please contact us via email at wscf@wscf.org.au or phone 02 9687 9669
This guide to get involved in transport issues in Western Sydney, should be read in conjunction with "A Beginner's Guide to Transport Advocacy in Western Sydney". They are publications compiled by WSCF to inform and educate the community about Western Sydney transport issues.
Click here to download your own copy of "All Aboard" (PDF 1.04MB)
(A Beginner's guide to Transport Advocacy in Western Sydney will be available on-line shortly)
Transport is the means of most people getting access to education, employment, health services, shopping and recreation. Lack of transport options is a major cause of social exclusion.
The aim of "All Aboard! Getting Involved in transport Issues in Western Sydney" and "A Beginner's Guide to Transport Advocacy in Western Sydney" is to
Raise community awareness on current transport disadvantage in Western Sydney
Identify key issues faced by the community
Give basic background information on transport planning and infrastructure in Western Sydney
Provide an opportunities to work with the WSCF Transport Project
Executive Summary and Recommendations: Click Here (PDF 220KB)
Connecting With Buses - Full Report and Recommendations: Click Here (PDF ~900KB)
Improvements to bus services are needed to reduce transport disadvantage in Western Sydney. Transport disadvantage is a term used to describe a situation where disadvantaged populations live in an area where transport and/or other facilities and services are difficult to access or unavailable.
In 2003, a review of bus services in NSW was undertaken by the former Premier of NSW, The Hon Barrie Unsworth.The Review was delivered to the Ministry of Transport in February 2004. Soon after, the Ministry of Transport responded to the Review and commenced implementing the recommendations, with some qualifications as the Ministry saw fit. Now, in 2009, five years after the Unsworth Review was delivered, WSCF believes it is timely to review how the transformation of bus services in Western Sydney is proceeding.
In August 2008 WSCF convened a transport forum at Granville Community Centre which was attended by representatives of many key stakeholder groups including bus companies, the Ministry of Transport, local Councils, the RTA and some community service agencies. A paper was prepared for that meeting which canvassed many of the topics now discussed in this paper. The participants at this meeting provided comments on the topics and these comments have been considered in the writing of this paper. WSCF acknowledges and thanks all the participants at that forum for their contributions.
WSCF believes that by creating this report and provoking discussion and advocacy around how to improve the bus services in Western Sydney we can make a contribution to reducing transport disadvantage and social exclusion in Western Sydney.
To Market, to Market publication (476KB PDF)
“ To Market, to Market – Competitive Tendering and the Purchase of service in the Community Sector “
a partnership research project between Michael Darcy of Social Justice Social Change, University of Western Sydney; Jane McIvor of Sector Connect and Mary Waterford of Western Sydney Community Forum.
This research is the culmination of several years of research, followed up by focus groups and seminars.
The evidence gathered in this study and the examples cited demonstrate the distance which is opening up between government and its partners in the delivery of community welfare services in NSW, and which threatens a long standing and productive relationship. Adoption of the recommendations of this report might begin to close that distance.
WSCF response to the DV Strategic Framework (597KB PDF)
The Western Sydney Community Forum response to the discussion paper on NSW Domestic and Family Violence Strategic Framework by the Office for Women’s Policy is constructed under three categories:
1. Intervention
2.Data collection
3.Prevention
This paper will examine the shortfalls of the current domestic violence response strategy within the above themes and make recommendations for future directions.
Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF), with the support from community sector workers across the Western Sydney region, has published a resource & information booklet to help workers performance better in this aspect.
You may contact us via email wscf@wscf.org.au for a hard copy, or
Click Here to download a soft copy of the booklet (1.6MB PDF)
This is a new WSCF and Voice For SONG partnership publication.
Why are local community organisations important to healthy democratic communities? Think Local is a short dynamic encapsulation of our values – an essential resource for every community worker and management committee member. The Booklet identifies the many attributes of local small organisations, their contribution to social capital and financial economies and current opportunities for local organisations. It ask us to record the stories of some of the innovative work we do to add to the rich body of evidence of the importance of our work.
Click here to download (PDF 226KB)
This publication is the result of a WSCF research project which explores issues faced by service providers in relation to recruitment, training and retention of volunteers within Home and Community Care (HACC) services in the Metro West region of Sydney.
Download this report (220KB PDF)
Building on the work of NCOSS, and focussing on the development of local partnerships with Western Sydney workers, five issues have been selected as being of particular interest to Western Sydney and being the subject of existing community sector campaigns.
These issues are: the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), Health-related transport, Provision of Aids and Appliances for People with Disabilities (PADP), Transport and Workforce issues.
This is available in printed format or as a pdf available for download. Contact us by phoning 02 9687 9669 if you would like a copy.
Download this report (378KB PDF)
This report is also available in hard copy. Please contact us for a free copy.
The report looks at the impact of transport disadvantage on families and individuals with low incomes and no motor vehicle, living in areas with poor public transport provision. The report finds transport is unevenly distributed across Sydney and impacts more heavily on lower income households, reducing access to jobs, education and recreational options. The report concludes that a mix of creative solutions are required to address people's travel needs.
Download this report (3.2MB PDF, large!)
This paper seeks to examine the current NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) funding and policy framework as it impacts on small community sector organisations in Greater Metropolitan Sydney. In particular, it examines the DoCS Funding Policy as it has unfolded through the recent DoCS Early Intervention Program funding process and the practical and policy implications of this on small community organisations. The paper also pays particular attention to the costs and implications for small organisations in relation to the provision of services, performance evaluation and monitoring and efficiency measures.
Download this report (173KB PDF)
This issues paper has been produced by a network of individuals and small community organisations. It has a NSW perspective but the issues highlighted are global issues and illustrates why small community organisations are valuable. It describes some of the impacts on their wellbeing and some recommendations to address these impacts.
This paper introduces Voice for SONG and its ideas for moving forward to increase awareness of the value of small community organisations and increase cooperation between small community organisations, large non-government organisations (NGOs), government, business and the general community. It describes the collaborative and complementary role of Voice for SONG in relation to peak bodies (bodies that represent community sector organisations).
Download this paper (PDF 263KB)This report identifies the recruitment difficulties of paid staff in community organisations based in Western Sydney and explores some of the contributing factors to staff turnover in these organisations.
Download this report (1.3MB PDF)
The need for supervision for NGO workers emerged at a number of events in western Sydney. Concerns from workers that the lack of supervision was having a direct impact on career development and on service delivery had been expressed. Western Sydney Community Forum applied to the Department of Community Services for funds to research the need for supervision and to develop a response to that need. Subsequently a Steering Committee was established to explore the professional supervision options for Managers/Coordinators of CSGP funded services in the Cumberland Prospect area in western Sydney.
Download this report (47KB PDF)
The main purpose of this report is to provide a clear record of the processes and outcomes of the Increasing Partnerships with Aboriginal Organisations Workshops conducted during October and November 2002. The aim of the project was to conduct a series of workshops to facilitate discussion and generate ideas to improve Aboriginal people’s access to mainstream services in three local areas, ie the Blue Mountains, Nepean and the Hawkesbury.
Download this report (142KB PDF)
This Kit is a useful resource for new and existing management committee members and workers. It aims to:
help management committee members and workers better understand the Service Frameworks and Service Agreements for funding through the Department of Community Services
provide guidelines about Department of Community Services funded programs, i.e. the Community Services Grants Program (CSGP), Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) and the Children’s Services Program (CSP)
give management committee members and workers information to assist them to develop an effective service, which meets community needs, as well as Department of Community Services’ requirements
identify resources and avenues of support to assist in delivering high quality services to clients and community groups
define common terms and acronyms used in the community sector.
The NSW State Election will be held on 24 March 2007. Throughout 2006, Western Sydney Community Forum developed a number of policy proposals for the election. They were developed in associaiton with the New South Wales Council of Social Services and our member organisations and aim to improve the quality of life for residents of Western Sydney.
No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) Download this fact sheet (42KB PDF)
Health-related Transport Download this fact sheet (41KB PDF)
Provision of Aids and Applicances for People with Disabilities (PADP) Download this fact sheet (42KB PDF)
Transport Download this fact sheet (45KB PDF)
Workforce issues Download this fact sheet (44KB PDF)