ANHLC NEWS Special Election Campaign Issue State elections only come around once every 4 years. The 2014 election is set to be a closely run race. The perfect environment for some local action! This edition of the ANHLC News is dedicated to the Neighbourhood House election campaign. guidelines) It s a great way to engage your house participants and get discussion going in the community and we know from past experience that encouraging House participants and community members to get involved in signing the post cards really does have an impact July 2014 The Newsletter of the Victorian Association of Neighbourhood Houses & Learning Centres Inc. Registration #A0001368L PO Box 423 Flinders Lane VIC 8009 Phone: 03 9654 1104 Email: anhlc@anhlc.asn.au Web: www.anhlc.asn.au Included in your Newsletter this month are some fantastic postcards that tell the story of NH activities just by the pictures alone. These need to be signed and delivered to your sitting Member of Parliament (see page 8 11 for the step by step on local Members. 2014 is a real opportunity to make sure the voices of Neighbourhood Houses and communities are heard loud and clear. This Newsletter is full of resources and step by step guides to help do this. With the strength of our collective action every candidate in every electorate in Victoria will know their NH and the value behind the three reforms we are seeking. Continued on page 16 Contents Page 2 What are we campaigning for? 3 What resources will assist with the campaign? 5 Who does what? 6 What does the NH Campaign Facilitator do? 6 What does the NH Champion do? 7 Will this campaign have an impact? 8 What do we do with the postcards? 12 What is the Pledge of Support? 14 What do we need to think about when I take a photo? 15 How is the campaign funded? 16 Who can we call if we need help with our campaign?
Show Your LOVE For Neighbourhood Houses Investment that delivers with heart! What are we campaigning for? In the lead-up to the 2014 Victorian state election, we are calling on major and minor political parties and independents to commit to adopting three funding reforms for NHs: More funding that is better aligned with community demand and need Establish a growth component in funding for NHs not yet receiving funds (up to 5 new and emerging NHs annually) Invest new funding in strengthening community governance through the provision of additional support for the existing 16 NH Networks across the state. 10 of these are in rural Victoria. Networks provide invaluable support for individual NHs and their governance well functioning networks that receive appropriate funding are both cost efficient and effective. Aligning funding with community demand Currently Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP) funding is not determined by specific criteria and lacks a logical funding formula linked to community need. It s been five years since there was any real growth in the program, while the Victorian population has grown by over 5.4% over this same period. We are asking for a simple and more transparent needs based formula for future funding, that takes into consideration geographic isolation, population size, level of disadvantage and rates of change in communities. Meeting unmet needs At the moment there is no mechanism to fund new NHs as they emerge in response to community need, or to establish NHs in new communities in growth areas. There are currently 29 known NHs in Victoria not in receipt of funding, 13 of which are in Melbourne s fastest growing local government areas. We are asking for funding for all existing NHs and for a growth fund to be created that would support up to five new NHs each year. This will ensure services and opportunities are made available to Victorians no matter where they live. Investing in community governance The 16 regional NH Networks are the frontline of resourcing and supporting individual NHs. In particular they support voluntary community committees, in the areas of: Community governance and management Facilitating regional collaboration Representing regional issues and needs at local and state government level Supporting communities to manage risks through training and troubleshooting. The current regional NHs Network funding formula is inadequate and inequitable, leaving remote and rural NH volunteer committees particularly vulnerable. Committees need support to meet the compliance requirements of a complex range of contractual and legal obligations and ensure sustainability of the NH. Additional funding for Networks is required so they can effectively support individual NHs. A Background Briefing on these reforms is included in this newsletter. Use this document to inform your local member of parliament and candidates how these three funding reforms will help your local communities. ANHLC News July 2014 Page 2
Show Your LOVE For Neighbourhood Houses Investment that Delivers with heart! What resources are available? Resource Target audience Purpose Location of the resource The Pledge Document Victorian State Election Platform 2014 Background Briefing Local member of parliament and candidates. Election Candidates (particularly from the three major parties Liberals, ALP, Nationals). NHs to present to local member of parliament and candidates to sign as a way of demonstrating their in-principle support for the campaign. To provide a background briefing for sitting members and candidates. This is a perfect document to support your visit to the sitting member and other candidates, it lays out the reforms and issues. Available on the ANHLC s website www.anhlc.asn.au for downloading. Copies can also be sent to NH on request. ANHLC s website www.anhlc.asn.au and also included in the newsletter package. More available by request. Postcards Local sitting member of parliament. NHs to encourage volunteers, participants and members of the community to sign the postcard to demonstrate their support for the campaign. Included with this newsletter. Additional postcards are available by request. List of all electorates and sitting members of parliament. List of candidates from the major parties NHs organising meetings with local member of parliament and candidates. To identify local members of parliament. For electorates and sitting members: www.parliament.vic.gov. au/electorates/ For candidates running in your NH electorate: ANHLC website Using the Media Kit NHs. To provide NHs with practical tips and resources. A media release template, as well as hints on using social media will be included. ANHLC s website www.anhlc.asn.au Page 3 ANHLC News July 2014
Quick Summary of Campaign To Do List 1. Understand the campaign issues. Take a look at page 2 What are we campaigning for? and Victorian State Election Platform 2014 Background Briefing included with this newsletter (also on ANLHC website). Discuss the campaign issues at your committee and staff meetings, with community members and volunteers. If you are unclear about anything ask your networker or contact ANHLC. 2. Nominate the Campaign Facilitator for your NH. (Page 6 outlines information on NH Campaign Facilitators role.) 4. Ask everyone to sign the postcards included with this newsletter. At classes or during activities at your NH, friends of the NH and community members. IMPORTANT: Postcards are only to go to your local sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). They have been specially designed to double as a petition that will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly of State Parliament. (Page 8 gives details on the postcards.) 5. Make sure you collect all the signed postcards and deliver or post them to your local Member of the Legislative Assembly. Use this website to identify your local MLA. http://ask.vic.gov.au/ Themes/infovic/displayresult.aspx? MesId=1057940 7. Organise a time to meet with your local member of parliament and other candidates. You may like to coordinate the organisation of these meetings with your Networker and other NHs if there is more than one house in the same electorate. 8. Contact your local newspaper/s and ask them (a) if they would be interested in running a story on your NHs involvement in the campaign and (b) whether they would like to cover your campaign activities and actions. Make sure your local member of parliament and candidates are informed as they like the media attention before an election. The publicity will help us and them! 9. Prepare for the meetings. a) Make sure you understand the three reforms we are after b) Print the Pledge of Support available on ANHLC s website. If this is a problem contact your networker or ANHLC. 10. Meet with your local member of parliament and candidates. Remember we are focussed on the three major parties as they are the ones that have a chance of running the government after November and we will need to negotiate with the elected government to get our reforms implemented and funded! During the meeting/s: (a) Talk through the campaign : what we are asking for and why we are asking for it. Use examples of how effective your NH is within your community to explain the value of funding NHs. (b) Ask candidates to sign the Pledge of Support. A copy of the Pledge of Support is available for printing on the ANHLC website. Please take a photo of this moment! We will post all of the photos on ANHLC s Facebook page so everyone can celebrate all of our successful sign ups. 11. Make copies of the signed Pledge of Support, one for your NH and one for ANHLC. Post or email a scanned copy to ANHLC (High resolution digital photos would be appreciated!). 12. Make sure your NH Campaign Facilitator stays in touch with your networker or ANHLC with all your updates! ANHLC News July 2014 Page 4
Who Does What? Many Hands Make Light Work! Who Role ANHLC Provide overall campaign strategy and direction Develop and disseminate campaign materials Act as a Help-desk during the campaign Assist NHs to promote their progress and achievements through local media (eg newspapers and radio) and social media (ie Facebook and Twitter) Support the Networkers. Networkers Support NHs to understand and implement campaign activities Monitor how the campaign is progressing in the network. Assist and support NH Campaign Facilitators with coordination of the campaign in the network Communicate progress and updates to ANHLC. Neighbourhood Houses Nominate a Campaign Facilitator (but make sure they are well supported!) Coordinate the campaign at the NH including (ie. signing of postcards, organising meetings with local member of parliament and candidates, etc) Communicate campaign updates to the relevant Networker or ANHLC. If possible nominate a NH Champion from your community to promote the campaign through their networks of influence Assist with meetings with local members of parliament and candidates to promote the campaign Assist with encouraging other community supporters of the NH to sign the postcards. Page 5 ANHLC News July 2014
What does the NH Campaign Facilitator do? NHs are requested to nominate a Campaign Facilitator to (a) assist with the roll-out of the campaign at the NH and (b) communicate progress and feedback on the campaign to the local Networker and ANHLC. Who can be a NH Campaign Facilitator? The NH Campaign Facilitator could be a committee member, a volunteer, NH manager/ coordinator. What will the NH Campaign Facilitator be asked to do? The NH Campaign Facilitator will: Be familiar with the campaign issues and discuss then with others including the purpose of the Pledge and postcards Coordinate the signing of the postcards at their NH, making sure the postcards are collected and properly stored. Facilitate the organisation of meetings with the local member of parliament and candidates Make sure somebody is assigned to take photos during campaign activities like the meetings with politicians (eg when the Pledge is signed) and while people are signing the postcard at the NH or visiting the NH) Inform local media (eg newspapers and radio) about the campaign Communicate with their Networker or ANHLC with progress up dates on the campaign Make sure the NH makes copies of the Pledge of Support signed by the local member of parliament and candidates for ANHLC If possible, identify campaign Champions. Influential people in the community who can promote the campaign within their networks and assist the NH with various campaign activities. What does the NH Champion do? The Champion could be well-respected or influential people in the local community who have a relationship with the NH, or may be interested in developing a relationship with the NH. They may know (and be known by) key local decision makers, local members of parliament and other candidates. The Champions may be: Political Champions for example former members of parliament or senior or well-respected people in one of the political parties. Non-political Champions may be local business people, councillors, celebrities or influential academics. The Champion could: Meet with the local member of parliament and candidates to further promote the campaign Participate in campaign activities and events Help out by doing some of the promotion of the NH campaign through public speaking or media interviews. How do you find a Champion? If your NH does not have a Champion already, you could brainstorm potential Champions with your Networker, at staff and committee meetings or chat to participants at your NH to ascertain if they know influential people in the community who may be interested! What if you can t find a Champion? Champions could help NHs raise their profile locally, but it is still possible to get involved with campaign activities without one. Let your Networker/ANHLC know if you do identify a Champion particularly if you think they may have influence! ANHLC News July 2014 Page 6
Will this campaign have an impact? Hmmmm.are you thinking this campaigning is too much effort? Keep reading, we might just change your mind. NH advocacy and campaigning has a history of success. 2006 Save the Heart of Our Community In 2006 the Save the Heart of Our Community campaign resulted in the most substantial single increase in funding in the history of the sector. After 4 years of work across the sector an increase of $27.8 million to the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP) was announced at the ANHLC Conference in Warrnambool (May 2006). A 25% increase in the rate per hour to NHs An increase in the average number of funded hours per NH A new funding formula and increased support for NH Networks Project based funds allocated to ANHLC. The campaign rekindled the collective spirit of ANHLC members. It increased and built on the advocacy skills of many people. That campaign significantly raised the profile of NHs amongst decision makers. Still not convinced? Okay, Read on... 2007 Unfunded Houses Funded! ANHLC s 2007 campaign resulted in the establishment of the Neighbourhood House Foundation Grants which provided one-off grants to previously unfunded NHs. In addition 8 of the 40 unfunded Houses received some recurrent funding. 2009 50% Increase in Funding for ANHLC The State Budget Submission saw an increase of $3.7 million over 4 years. Including a 50% increase in ANHLC s recurrent NHCP funding enabling the peak body to lift staffing levels from 2.6 FTE to 3.3 FTE! Need more convincing 2013 the improved data collection provided evidence for successful advocacy to increase funding to meet increased wage costs. In the 2014-15 state budget, additional funding of $2.9 million over four years was granted to support houses receiving less than 20 NHCP hours. This increase was (once again!) the result of the sector s lobbying and advocacy. The evidence gathered and provided from the annual NH surveys showed that Houses are able to meet community needs much better on 20 or more NHCP hours per week. This provided the basis for our advocacy. If we did not ask we would not have had this success! Now that is Convincing! This campaign will be worth the effort! As a result of your involvement in this campaign, you will: Contribute to raising the profile of NHs Demonstrate the important role NHs play in the community The campaign s success is reliant on the commitment of NHs across the state. Let s add a winning campaign leading up to the 2014 state election. Show Your Love for Neighbourhood Houses! We have a proven track record that demonstrates NHs are an investment that deliver with heart! Page 7 ANHLC News July 2014
What do we do with the postcards? What are the postcards for? The postcards are to demonstrate the community support for NHs. There is space for two signatures on each card to save costs. They are also written carefully to ensure that they will be tabled in parliament! Yes! Every postcard forms part of a petition to the parliament and must by law be presented to the parliament through your local Member of the Legislative Council! Why are we using postcards? ANHLC knows from previous campaigns that postcards are effective! For example, in the successful campaign of 2006, NHs across the state sent 30,000 postcards to politicians. If every NH sends 100 postcards to their local member of parliament during this campaign, we will exceed this record! Why are these Postcards written in such formal language on the back? By using this wording it allows the postcards to be called a petition. We have the opportunity to have our reforms tabled in parliament. This will assist us to build the profile and understanding of what NHs are doing in the community. It will also mean that the numbers of postcards received will be recorded in Hansard, adding to the documentation for our negotiations regardless of which party is successful in the November election. ANHLC News July 2014 Page 8
Page 9 ANHLC News July 2014
What does your NH need to do? It s easy! Just encourage people at your NH to sign the postcard. This includes staff, volunteers, committee members and participants. Remember two people can sign each postcard. Save the trees and the resources! (a) Who do we address the postcards to? Address all postcards to your local member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). They are obliged to table in parliament all signed cards as we have designed them as a formal petition. MLAs may also appreciate having an opportunity to promote how in touch they are with the local community by saying a few words on NHs in the parliament at the time of tabling their postcards. Remember that politicians need us as much as we need them! If you are not sure who the sitting member : http://ask.vic.gov.au/themes/infovic/displayresult.aspx?mesid=1057940 This site enables you to search for your local member of the Legislative Assembly by postcode. Easy! (Remember: The postcards must be addressed to your member of the Legislative Assembly (Your Networker can help or contact ANHLC). (b) How do we promote the campaign and get people to sign the postcards? Encourage every person who comes through the door of your NH from now until the end of September to sign a postcard. Leave a stack of postcards at key locations at your NH such as the kitchen, noticeboard, front door and/or reception. Ask participants to sign postcards at the end of activities or classes. Ask staff and committee members to sign a postcard at the end of meetings. You could even change your answering machine message to include a short message about the postcard campaign! Ask everyone! (c) What is the most cost-effective way to mail the postcards? There are a few options: Wait until a large number of postcards have been signed and deliver them in person or mail them to your local member of parliament in one envelope. This is the preferred option of most NHs. Other options? Buy a roll of stamps and pre-stamp the postcards. This means that community members don t have to take postcards away they can sign and put them in a box at your NH. Some people may even like to make a donation towards the postage costs. Ask a local business for support of a donation of 100 stamps. Have a collection box at your house where people can donate stamps or coins towards postage. It would also be a great idea to hand deliver the signed postcards to your local member of parliament when you meet with them to discuss the campaign! (d) Run out of postcards? No problem at all we would be delighted if that happened! Please just contact your Networker or ANHLC and we will happily arrange more cards to be sent. (e) What do we do with the postcards? Do we need to record how many postcards are signed? Prior to mailing postcards to your local member of parliament, we ask that you count the number of postcards signed. The total number of postcards signed will also be documented by the parliament Hansard reporter. ANHLC News July 2014 Page 10
Your MPs name and office address here House participants or supporters names, addresses and signatures here Page 11 ANHLC News July 2014
What is the Pledge of Support? The Pledge of Support is a great opportunity for your local member of parliament or candidates to indicate support for a policy to implement the three funding reforms for NHs outlined in our Election Platform 2014: Better align Neighbourhood House Coordination Program funding with community demand Establish a growth component within the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program in response to unmet need Invest new funding in strengthening Neighbourhood House community governance. This support is an important part of the NH campaign strategy to ensure that each party and all independents have the best possible Neighbourhood House policy for the election. What do you do with the Pledge of Support? You could wait until your local member of parliament has received some postcards from the NHs in their electorate before you visit them seeking their signature. However, if your local member of parliament is already supportive or you have an opportunity to ask them to sign - just go ahead! Your local situation and the availability of the candidates will determine when the best time is for your house. You may also like to coordinate this with the other NHs in the electorate. Your Networker might be able to help. Contact Labor, Liberal and/or Nationals candidates as a priority and arrange an opportunity for them to sign the Pledge. Copies of the pledge document are available on ANHLC s website. Print one out (in colour if possible) and take it along when you visit your local member of parliament/candidates or present it when your local member of parliament/candidates attend a House function. ANHLC News July 2014 Page 12
What do you do with the Pledge of Support? What do you discuss during the meeting with the local member of parliament and candidates? When you talk to your local member of parliament or candidate, we suggest that you: Share a few stories that demonstrate the important work of your NH. Maybe a House participant can join you to talk about what they get out of their involvement. Use your data from the recent NH Survey and Participant Survey to provide some evidence to back your stories. Give the local member of parliament a copy of the NH Survey 2013 and Mutual Benefits Report (copies available from ANHLC). Discuss the three funding reforms and give them the State Election Platform 2014 Background Briefing. Ask them to sign the Pledge of Support to show their in-principle support for the reforms. Take plenty of photos of the signing make it a bit theatrical present them with a special pen, print the document on fancy paper, present it in a decorated document wallet etc think high level international accord signing ceremonies! What do you do with the signed Pledge of Support? Once the Pledge of Support has been signed, we suggest that you: Make a few copies of the signed document - one for the local member of parliament/ candidate if they want one, one for your NH and one for ANHLC Post one copy to ANHLC and email a good quality photo of the signing to anhlc@anhlc.org.au Page 13 ANHLC News July 2014
What do we need to think about when I take a photo? Got any tips or pointers for taking a photos during the campaign? Please take a photo when you meet with your local member of parliament and more when you meet with other candidates. Keep clicking! The more the better so we have some to choose from and use to show the party leaders what support we have in the campaign! The photos could include both the local member of parliament/candidate and a representative from your NH. ANHLC is going to build a gallery of photos of politicians signing our pledge of support so that everyone can access them on the website and see our support. It would be fantastic to have a photo of pledges being signed in every electorate around the state! Should my local media be involved? Absolutely! Turn your NH s meeting with the local member of parliament and candidates into an opportunity to promote the great work your NH does in the community. Once you have arranged your meetings, contact your local media outlets and see if they can attend to take the photos and run a story on your NH s efforts to influence the state government. A media kit specific to this campaign will available on the ANHLC website. What do I do with the photos? The photos will be used to promote the campaign on ANHLC's website and social media, as well as the website and social media of your NH of course! The dissemination of these photos on the internet will assist to create awareness and support for the campaign. Remember: Email photos Please email all photos to your Networker or ANHLC: anhlc@anhlc.asn.au Make sure that you identify the people in the photo and get their permission to publish! Upload your photos to social media Facebook Twitter: (a) Tag your local member of parliament by placing the @ symbol followed by your local member of parliament s Twitter handle. For example, if your local member of parliament is Joe Bloggs MP, finish your tweet with @joebloggsmp (b) Include the hashtag #anhlc in your tweet. If you need help with social media ask one of your NH participants! There are bound to be experts everywhere! ANHLC News July 2014 Page 14
How is the campaign funded? ANHLC has committed some funds to the campaign but it is not enough. As with previous campaigns extra funds are needed to pay for: The printing of thousands of postcards and copies of the State Election Platform 2014 Background Briefing document Extra costs associated with producing and posting this special campaign edition and its inclusions General coordination of the campaign activities at the state-wide level. Before we get to the ask, we want to thank you! We know that many Houses will dedicate staff and volunteer time and other resources to the campaign. This is a great contribution already and appreciated. Whatever you can contribute in kind or in dollars will ultimately benefit the whole sector, not just your NH or ANHLC. NHs will differ in their ability to provide financial support to the campaign. We suggest the following amounts based on gross incomes of NH. Less than $50,000 $50 $50,000- $500,000 $100 Over $500,000 $200 If your house has the capacity to provide more we would be grateful. If your house is not in a position to make the recommended donation please consider whatever you can afford. Thanks again! DONATIONS : Or Please email anhlc@anhlc.asn.au if you require an invoice. Payments can be made by: Direct deposit Bendigo Bank ANHLC BSB: 633-000 Acc: 127561009 Reference: your NH Name Cheque to ANHLC PO Box 423 Flinders Lane VIC 8009. Pink donation slip with all details included in this newsletter. Page 15 ANHLC News July 2014
I need help! Who can I contact for support in this campaign? Having problems with the campaign? If there are issues you are grappling with or finding difficult Don t despair! Try your Networker or contact ANHLC and ask for the CAMPAIGN HOTLINE. It has been set up to try and deal with all dilemmas! A group of experienced politicians and campaigners have volunteered to support the campaign if they can! Contact details Victorian Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres Post: PO BOX 423 Flinders Lane, VIC 8009 Telephone: (03) 9654 1104 Website: Email: www.anhlc.asn.au anhlc@anhlc.asn.au From page 1 There is a strong history of success in NH campaigning (want to know more about this? Turn to page 7 Will this campaign have an impact?). NHs all over the state will be visiting their local members of parliament and inviting candidates from the major parties to come and see why the NH is a great investment of funds. Why not get lots of local media attention when your member of parliament and candidates sign up to our specially designed Pledge of Support (read all about this on Page 12). Information to support all these campaigning activities are either included with this newsletter or available on the ANHLC website special section devoted to the 2014 election. It s all there! Will it be worth it? There is only one sure guarantee, if you never ask you will never get! NH sector campaigning has an encouraging history of success take a look at our timeline of achievements on page 7. Let s get on to it! Get inspired, inspire others. Talk it up and get campaigning! ANHLC has set up a Help Desk. If you have any questions or need additional support please call or email us. If the answer cannot be provided immediately one of our experienced supporters will call you back. We have former politicians and campaigners willing to advise you as best they can. ANHLC News July 2014 Page 16