Community Engagement - Leaders in Action

12 month contract

If you're passionate about making a difference in the community and developing community leaders we'd love you to work with us.

Click here for a position description

Committee for Ballarat is proud that our agenda is 100% driven by our members.

Each year our members come together to look at the key issues they would like to see Committee address in the year ahead.

Benefit of membership
We encourage all members to take advantage of this key benefit of membership by contributing to this vital process. It is you, our members, who hold the strength, capacity and expertise to ensure Committee continues on its progressive and successful path.  

Successful track record
Committee has tackled many important issues with great success as a result of this annual process. Some recent examples are:
Promoting empowerment and employment among young adults through our YAE program (Young Adult Empowerment)
Advocating to attract businesses that will provide sustainable employment in the BWEZ (Ballarat West Employment Zone) through our BWGZ project (Ballarat West Growth Zone)
Working to secure a more frequent, more reliable, and faster commuter rail service with better mobile coverage through our FastTrack Ballarat project
 

Date: Thursday 2 May

Time: 7.15 – 9.30am

Venue: North Ballarat Football & Sports Club Creswick Road, Ballarat

RSVP: Friday 19 April Ph: 5332 1240 or admin@commiteeforballarat.com 
 

Don't miss this FREE community forum: Andrew Heslop (Neighbour Day Founder), Dr Sally Cockburn (Dr Feelgood), Fr Bob Maguire and Lindsay Florence.

Date: Tuesday 23 April

Time: 6.30pm.

Click here for full details.

Proudly initiated by LBWR and supported by Committee. 

Corporate Champions Breakfast Seminar with Minister Kate Ellis... more

Committee is backing the bid for Ballarat to be a host city for the Asian Cup in 2015.  We believe that as an Asian Cup Host City, the long-term social and economic benefits for Ballarat and our region will be immense and that we all need to work together to see this plan through. 

On Friday 22 March 2013 we will celebrate the graduation of participants from our fourth Young Adult Empowerment (YAE) Program.

The graduation is a significant milestone in the lives of these young adults. Please join us for this event, details below.

When: Friday 22 March 2013 from 4.00 – 6.00 pm

Where: BRACE ITC, Cnr Windermere and Urquhart Streets, Ballarat
               (Entrance to ITC and car park from Windermere Street

RSVP: Tuesday, 19 March 2013
             Ph: 5332 1240 or email admin@committeeforballarat.com

Following the graduation ceremony, light refreshments will be served

For Committee it’s very much business as usual following Dr Denis Napthine being announced as the new Premier of Victoria. ... more

Congratulations to UB – we were proud to support their funding application to DPCD for developing a Master Plan for UB’s Lydiard Street Campus precinct. We want Ballarat’s CBD to be commercially vibrant and dynamic as part of the bigger picture of revitalising the CBD precinct. We wish UB well with this project and look forward to seeing the Master Plan when it is complete.

A benefit of membership with Committee for Ballarat is that we can add our support to your projects that fit our vision.

FastTrack Ballarat project was successfully launched in September 2012.

Whilst acknowledging the efficiencies to be gained through the Regional Rail Link upgrade work, Committee for Ballarat is pushing for additional funding to secure:

• Reliable mobile connectivity for the entire journey
• A second platform at Bacchus March to improve scheduling and minimise disruptions
• A passing loop near Ballan
• Duplication of the Ballarat – Warrenheip section
• Additional rolling stock
• Electrification of the Melton – Melbourne section on a dedicated line to remove bottlenecks
• A feasibility study for duplicating the Ballarat – Melbourne section to achieve a truly dedicated service

Click here to read an update on this important project

Twelve graduates of the 2012 Leadership program presented a series of workshops at our first ever Yr 12 Leaders Forum held on 13 February. Workshop themes included leadership, teamwork, communities, culture building and wellbeing. We were delighted to host school leaders from across the region and congratulate this group of motivated, engaged and excited young people – they are great role models for their schools.
 
A HUGE thanks

To our presenters who put in many hours to prepare and deliver their engaging workshops: Belinda Burley, Andrew Eales, Dr Nina Fotinatos, Michelle Harper, Barry Kay, Larelle Kuczer, Beth Lamont, Andrew McManus, Norman Prueter and Janelle Ryan.

A special thanks

To the following organisations for their wonderful support: Mars, Bendigo Bank, Telstra, Ballarat Community Health, City of Ballarat, CIP Grants and B-You, University of Ballarat.

Feedback from the students
I think this is a fantastic initiative and has really motivated and encouraged me to give it my all this year. It was perfectly timed at the beginning of the year as we are just starting to get into our roles. Ella, Loreto
 
I loved it, it has been really helpful and I have learnt loads. Zac, Ballarat Christian College
 
Feedback from the teachers
It was a great day for both students and staff being able to listen and learn and share ideas. Let’s do it once a term. Beth, Mt Clear Secondary College
 
I really enjoyed how we got to learn new things with other student leaders. Zoe, Damascus College
 
Today was an amazing event, such a great experience and I had such a great time. I will recommend this to all the budding leaders at my school. Thanks again! Timothy, Daylesford Secondary College

Photos will be on the LBWR website on Monday.
 

 

The City of Ballarat  has the option to declare a locally significant day or Melbourne Cup Day as the public holiday for Ballarat.  This is your opportunity to choose which day you would like to see as the public holiday for 2013. This day will be considered as the public holiday for the next 4 years.

1. Melbourne Cup Day – Tuesday 5 November, 2013

2. Ballarat Show Day – Friday 8 November, 2013

3. Eureka Day – Monday 2 December, 2013  

Have your say during February via:

Web: www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay

In person: Survey forms are available in The Courier every Friday or can be collected at Council’s Customer Service Centre, The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South

Twitter: twitter.com/cityofballarat

Facebook: facebook.com/ballaratcity

Post: Fill in the survey form available every Friday in The Courier or download it online and post to City of Ballarat, PO BOX 655, Ballarat, VIC, 3350  

Survey closes Thursday 28 February.  

Feedback will go to an Ordinary Meeting of Ballarat City Council for consideration on Wednesday 13 March.

Display our new ‘proud member’ logo to highlight your membership

We’d love you to use it on your website, annual report, facebook page, letterhead etc. For more ideas and examples please see the below document: opportunities and guidelines: using our ‘proud member’ logo.
 
For a copy of the logo (jpeg and eps files available) or if you have any questions please contact us at admin@committeeforballarat.com or 5332 1240.

Opportunities and guidelines: using our 'proud member' logo

Powercor Australia, the electricity distribution business responsible for maintaining the network in the Ballarat region, has informed the Committee for Ballarat of its smart meter rollout.

Installation of smart meters in Victoria started in October 2009, under a Victorian Government mandate. To date, Powercor has installed around 860,000 meters in Melbourne, central Victoria, Western Victoria, Geelong and the Surf Coast, with a combined customer satisfaction rating of 79% for December 2012.

In 2011, the Victorian Government conducted a review of the Smart Meter Program. The review included a cost benefit analysis and looked into installation safety and privacy concerns. The review found that community benefits outweigh the cost of the rollout and that smart meters are safe.

As a result, the Victorian Government has announced that the rollout would continue. All business and residential premises are now required to have their conventional meter replaced with a new digital smart meter by December 2013.

In our recent discussions, Powercor confirmed that 21 days prior the scheduled meter installation, Ballarat business customers will receive a first letter inviting them to make an appointment on-line for the meter exchange to minimise disruption. 12 days before installation, a second letter will confirm the details of the appointment.

Smart meter installation in other States has recently been advocated at a Federal level as an important step to help consumers shift part of their electricity usage from peak to off peak.

As well as driving advanced digital metering in future years, smart meters will support electricity consumption monitoring through devices such as In Home Displays and gateway devices, solar panel operations and help in direct load control.

More longer term, smart meters will be a tool supporting new technologies such as electric cars and digital household appliances.

Ballarat business customers can contact Powercor on 1300 783 882 if they have any concerns or visit: www.powercor.com.au/smartmeters for further information.

Our next YAE program is due to commence Monday 11th February 2013 to Friday 22nd March 2013. The Federal Government has approved an extension from 4 to 6 weeks to include a fully accredited Certificate I in Vocational Preparation.

We want to hear about any young adult (17-22 years) who is not engaged in full-time employment or education in 2013 who would be interested in and eligible for the YAE February program. Participants must show a willingness to commit to the 6-week program and must be seeking employment. They must not be linked to a Job Service Agency or Disability Service Provider. 

The program is FREE to all participants and includes:

• Full Certificate I in Vocational Preparation (by Bounce Consulting: Maria Smith & Co)
• Fitness and empowerment training (by GLO Australia: Steve Moneghetti, Jake Bridges & Ryan Waight) plus many more team building and empowerment activities 
• Overnight survival camp (Lorne Surf Life Saving Club)
• Equine Learning Experiences Australia (1-day Equine Therapy)
•  A Bendigo Bank account with no fees for 6 months with $ deposited by YAE 
• Personal grooming and presentation skills
• Job seeking skills and mock interviews with industry partners (plus interview outfits if required) – many previous participants have gained jobs from this day
• 1-on-1 personal career and vocational coaching (by Bounce Consulting)
• Opportunities to link with Committee for Ballarat industry members 
• Each YAE graduate will be allocated a mentor to support them for 12 months – mentors are volunteers from the Ballarat business community and graduates of the Leadership Ballarat & Western Region program (Leaders in Action)

For more information please contact Pam Anderson:

“If you're involved in business and realise the importance of all sectors working together to make things happen then you become a member of the Committee.

You can sit on your hands and be part of the problem or join the Committee to be part of the solution.”

David Canny
Red Lion

On Thursday 6 December Committee for Ballarat hosted our final Round Table Dinner for 2013 - On the couch with General Peter Cosgrove.

In an interview conducted by New Chair, Ms Judy Verlin, General Cosgrove demonstrated why he is a truly exceptional Australian. Members and guests were treated to an up close and personal look at one of the nations great leaders and he responded to questions with a huge amount of generoisty and humilty.  

We are pleased to provide a recording of this event, if you missed it (or even if you were at the dinner but just can't get enough of this amazing australian) you can view it here

Click here to view the photo gallery