An innovative new project has just been launched by the Goulburn North Eastern Association of Community Centres.
Thanks to funding provided by the Department of Planning and Community Development in 2009, GNEACC Online vastly improves accessibility to services and support for its members.
With the ever-increasing volume of information available to community organisations and the escalating needs of member Houses, the GNEACC Network identified a need for:
- Improved communication across the Network
- Easy, quick access to up-to-date information
- Accurate governance information for committees
- Resources and mutual support for neighbourhood house staff
So it was agreed that the Network needed to find a more efficient method to to produce, store and disseminate support materials. It was also agreed that the best approach would be to create an on-line repository which could then be quickly and easily accessed by all member Houses
But it wasn’t until the Network received a funding grant via the DPCD Modernising Neighbourhood Houses program that plans to upgrade inadequate IT facilities and develop an on-line information share system could finally go ahead.
The project has made possible:
- Hardware upgrade including lap-top and digital projector and improvements to inadequate back-up facilities including external hard drive and on-line storage.
- Improvements to communication and accessibility for the whole Network via use of an on-line resource management system – called GNEACC Online.
The goal was to ensure:
- Governance and management support for all committees and staff
- Availability of examples of best practice
- Immediate accessiility for people with limited time
- Up-to-date, consistent and timely information
- Guidelines specific to neighbourhood houses
- A resource that could be used for a variety of purposes
Invaluable support for the project was received from Brenden Worley, Managing Director of Mediart Solutions in Shepparton, who is experienced in developing communication links within networks. Brenden was involved in the GNEACC Online project from the earliest stages and has been committed to developing a system which addresses the particular needs of the GNEACC Network.
The resulting resource provides facilities for information-sharing, downloadable documents and templates, calendar, newsletter and image gallery as well as a user manual, information/training sessions and ongoing back-up for users of the resource. These resources will be added to over time according to needs of Network members.
Given that governance of a neighbourhood house is a demanding role committee members require a great deal of support and information on their roles in governance, employment and accountability.
Likewise, neighbourhood house coordinators work in very demanding circumstances, often as sole workers, and rely on the Network for support, problem solving and debriefing.
GNEACC Online facilitates:
- Development of best practice
- Empowerment of and support for committees and staff
- Stronger organisations
- Stronger links within the Network
- Skills/knowledge which can be transferred to roles in other organisations
GNEACC Network members are encouraged provide feedback and suggestions for improvements to GNEACC Online and to contribute resources to be shared with other members.
