Social Inclusion Action Group Expression of Interest

Do you want to make our community a more connected and welcoming place?

We’re looking for community members to join our new Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG).

Are you passionate about your local community?

Do you have past or current experience of being socially isolated?

Do you want to help create a more connected community?

Do you want to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

About the group:

Ballarat's Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) is being developed to promote community belonging. With the goal of ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected, and are able to participate fully in community life regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. More information on this group can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions and Terms of Reference in the sidebar.

As a member, you’ll be supported to:

Identify gaps in services or support in Ballarat

Make decisions about funding programs and initiatives that bring people together

Share ideas and help shape a more inclusive community

Everyone is welcome to apply. We value and respect people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Support will be provided to anyone requiring assistance to apply for and participate in the group. Group members will be paid for their time.

Expression of Interest open 4 August - 25 August

Expression of Interest are now closed

The application period for Expressions of Interest is now closed.

We're grateful for the strong interest and engagement from our community. We have received an extraordinary number of expressions that illustrates that the issues of loneliness and mental wellbeing are very important to our community!

Given the oversubscription for places on the SIAG, officers will take the first few weeks of September to assess and appoint the group.

We would love to have you all involved, unfortunately there are limited positions available on the group.

All applicants will be contacted in the coming weeks. Community members not offered a place on the SIAG will be provided with options to be involved in activities, or stay informed in the future.

If you'd like to stay informed about the progress of the Social Inclusion Action Group or future opportunities to be involved, please email SIAG@ballarat.vic.gov.au.

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Expression of Interest Open

Applications open 9am Monday 4 August
Timeline item 2 - complete

Community Drop In Sessions

Wendouree Library
Tuesday 5 August, 3.30pm- 5.00pm
Lucas Community Centre
Wednesday 6 August, 9am - 11am
Ballarat Central Library
Wednesday 13 August, 5pm - 7pm
Saturday 23 August, 1pm - 3pm
Sebastopol Library
Thursday 14 August, 4pm - 6pm
Saturday 23 August, 10am - 12pm
Djila-tjarriu Community Centre
Monday 18 August, 2.30pm-4pm
Parent Place
Friday 22 August, 10am-12pm
Timeline item 3 - complete

Expression of Interest Closed

Applications close 5pm Monday 25 August
Timeline item 4 - active

Applicant Shortlisting

Some applicants will be contacted for a relaxed in person or online interview throughout September or early October.
Timeline item 5 - incomplete

All applicants receive notice

Successful SIAG members notified and provide information on next steps.
Unsuccessful applicants notified and provided with further options to stay connected.

Document Library

Contact Us

Have questions or want support to complete your application? Please contact us below:

Contact Information
Name	Ned or Marisa
Phone	5320 5500
Email	SIAG@ballarat.vic.gov.au

The National Relay Service is available as a phone solution for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.

TTY users phone 133 677
Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727
Internet relay users - visit the National Relay Service website

If you need an interpreter, call 131 450 or visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website for more information.

Frequently asked questions

SIAGs have been developed to promote inclusion within the Ballarat community with the goal of ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances, feels valued, respected, and are able to participate fully in the community.

Members will be supported to:

Identify gaps in services or support in Ballarat

Make decisions about funding programs and initiatives that bring people together

Share ideas and help shape a more inclusive community

Any member of the Ballarat community over 16 years old can apply to become a member of the SIAG.

We are specifically looking for people who have experienced loneliness or feeling excluded from the community in some way.

No. We expect there to be many people in the community who are interested in being a part of the SIAG. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place, as spaces are limited.

Members will complete approximately 3 hours of work each fortnight for the first 3 - 6 months. After this time, meetings will move to monthly.

This 3 hours includes: meeting, travel time, reading and understanding documents.

Membership will be reviewed after 2 years, at this point you may want to recommit for another term or step away.

12-15 community members will make up the Ballarat SIAG.

SIAG members who are a part of a local business, community organisation or association must not represent the business, community organisation or association during SIAG meetings unless asked to do so. Representatives of local organisations will be invited to meetings by request of the SIAG.

The SIAG will meet on a fortnightly basis and requires a minimum number of members to attend to be able to make decisions. Meetings will be available to join online to ensure members can attend as many meetings as possible. SIAG members will need to attend most meetings, if you can’t attend you need to let the SIAG Project Officer know before the meeting. If a member needs to take a break from meetings, they can arrange this with the SIAG Project Officer.

Support will be provided to anyone requiring assistance to apply for and participate in the group. This may include:

Having a support worker or support person attend meetings with you;
Wheelchair/pram/ramp access to meeting spaces;
Assisted listening devices;
Visual aids;
Assistance with transport;
Assistance with childcare;
Having an interpreter attend meetings with you;
Having an assistance animal attend meetings with you; or
Attending meetings in an online capacity.

Meetings will be held in buildings that feature accessible entry, close to public transport, accessible toilets and accessible parking/drop off zone.

All documents will be provided to members in accessible formats and members will have the option to discuss documents with City of Ballarat staff before meetings.

Successful applicants will be invited to discuss any further adjustments they require to be able to fully and meaningfully participate in each meeting.

Yes, you can bring them along, however, as they are not an approved member of the SIAG, they can support you but cannot take an active part in the meetings.

Yes, members will be paid $35 per hour for every meeting attended. This will be discussed with successful applicants.

The meetings will be run by SIAG members supported by City of Ballarat staff.

The SIAG will discuss issues facing members of the Ballarat community specifically regarding impacts of mental ill-health, social exclusion, and loneliness. Members will then be responsible for identifying and reporting back to the SIAG on current programs or events addressing these issues that may require funding or gaps in community programs that could be positively impacted by a SIAG funded event or program.

SIAG members will be responsible for developing and implementing a funding strategy for Ballarat’s Local Social Inclusion Investment Fund. This includes development of funding guidelines, funding decision matrix, and participation in funding assessment panels.

Yes, members will have the opportunity to join the meetings via Microsoft Teams.

You will be supported by two City of Ballarat team members, who you will be able to contact at any time to privately discuss any questions or concerns.

City of Ballarat will provide a comprehensive onboarding process to all SIAG members and will provide ongoing support to members to build skills throughout their tenure with the group.

As recommended by the Royal Commission, Social Inclusion Action Groups will receive ongoing funding from the Victorian State Government.

Funding includes staff in each Local Government Area, payment for group members and a Local Social Inclusion Investment Fund in each Local Government Area. The Local Social Inclusion Investment Fund will support social inclusion and connection initiatives across two funding streams: 

General: 80 per cent of the Local Social Inclusion Investment Fund 

First Nations: 20 per cent of the Local Social Inclusion Investment Fund (decisions about the Aboriginal initiative funding will be made by the Aboriginal community).

For the safety of group members and the City of Ballarat, Working with Children's and Police Checks will be required for this role. These checks will only be carried out if you are offered a place on the SIAG.

Please note only offences relating to violence, child safety, fraud, and other serious offences will be a barrier to SIAG membership.

If you have any concerns, please raise them with Ned or Marisa.

The City of Ballarat will pay for any required checks and can help with applications.

Phone	5320 5500
Email	info@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Website	www.ballarat.vic.gov.au
In writing	The Phoenix 25 Armstrong Street South Ballarat, Vic, Australia

Social Inclusion Action Group Expression of Interest

Do you want to make our community a more connected and welcoming place?

We’re looking for community members to join our new Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG).

Expression of Interest open 4 August - 25 August

Expression of Interest are now closed

Ready to have your say?

Contact Us

Acknowledgment of Country