Increasing community pride and participation

Annual Christmas light competition
The competition is a resident-driven initiative to encourage people to put on Christmas light displays in their homes. The competition encourages participation - winners are decided by Neighbourhood Renewal residents of other project areas in Colac!

Community Hub community consultation and volunteering
Residents have been actively involved in making decisions that will influence physical and cultural changes to the Hub. Residents have contributed 2,000 volunteer hours to the project, generating strong community ownership and creating a real sense of pride.

Pot Luck Day
This was a resident-driven community event held at South West Primary School. The day offered a range of activities for all ages. Colac Neighbourhood Renewal staff used a range of consultation methods throughout the day to gain a further understanding of residents' needs and priorities.

Improving employment, learning and local economic activity

Employment programs
Neighbourhood Renewal's Employment Support Initiative and the Workforce Participation Program are linking residents with jobs, particularly in areas of skill shortage.

Since Neighbourhood Renewal began in Colac, these schemes have helped 30 residents find jobs. In 2006/07 they will help a further five residents into employment.

Community Jobs program
The Community Jobs Program, which operated until 2004-05, found jobs for over 3,775 participants, including 851 Neighbourhood Renewal residents. In Colac, a total of 48 residents found work through the program.

Social enterprises
Neighbourhood Renewal is supporting social enterprises that create jobs and training opportunities for Neighbourhood Renewal residents. The enterprises generally employ people as trainees for 12 months or less and help them onto further employment and learning pathways. In Colac, a landscape and maintenance enterprise called Ace Works is delivering fencing and maintenance services to local properties.

Adult literacy and numeracy
When residents identified the need to hold classes away from institutional settings, Neighbourhood Renewal looked for alternative community venues to conduct classes. Local residents have been attending adult literacy and numeracy classes at the Community Hub and enrolments have exceeded class sizes.

Enhancing housing and the environment

Upgrading and improving housing
Neighbourhood Renewal has spent more than $2 million on delivering 120 housing upgrades and immediate improvements. In 2006/07 a further $850,000 will fund works to another 75 properties.

Parks redevelopment
Colac Otway Shire has been working with local residents and with Colac Neighbourhood Renewal to develop master plans for six parks within the Neighbourhood Renewal area. Works have started in Robertson Street Park and further funding has been obtained to complete works to all six parks.

Community tool bank
Community members can access gardening maintenance equipment from the community tool bank at low cost.

Retrofitting project
Energy retrofits have been installed in 240 houses in the Colac Neighbourhood Renewal area.

Improving personal safety and reducing crime

Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Renewal has played an integral role in re-establishing Neighbourhood Watch in Colac. The group meets monthly to discuss and initiate projects that promote community safety. This committee has 60% Neighbourhood Renewal resident representation.

The Colac Otway Community Safety Group
This newly established group includes representatives from Emergency Services, Victoria Police, Neighbourhood Watch, government groups and community members. The committee meets monthly to provide a place-based response to emerging community crime and safety issues.

Promoting health and wellbeing

Happy healthy families
Seven programs consisting of six sessions have been held for parents of school age children to provide information about healthy eating, physical activity, parenting and self esteem. The program is encouraging resident participation by addressing common barriers including, literacy, transport, and low cost childcare. Neighbourhood Renewal residents have been co-facilitating the sessions.

Paps it's ok peer education model
General education sessions and peer education sessions have contributed to a 10% increase in pap screening in Colac. Residents now meet with a community health nurse to undertake peer education sessions about a range of women's health issues.

Community gardens
Residents and stakeholders have been working together to develop implementation plans for a demonstration garden. The garden will allow residents to gain skills and knowledge about garden features, composting and water conservation to adapt in their own homes.

Studio Freestyle
This multi-media arts project engaged 301 artists and young people across the Colac Otway Shire. The project helped young people gain skills and facilitate workshops in performing arts, visual arts, music, animation and project management. All sectors of the community including local and state government, education, health, local business and community artists supported the project.

Increasing access to services and improving government responsiveness

Community Hub co-location
Workers from Colac Area Health and Colac Adult and Community Education Inc. have co-located at the Colac Community Hub. This means residents can readily access a variety of service providers and health professionals including education, health promotion and community development workers.

Colac Otway Plan for Youth strategy
Local stakeholders and community members helped develop a youth strategy based around the following objectives: childcare, housing and homelessness, education 15+, education under 15, transport and recreation.