Community sector resources

The City of Port Phillip is home to more than 200 community groups. We're building stronger communities through a range of initiatives and support programs for local groups.

Community Sector News

Community Sector News is our free monthly electronic newsletter for staff and volunteers of local community groups. The newsletter offers information about:

training and professional development
grants and funding
events
other programs and initiatives
community profile

Community training calendar

We run free training sessions to build the capacity of local community groups and non-profit organisations.

Port Phillip Community Training Calendar 2025

Time: 9.30 am to 1.30 pm
Topics include:
- Cultural competence – meaning and importance.
- Australian settlement history (setting the scene and the legacy impact of colonisation on attitudes and lifestyle choices).
- The building blocks of identity (definitions of Aboriginality; Aboriginal family values, land and identity, lore, dreaming and creation; myths of settlement).
- The building blocks of identity – the Aboriginal community today (saying sorry, terminologies and statistical outline of Australia’s Indigenous population).
- An introduction to developing personal strategies for working more effectively with Aboriginal people.
  
  Morning tea included.
Bookings essential: https://www.trybooking.com/DBHNL
Location: The Garden Studio, Gasworks Arts Park
Time: 6 to 8 pm (online)
In the lead up to a new financial year it's timely to develop a fundraising plan for your community group.
Not-for-profit organisations often have a limited amount of money at their disposal and if one income stream comes to an end; sometimes it can also be the end for the organisation.
This session will help community organisations to review their current fundraising practices and look to the secure their future with alternative solutions. At the end of this session, members / groups will have constructed a three-year funding plan that fits.
Topics include:
- Reviewing the right approach for a community organisation
- Knowing what skills are needed to succeed
- Setting a plan for who is responsible for what
- Appreciating the pros and cons of different modes of fundraising
- Embedding fundraising as part of the everyday
Delivered by: Not for Profit Training
Where: Online
Bookings essential: https://www.trybooking.com/DAVYI

Training topics that have been delivered in the past include:

Grant writing
De-escalation and conflict resolution for public facing roles
Social media marketing for your community group
Governance
Transgender awareness training
Ageism awareness training
Social Media for Community Groups
Community Project activation workshop
Disability awareness training
Understanding financials for committees and community groups.

Port Phillip Volunteer Coordinators Network

The Port Phillip Volunteer Coordinator Network (PPVCN) meets quarterly to discuss all things volunteering. It's an opportunity for volunteer coordinators to offer peer support, share resources, learn from guest speakers and build capacity in the volunteering sector of Port Phillip.

To become a member, please fill out a membership form.

Community flagpole bookings

A community flagpole is located at each town hall and is available for booking by community members.

The Community Flagpole Scheme Guidelines provide guidance on appropriate access and allocation to the community flagpoles:

The flagpoles provide a key opportunity to celebrate and embrace the diversity of the community and to support the strategic directions of the Council Plan.

Contact us

Our Grants and Community Building team is here to help with general queries, access or support to help you participate in these events.

Send us a message on My Port Phillip.

Phone: 03 9209 6777

Interpreters are available upon request.