KNOX CITY COUNCIL NEWS
KNOX CITY COUNCIL NEWS
20 September 2023
Finding a life with dementia
To mark Dementia Action Week, Barb Reid shares her story and how she has been able to help others through the Knox Dementia Advisory Group.
FROGY jumps for Biodiversity Month
A small but dedicated environmental group in Knox is making a big difference to biodiversity.
Proposed wetland at Gilbert Park
Have your say on the proposed wetland at Gilbert Park, aimed to enhance biodiversity and amenity.
Grant recipients announced
The final recipients of the Knox Empowering Communities program have been announced, working towards enhancing safety in Ferntree Gully.
15 September 2023
Community Strengthening news
Community Training Program
Knox City Council offers free workshops throughout the year for individuals, community groups, clubs and not-for-profit organisations who provide activities, programs and services in Knox.
Upcoming workshops include:
Child Safe Standards for Community Groups
Wednesday 4 October, 7pm – 9pm
Knox Civic Centre, 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South
This workshop will support community organisations and groups to understand the key requirements they need to fulfil to be compliant with the updated Standards. There will be practical ideas and opportunities to discuss and ask questions.
Learning outcomes include:
Understand the Standards
Ability to recognise and report abuse
Understand the implications for community groups and organisations
3R’s of Family Violence
Thursday 26 October, 6pm – 9pm
Online webinar
This training is designed to increase your understanding of family violence and build your capacity to respond appropriately to a disclosure of violence.
During this session, you will learn about the gendered nature of family violence, how you can play an active role in challenging community attitudes that drive gender inequality and family violence in Australia.
Learning outcomes include:
Recognise the signs of family violence
Respond appropriately to disclosures
Refer to specialist services
Support for dads and father-figures
is running a FREE workshop for local dads and father-figures.
Parenthood, while a rewarding experience, can also bring its fair share of challenges and uncertainties. The workshop will cover things like deconstructing mental health challenges, nurturing healthy relationships, practical self-care techniques and where to find support.
Wednesday 18 October, 7pm – 9pm
Carrington Park Leisure Centre, 20 O’Connor Rd, Knoxfield
Explore our Knox Children & Family Centres
FREE open day!
Supporting families with fully integrated services for children from birth to school-age. Our services include:
Long day care
Kindergarten
Maternal and child health service
Playgroups
Saturday 7 October, 10am – 12pm
Please RSVP below to one or both locations to assist with event communications and management on the day.
A conversation with Jacinta Parsons
Join Jacinta Parson in a thought provoking and energising conversation with Claire Halliday, as they delve into the pages of Jacinta’s latest book, “A Question of Age: Women, ageing and the forever self.’
Through candid discussions, Jacinta and Claire invite the audience to question their perceptions of getting older and re-evaluate the meaning of ageing in a society obsessed with youth.
Sunday 1 October, 2pm – 3:30pm
The Round Arts Centre, 397 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading
Tickets $10 or $5 concession
Book: https://www.theround.com.au/whats-on/a-question-of-age
Sporting Club Grants Program
This Program provides funding for community sport and active recreation organisations across Victoria.
Access to this funding helps grassroots clubs and organisations address barriers in participation, develop safe and sustainable practices and build social and active local communities. Grants are for up to $4,000 depending on the category.
More info: https://sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/sporting-club-grants-program
Volunteering Victoria – Resources
Volunteering Victoria offer a whole host of resources to assist you, including:
Volunteer Management Tool Kit:
Dealing with conflict:
Succession Planning Help Sheet: New members
The Institute of Community Directors offer a whole host of resources for community groups and organisations. Although this information refers to ‘Board members’ it is just a relevant for ‘Committee members’.
There are three parts available:
Finding new board members
Recruiting new board members
Selecting the right board members
https://communitydirectors.com.au/help-sheets/finding-new-board-members
Non Profit Training – Learning Bytes
Non Profit Training’s learning bytes are a series of short videos providing information which can be used as ongoing learning. Topics include:
Running successful meetings
Recruiting committee members
Governance and risk
Difficult conversations
View Training Topics: https://nonprofittraining.com.au/non-profit-training-learning-bytes/
14 September 2023
Wild 4 Knox webinar– Threatened species in aquatic systems
Join us for the next Wild 4 Knox free webinar on Tuesday 19 September from 6.30pm celebrating Knox’s waterways.
Lyrebird lands in Ferntree Gully
A mural depicting the majestic ground-dwelling Australian lyrebird has been created as part of a plan to create safer public spaces in Ferntree Gully.
A question of age: in conversation with Jacinta Parsons
To mark Ageism Awareness Day, join author Jacinta Parsons in a thought-provoking and energising conversation with Claire Halliday, as they invite the audience to question their perceptions of getting older.
Cooling our patch
Sustainable Gardening Australia is running a workshop to share how creating an urban forest in our built environment, benefits our community. Book your free tickets for the 19 September event.
Join the Knox Op-Shop Trail
Register now for the Knox Op-Shop Trail running throughout October with 19 participating stores.
Learn more about reusable nappies
Register for this free workshop to learn more about reusable nappies, how you can reduce waste and save over $2000 for each nappy-wearing child.
Survey results are in
Each year, Council asks the community how you think we’re performing in a number of areas as part of the statewide Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey.
6 September
Threatened species big and small
This Biodiversity Month, take time to learn about threatened species in Knox.
Youth Advocacy Training
Young people are invited to take part in an advocacy workshop these school holidays to inspire them to create change on issues they are passionate about.
Council secures commitment on school site
A Knox City Council delegation has met with Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to discuss concerns over the state government’s approval of a Development Plan for the former Boronia Heights school site.
Knox Dementia Friendly Communities Launch
To coincide with Dementia Action week, come along to an information session and mini-expo to learn more about dementia and the various services and supports available.
Celebrating Biodiversity Month
Spring is finally here! We are celebrating our amazing native animals and plants throughout September, especially the endangered ones.
Women on the Go
We are hosting the Women on the Go annual business networking event on 14 September. Tickets are available for purchase.
Cutting waste a family affair
A Ferntree Gully family of seven is making small changes to reduce waste as Council implements a weekly food and garden service turning food and garden waste into compost.
Great results for new waste service
Wednesday, 30 August 2023
In the first month of the new weekly food and garden bin service, Knox residents have halved the amount of rubbish going to landfill and diverted 1900 tonnes of food scraps and other organics to be turned into compost.
Knox Mayor, Marcia Timmers-Leitch said residents should feel proud of their resilience and ability to adapt to change so well.
“In July, we more than doubled our food and green waste collection, sending 1,900 tonnes of food and garden material for processing into compost for our parks, gardens and farms,” she said.
“As a community, we’ve already saved 2,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by halving the rubbish we sent to landfill.
“Pleasingly, there has been no increase in contamination in recycling or food and garden waste bins and no increase in dumped rubbish or litter in public rubbish bins.
“Even small differences made by households are making a real impact on reducing our waste. While it has taken effort at an individual level, the collective impact is something we can all be proud of.
“We know that the changes to our bin service have been challenging and some particularly-impacted residents have been discussing solutions with Council. We will continue to monitor these impacts and work with the community to help adapt to the changes.
“Remember there are special considerations available for people with two children in nappies or high medical waste needs.
“Keep up the great work for the long-term benefits for our community.”
To learn more about what can and can’t go into the food and garden bin, visit
https://knox.vic.gov.au/our-services/bins-rubbish-and-recycling/food-and-garden-bin-service
24 August 2023
MAKING AN IMPACT ON WASTE
Free movie event: A Plastic Ocean
Join us to see this adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations from 2012 to 2016. Explorers Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. Also featuring Sir David Attenborough.
When: Thursday 28 September, 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Where: Knox Community Arts Centre
790 Mountain Highway, Bayswater
This free movie event also includes:
Pre-event tea and coffee
Door prizes
Bring your own re-usable drink bottle, containing your choice of drink and receive a FREE bag of lollies for the movie
This special movie event is proudly brought to you by Knox City Council, Maroondah City Council and Monash Council.
Bookings:
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/d995x/free_movie_a_plastic_ocean_featuring_david_attenborough.aspx