Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC) is a place based community agency that strives for the empowerment of individuals and groups within the local community who face disadvantage, isolation and obstacles to effective social and economic participation. The agency is committed to developing responsive approaches to meet the challenges posed by Whittlesea's changing and emerging communities.

WCC aims to create a climate resilient community that is empowered to protect, prepare and adapt to a changing local environment in partnership with our First Nations and diverse communities.

Whittlesea Community Connections’ core objectives are to:

• Identify and address information and service needs of residents in the City of Whittlesea
• Advocate for and with the community for increased participation in decision making
• Support formal and informal volunteer roles in the Whittlesea community
• Collaborate with agencies and Government to develop and sustain services that serve local community needs
• Continue to develop and improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of our services
• Identify opportunities for greater community involvement and leadership so that community residents can contribute to decisions that affect their lives.

Position Rationale

This is a new position, funded by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation that aims to engage community in forming a community driven climate resilience group in the City of Whittlesea. This also aligns with one of WCC’s strategic priorities, Climate Resilient Communities.

Community empowerment and resilience in the face of climate change is critical to climate change adaptation. This project seeks to increase empowerment, community ownership and resilience by co-designing with community practical actions that can be taken at a grassroots level.

Some of the key activities of this role include:

• Map local community stakeholders, assets and issues impacting on climate resilience and develop strong networks in the climate action sector
• Develop and implement a community engagement plan that seeks to inform, engage and recruit diverse local citizens and organisations in the establishment of the Climate Resilience Group
• Establish a Climate Resilience Group and assist in the group’s coordination and capacity building
• Facilitate the development of a governance model and terms of reference that ensures community ownership of the group into the future

This role is suited to someone with experience in community engagement and designing and/or implementing community development projects across a range of settings and with sound knowledge on climate-related issues facing communities, passion and experience to drive grassroots actions.

A position description is attached.