Libby Fordham Communications

Call for Entries - The Minister for Social Inclusion, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, launches the Volunteering Video Competition for Young People.

See the media release here

The Volunteering Video Competition for Young People is open from 9am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Thursday 19 April 2012 to 5pm AEST Sunday 22 July 2012.

The theme for the competition is "Your Passion, Our Nation. Volunteer Now!"

Entrants to the competition will be divided into two age groups:

Category A - Aged 15 to under 18 years

Category B - Aged 18 to under 25 years

Entrants are required to submit a 30 to 60 second audiovisual advertisement to promote volunteering to young people. Video entries will be vetted by the Office for the Not-for-Profit Sector to ensure they meet the competition eligibility criteria. Eligible submissions may be published online on the Competition website.

Prizes include:
Canon 5D Mark II video kit which includes a Camera, Canon 24-105mm f4L lens,Rode Video Mic Pro, Dead Cat and more

You can follow us on twitter or Facebook 

You can enter via the offical competition website, which can be found here

Neighbours across the country are getting ready to celebrate their communities with barbecues, street parties and other local events for Australia’s Neighbour Day on Sunday 25th March 2012, the national event’s 10th anniversary.

“Neighbour Day has evolved to become Australia’s annual celebration of community and it’s all about building connections between residents wherever we choose to call home,” said Neighbour Day founder and Australia Day Ambassador Andrew Heslop.

“Councils and shires have also become involved by organising festivals, open days and community activities in parks and other public spaces. 
“Knowing our neighbours creates safe, inclusive and sustainable communities. Not only does that help to break down the barriers of loneliness and isolation but it provides reassurance there is someone to call upon during a local emergency or disaster,” Andrew said. 

Founded in Melbourne in 2003 following the eventual discovery of the lonely death of an elderly woman two years earlier, Australians in urban and regional areas have embraced the day with no incentive other than a shared belief in safe, resilient and sustainable communities.

Read more: Australians prepare to celebrate their community on 10th annual Neighbour Day

My parents didn't know what I did until about 5 years ago.  That's despite the fact that I've been doing it as a job for the past 20 years.  

The team from Edelman Australia created this image which I think just about sums it up.  Totally brilliant.

Thinking a street party or community event could be the best way to celebrate the 10th annual Neighbour Day on Sunday 25th March 2012? Well you’d better talk to your council or shire now. That’s the message from Australia Day Ambassador and NBN Champion Andrew Heslop, who founded Australia’s annual celebration of community, Neighbour Day, in 2003.

“Every year more Australians are getting together with their neighbours and deciding to do something big,” said Andrew.“Bringing everyone in the street together strengthens the community and directly connects every resident, while at the same time helping to break down the barriers of loneliness and isolation.

“Applying to close off the street to create a mini-festival and to safely allow a game of street cricket is a very good idea. What varies is the application process and timeframes required by each council and shire. So neighbours who want to hold a street party or major community event in a public space should talk to their local government authority now to find out what the requirements are,” Andrew said.

Read more: Now is the time to plan your Neighbour Day street party or community event

This year's Australia Day panel discussion asks the questions about what sets Victorians apart from our fellow country men and women, our heritage and our future.

This free event to be held Wednesday 18th January, 2012 at BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.  Time: 6.00pm – 7.00 pm.

Five well known Australians representing a cross section of the country’s multicultural community come together as a panel, with ABC's Beverley O'Connor as the moderator, to discuss the topic, ‘Victoria – Looking back, looking forward’, and what it means to be a Victorian on Australia Day.

The panelists this year include:

• Ahmed Dini - Social worker and Victoria's Australian Local Hero 2012

• Dr Tim Soutphommasane - political theorist/philosopher and commentator

• Phil Egan - Ex Richmond footballer and CEO of the Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-Op

.• Nicole Livingstone – Ex Olympic swimmer and commentator

• Dr Sally Cockburn- GP and radio presenter

Read more: Victoria – Looking back, looking forward - Panel Discussion