Our Groups

The ways that people connect with their community or pursue an interest has been changing for decades.  Since 2006 social surveys in Australia have been tracking a gradual shift away from regular involvement in formal groups to shorter, periodic connections based on a person's interest or passion, and the time they have available.   Traditionally Neighbourhood House's would tap into this trend by running a series of programs designed to tap into these interests.  But in Clunes we already have a community full of ideas and desires to run activities, they just don't want to be weighed down with the governance burden of doing so.  That is where Clunes Neighbourhood House comes in. 

 

We focus on strengthening the community by supporting community-led activities and informal groups to be active, helping them utilise social infrastructure to meet or hold events, develop and manage risks and promote themselves so that they can focus on the experience they are trying to create, and the outcomes they want to achieve!  The end result in an active, but more importantly, connected community.  

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How Does This Work?

 

Community-led activities 
These activities are led by driven individuals (or groups of individuals) as programs of Clunes Neighbourhood House.  This means that their activities are promoted by us via our marketing channels and booking system, are covered by our insurance, and in some cases are underwritten by financial support. The leaders of these activities are volunteers of Clunes Neighbourhood House and are governed by our policies and procedures. These activities align with our vision of a community actively caring for all people and place and utilise our event management processes to run activities.

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Clunes Artist Group is an example of a community-led activity that operates out of 25 Fraser Street, a building we lease from Council to provide a shared and age-friendly space for activities focused on people 60+ (see our Activities page).  

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This approach suits individuals keen to share their skills or interests with like-minded people without the bureaucracy that comes with being an incorporated organisation. To do this in a way where risks are safely managed and all feel welcome, a few simple procedures apply.

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Regular Activities
An event/activity form needs to be filled out for administrative, marketing and insurance purposes. 
If this form is not filled out, then the activity is not covered by our insurance. 
This form identifies if an additional risk management form needs to be completed.  If it does, Clunes Neighbourhood House will complete this additional risk form with you face to face or online. For events involving vulnerable people including children, and/or venues where we do not have an existing OHS risk plan, this form is likely to be required.  
If your activities are regular and don't change in nature you only need to fill this form out once. 
If details change, this form needs to be updated by filling this form out again.

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Special Events/Activities
An event/activity form needs to be filled out for administrative, marketing and insurance purposes.   
If this form is not filled out, then the activity is not covered by our insurance.

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Sometimes if photographs or film is to be taken as part of an activity that is not a public event (ie it's just your group's activity), permission is required. All people in any photography or footage need to sign a release form. 

 

You can download and print copies of this form to have available in hardcopy for people to sign, or people can just complete the form online via your computer or phone. If you are taking up close up photos of people, even at public events, then it's best practice to obtain their permission.

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In addition, all volunteers leading community-led activities must be registered volunteers with Clunes Neighbourhood House. Volunteer registration forms can be completed online here and will be accompanied by an induction so that you are aware of our policies and procedures. Welcome to the team!

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Auspiced Groups
Where informal or unincorporated groups wish to have a separate and distinct brand and/or agency separate from the operations of Clunes Neighbourhood House, auspicing may be an option. Clunes Neighbourhood House will auspice activities that fall within our constituted purposes, or where activities are not specifically stated within the stated purposes of our organisation, but we are satisfied that they in no way detract or subvert from the constituted purposes of our organisation.  This relationship is managed via a formal auspice agreement. 

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The template Clunes Neighbourhood House uses for auspice agreements has been developed by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria to ensure that it safely addresses all the risks and opportunities applicable for Neighbourhood Houses and the communities they work with.

 

Clunes Men's Shed is an auspice partner with Clunes Neighbourhood House.
The Men's Shed meets regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 10 AM and 12 PM
at 18 Alliance Street.​