The Office for the Community Sector
Introduction from the Minister
Welcome to the new website for the Office for the Community Sector. Over time we aim to build this site to become Victorian community organisations’ gateway to government.
Community organisations are an important part of our state. They deliver valuable services to individuals and the community, provide opportunities for social and economic participation, and are central to developing strong communities.
Because we know how important they are – in fact it would simply not be possible for the Government to provide the services they deliver without them – we want to help build a strong and supported community sector.
So this year we created the Office for the Community Sector, which will work across government to strengthen the support we provide to community groups.
The Office is one of the outcomes of the Government’s Strengthening Community Organisations Project, and has been established to work closely with the community sector to implement key actions within the action plan, such as:
- reducing the administrative burden faced by community and not-for-profit organisations;
- promoting innovation and efficiency in the provision of services;
- establishing a clear base of information and evidence for future decision-making;
- strengthen collaboration and coordination across the Victorian Government, and
- working across other levels of government to achieve better outcomes.
I look forward to working with the Office and with community organisations – only by coming together can we achiever a better, fairer Victoria.
Peter Batchelor, MP
Minister for Community Development
The Office for the Community Sector
The Office has been established within the Department of Planning and Community Development to implement the Victorian Government’s Action Plan: Strengthening Community Organisations (PDF 178 kb) (the Action Plan) or (Word version 243 kb).
The objectives of the Action Plan are:
- To simplify and streamline Government’s interactions with not-for-profit (NFP) community organisations; and
- To enable NFP community organisations to invest in their own capabilities and long term sustainability.
The 25 actions in the Action Plan are grouped under the following five themes:
- Reducing red tape for NFP community organisations
- Building the capacity of community organisations
- Supporting innovation and growth
- Enhancing NFP community organisations in local community life
- Engaging with the NFP community sector and coordinating efforts across government
The Office for the Community Sector is dedicated to strengthening the NFP community sector and will work closely with the sector to implement the Action Plan. The Office has established sector reference groups to provide advice and feedback on implementation of the actions.
The Office will lead the coordination and implementation of policy priorities affecting the NFP community sector across the whole of the Victorian Government.
For more information
Background to the Action Plan
OCS News and Events
Current priorities for the Office for the Community Sector
Spotlight on...
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