Whyalla and Port Augusta Outreach

Connecting Up’s Community Information Coordinator undertook a regional outreach trip travelling to Whyalla and Port Augusta on Wednesday the 31st August and Thursday 1st September, to provide information and training on the SAcommunity program.
 

Whyalla
Connecting Up was invited to the Whyalla Services Group meeting along with government and non-government community service providers. The group’s outcome statement is ‘Building capacity and resilience of community and service system to respond to changes occurring in Whyalla’, focusing on community information, communication, engagement and development in order to discuss strategies together and future actions for the Whyalla community.
 

Connecting Up discussed how firstly the SAcommunity online directory can benefit service providers and the public in the Upper Spencer Gulf region as well as assist people to access the support they need. The service overview included statistics on the type of services commonly accessed, the work of Whyalla volunteer Anne Cunningham who is currently involved in updating Whyalla information, along with future resources and actions needed to capture and maintain community service details.
 

Secondly, it was explained how Connecting Up can assist eligible not-for-profits by providing a variety of information, products, services and programs. In particular their training webinars, donations and discounts program via companies such as Microsoft, Adobe and Symantec. One of the points raised during the meeting highlighted the need for services to strive towards effectiveness and efficiency and it may be that introducing available technology can assist with such service delivery.
 

Port Augusta

After an hour’s drive from Whyalla, a half-day training session in SAcommunity was provided to Port Augusta Library’s librarian and new Community Editor.
 
The Port Augusta library has a long association with SAcommunity and is one of many stakeholders across the state including councils, libraries, services providers and the public who update community service information, ensuring service details are current, reliable and accessible in their district for customer referrals and future decision-making.
 
We would like to thank the library manager and staff member for their hospitality, their positive and proactive response to SAcommunity services.
 

Community Radio
5YYY Whyalla’s Community Radio, featured Connecting Up and their SAcommunity program on Community Soapbox with Anne Cunningham.
 

Anne is Whyalla’s Community Editor and has been volunteering to assist local Whyalla services to register and update their details on SAcommunity since November last year.  She is enthusiastic about connecting people living in Whyalla with information and services ranging from healthcare, financial assistance, housing, and education to recreational programs and clubs. Through 5YYY she promotes local not-for-profit groups through Community Soapbox finding out more about their work locally.
 

As Connecting Up is a not-for-profit organisation that assists not-for-profits, Anne provided us with an opportunity to encourage community services to register with SAcommunity and add their listing, and for not-for-profit organisations to contact Connecting Up and unleash their full potential.
 
You can listen to the interview via the link:
https://soundcloud.com/5yyy-1/2016-09-01-catherine-mcinytyre-connecting-up