Gippsland Community Foundation

Reflecting on the Impact The Gippsland Community Foundation has had on the region. As 2024 draws to a close, we celebrate the incredible achievements of the Gippsland Community Foundation in supporting recovery and growth across East Gippsland following the 19/20 Black Summer Fires. Through 150 community-led projects, we’ve strengthened wellbeing, resilience, social capital, and sustainability in our region. From restoring vital infrastructure to encouraging social connections and enabling innovative solutions, we’re proud to have worked alongside communities to create lasting change. Take a moment to watch this snapshot of our journey and the impact we’ve made together. https://lnkd.in/gATZFadq We look forward to sharing more from our Impact Evaluation in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who has been part of these transformative years—your dedication and support have made all the difference. We’re excited to continue this meaningful work in 2025 and beyond! #GippslandCommunityFoundation #CommunityImpact #Resilience #LookingAhead2025 #EastGippslandRecovery

Great to see - so much hard work and volunteer time has gone into to these community led projects. We are delighted to be a partner to the Fire to Flourish East Gippsland team.

Sharing for our community partners at East Gippsland Shire …

🤔 Did you know? The Gippsland Community Foundation is proud to sit on the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) Charitable, Not For Profit (NFP) & Philanthropic Roundtable? NEMA collaborates closely with the charity, NFP, and philanthropic sectors, actively seeking feedback from those involved in disaster-related community responses. This work informs past, present, and future Commonwealth funding in this critical area. Our Executive Officer, Michelle Dowsett, attended a webinar focused on providing the sector with information on the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding (Colvin Report). This session provided valuable insights into the review’s findings and an opportunity for the sector to provide feedback on its themes. The Colvin Report aims to ensure Australian Government disaster funding: ✅ Reduces risks ✅ Ensures disaster readiness ✅ Enhances response capabilities ✅ Supports recovery efforts ✅ Builds stronger communities Key themes from the review include: 📌 Commonwealth coordination and strategic objectives 📌 Evidence-informed, risk-based approaches 📌 Funding reform for impactful outcomes 📌 Amplifying voices of disproportionately impacted groups 📌 Strengthening community voices beyond government Discussions centered on co-contribution challenges to the Disaster Ready Fund, additional support for NFPs, the needs of persons with disabilities, and the connection between community strength and disaster resilience. 🔗 Learn more and explore the Colvin Report here: https://lnkd.in/gY2bbehs We’re proud to contribute to shaping a more resilient future for Gippsland and beyond. Together, we can build stronger, more disaster-ready communities. #Gippslandcommunityfoundation #Disasterfunding #Communityresilience #philanthropy #NEMA

Gippsland Community Foundation welcomes two new board members for 2025 following their AGM last week. Barry Rogers and Dan Poynton will join the executive team for 2025.

Celebrating the book launch of Growing and Learning in Rural Communities! Today, the Gippsland Community Foundation proudly joined the launch of the revised edition of Growing and Learning in Rural Communities by Dr. Helen Sheil at the Lakes Entrance Library. This invaluable resource empowers rural communities by sharing stories of collaboration, local knowledge, and community-led recovery and preparedness initiatives. The revised edition, designed for facilitators (paid and unpaid) and those on the front lines of community engagement and management, introduces nine strategies to engage community members and decision-makers in dialogue. Dr. Sheil’s work offers an understanding of how global, national, and regional policies impact community relationships and the environments on which they depend. The stories highlight how communities have taken steps to lead change, plan for sustainable partnerships, and transform despair into optimism. We are honored to have contributed $5,000 from the East Gippsland Community Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, funded by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, to support the publication of this impactful book. A huge thank you to Dr. Helen Sheil and the Centre for Rural Communities for creating such a vital resource. The insights shared in this book will undoubtedly help Gippsland communities grow stronger, more connected, and more resilient. Interested in exploring the book? Ask your local bookshop to order it in, or follow the link below to order an e-book! https://lnkd.in/gnB5HQjM #GippslandCommunityFoundation #BushfireRecovery #GrowingAndLearning #CommunityResilience #BookLaunch #makingadifference

Farewell and Thanks to Gippsland Community Foundation’s Retiring Directors of 2024 As we bid farewell to three remarkable directors, we wish to recognise and celebrate their invaluable contributions to the Gippsland Community Foundation. 🌟 Helen Martin – As a founding director, Helen has been with the Foundation since 2021 and played an instrumental role in establishing our Community Investment, Engagement and Communication Committee (CIECC), serving as its dedicated chair for three years. Helen’s extensive background in strategic planning and community engagement, drawn from her years in local government and consultancy, has been a true asset to the Foundation's mission. 🌟 Joe Rettino - A founding director since 2021 and Deputy Chair, Joe was pivotal in leading the board steering committee to develop the GCF Growth and Sustainability Strategy, which was adopted in 2023. His rich experience in stakeholder engagement and community leadership has greatly shaped the direction of the Foundation and our reach in the Gippsland region. 🌟 Monika Oudendyk – Joining the board in 2022, Monika brought her extensive skills in project and program management from her work at Monash University and Peninsula Health. Her dedication to the Foundation over the past two years has contributed to the operational excellence of our initiatives. We extend our sincere gratitude to Helen, Joe, and Monika for their service and commitment. Their efforts have strengthened the Foundation’s ability to support and uplift the Gippsland community. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and know they will remain close to the heart of Gippsland’s journey. #GippslandCommunityFoundation #CommunityLeadership #AGM #ThankYou #Gippsland

Gippsland Community Foundation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Yesterday, the Gippsland Community Foundation held its Annual General Meeting, marking another year of impactful service. A huge thank you to our incredible team – Michelle, Louise, and Cherie – for hosting their third AGM with such professionalism and dedication. Our appreciation also goes to the entire board of directors for their invaluable service and support throughout the year. Stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing more about the exciting developments from the AGM in the coming weeks!

Big news for Gippsland! We're excited to announce that the Gippsland Community Foundation, originally formed as the East Gippsland Community Foundation in response to the devastating 2019-2020 Victorian Black Summer bushfires, is now expanding its reach across the wider Gippsland region! With the generous support of $8.8 million from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal—a partnership between the Victorian Government and Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation—our Foundation has been able to distribute over $4.5 million to support East Gippsland's recovery efforts. These funds have helped support everything from rebuilding local infrastructure, and strengthening emergency preparedness, to mental health initiatives, tertiary scholarships, and community events. Now, with valuable experience gained and proven impact in East Gippsland, we are extending our support to the broader communities of Wellington Shire Council, Latrobe City Council, and Baw Baw Shires, working alongside existing South Gippsland and Bass Coast foundations to amplify our reach. Our Community Connections Gippsland Project, co-funded by the Department of Transport and Planning, is already in motion. Keep an eye out for our sign-written car (Thanks Sign Torque Sale) as we connect with new communities! As we branch out, our goal is to continue building strong, sustainable communities by raising capital, managing funds, and supporting local projects for the long-term well-being of our regions. Together, we are building a resilient and thriving Gippsland community 🤝 We look forward to sharing more of our journey in the coming months

Dear funding recipients, supporters, stakeholders and friends, Gippsland Community Foundation invite you to join us at our upcoming AGM, Monday 11th November, 3pm. To be held in Bairnsdale. As always with GCF's Annual General Meetings, we'll be sharing stories of projects achieved by community and featuring a review of the 2023/2024 period. At this year's AGM we are excited to also launch of our very first signature project, Youth On Purpose. A series of engaging youth workshops that encourage community leadership and personal confidence, brilliantly facilitated by Chico Johnson. We will also be unveiling the result of our independent evaluation on the impact, effectiveness and community response to Gippsland Community Foundation activities. Gippsland Community Foundation are deeply proud of our ongoing involvement in community strengthening activities across Gippsland. Our AGM's are always a wonderful opportunity to connect face to face, We hope you can join us! RSVP to info@gippslandcf.org.au