Foundations Training will take place across two Saturdays.
Start time is 9am sharp. Tea & Coffee available from 8:30am.
The training will finish at 2:30pm both days.

The training includes an option to attend and observe the Hunter Community Alliance Council meeting taking place on the evening of Wednesday June 5th.
Two weeks after the training, participants will gather online for a follow up session at a time arranged at the training.

The Hunter Community Alliance is a civil society coalition that takes action for the common good of and with the Hunter region.

Foundations training is based on the philosophy and practices developed by the Industrial Areas Foundation in over 85 years of successful organising. These ideas are translated to an Australian context to cover the essentials of community organising and how we implement it here in Newcastle and the Hunter.

The training is interactive, thoughtful and made for people with all levels of experience. Concepts worked through include power, our roles as public people and what strong organisations look like. As practical as it is theoretical, we teach the tools to start building public relationships and working through the organising cycle to solve problems in our communities.

Topics at Foundations training include:

Community Organising: based on the history and tradition of our community, Indigenous, faith, disability-action, union and environmental organisations
Relational Organising: individual relational meetings, listening assemblies, research, negotiation and action
Strengthening our Organisations: building a culture that is relational, action oriented and reflective/learning
Using Relational Power in the public sphere to take collaborative action on common issues.

Partner organisations are encouraged to send leaders and members to participate. It is an important space to connect with other organisations and to develop skills in community organising. Training costs are 100% covered for members of partner organisations through organisational dues to the HCA.

Organisations interested in exploring partnership with the Hunter Community Alliance are also encouraged to participate and to get a feel for the coalition.

Individuals not affiliated with an organisation are invited to become a Friend of the Hunter Community Alliance
Friends of the HCA make an annual contribution of $180 and this covers participation in the Foundations Training.
Become a Friend: https://www.thehca.org.au/frie..

Members of the Hunter Community Alliance include (as of 6/4/24):

Arab Council Australia

Australian Conservation Foundation

Australian National Imam's Council

Australians for Mental Health

Catholic Diocese Maitland-Newcastle

CatholicCare Social Services Hunter Manning

CleanAS

Climate Action Newcastle

Community Disability Alliance Hunter

Democracy in Colour

Faith Housing Alliance

Family Inclusion Strategies Hunter

Friends of the HCA

Glenrock Anglican Church

Healthy Connection for All

Hunter Ageing Alliance

Hunter Renewal

Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service

Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance

MacquarieCare

National Tertiary Education Union

National Zakat Foundation

New City Baptist Church

Newcastle Climate Change Response

Nova for Women and Children

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW

Salvation Army Housing

Settlement Services International

Shelter NSW

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) Northern Division

Sister of St Joseph

St Vincent de Paul

Tenants Union of NSW

The Wilderness Society

United Workers Union

Uniting

Uniting Church - Charlestown and Garden Suburbs

Uniting Church - Hamilton

Uniting Church - Hunter Presbytery

Uniting Church - Jesmond Park

Wonnorua Nation Aboriginal Corporation

Wesley Mission

Women's Reconciliation Network