Maribyrnong City Council

Expressions of interest for Council’s Business Elevate Program are now open. The Business Elevate Program is a business-to-business voucher-based program. Small businesses within the City of Maribyrnong will be able to apply for $2,000 vouchers to help elevate their business upwards, from a list of “preferred business suppliers” in a range of categories. We are currently seeking expressions of interest from businesses who are keen to become our “preferred business suppliers”. If you are interested in being part of this program, read the guidelines and apply on our website. An online information session is also being held on Wednesday 21 August 2024, for further information visit: https://lnkd.in/gGDVTeZ2

We are looking for someone with a community development, health promotion or community services background to join the Community Grants Program Independent Review Panel, which currently has a vacancy. The Panel will meet in October to review community grant assessments and finalise funding recommendations to Council. Expressions of interest are now open until 4pm on Monday 2 September. For more information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gaUc7EK3 (Image: Living Museum of the West - ‘Dreamtime Cooking’ project. Funded through Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program 2022-23. Photo credit: Kit Edwards)

Vale Sarah Carter – community and children’s champion The funeral of Councillor Sarah Carter will be held at the Flemington Racecourse this Friday 16 August. The family, with the support of Save the Children and Maribyrnong City Council, invites all those who would wish to pay tribute, to join them in this commemoration of Sarah’s life. The service will be in The Atrium within the Grand Stand at 2pm – with guests asked to please arrive and be seated by 1.45pm. Parking and entry via the Leonard Crescent entrance. A livestream of the service will be available via www.tobinbrothers.com.au In lieu of flowers the family asks that people share Sarah’s dream by donating to help build a better world for and with children. Donations can be made at https://lnkd.in/gAb-eniN Event details: https://lnkd.in/gM-4JDFH

Expressions of interest for business suppliers for Council’s Business Elevate Program will open next Monday 19 August 2024. We are looking for established local businesses to become “preferred business suppliers” for our business-to-business voucher-based program, which allows businesses in the City of Maribyrnong needing support to work with local businesses to provide a range of services. Benefits of being a preferred business supplier: - Potential to gain up to $10,000 in new business (and future ongoing business) - Supporting another local business to thrive and grow using your expertise - Exposure to the Maribyrnong business community via the program - Networking with other local business owners To find out more about the Business Elevate Program and to sign up for the online information session, visit: https://lnkd.in/gGDVTeZ2

Council is shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Councillor and former Mayor Sarah Carter. Councillor Carter was a trusted and valued colleague and her passing is an enormous loss to our community who she has worked tirelessly to support over her 16 years on Council. Maribyrnong’s first three-time female Mayor, Councillor Carter was only the second Mayor, and the only female Mayor, in our municipality’s history to achieve Emeritus status – the highest recognition for distinguished service in local government leadership. First elected in 2008, Councillor Carter was serving her 16th consecutive year on Council, which included mayoral terms in 2011, 2020 and 2023. Councillor Carter was Council’s Gender Equity Ambassador, and her focus during this term was on delivering high-quality amenities and infrastructure to support the community’s wellbeing. We extend our deepest condolences to Councillor Carter’s partner, family, friends, and all who knew and worked alongside her. She will be greatly missed.

Attention business owners in Maribyrnong – you now have access to valuable resources designed to help you save energy and reduce operational costs. Simple steps like setting your thermostat to sensible limits (18-20°C during winter, 23-25°C during summer) and ensuring systems are switched off outside work hours can make a big difference in your energy bills. Discover more about how the Business Energy Tips program can help you optimise your energy use and improve efficiency, visit: https://lnkd.in/gdnwKv_5

Council's long-standing partnership with Victoria University (VU), has been celebrated with the renewed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Last week, Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam joined VU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Relations and Partnerships, the Hon. Wade Noonan to formalise our comprehensive partnership until late 2028. The current MoU has been the driver of many notable achievements over the past 10 years – from increased education and employment opportunities, investment in smart city technologies, to advocacy for the construction of the new Footscray Hospital to name a few. Our shared commitment to improving health, environmental, and social outcomes has enabled us to better deliver for our community. This renewed MoU will further advance our partnership to continue uplifting communities in the West.

For Men’s Mental Health Week, Council is highlighting a new report by the Preventing Violence Together partnership – Working Dads: Towards Equal Care. The report shares the experiences of 155 working dads in Melbourne’s west and sheds light on the challenges and aspirations of dads in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities. The report discusses the importance of workplaces supporting men as caregivers. When fathers take an equal share of parental leave, it leads to better mental health outcomes for families and in workplaces. The Working Dads: Towards Equal Care Report found: • Almost 1 in 2 dads surveyed experienced barriers to accessing Parental Leave – 66% of these reported barriers were ‘workplace culture’ barriers that reinforced traditional rigid gendered norms. • 7 in 10 dads said that their workplace offered flexible work policies, however, just as many reported barriers to accessing these – 91% of these barriers were ‘workplace culture’ barriers. Working Dads: Towards Equal Care report offers 18 actions for workplaces to address gendered issues in workplace cultures and bridge the gap between policy and practice. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/guFH79z4

Council commenced National Reconciliation Week on Monday with a traditional Smoking Ceremony to assist in cleansing the area and people of bad spirits, and to promote protection and wellbeing of visitors. The ceremony included a Welcome to Country and a yarning circle led by local First Nations Peoples. Council has also hosted First Nations Themed Story Times throughout the week to enhance and enrich our community's understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture. A screening of the powerful documentary ‘In My Blood It Runs’ will be held on Saturday at Braybrook Library, from 12-1.30pm. Council’s vision for reconciliation involves the entire Maribyrnong community positively engaging and celebrating the histories and cultures of our Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung Bunurong Peoples of the Kulin Nation, and all First Nations Peoples of our community. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g8XdNC25

Work is underway on creating Maribyrnong’s newest green space as part of the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the heritage Footscray Town Hall and new civic administration building on Hyde Street. Shade, seating, and a focus on soft surfaces and cultural and Indigenous history will all feature reflecting the elements our community said they wanted to see. The new park will provide a central focus for the new Civic Precinct and Community Hub which is also taking shape with the structural work to support the new façade on the now in place and cladding underway. Works on the interior of the Town Hall also continue to ensure historical aspects are preserved and integrated seamlessly with the new administration building. Works are scheduled for completion before the end of the year. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ggfT8R8S