MISSION
‘Working with the community towards social justice, diversity and inclusion in Brisbane’s inner City.’
VISION
We will:
- Provide a safe and resourced meeting place where people feel a sense of belonging.
- Provide opportunities for local people to come together to share knowledge and skills and to develop relationships.
- Maintain an effective and participatory organisation base to support our programs and activities.
- Assess issues of disadvantage, inequity and disharmony and facilitate appropriate local responses.
- Advocate and represent in the public forum, the interests of the most disadvantaged people.
- Empower and work with residential tenants to achieve their rights to secure housing.
- Actively influence the local planning and development processes to ensure that the interests of the most disadvantaged people are addressed.
PRINCIPLES
We value the process of relationship building and social engagement where people:
- Have a right to the basic necessities of life.
- Are met as themselves with dignity and appreciation.
- Are respected and respect others as free and equal citizens.
- Have a right to self fulfillment.
- Have a right to equity in resource distribution.
- Experience the power of themselves in making a contribution.
- Are experts in their own lives.
We value diversity in our community and encourage relationships across different local groups. There is an obligation to support members equitably, connect with each other and be socially responsible. Social justice principles need to underpin the community.
We have a responsibility to support local initiatives and the voicing of local issues in the political arena.
We value publicly held space and believe that people have an equitable right to enjoy access to public spaces and places. Space is a factor that can support a range of community activities.
We believe in the need to address inequality in our community through recognising:
- Conflicts of interest are part of everyday community life.
- Open, public acknowledgement of these conflicts in the community is necessary.
- Those who are marginalised or disadvantaged have a right to resourced advocacy services which provide information and support them to articulate and achieve their own desired outcomes.
- We value the natural environment as an integral element of people’s sense of community, and will therefore strive to work in a manner which is environmentally sensitive.
We believe in working developmentally. This means:
- Working with rather than for people.
- Encouraging participation and shared responsibility for outcomes.
- Working bottom-up rather than top-down.
- Building the capacity for active and informed decision making at a variety of levels.
- Encouraging and resourcing others to be leaders in the local community.
- Engaging in dialogue as a critical part of the change process.
- Working to create community structures and processes that are inclusive.
GOALS
Coordination, Administration and Governance
To develop and maintain a well-managed organisation with high standards of governance and administration, achieving excellence in program delivery. Activities include finance budgets, reporting, purchasing, repairs and maintenance systems policies procedures.
Community Engagement
To link people, resources and structures to facilitate positive change. To maintain a space and culture that is welcoming and inclusive of all people. Activities include open house, community office, volunteers, annual calendar, CAN-LINC, twilight training, Politics in the Pub, BBQ’s and groups.
Community Enterprise
To work with the community, public and private sectors to create avenues for increased financial autonomy. Activities include tennis, welcome project, funding sustainability, sponsorship and room hire.
Housing
To support people to access and maintain housing that is affordable, sustainable and appropriate to their needs. Activities include Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAASQ).
Homelessness
To achieve positive and sustainable changes for homeless and disadvantaged people. Activities include Homelessness Assessment and Referral Team (HART 4000).
