Business News
Building community capacity in Portland
Thursday 23. July 2009 - Community and not-for-profit organisations in the Portland region will receive a helping hand this week, thanks to capacity building scholarships from the Alcoa Foundation.
Over three days, 15 community workers from 10 organisations will participate in The Alcoa Foundation Sustaining Local Communities Governance Scholarships which aim to provide practical skills, knowledge and resources to promote improved governance and direction.
Bringing together the strengths of two of Australias leading training providers, Our Community and BSI Learning, the scholarships involve undertaking a Certificate IV in Business (Governance). The scholarships are fully funded by the Alcoa Foundation.
Alcoas National Partnerships Manager Sarah Fordham said the scholarships have come at an ideal time.
“Its during times of economic challenge that our communities need our corporate support more than ever. These scholarships mean our community partners can up-skill at no cost to their organisation,” she said.
“Building capacity through training is so important, yet its often one of the first things to be cut when times are challenging.
“These scholarships will empower community organisations to improve the governance of their organisation and ultimately improve services for the whole community.”
Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, Chief Executive Officer of Our Community said: “Alcoa has set a great example of corporate support. its not just about providing financial support but using its capacity to work with people from communities and expand their knowledge and skill base with the aim of taking that knowledge back to their own communities where it can really make a difference.”
“The Alcoa Community Partner and Governance Scholarships have set a new benchmark in how companies can support communities and community groups, and are a great acknowledgement of the work these people are doing in their own communities,” she said.