Local government support for community organisations

The contribution of local governments is vital to the growth and success of community organisations, whether through providing grants, facilities, promotions or advice. Over the past decade, ICDA has collaborated with councils across Australia to provide training tailored to the needs of community organisations. This experience has given ICDA deep insight into the resources that drive better community outcomes.

ICDA has identified four key areas where councils have expressed a strong desire to support local community organisations: these are governance, risk management, impact evaluation, and grant writing. ICDA’s resources in these areas can help councils further their impact, and they are collated below. ICDA also offers training to council staff and community organisations in these and other governance-related areas as needed.

Effective governance is the cornerstone of successful and sustainable community organisations. Good governance ensures that the systems, structures, processes and policies in place lead to ethical and effective decision-making for the benefit of all community members. ICDA regularly provides training for community organisations on behalf of local councils and we recommend organisations are supported with training in the following areas to ensure good governance and great results.

Here are ten key areas in which ICDA provides training to community organisations to enhance governance and impact for the community:

1. Understanding board roles and responsibilities: Role clarity is crucial for effective leadership, including a comprehensive induction for new board members.
2. Embracing board solidarity and fiduciary duty: United boards make stronger, more responsible decisions.
3. Holding productive meetings: Ensuring meetings are timely, accessible, and focused on advancing the organisation’s purpose.
4. Following the rules: Ensuring everyone knows and adheres to the constitution, legislation, by-laws and board charters.
5. Strategic planning: Developing and monitoring plans for key areas such as funding, succession, impact, and growth.
6. Communicating transparently: Keeping communication simple, frequent, and open.
7. Sustainable funding: Ensuring there is a plan for sustainable funding.
8. Financial oversight: All board members must have basic financial literacy.
9. Implement key policies: ICDA recommends that all organisations should have, at a minimum, the following policies and guiding documents:
   1. Code of conduct
   2. Conflict of interest policy and register
   3. Financial controls policy
   4. Grievance and dispute policy and procedure
   5. Privacy policy
10. Conflict management: Decision making should be robust but productive and have clear processes for managing conflicts.

Councils play a pivotal role in supporting community organisations by providing funding, facilities and advice. It’s essential that council staff can guide community organisations in developing robust risk management strategies to safeguard people, reputations and finances.

Risk management is a natural part of our daily lives, but its complexity increases when planning community activities and events. ICDA offers a simple risk management framework to assist council in helping community groups identify, assess, and mitigate risks during their planning processes.

Councils invest in community through grants, program support, capacity building, and facilitation of committees and working groups. Measuring the impact of these investments is critical in understanding their value and ensuring continued support.

Here are four key questions to consider when evaluating the impact of community activities and events:

1. What outcomes are we measuring?
   It's important to ensure that the goals of both the council and community groups align and that the outcomes that are measured matter to both. For example, while a council might aim for gender equality in sports, a community group's focus might be on increasing safety for women by building change rooms. Both are working toward better access for women in sports, which supports gender equality.
2. Why did we choose these measurements?
   Both the council and community groups should have clear goals or objectives, often outlined in a strategy or business plan. These measurements help demonstrate the impact of your work. Think of it like this: "If we do [action], then we'll achieve [change]." For example, "If we build change rooms, more women will feel safe playing sports, reducing the gender gap." Councils are accountable to residents, while community groups are accountable to their members and funders.
3. How do we measure and evaluate?
   A combination of qualitative and quantitative data over time gives the best insights. For instance, you could measure how many women join community football before and after building new change rooms and gather feedback on how safe they feel. This mix of data helps you understand both the scale and the impact of your efforts.
4. Are we making a difference?
   Linking community group activities to council plans shows how council support empowers these groups and contributes to broader goals. It's also important to track any unintended outcomes, whether positive or negative. This data helps identify what worked, what didn't, and where there are opportunities for improvement. Tracking outcomes across different groups and time periods gives a fuller picture of the community's needs and progress.

ICDA’s "Top 10 Questions for Community Organisations on Measuring Outcomes" is a valuable tool for effective impact measurement.