As a result of community requests and Council’s limited authority in Wentworth Point (due to limited ownership of land and assets), it was proposed that a community led group be established to set objectives and actions to help ensure that Wentworth Point is a more liveable, sustainable, and thriving community into the future.
Council have contracted a specialist consultant to support the group for a period of 6 months.
The consultant will assist the group in the following ways:
• Conduct monthly group meetings for 6 months (from the time of group formation).
• Provide the group with tools, effective approaches, and ideas about how they can create and start-up community-led events or initiatives that improve their community.
• Help develop understanding and skills to best advocate for identified community objectives.
• Empower and build the capacity of the group to become self-sustaining.
The group will be responsible for identifying and prioritising issues and aspirations within the community, developing objectives, and advocating for outcomes that will help make Wentworth Point a more liveable, sustainable, and thriving community into the future.
The matters or issues looked at will be community-based and the community will remain at the centre of the group’s projects, activities, advocacy, events, and initiatives.
Members of the community are invited to submit an expression of interest via Participate Parramatta to join the group. Submissions are open from Monday 15 April 2024 to 5pm, Friday 17 May 2024.
Members of the group will be selected by the appointed consultant independent of Council. The consultant will look to achieve broad and diverse demographic and geographic representation, as well as representation of the various groups (residential owners, residential renters, business owners etc.) that form part of the Wentworth Point community.
Successful applicants will be contacted directly by the consultant by 31 May 2024. All other applicants will also be notified by this date.
Decisions made by the consultant are final. If, however, you think an outcome was unfair and you want to appeal a decision, you will have an opportunity to do so via the Wentworth Point Community Group once it is formed.
Members may be as young as 14 years old. If any members are aged under 18, they will need to be accompanied by an adult. The appropriate checks will be made of the adult supervisor.
No this is not a paid role and there will be no remuneration for your time or commitment to the Wentworth Point Community Group. It is a voluntary role and all group members selected will be considered volunteers.
A commitment will need to be made to attend meetings. It is expected that group members will attend approximately 80% of meetings to ensure consistent representation.
Members will need to allocate time outside the meetings to work on projects/events and campaigns that the group will initiate.
The commitments of the group will be outlined in more detail in the Group Terms of Reference, which will be presented to group members once the group is formed. Group members will also have an opportunity to provide input in finalising the Terms of Reference.
Meetings will be held monthly (as a minimum) over the first 6 months. The frequency may change and will be decided by the group once it is formed.
There may be additional opportunities for group workshops/training within the first 6-months following formation. Group members will be able to gain insights, skills, and access to resources that will help the group in their community-based work and to ensure sustainability beyond 2024.
Council will not interfere or play a direct role in what the community-led group wants to address or initiate. Exceptions to this are where group actions or decisions are not ethical or legal, in which case Council may have to act.
Council wholeheartedly supports community-led initiatives that reflect the needs, aspirations, and interests of the community.
The appointed consultant will prepare a draft Terms of Reference (ToR) which will be refined and finalised once group members are selected.
The ToR will set out the scope of the Wentworth Point Community Groups’ responsibilities, commitments, as well as outline expectations of how the group will work together and how other community members will be kept updated.
This will ultimately be a decision for the group; however it is anticipated that social media and other accessible channels and platforms will be utilised for ongoing communication to show group outcomes and share important key developments.
Successful applicants will be required to agree to complete and sign the following:
• Conflict of Interest Declaration
• Code of Conduct Declaration
The City of Parramatta has appointed Zahia Pty Ltd as the lead consultant to assist in the formation of a community group for Wentworth Point.
Council invited proposals and quotes from a number of consultants. In line with Council’s procurement process, Zahia was selected following a thorough merit-based review of all proposals, with their significant experience in community development and capacity building a key reason for selection.
- ‘The group’ or ‘group’: Wentworth Point Community Group
- ‘Council’: City of Parramatta Council
- ‘WP’: Wentworth Point
- ‘Community’: Wentworth Point suburb/local area
- ‘Consultant’: contracted company working in partnership with Council.
- Terms of Reference (ToR): Terms of reference define the purpose and structures of the group who have agreed to work together to accomplish a shared goal.
