Community support
Through our years of experience engaging with many communities on community led projects and research, WIRE has sparked real change and worked alongside community members and leaders to create a sustainable transformation of skills and knowledge at the grassroots level.
Background/Context
Volunteer Training Program: For Community, In community
WIRE has over 40 years’ experience providing general support information and referrals to women and gender diverse people across Victoria. WIRE ‘s telephone support line is primarily managed by volunteers. Our volunteer support worker training program was developed to provide the necessary training in WIRE’s direct service framework. This model aims to support individuals who have often been marginalised to feel empowered. The Volunteer training program delivered by WIRE has become a popular professional development opportunity for students and sector professionals and continues to inform our external for-profit training offerings.
Why this program is important
Often peer workers and leaders are the first to learn when someone is experiencing hardship or vulnerability but are unsure of how to respond or where to refer someone for specialist support. It is often the people we know best that we go to for advice and information. As an “expert” can seem remote and intimidating. Taking the option of providing peer workers in the community with the skills, knowledge and confidence to have challenging conversations, makes access to specialist support more likely.
Aims and objectives
WIRE will consult and co-design with community a training program to build and enhance the skills, knowledge and confidence of peer workers and community leaders to effectively respond and refer people to specialist services, as well as develop strategies and tools to care for themselves in the process.
Community Initiatives to Empower Change
WIRE has a deep connection with the community and the people we serve. Being a grassroots community organisation means that we don’t see ourselves separate from those who we serve. We are among them and see ourselves as part of the community. WIRE is deeply committed to collaboration and making a tangible outcome in the community. Our mission is to address critical issues and create opportunities for women and gender diverse people to achieve gender and economic equity.
With our community initiatives, WIRE aims to address the intersectional barriers diverse communities face in accessing mainstream services. We prioritise addressing issues that are important to each community and build capacity in leaders to influence change. We implement these initiatives by:
- Implementing a co-design process led by community members
- Training community leaders on issues that matter to them and empowering them to address these concerns
- Maintaining ongoing engagement with communities to ensure our work remains culturally relevant
How can we support your community?
We can support you by working with your community members and leaders to build skills and knowledge so they can support their own people.
We can raise awareness in the community on a whole range of topics via our community education sessions such as WIRE support and services, financial abuse, family violence awareness, respectful conversations about money, and separation and property settlement seminars.
To discuss support and future collaboration for your community, contact contact us via support@wire.org.au.
Resources for community
We have a range of information and resources for community leaders and grassroots organisations. Follow the link below to find our more.