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Welcome to our free monthly e-newsletter, full of news and ideas for people involved with community groups.
Nau mai ki tā mātou ī-pānui ā-marama koreutu, kī tonu i te rongo kōrero me ētahi whakaaro mō ngā tāngata e whai wāhi ana ki ngā rōpū hapori.
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The CommunityNet Aotearoa monthly newsletter.
"News and views on community networking throughout Aotearoa."
Volunteers have continued to provide services despite facing many challenges during this extraordinary year. Now is your chance to recognize that special volunteer (or group) who has gone above and beyond to help at a time when so many have been needy. The annual Volunteer Recognition Awards (postponed in June) have been amalgamated with the Youth Volunteer Awards, and will be presented on International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2011. Forms can be downloaded from the Volunteering Canterbury website. Nominations close 21 October 2011.
/communitycentre/news/national/volcanawards.htm
The Associate Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hekia Parata, has welcomed the release of Employer Supported Volunteering: A Guide for the New Zealand Public Service. "Employer supported volunteering has a number of benefits for society, for the agency, for the employee and for the community," Ms Parata says. "For example it provides better connections between Government and the communities they serve and brings professional skills and knowledge into community organisations. It can help inform the development of Government policies and programmes, while increasing public servants’ skill levels and understanding." She says volunteering also contributes to the economy and to an inclusive, well-functioning society. "Every year New Zealanders contribute more than 270 million hours of unpaid work to non-profit organisations, an effort that has been valued at over $3.3 billion." For more information go to: http://ocvs.govt.nz/publications/Employer_Supported_Volunteering.html .
/communitycentre/news/national/supportedvolunteering.htm
The Public Health Association Conference has been told that, rather than being a burden on emergency and other services in the hours and days following the February earthquake in Christchurch, the over-65s proved to be a resilient and energetic resource for recovery. University of Otago PhD candidate Michael Annear’s thesis examines environmental influences on active ageing, and his study phases were inadvertently aligned with the Canterbury earthquakes. More than 350 subjects completed surveys and maintained activity diaries in the weeks after the September and February earthquakes. Mr Annear told the delegates gathered at Lincoln University, that the diaries indicated a surprisingly high level of post-quake activity among the over-65s and significant resilience in the face of adversity. "The average age of participants was 77 years, with some in their 90s and one over 100. All live independently in the community. Like other groups, many suffered psychological trauma in the aftermath of the quakes, including reported depression and anxiety, which was to be expected. What was unexpected, however, was the degree to which many of them jumped into action when the shaking stopped."
/communitycentre/news/national/oldiearmy.htm
A new report focusing on Māori and Pacific Island child poverty has been released by the coalition Every Child Counts. The report, ‘He Ara Hou: The Pathway Forward’, was prepared by a University of Auckland team led by Professor Manuka Henare. It states that just over half of the 200,000 children living below the poverty line are Māori or Pasifika, and that the widely accepted method of fixing social problems by trying to close the gaps should be changed. He Ara Hou: The Pathway Forward can be downloaded from the Every Child Counts website.
/communitycentre/news/national/hearahou.htm
A new report from Te Ora Hou - 'Hei Tikitiki: Māori Rites of Passage and Youth Development Research Project' - explores the lessons learned from interviews with kaumatua about their experiences as children and young people through the transition to adulthood. The interviews were carried out by youth workers and young people. The purpose of this community research project was for Māori youth workers, rangatahi and whānau members to explore traditional youth development practices within their rohe and then share their learning between rohe and with others outside the research group. The report is available from: http://tiakina.org/2011/06/16/hei-tikitikiti-report-dvd-now-available/ .
/communitycentre/news/national/heitikitiki.htm
The Mental Health Commission believes peer support needs to become a vital part of the mix of future mental health services in order to keep pace with the growing demand for treatment. Demand for mental health services is expected to double over the next decade which could exacerbate ongoing staff shortages in mental health and addiction, says Chair Commissioner Dr Lynne Lane. The Commission has just released a publication called The Power of Peer Services in Mental Health and Addiction, which recommends greater recognition of the effectiveness of peer support services. It has been launched to coincide with TheMHS (Mental Health Service) conference in Adelaide. "When you have someone who has recovered from mental distress or addiction trained to help, it can be a very effective way of avoiding a crisis," says Dr Lane. "Peer services have also been proven to be high quality and cost effective." To download a copy of the report visit the Mental Health Commission website.
/communitycentre/news/national/peerservices.htm
Environment Minister Nick Smith has announced the criteria and assessment panel for the new fund to help councils and communities clean-up nationally significant water bodies that have been polluted. "This Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean Up Fund is to encourage regional councils and communities to put plans together to clean up lakes and rivers that have become badly polluted," Dr Smith said. "The Government needs to be satisfied that a water body is nationally significant, that rules are in place to prevent ongoing pollution, that cleanup plans have wide community engagement and that the Regional Council is also financially committed to support the clean up. $9 million is available for allocation from the fund in the next year." More information, including criteria for the fund and application forms are available from the Ministry for the Environment website.
/communitycentre/news/national/freshwaterfund.htm
The Government has approved the Department of Internal Affairs’ proposal to remove the prohibition in gambling regulations on multi-year grants. New regulations came into effect on 15 September 2011, which include requirements to ensure that multi-year grant arrangements comply with the Gambling Act 2003, and help mitigate associated risks. The regulations are available on the Department of Internal Affairs' website. Societies and grant applicants should read the regulations in full and obtain independent, professional legal and financial advice before committing to multi-year grants.
/communitycentre/news/national/gaminggrants.htm
Dementia is the fourth leading cause of death in New Zealand. Currently over 44,000 people are living with dementia in New Zealand; by 2026 this number will double, and continue to double every 20 years. However; it is not these sobering statistics that first come to mind when talking about dementia, but the devastating effects the disease can have on an individual, their family and carers. This is why Alzheimers New Zealand has launched a website for World Alzheimer’s Day to show the 'true' faces of dementia. The website tells personal stories and poems of experience with the disease written by people who have all been affected by dementia. Alzheimers New Zealand national communications advisor, Kimberley Ebbett says: "We hope the website will act as tribute to the 'true' faces of dementia and will go some way towards increasing public awareness of the challenges someone with dementia may face. To visit the website or to submit your story, please go to: http://facesofdementia.alzheimers.org.nz .
/communitycentre/news/national/facesofdementia.htm
The University of Auckland is running two studies for parents who want help with managing their child’s behaviour. Researchers from The Triple P-Positive Parenting Research Group are looking for parents with children aged three to eight years old to take part in the Auckland-based studies. The free parenting programmes are aimed at enabling parents or caregivers to develop positive relationships with their child and to manage behaviour in a constructive way. One programme consists of two-hour parenting discussion groups on topics such as dealing with disobedience and positive parenting, which are relevant to parents who have children aged 5 to 8 years of age. The second programme, designed specifically for fathers and mothers to participate together, includes five two-hour group sessions and three 20-minute telephone consultations, delivered over eight consecutive weeks. To volunteer for the research projects contact the Triple P Research Group on 09 623 8899 ext 83042 or email: tprg@auckland.ac.nz for more information.
/communitycentre/news/national/positiveparenting.htm
Upon the disbanding of the Safer Families Violence Prevention Network on the North Shore of Auckland, Te Rito Rodney was gifted the popular and well known training videos and DVDs: Someone’s Daughter, The Children are Watching and Afraid to Ask. These training resources have been widely used in the training of family violence for professionals and in family violence group programmes. We are grateful to the former Safer Families Violence Prevention Network Management Committee for identifying Te Rito Rodney as the recipient of these. As a result of this, Te Rito Rodney is pleased to announce that these valuable resources are now available for purchase. For more information contact Diane Woolson Neville on 09 426 6524 or email: teritorodney@paradise.net.nz .
/communitycentre/news/national/violenceresources.htm
Do you want your youth organisation to be a nurturing environment that supports young people to make good decisions around alcohol and other drugs? Health Action Trust has created a new toolkit to help youth organisations develop (or review existing) drug policies that support young people. The Guidelines and Workbook for ‘More than Just a Policy: Best Practice Drug Policy for Youth Organisations’ are available on the Health Action website.
/communitycentre/news/national/bestpracticedrugs.htm
A booklet telling people how to get a needs assessment and access home support services has been sent to organisations throughout New Zealand to help ensure people have easy access to the information. Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "The booklet tells older people, their families and caregivers about how to access the support services to help them live independently in the community for as long as possible. It also includes local contact information for people wherever they are in New Zealand. The booklets have been sent to all GPs, District Health Boards and other organisations who help support older New Zealanders." A copy of the new booklet is also available at the Ministry of Health website.
/communitycentre/news/national/homesupport.htm
In July, over 250 people from diverse sectors and from all across Aotearoa came to the Victory Village Forum in Nelson. They came seeking inspiration and answers to many and varied questions, from the general to the specific, which were explored in depth throughout the programme. Feedback about the Forum strongly endorsed the value of holding the Forum with Victory Village, of being on-location, of hearing the depth and richness of the multi-year journey as a foundation for the Forum, and of starting with the story of a community in place. The full report is now available for download from the Inspiring Communities website. Updates are also being added to the Forum website: http://www.confer.co.nz/VictoryForum/ .
/communitycentre/news/national/vvforumreport.htm
Commerce Minister Simon Power has announced proposals to simplify the financial reporting framework for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and registered charities. The proposed reforms follow on from a review of the financial reporting framework which found that the framework was overly costly and not meeting users’ needs or expectations. The changes will improve financial reporting by charities, which are currently not subject to financial reporting standards and it is unclear what they need to file with the Charities Commission. The External Reporting Board is expected to release consultation papers shortly, and will continue consulting with the community and voluntary sector in the process of creating the simple format reports for charities. "The changes will strengthen the public’s confidence that the money they donate to charities is being used effectively and efficiently," said Mr Power. "It will also clarify charities’ financial reporting obligations, particularly as many rely on volunteers who are currently unsure about what they need to prepare." The Government intends to introduce a Financial Reporting Amendment Bill to Parliament next year. For more information visit: http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/ContentTopicSummary____46884.aspx .
/communitycentre/news/national/financereportingchange.htm
Latest community news, events, jobs and ads are online at:www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news.
Ngā rongo kōrero tino hōu, ngā whakahaerenga, ngā mahi me ngā pānuitanga kei te wātea ā-ipurangi i:www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news.
Brainwave Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that educates New Zealanders from all walks of life using the latest scientific research on brain development.
http://www.brainwave.org.nz/
Youth Transition Services (YTS) provides young people in the Gisborne region with support services to ease their transition from school to work, further education or training.
http://www.ytsgisborne.org.nz/
Cultural Well-being is a portal to cultural well-being resources, guidelines, research reports, statistical collections and other information found on government and local authority websites.
http://www.culturalwellbeing.govt.nz/
Settlement.org.nz provides quality information and practical advice for all newcomers settling into Auckland, whether born overseas or in New Zealand.
http://www.settlement.org.nz/
The Postnatal Distress Support Network provides peer support groups, telephone support and information for women experiencing symptoms of postnatal distress, Auckland wide. It is our aim to offer a confidential, friendly, safe place for you to share what is going on for you, if you wish.
http://www.postnataldistress.org.nz/
A Girl Called Hope is a non–profit organisation working with young women who face life–controlling issues, such as abuse, addictions, depression, eating disorders, self harm and unplanned pregnancy. We exist to provide a future full of hope and potential to every young woman – to show them that they are valued, purposed and above all have a reason to live.
http://www.agirlcalledhope.org.nz/
RAASC is a non-discriminatory, non-judgemental, confidential and free service, offering support, counselling information, advice and education to survivors of rape and sexual violence regardless of your circumstances or how long ago the abuse took place.
http://www.rapeandabuse.co.nz/
The Inclusive Education Action Group is a group of people committed to ensuring that all disabled children, young people and adults participate fully in their local, regular educational setting.
http://www.ieag.org.nz/
ChatBus provides a free, mobile counselling service to children under 14. The service aims to restore hope and build resiliency while encouraging, empowering and supporting youth through their struggles.
http://chatbus.org.nz/
The Aphasia Association of New Zealand is a national organisation providing support, education, information and advocacy for the estimated 16,000 New Zealanders living with aphasia - a language disorder that leaves the intellect fully intact while eroding the ability to talk, read, write and understand what is being said.
http://www.aphasia.org.nz
You'll find these and more links at:www.community.net.nz/links.
Ka kitea ēnei i runga nei me ētahi atu hononga i: www.community.net.nz/links.
These Events are happening in the coming weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/events.
Ka puta ēnei whakahaerenga ā ngā wiki ruarua e tū mai. Rapaina ngā taipitopito Whakahaerenga i: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/events.
These Training events are happening in the coming weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/training.
Ka puta ēnei whakahaerenga Whakangungu ā ngā wiki ruarua e tū mai. Rapaina ngā taipitopito Whakangungu i: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/training.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were written around 2,300 years ago. When Roman armies approached they were hidden in caves on the shores of the Dead Sea for protection. And there they stayed until 1947 when a shepherd discovered them.
Part of their value lies in their insights into life and religion in ancient Jerusalem, including the birth of Christianity.
Since 1965 you've had to visit The Israel Museum in Jerusalem to view them. And doubtless they were behind display glass and pretty much inaccessible to anyone but accredited scholars.
But thanks to modern high-resolution scanning and the Internet now anyone can view 5 of the scrolls at any time from any Internet connected device.
Google partnered with The Israel Museum to digitise the Scrolls with immensely detailed photographs:
The high resolution photographs, taken by Ardon Bar-Hama, are up to 1,200 megapixels, almost 200 times more than the average consumer camera, so viewers can see even the most minute details in the parchment. For example, zoom in on the Temple Scroll to get a feel for the animal skin it's written on—only one-tenth of a millimeter thick. You can browse the Great Isaiah Scroll, the most well known scroll and the one that can be found in most home bibles, by chapter and verse. You can also click directly on the Hebrew text and get an English translation. While you're there, leave a comment for others to see.
The high resolution photographs, taken by Ardon Bar-Hama, are up to 1,200 megapixels, almost 200 times more than the average consumer camera, so viewers can see even the most minute details in the parchment. For example, zoom in on the Temple Scroll to get a feel for the animal skin it's written on—only one-tenth of a millimeter thick.
You can browse the Great Isaiah Scroll, the most well known scroll and the one that can be found in most home bibles, by chapter and verse. You can also click directly on the Hebrew text and get an English translation. While you're there, leave a comment for others to see.
Source: Official Google Blog: From the desert to the web: bringing the Dead Sea Scrolls online.
Google's Dead Sea scrolls project is a huge undertaking. There are doubtless numerous other historical works from around the world that are also worthy of being digitised and made available online.
I imagine that over time we'll see more and more of them. The Dead Sea Scrolls project features extremely high resolution images and side-by-side translation to English.
Project Gutenberg, on the other hand, renders and sometimes translates the text of more than 36,000 books, including such works as Pride and Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes, Beowulf and Grimm's Fairy Tales. This is the work of volunteers and is funded by donations.
This kind of sharing is truly one of the wonders of the Internet. Enjoy.
I recently came across a not for profit website I don't want to name that had sadly misjudged its audience and its language. I'd be extremely surprised if the website achieves its goals. In my opinion, it was a huge waste of good money. Here's why I was upset — I've changed almost all the details, including the goal of the organisation to protect their identity.
The organisation want to reach and educate new parents and encourage them to get their baby vaccinated.
On the home page is a big photo of a baby, with a vaccination needle about to puncture its arm.
That was the first mistake I think. Cliche as it is, a photo of a smiling, happy baby should produce a more positive response. Baby + needle is likely to create negative feelings.
A big heading proclaims 'infant vaccinations'. That's very neutral and academic, as is much of the rest of the text on the page. Other phrases on the home page include 'the process', 'baby referred', and 'the health professional checks the baby's…'.
That neutral, academic, health-related language is very alienating. It's cool, clinical and not at all inviting. Another phrase was 'Health Services will contact the family'.
If the website was talking 'to' parents rather than 'about' parents that phrase would be 'Health Services will contact you'.
At the bottom of the page is a prominent disclaimer: Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.
Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.
The 'legal' language here is also off-putting. It's a 'warning': stay away! Watch out! Be careful! You can't trust us! There's danger here!
The rest of the text on the website is in the same vein. It's medical, clinical, cool, alienating. It talks about 'the baby's' health, as though 'the baby' is a thing that's somehow lying around in the environment, disconnected from anything and anyone.
The site seems to have been written by health professionals for health professionals, yet its intended audience is new parents.
I don't have expertise in the area of parents of a first baby, but a moment's reflection suggests they're likely to be aged between maybe 12 and 50, generally probably in their 20s.
I imagine they're extremely busy, probably scared, perhaps tired.
On every social scale they will cover the entire range: from poor to rich, brilliant to not too bright, graduates to those who left school the second they could, athletes to people with any disability you can think of, English speakers to those who can barely manage a Hello in English.
A successful writer will picture who they're talking to and choose their vocabulary and tone to suit.
The website that provoked me to write this Tip should throw out all its text and start again. It could dramatically improve its effectiveness by using 'we' and 'you': 'your baby', 'we'll tell you'.
It should ditch the medical jargon and use the kinds of words ordinary people use to talk about their baby and vaccinations. At least at first.
I don't mean they have to use 'baby talk' — they should talk to their audience as adults — but save the medical jargon for a bit later as a backup to the 'ordinary' language.
Does your website talk to your intended audience? Go check it now.
Pānui tips contributed by Miraz Jordan, http://knowit.co.nz .
Past Website tips are all available on CommunityNet Aotearoa. Miraz also writes the Tech Universe column for the NZ Herald - it's published online every weekday at http://bit.ly/bGX7UY .
Nā Miraz Jordan i takoha ēnei Kupu Tohutohu, http://knowit.co.nz . Kei te pīrangi āwhina, tohutohu mō te Ipurangi? Whakapā ki a Miraz.
E wātea ana ngā kupu tohutohu i CommunityNet Aotearoa i: /links/monthlysite/ . He kaituhi hoki a Miraz i te wāhanga Tech Universe ō te NZ Herald - kei te tā ipurangitia ia rā mahi i http://bit.ly/bGX7UY .
In September, there were 52,111 visits (August 51,543).
I Mahuru e 52,111 ngā manuhiri (Here-turi-kōkā e 51,543).
Last month, 90 new community items were published:
I tērā marama, e 90 ngā take hapori i whakaputaina:
Send in your free community notice or advertisement at:www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Tukua mai tō pānui hapori, pānuitanga koreutu rānei i:www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
There were 11,020 files downloaded in September (August 10,325). The most popular file download in September was the Sample Board Policies section of the Governance and Management How-to Guide (1280 downloads). In August, this was the Memorandum of Understanding template from the Digital Strategy Hot Topic Archive (905 downloads).
I tikiaketia ētahi 11,020 kōnae i Mahuru (Here-turi-kōkā 10,325). Ko te kōnae tikiake tino kaingākau ko te wāhanga Tauira Kaupapa Here mō ngā Poari o te Kia-pēhea Aratohu Tikanga mō te Kāwana me te Whakahaere (1280 ngā tikiake). I te marama o Here-turi-kōkā koia anō ko te wāhanga Whakaaturanga o Ngākau mōhio (905 ngā tikiake).
Find quarterly CommunityNet statistics at:www.community.net.nz/about/website/statistics.htm.
Kitea ngā tauanga CommunityNet toru marama i: www.community.net.nz/about/website/statistics.htm.
Remember: please forward the complete Pānui to others who'll find it useful. Tukua whakamua te Pānui katoa ki ētahi atu ka whiwhi painga i ana kōrero.
Nick Stanley, Web Content Manager.Nā Nick Stanley, Kaituhi Ihirangi Paetukutuku.
Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to CommunityNet Pānui at: www.community.net.nz/Pānui.
Whakauru, whakakorea te whakaurunga rānei ki te Pānui CommunityNet i: www.community.net.nz/Pānui.
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Whiriwhiria kia kotahi neke atu rānei o:
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īmēra rānei:me ngā taipitopito e whai ake nei:
CommunityNet Aotearoa RSS Feed is available at: lists.community.net.nz/cna/wp-rdf.php.
E wātea ana te CommunityNet Aotearoa Whāngai RSS i: lists.community.net.nz/cna/wp-rdf.php.
Publish your news, jobs, events, training and adverts free at: www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Pānuitia koreututia ō rongo kōrero, mahi, whakahaerenga, whakangungu me ō pānuitanga i: www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Send Pānui articles and ideas with Subject "Pānui contribution" to: information@community.net.nz.
Tukua ngā tuhinga me ngā whakaaro mō Pānui me te Upoko "Takoha mō Pānui" ki: information@community.net.nz.
You are welcome to reproduce material from this Pānui provided you acknowledge the source, like this: "Reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Pānui, October 2011, www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/Pānui".
E pai ana mātou kia tukuruatia e koe he rauemi o tēnei Pānui ki te mea ka whakaaetia e koe te mātāpuna, pēnei: "Reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Pānui, October 2011, www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/Pānui".
Editorial policy for Pānui and CommunityNet Aotearoa is guided by an Advisory Group drawn from community organisations. Pānui and CommunityNet Aotearoa are published by Department of Internal Affairs, PO Box 805, Wellington 6140. Phone: 04 4957200. Email: information@community.net.nz.
Kei te whakahaeretia te kaupapa here whakatikatika mō Pānui me CommunityNet Aotearoa e tētahi Rōpū Kaitohutohu i kūmea mai i ngā whakahaere hapori. Kei te whakaputaina te Pānui me te CommunityNet Aotearoa e te Tari Taiwhenua, Pouaka Poutāpeta 805, Te Whanganui-a-Tara 6140. Waea: 04 4957200. īmēra: information@community.net.nz.
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publishers accept no liability for any errors and omissions. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors, not the publishers.
Ahakoa te tino whakauaua ki te tirotiro kei te tika ngā pārongo i tēnei whakaputanga, e kore ngā kaiwhakaputa e whakaae ki tētahi taunaha mō tētahi hē, aweretanga rānei. Ko ngā kōrero me ngā whakaaro kua whakapuakina, nā ngā kaituhi, ehara nā ngā kaiwhakaputa.