Eight community groups selected for first Australian Gift of Communication

Eight regional community groups have been selected to receive free communications advice as part of the first Australian Gift of Communication to be held in Wodonga, Victoria this Friday.

Members from Albury Wodonga U3A, NESAY, Lions Club of Wodonga, Wangaratta Artists Society, the Alexandra Community Hub, the Yackandandah Community Association, the Beechworth Biennale and Alpine Valleys Community Leadership will workshop their communications needs with a local communications professional on the day.

Twenty-five applications were received from the local area.

Chair of IABC Asia Pacific, Ross Monaghan said the workshop is a support initiative of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Asia Pacific and the Border North East Communicators Network.

“The Gift of Communication has been delivered internationally for 14 years and we’re excited to now offer the first one in Australia here in conjunction with the local communicators’ network. The Network has been convened by Birgit Schonafinger for seven years and with numbers in the profession growing, we had plenty of volunteers to help out community groups,” Mr Monaghan said.

“The professional communicators have extensive skills that highlight the breadth of work communications professionals do to support business and community. They help with strategy and issues, community engagement, marketing and ensuring consistent and accurate two-way information flows that help organisations and society reach their full potential,” he said.

Mr Monaghan said the strength of community support made it possible to provide the event for free.

“Our idea has been supported by North East Water who provided the venue for free, Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi who is donating a prize and Foodshare Albury Wodonga. Mell Milgate from Starfish Marketing, Alison Foscholo from Oak Lane Consulting, Judy Charlton and Birgit Schonafinger from Fishbowl PR together covered the costs of catering.

“We also thank the Into Our Hands Foundation, Alpine Valleys Community Leadership, Border Trust, regional media, Helen Haines MP, Starfish Marketing, Fishbowl PR and councils for helping to spread the word about the opportunity through their networks.

“With so many people giving so much volunteer time to community groups and causes, this is one way our profession can give back to the community,” he said.