Voice for SONG (small organisations – non-government)

Changing the context for small community organisations

Voice for SONG is a network that promotes the value, efficiencies and effectiveness of small community organisations. At the same time, Voice for SONG promotes cooperation between small and large organisations from community, government and business sectors.

Voice for SONG recognises that the work of small community organisations is often "invisible" and there is limited understanding of the potential of small community organisations. This means there is limited support for small organisations to progress their good work and realise their potential for the benefit of families and communities.

Yet our small size means limited bureaucracy and enables increased flexibility, responsiveness and ability to be closer to the community. These characteristics enable us to access hard to reach groups and also support innovation.

Voice for SONG seeks to influence a more supportive environment (context) for small community orgnisations. Voice for SONG has influenced cultural change in terms of shifting attitudes and beliefs of many people and organisations about the value and potential of small community organisations. Voice for SONG has been the catalyst for much sector discussion and debate and has influenced research and projects to raise the profile of small community organisations and address their issues, including their context. This has included the SNOW Research Project, LCSA research "Why the survival of small organisations are critical" and training provided by Westpac for small communityorganisations. Voice for SONG aims for more supportive policies, networks and improved funding for small organisations.

Tirrania Suhood, Manager of Bridges (then called BADFS) led the establishment of Voice for SONG in 2000. Tirrania was guided by what is now called the Bridges Network Approach (BNA) in the way she both led and collaborated in the development of Voice for SONG. The BNA now provides frameworks for collaborative strategies that take advantage of the strengths of small community organisations and the strengths of large organisations.

Many other organisations collaborated in the establishment of Voice for SONG including: the Family Worker Training and Development Program, Western Sydney Community Forum, Learning Difficulties Support Group and After Hours Family Crisis Service. Voice for SONG's development was profiled in Australian and New Zealand Third Sector Review in 2001. In 2002, Nirimba TAFE convened a forum in partnership with Bridges(BADFS) and Voice for SONG to promote small community organisations. Voice for SONG representatives went on to present at many state and national conferences.

In 2006, Voice for SONG in collaboration with Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF), Council of Social Services of NSW (NCOSS) and ACWA (Association of Child Welfare Agencies) organised a roundtable with stakeholders from around NSW. This discussion determined that Voice for SONG should be a statewide initiative. During this process the Voice_for_SONG : The Way Forward paper was produced.

Currently, Western Sydney Community Forum leads Voice for Song, and the Voice for SONG website is managed by Tri-Community Exchange. Additional executive members include representatives from University of Western Sydney and Northside Community Forum.

Voice for SONG seeks to ensure healthy, democratic, vibrant, inclusive communities through the sustainability of small or locally based community organisations by:

promoting the recognition of the value, efficiencies and effectiveness of small community organisations (in a climate that values large organisations over small organisations across all sectors)
actively promoting policies and strategies that support the sustainability and development of small community organisations
encouraging small community organisations to take leadership roles
connecting and developing cooperative and collaborative relationships between small community organisations, medium and large NGOs, peaks, government, business and the general community to progress issues for small community organisations.
being a vehicle for information exchange, discussion, consultation about key policy, program and service delivery issues affecting small community human service organisations
working with existing lobby groups such as NCOSS to ensure all levels of government are aware of key policy and sector development issues for small community organisations