The Victorian government has developed some promising relationships with the nonprofit sector as of late.
Last week state housing minister Wendy Lovell launched a joint project with charity organisation Kids Under Cover, called the Building Foundations Mentoring Program.
This new program aims to provide at-risk and homeless youth with a mentoring service, to help them reach their goals and build positive relationships within the community.
"For young people who are disadvantaged and at risk of becoming homeless, a mentor can provide valuable motivation and support," Ms Lovell said in a statement on June 27.
In addition to this unique initiative, yesterday (July 4) the acting premier Peter Ryan announced another new project that strengthens ties between the nonprofit sector and the Victorian government.
Alongside leading philanthropists from the Melbourne area, Mr Ryan launched a brochure that is intended to foster government and philanthropic partnerships.
Called The Guiding Principles for Collaboration Between Government and Philanthropy, this brochure is expected to be used as an informative and educational point of reference by organisations across the nonprofit and philanthropic sector.
"Using these guiding principles, the coalition government and philanthropy can look forward to better ways of working together, to create resilient, liveable and prosperous communities across Victoria," Mr Ryan said in an official press release.
The document - available for download on the department of planning and community development website here - outlines four main areas.
These are: creating the environment, shaping partnerships and building relationships, decision making and management practices and evaluation and sustainability.
"Some of the key areas highlighted in the document include the importance of setting specific goals for each collaboration, understanding the roles of participants, the importance of frank communication and the need to establish an evaluation framework," Mr Ryan explained.
The brochure also features an interactive matrix that helps people decide whether or not collaboration is a path that they would like to take.
Mr Ryan said that the government had been in touch with philanthropists to put this information together, and that it ultimately should result in improvements for Australian charities and nonprofits.
"The guiding principles have been developed in consultation with key philanthropic organisations to promote stronger partnerships and better support for the not-for-profit community sector," Mr Ryan said.
He went on to acknowledge the significant contribution that philanthropists contribute to the local economy and to the nation as a whole.
"Philanthropy Australia estimates that philanthropic trusts and foundations provide up to $1 billion annually to not-for-profit community sector organisations across the nation," he concluded.
