Crime Stoppers announces partnership Moorabool Shire Council Community Grants Program returns

By Lachlan Ellis

Moorabool Shire Council’s Community Grants Program is opening for a new 2023 round, with more than a quarter of a million dollars on offer for community groups this year.

Crime Stoppers Victoria and BankVic have extended their partnership to raise awareness about cybercrime and to help keep the community safe.

Online scams are becoming more sophisticated and easier to perpetrate, with Australians losing a staggering $568 million to scams in 2022.

With huge losses impacting Australians, Crime Stoppers Victoria and BankVic will aim to prevent online crime by educating the community on current online scams and providing online safety tips and trends.

“Each year, the community faces new and more complex online scams. Crime Stoppers Victoria continues to educate the public about staying vigilant and safe online. Our partnership with BankVic supports our efforts, bringing real-time consumer experiences and technical knowledge to our communications,” Crime Stoppers Victoria Chief Executive Stella Smith said.

“We are excited to continue to build our partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria, as we help to create strong, safe, and healthy communities for our members and the wider community. It also means we’re supporting a program that supports our members in their workplace,” CEO of BankVic, Anthony De Fazio, added.

To help protect people from cyber-criminals, Crime Stoppers and BankVic are thrilled to unveil the third instalment of their successful online safety series. Each month, new helpful online guides and practical tips will be released. Topics that will be covered include:

• Hacking — including the most common methods used and how to avoid becoming a victim.

• Safe online practices for you and your family — how to protect yourself and your family from the many financial and security dangers posed by the internet.

• Betting and sports investment scams — identifying online gambling camouflaged as legitimate investments.

The recent ‘Spotting a Scam’ podcast series covered a broad range of scams, and we can expect to see another podcast release with expert insights and tips in 2023. You can find the free resources at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/ onlinesafety.

Past projects supported through the Community Grants Program include the Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance’s Platypus Mural at the Bacchus Marsh swimming pool, the Stage is Yours Central Highlands series of open mic events, the Blackwood and Barry’s Reef Landcare series of workshops, and the Navigators Tennis Club expansion project.

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Rod Ward encouraged the many worthy groups and individuals across Moorabool to apply.

Council Mee�ng

Commi�ee Mee�ng and Thursday 9 March at the Lerderderg Library, both from 8.30 am to 5 pm. Applications open on 1 March, and close on 31 March. Applications can be worked on and saved in the online portal up until the 31 March deadline.

“There are so many community groups and individuals working on wonderful projects throughout our shire – projects that are improving the lives of young people, old people, disadvantaged communities just to name a few. Our grants program is invaluable to these groups to enable them to do this important work, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the process and see how grant funding is spent and the difference it makes,” he said.

Navigators Community Centre Incorporated

Public Mee�ng

“I encourage anyone involved in a community group or project who thinks they might qualify for a community grant to check out our website to read through the requirements and have a chat to our community development team, so we can continue to fund this great work.”

Two online Community Grant Writing Workshops will be held from 6 pm – 7 pm on Thursday 23 February and Wednesday 1 March, as well as drop-in sessions on Monday 6 March at the Ballan Council Offices

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Submitted applications are assessed for eligibility and scored against criteria by a panel of Council officers representing a range of different departments, with the final outcomes to be presented to Council for endorsement at the June Ordinary Meeting of Council.

For more information, head to www.moorabool.vic.gov.au and search community grants, or contact the Community Development team on 5366 7100 or info@moorabool. vic.gov.au.

The March Round is the first round of funding for 2023, with another round opening in August.

Planning Permit

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