The Seeds of Change program was developed to further support participants of the Merri-bek Democracy Lab with their ideas for community-led action or to build civic participation in Merri-bek.
Current Recipients of Seeds of Change:
Connecting Italian Social Clubs to the Community
Project Lead: Rosa Voto (2023 Lab)
This idea aims to connect Italian Social Clubs in Merri-Bek and support them to become vibrant hubs that are accessed by the broader community. The initiative will engage with committees from various Italian Social Clubs across Merri-bek to discuss how they could foster a greater sense of community that transcends cultural boundaries. It will explore what the vision for the future of these Social Clubs is for those that manage them and consider how they can become spaces for cultural exchange, creative collaboration and intergenerational gatherings that are both affordable and enriching. The outcomes of this initiative will look at how partnerships can be built that breathe new life into these spaces and establish them as inclusive meeting points for diverse groups.
Merri-bek Tech
Project Lead: Jade Ambrose (2023 Lab)
This idea will support the further development of a local non-profit web hosting organisation. Merri-bek Tech aims to provide organisations (predominantly community groups) and individuals within Merri- bek with free or at-cost hosted web software. This could mean things like websites, email & productivity tools, document collaboration, chat groups and forums. Unlike commercial offerings, which are typically run by large companies out of massive far-away data-centers, its offering would be locally served up from computers physically in Merri-bek, and ideally running on 100% local renewable energy. To provide these services locally, in addition to local computers, Merri-bek Tech will be built and run with local know-how through a volunteer program. Seeds of Change will support Merri-bek Tech to setup a volunteer program that engages with people from across various communities in Merri-bek. This will involve completing one volunteer cohort lasting three months by June 2024, documenting and refining the process, and starting a second cohort by the start of August 2024.
Connecting International Students
Project Lead: Niva Bajracharya (2023 Lab)
This idea will work to create a program called “Connecting International Students with Merri- bek Communities” that facilitates the integration and well-being of international students living in Merri- bek. The program will focus on connecting international students with community services, activities, and resources to enhance their overall well-being through community participation. This will address the unique challenges and needs of international students, such as cultural adaptation, social isolation, and access to essential services. It will also provide a platform for international students to connect with local services and participate in various community activities, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being. For Seeds of Change, the initiative will set up a Community Reference Group of local international students to develop the program content and establish the connections to support its delivery.
Research into Communities of Best Practice
Project Lead: Kin Francis (2023 Lab)
This idea will focus on improving the wellbeing and career development of Merri-bek’s LGBTIQA+ artists through researching the establishment of a local Community of Practice (CoP). The term CoP is defined as “groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” by social theorists Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner. CoP’s have always existed in history, but our understanding of how to develop and maintain them in a fast-paced, traumatised, contemporary context is limited. We often fail at actioning intersectionality and equity into community projects. This research idea will explore models for a CoP and feed into starting up the Merri-bek LGBTIQA+ Artist Collective (MQAC) that will meet regularly to provide peer-support and learning for queer artists. The findings will also be shared more broadly to support a variety of CoPs in Merri-bek.
A model of community-led care of Indigenous habitat restoration
Project Lead: Craig Burgess (2023 Lab)
This idea will engage with individuals, community groups and organisations working with Indigenous plants and habitat restoration across Merri-bek to discuss models for community-led long-term ongoing care of these spaces. It aims to explore questions like: what happens after first plantings and beyond initial maintenance? What might be the benefits of a community-led approach in this space for human as well as plant and wildlife communities? How might a community-led approach be best supported? As part of the consultation, the initiative will ask those participating to share their experiences as well as their vision and ideas, and to identify what they already know, what they’d like to know and how they imagine being involved. The documentation of this process – interviews, recordings, photos, diagrams, drawings – will inform how future community-led spaces can take shape and will be compiled into a free resource for other community groups and organisations.
Research into women’s mental health programs over school holiday periods
Project Lead: Helen Matthews (2021 Lab)
This idea aims to explore establishing, or extending existing programs, to support women’s mental health outside of school terms when programs usually take a break, especially during the Christmas break and school holidays. The Seeds of Change activity will research the effectiveness of running such a program and how it would improve the wellbeing of women who experience mental health issues. It will engage with stakeholders and potential service users to explore what an effective program might be and collate information for future funding applications. As a result of this research, a report will be provided to Council and other stakeholders with the findings and recommendations.
Information about the Seeds of Change Program:
You can find details about the program in the Guidelines here:
Merri-bek Democracy Lab – Seeds of Change Guidelines
Any inquires about this program can be directed to democracylab@publicvaluestudio.com
Past Recipients of Seeds of Change Support:
Merri Food Hub
Project Lead: Sarah Hussein (2021 Lab)
Merri Food Hub is a new initiative that aims at working towards a sustainable and more resilient food system in Moreland. We seek a community approach that is inclusive; a Human Rights- based approach to involve people from the community in our work. We would like to increase participation by local women from CALD communities, especially ones with recent migrant or refugee background, and involve them in the Merri Food Hub program. We acknowledge that there are certain sensitivities and specific accommodations to consider when it comes to reaching out to vulnerable cohorts and therefore we want to research, study and explore, how to appropriately engage these women in ways that address any barriers to participation.
Create Awareness and Improve Accessibility in Merri-bek – Good Access is Good Business
Project Lead: Rocca Salcedo (2021 Lab)
Improving accessibility benefits elders, people with temporary or permanent disabilities, parents using prams and people using mobility devices. However, many local businesses in Merri-bek are not accessible and there has been limited take up of the program “Good Access is Good Business” by business owners. People with disabilities living in Merri-bek cannot fully integrate with the community or participate in social activities when access remains poor. This project will explore ways to improve the Good Access is Good Business program and therefore build social capital as well as fight against discrimination. A more Accessible community = Inclusion, equal participation, fight against discrimination.
Podcast focusing on community initiatives, groups and organisations active in the Merri-bek
Project Lead: Eyal Chipkiewicz (2019 Lab)
The Podcast will include conversations with representatives from initiatives or organisation delivering social and/or community outcomes in Merri-bek. The objectives this podcast series are to: raise awareness of projects and organisations in the community, offering members of the community new points of engagement with initiatives in their local area; encourage civic participation by connecting people to existing initiatives (as participants, volunteers or supporters); generate stronger connections between projects and organisations, leading to more efficient delivery of outcomes, mutual cooperation and cross-sector collaboration; offer a message of community engagement, resilience and positive attitude among the local community, and beyond; and strengthen the council-community interface by expanding the perception of council beyond legislating and enabling, to also become a connecting hub for civic activities. For this stage of the Project, a production plan for the series will be developed, which will include defining the themes, scoping potential groups and organisations to interview, and undertaking some training related to podcast distribution and promotion.
Establish a Social Enterprise for Women in STEM from CALD communities
Project Lead: Arjumand Khan (2020 Lab)
Despite of possessing overseas tertiary qualifications, many migrant women with STEM backgrounds are missing out on opportunities to contribute to the Australian workforce due to factors such as lack of proper pathways and guidance, long term parental breaks and urgent financial needs. STEM Catalyst would provide such women a platform to restart their career and help gain local experience in the STEM education industry. Over the past few years, STEM Catalyst has been successful in providing women from Merri-bek a chance to participate in activities and find pathways to their career goals. STEM Catalyst requires support to transition into a Social Enterprise so that it can continue to be a springboard for local women’s career journeys.
Dementia Cafe in the Merri-bek
Project Lead: Kelly Vincent (2021 Lab)
The project will investigate the need for a Dementia Cafe in the Merri-bek community and start to develop a project plan. This research would build the foundations for a program offering a safe space for community members living with dementia, carers and loved ones, reducing social isolation – in the long run offering information and access to services of need as well. In 2017 it was reported by Dementia Australia that there were 3,042 people in Merri-bek living with dementia with a 1.4% annual growth rate. This doesn’t take into account all the carers and loved ones impacted, or the effect COVID (illness, lockdowns & restrictions) has since had on the ageing populations health and wellbeing.
That’s it, Period
Project Lead: Danielle Howe (2021 Lab)
That’s it Period was established in recognition of the need for more inclusive period education for young people and others in schools and community, as well as free period care products available in all public spaces. To further develop the core idea of That’s it, Period, this project will undertake research, community-led consultation and develop a community-led approach to advocate for inclusive period education programs and free period care products in all public spaces in Merri-bek council. Merri-bek could be one of the first councils in Australia to embark on this in their schools and libraries, and as a result, have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of young menstruators.