About Communify Queensland
Our story, our staff, our philosophy and values
Communify Queensland is an established community organisation providing a diverse range of services
Our Vision: An engaged, unified community leading change.
Our Mission: Supporting the community on all sides by working creatively to meet needs and interests in a rapidly changing world.
Integrity: We are committed to a culture of honesty, accountability, transparency and justice.
Passionate: We are determined to actions that improve the quality of life and a sense of belonging.
Inclusive: We advocate for inclusive communities that support participation and access.
Creative: We are committed to new ways of supporting and engaging.
Collaborative: We embrace opportunities to build alliances that strengthen our capacity.
1978
Communify originated when a small group of local residents formed the Red Hill Paddington Community Centre (RHPCC) on Caxton Street. The purpose of the centre was to provide activities, support and advocacy services for locals.
1993
The RHPCC moved to new premises at 180 Jubilee Terrace in Bardon – which is our main office today.
2007
The RHPCC was renamed Communify Queensland to better align with our vision and mission. The new name also reflects the fact that although we are a local agency, our services are far-reaching and extend beyond just the surrounding suburbs.
2021
Over the years we’ve expanded Communify’s range of programs and services to respond to the evolving needs of our diverse community.
1 July 2022
Communify merged with belong, an established not-for-profit community group providing services and support to the communities of Brisbane’s south.
We’re proud of our Annual Reports
They have achieved ‘Silver’ in the Australasian Reporting Awards for 5 years straight (2017-2021). Our reports tell our story and are a great place to read more about who we are and what we do.
Our annual reports are available to download.
Our policy
Communify is committed to providing a high quality of care and support to the people we provide services to. This includes:
- ensuring that services are well planned
- internal controls are in place to comply with relevant funding body standards
- a quality management system is in place
- the service is effective in meeting the diverse needs of the community
- the service is provided at the best possible level of quality.
The services we provide are diverse and we continually shape our services, programs and activities to support those in need effectively.
Our quality objective
Our quality objective is to meet or exceed community needs and expectations in a proactive, professional and cost-effective manner.
We aim to achieve this by:
- reviewing our business processes regularly to ensure continuous improvement
- collaborating with our partners, the community and other key stakeholders
- integrating quality management into our daily work practices
- setting and documenting objectives and targets for our core activities
- meeting relevant industry standards, regulatory requirements and contract arrangements
- reviewing and evaluating our performance across all services, to ensure continuous improvement in everything we do.
Communify’s Corporate and Leadership teams are committed to establishing, implementing, integrating and maintaining a Quality Management System.
The purpose of the Child Protection Act 1999 (QLD) is to provide for the protection of children.
The underlying principle of the Child Protection Act 1999 is that all children have the right to protection from harm.
Harm to a child is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. It is immaterial how the harm is caused.
Harm can be caused by physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect; or sexual abuse or exploitation.
The purpose of Communify’s Child Protection and Risk Management Policy is to ensure that all employees and volunteers at Communify have clear guidelines to assist them in responding to suspicions or allegations of harm to children accessing the service.
Our commitment to a child safe culture
Communify Qld offers a range of services that enable us to reach out, advocate, connect and inform. We work with people in a range of programs to promote a diverse, socially just and inclusive community. A number of our programs enable us to work directly with families and young children. In recognising that children are vulnerable to the actions of adults, we embrace the following:
Statement of Commitment
Communify believes that all children have the right to a life that is free from harm. Harm to a child is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. It is immaterial how the harm is caused. Harm can be caused by – physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect; sexual abuse or exploitation. Harm can be caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combinations of acts, omissions or circumstances.
Communify is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. Communify has zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns must be treated seriously and consistently as per our policies and procedures. In line with our moral obligations to children and young people, we contact relevant authorities when we are concerned about a child’s safety.
Communify is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks as per our Child Protection and Risk Management Policy and Procedure. Our services that cater to children aim to provide an environment that is free from any type of abuse or intentional harm. Communify is committed to safe recruitment procedures, and regularly training and educating staff on child abuse risks. Employees and volunteers at these services are aware of their obligations under the law in regard to the welfare of children and at all times uphold their obligation.
Communify is committed to providing a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and a safe and accessible environment for children with a disability.
Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy
Communify Qld will comply with legislative framework outlined in the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 and Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening Regulations 2011) to keep children and young people safe. To comply with the legislative framework Communify’s child and youth risk management strategy will include the eight minimum requirements. Communify will:
- Address the organisation’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive service environment;
- Strengthen an organisation’s capability to provide such an environment;
- Assist an organisation to manage any particular concerns with respect to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who are involved with the organisation, and
- Promote the consistency of an organisation’s approach to risk management, both within the organisation and with respect to compliance with the requirements under the Act.
Further information
If you would like a copy of our Child Protection and Risk Management Policy or to speak to someone about our policy please contact Communify by telephoning (07) 3510 2700 or email admin@communify.org.au
Karen Dare
Chief Executive Officer
5 July 2024
Privacy Statement
Personal information collected by Communify is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act). Personal information is any information or an opinion that identifies you or is reasonably identifiable and includes sensitive and health information. Communify will protect your information in accordance with the thirteen (13) Australian Privacy Principles. These principles govern how we can collect, use, store and disclose personal information, how individuals may access and correct personal information held about them, as well as ensuring the quality and security of your personal information.
Communify has developed a Client Privacy Policy to protect your privacy. The Policy is available here or in hard copy on request. It contains more information about our responsibilities, your rights, the information that may be collected by Communify, and how it would be used.
Collection of Information
Communify collects personal information directly from individuals or from their legal representative. Communify collects information from clients and prospective clients in order to ensure that the most effective services are provided to clients. Communify have developed a Privacy Collection Notice which contains a summary about our responsibilities, your rights, the information that may be collected by Communify, and how it would be used. The Communify Privacy Collection Notice is available here.
If individuals do not wish to provide some or all of the information we request, we may not be able to provide them with the service they are seeking.
Use and disclosure
The primary purpose for collecting personal information from individuals is to provide services to community members, including planning, funding, delivering, monitoring, reporting on and evaluating our services. The kind of information we collect will depend on your relationship with Communify (e.g. as a client, donor, business partner, employee, volunteer). A collection notice will be given to you setting out these uses at or close to the time we collect any information.
Access and correction of information
All personal information collected from individuals will be securely stored by Communify and protected from unauthorised use or access. All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date. You have the right to read any personal information kept about you. Our Client Privacy Policy and Privacy Collection Notice details the process for requesting access to your personal information and making a privacy complaint.
Overseas recipients
Communify’s data is backed up within Australia. Personal information to web-based email addresses such as Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail could be stored outside Australia in countries which do not have privacy legislation comparable to Australia. Communify will take steps that are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that the overseas recipient does not breach the Australian Privacy Principles.
Further Information
If you would like additional information about how Communify manages your personal information you may contact us on (07) 3510 2700 or admin@communify.org.au . Alternatively you can complete a Compliment, Suggestion & Complaint form that is available on our website or from any of Communify’s locations.
Our Team
Karen Dare
Chief Executive OfficerKaren has a social sciences background and over 30 years of experience working within the community sector.
She has worked with Communify since 1994 and has seen the organisation grow from a small neighbourhood centre with limited resources to the thriving multi-service hub that it is today. Always with a community development focus, Karen works alongside the Communify Management team to develop services and programs that will support people living the inner city communities of Brisbane.
Karen also works broadly in the community and has sat on the boards of several prominent community organisations and other representative committees including 4Walls Housing Company, Suncorp Stadium Advisory Committee and Building Services Authority.
She has a strong interest in supporting and developing responsive services within the housing, mental health, family support, emergency relief and refugee support areas.
Karen is recipient of the 2001 Centenary Medal and the Brisbane Australia Day Award for her contribution to the community sector.
Karen Dare
Ben Bollard
Louise Laing
Kelly Sciacca
Mish Burkett
Mandy Cox
Nagadeva Higgins
Peter Tran
Amita Laroiya
Chris Banks
Chris Eldridge
Zea Johnston
Dai Gwynne-Jones
Kerrie Evans
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
We are committed to supporting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australian people.
In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where Communify works, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples.
We wish to pay respect to the Elders – past and present – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play within our community.
We are a registered charity
We are an inclusive organisation and workplace