Community projects

Vicwest Community Telco supports a wide range of local community projects. After all, we're a part of the community and we want to contribute to its ongoing prosperity.

Vicwest Community Telco's Partnership with Bendigo Bank's Generation Green™ Energy Saver Initiative saves Victorian businesses $2.5 Million in energy bills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 19,037 tonnes!

Thank you to all our customers who participated in the Generation Green™ Energy Saver Initiative. The program was completed on June 30th with an outstanding 4,455 business participants.

As part of the program partnership with the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VECCI) and the Victorian Governments’ Carbon Down program the Victorian Bendigo Bank branches will be distributing over 5,000 energy-saving power boards (valued at $49.95 each) to the businesses that participated. These power boards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 4 tonnes each over their life. This is a total of 19,037 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – which is equivalent to taking almost 4,500 cars off the road for a whole year.

Furthermore, the energy-saving power boards will also provide the participating businesses the opportunity to save up to $500 individually and a combined $2.5 Million in unnecessary stand-by energy use every year. Across Australia this annual stand-by energy consumption costs the business community more than $588 Million.

Participating businesses visited the Community Telco website, clicked on a link that then took them to the Banks Generation Green website and told us what their business / organisation has done or could do to save energy and reduce its environmental impact for the opportunity to win $10,000 to ‘green their business’. Runner-up prizes included Bendigo Bank Financial Planning advice and services valued at $5,000 and Business Energy Assessment from VECCI Sustainability Services valued at $1,000.

The Banks Environment & Sustainability team is working with VECCI to review the entrants’ ideas and the winners will be announced on the 15th July. The impressive quality of entries reviewed so far illustrate the great level of interest and time Australian businesses are investing in considering their energy consumption and environmental impact.

Youth project making a difference    

Youth Foundations Victoria is a joint partnership between the Bendigo Bank and The Office For Youth, targeting young people in disadvantaged areas of Victoria. The project offers young people a chance to have a say in improving their communities, with the opportunity to develop new skills and abilities along the way.

A committee of young people, known as the Young People’s Action Committee (YPAC), is given access to small grants that are then offered to youth led projects that will make a positive impact on their local community.

This committee is supported by a group of adults, including a professional facilitator and a Local Partnership Group (LPG). Committee members are encouraged to participate in training packages to help them achieve personal goals whilst supporting their communities.

The LPG is made up of local organisations and businesses who have offered their support to the program and the facilitator. These organisations include: Jolt Training Group, Bethany Family Support, BacLinks, BATFORCE, Leisure Networks, Newcomb Secondary College, City of Greater Geelong, Glastonbury Child & Family Services, and St. Augustines.

Make-A-Wish®

Ballarat Community Telco is proud to be the platinum sponsor of the Ballarat branch of Make-A-Wish® Australia. If you would like to help us grant cherished wishes to seriously ill children, please click on the Make-A-Wish® fairy  to make a donation.

Ballarat Cancer Research Centre

Ballarat Cancer Research Centre is a world leading cancer research centre located in Ballarat. To make a donation or for more information about the valuable reseach undertaken by Ballarat Cancer Research Center please click on their logo.

United Way Ballarat Community Fund

United Way Ballarat Community Fund is Ballarat’s pre-eminent not-for-profit fundraising organisation. For more information about the valuable work undertaken by United Way Ballarat Community Fund please click on their logo.

Ballarat Basketball Foundation

The Ballarat Basketball Foundation supports local junior players to ensure that every aspiring young athlete has an equal opportunity to participate at the highest level that they are capable of. For more information about Ballarat Basketball and the Ballarat Basketball Foundation please click on their logo.
 

Peter's Project

Vicwest Community Telco can play an important part in achieving Peter Jellie’s vision to improve the cancer services in this region. Part of our charter is to donate a percentage of our revenue to the local community and we simply need our business customers to nominate Peter’s Project as their preferred option. To find out more contact Vicwest Community Telco today on 1300 835 261.

Vicwest Community Telco also supports the following organisations

    
  







 

Ballarat Cycle Classic - a carnival style cycling event centred around Lake Wendouree