Community Exchange

Supporting communities to be places where people are connected, supported and help each other

What is Community Exchange?

The Community Exchange program is about supporting local communities to be places where people are connected, supported and help each other. We support communities to achieve this through mobilising local initiatives to get people together and connected.

Community Exchange is about developing genuine connections and relationships within a community based on trust and transparency. We walk together with community to bring about solutions that will benefit the lives of everyone.

We are on the ground, so we come to you and take time to truly listen to what you and the community needs to thrive.

We work in partnership with social enterprise BeFriend and are funded by the State Government through the Department of Communities.

We work towards people who:

• have social connections within their community
• participate in their local communities
• learn new skills and knowledge
• contribute to their communities
• feel safe in their community.

Community Exchange isn’t about a list of services, but rather ways we can help build community capacity and make connections. Some of the ways we have been doing that include:

• Lending a hand to find, write and apply for community grants
• Connecting community groups and businesses together for mutual benefit
• Building capacity and skills within community groups
• Helping build skills to host successful events
• Helping identify service gaps in consultation with the community so together we can find ways they can be filled
• Help community groups plan their growth to make their idea achievable and sustainable.

Who is it for?

We are inclusive so we work with all sorts of community organisations and individuals, building on existing strengths to create vibrant and connected communities. We have worked with grass roots and established community groups; individuals wanting to connect with a group or build their own; and potential and existing community leaders and businesses.

Who are We?

Matt Aitken

Community Development Coordinator – City of Swan

Explaining to family and friends what Community Development professionals do each day can be a tricky task. Key words for the tasks in my regular work are scaffolding, piloting projects, leveraging community resources, working on shoe-string budgets to make impressive projects. I love this kind of work because it allows me to work on a grassroots and pragmatic action level.

Tracy Tuari

Community Development Coordinator – City of Wanneroo

As a local resident within the City of Wanneroo’s northern growth corridor, I have a vested interest in seeing this local community thrive. I’m passionate about community development and making communities more inclusive and welcoming places to live. For me, it all comes down to creating genuine relationships and working together.

How much does it cost?

It’s free! The funding for Community Exchange is provided by the Department of Communities.

Where is it located?

Contact Details

Funding or partner acknowledgments

We work in partnership with social enterprise BeFriend and are funded by the State Government through the Department of Communities.

Links to our partners

• UnitingWA – Merriwa, Balga, Inglewood
• North Metropolitan Health Service
• Women’s Health and Family Service
• APM (NDIS)
• Butler Community Centre
• Joondalup Family Centre
• The Salvation Army – Merriwa