Footscray is in the limelight at the moment. In ten days time, the Victorian community development conference will be happening in the heart of it, at Borderlands. At the same time, Footscray is now at the centre of a contest all too familiar, globally: the gentrification of the inner city, and the use of punitive measures and private policing to displace the socially unwelcome.
It’s perfectly appropriate that the Regenerating Communities Conference should be happening in Footscray. The relevance of community development hinges fundamentally on social justice and solidarity. Regenerating Communities will be an opportunity to explore how community development might revive its mission, and connect with the community organisers, advocates and activists fighting for change.
Regenerating Communities October 16 – 18
A gathering of active citizens, practitioners, academics, policy makers and social impact folk to check in, share news, network/connect and build momentum for a continued commitment to participatory development practice and social justice.
Regenerating Communities in The Westsider
Footscray Community Response
Footscray Community Response (FCR) started organising after the police killing of Abdifatah Ahmed in central Footscray. Subsequently, the City of Maribyrnong responded not with the compassion and community services approach we might have expected, but on the contrary, local councillors unanimously decided on a resolution adopting the use of local laws officers and security to respond to social and health issues in Footscray.
“Maribyrnong council, including all Greens and Labor councillors, have invested $100K for these security guards to roam Footscray – 24 hours a week for 6 months. It’s unclear yet whether this policy will continue.”
Community Submission made to Maribyrnong City Council’s Local Laws Review
As part of the work of Footscray Community Response, a submission has been made to Maribyrnong City Council as part of their local laws review.
Maribyrnong City’s local laws review presents an opportunity to interrogate not only the utility of these laws, but also how they stand up against broader legal obligations and in the light of contemporary social needs and challenges.
This submission is particularly concerned with how local laws deal with issues impacting on the rights of all members of our community.
Federal and state legislation create a positive duty for local government to work against discrimination, harassment and victimisation. These obligations are not limited to the responsibilities of local government under the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, but also include anti-discrimination laws that prohibit local government treating community members unfairly or unjustly due to race, gender, disability and other individual circumstances.
Given these general obligations to uphold human rights and just and fair treatment, we make this submission urging Maribyrnong Council to consider the following in the current review of its local laws.
Click below for full submission.
For more information about the context see …
Council-hired security guards waging local war on poor
By Oskar Martin
What places like Footscray need is investment in community spaces, more public housing, a rise in social welfare and wages, and caps on food prices. For a fraction of the extra $2 billion that’s been poured into the Victoria Police budget over the past ten years, the people experiencing homelessness in Footscray and across Melbourne’s west could have been given permanent shelter. That’s the kind of solution we need—not more police and prisons, or councils spending money hiring private guards.
United Housing Sector Statement
United Housing Sector Statement call for support, July 2025
The intent of this statement is to establish a common base for the Victorian housing sector, from tenants’ associations and advocacy groups to community housing associations and the established peak bodies. In addition, the call is being made to community legal centres, residents’ associations, neighbourhood houses, religious centres, unions, universities and so on. All groups agreeing to these basic principles are invited to a public meeting on Thursday 23 October, 6pm at the Capitol Theatre, 113 Swanston St. Melbourne, to discuss ways of proceeding. The authors of this statement are not an alternative group, they are just the engine behind this specific campaign.
No liveable cities with fascists
It seems almost odd to have to say, but there is no liveable cities with fascists. The ‘March for Australia’ on 31 August was the largest far-right mobilisation in Australia, probably in decades. Across the country, in major cities and regional centres and towns, fascists led these marches and made hate speeches from their platforms. In Melbourne, these white supremacists attacked Camp Sovereignty, assaulted Black and Brown people and called for deportations of refugees and migrants.
On 19 October they are going to try and march again. Join the anti-racist united mass demonstration. We need to show that our side, the side of humanity and solidarity, is far bigger than they could ever be.
JOIN THE NEXT ANTI-FASCIST RALLY COUNTER THE MARCH FOR AUSTRALIA Sunday 19 October
More information at https://www.carf.melbourne
Maritime union demands action on illegal interception of Sumud flotilla
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), among others, have condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and called on Australia to take action against Israel’s breach of international law.
Six Australian humanitarians have been detained approximately 70 kilometres from the Gaza coastline. They are: Surya McEwen (40); Abubakir Rafiq; Hamish Paterson; Juliet Lamont; Bianca Webb-Pullman and Dan Coward.
Pip Hinman, Green Left Weekly
“They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others.”
Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.
Migrant women share stories
In the news, Migrant Women’s History Project (Duke Street Community House, Angliss Neighbourhood House & Borderlands)
Star Weekly, Brimbank North West, September
By Sam Porter
A new community project, which will showcase the stories of local migrant women, is in the works after receiving funding.
The storytelling project by Duke Street Community House and Angliss Neighbourhood House, funded by Borderlands Cooperative, will highlight the experiences, perspectives and memories of migrant women in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
According to Borderlands Cooperative, the project will explore topics such as cultural traditions, migration journeys, challenges faced by migrant women and the contributions they make to communities.
Click link below for full article …
Abolition in Social Work and Human Services – Visions, Possibilities and Challenges by Ian Hyslop & Bob Pease
A very pertinent and thought provoking work, co-edited by Bob Pease (Borderlands Co-operative Board board)
“This powerful collection brings abolitionist thinking to the forefront of social work. It confronts the profession’s complicity in colonial and state violence, opening space for urgent debate on justice, liberation and the radical transformation of social work itself.
Globally, social workers are committed to human rights and challenging unjust social structures. However, their close ties to the state often reinforce such systems of oppression …
Essential reading for academics, researchers, students, human service practitioners and social activists, this book interrogates the implications of social work’s complicity with systems that perpetuate oppression and social injustice.”
https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/abolition-in-social-work-and-human-services
Footscray Community Garden & Learning Place (hosted by Borderlands & St John’s Footscray)
Saturday October 4, at Maribyrnong Farmers Market with our Seedlings!
Special working bee Saturday October 11, 9-11AM.
‘Others’: Transforming Dehumanisation. (Footscray) with Hector Aristizabal from Colombia
Coming up at Borderlands space …
https://events.humanitix.com/others-transforming-dehumanisation
Third Way Theatre (est. 2000) specializes in Forum Theatre projects with community members, supporting dialogue around hard-to-address issues. Training collaborations with: Adrian Jackson (Cardboard Citizens), Barbara Santos (CTO Rio), Headlines Theatre, S. Leigh Thompson-Shealy, Stage Left Productions, and (the great late) Terry O’Leary. Project partners include Cardinia Shire Council, Drummond Street Services, Eating Disorders Foundation, Indian Australian Institute, Migrant Resource Center, Victorian Department of Education, University of Melbourne, and more.
Third Way Theatre
third-way-theatre.org
A final little personal note form the Borderlands Coordinator
I’ll be heading off to Chile a day after the Regenerating Communities Conference, to campaign in the Presidential elections. As with so much of the world, the far right threatens to re-emerge, harking back to the days of the dictatorship and aiming to resuscitate the flailing neoliberal model. I hope to add some reports on what’s going on in the Latin American continent in our Borderlands blog. In the meantime, if you are interested in some background, here’s a couple of articles that might be of interest:
Will a Communist be Chile’s next president?
Recollections of the Chilean coup
Donations needed for Borderlands
Borderlands Co-operative runs on the basis of community support. Without donations it would be very hard for us to pay our rent and bills. We sincerely appreciate your support!
Click link below to donate!
Check the Borderlands Website for frequent updates
We have revamped the Borderlands Website in order to facilitate ease of reading and more frequent updates. We hope to have new news, blogs and events listed every week or two.
Look out for it!