Report found general favour

Ms Harrington and Cr Lisa Mahood attended the Social Enterprise World Forum in Seoul on October 14-16 and brought back their findings with ideas on how social enterprise could be implemented in the city to help tackle unemployment.

Cr Mahood was an apology at the meeting, which left Ms Harrington to speak on the report.

She said community consultation in 2006 showed it was clear the community wanted the council to strive for employment for all.

“I find it pretty exciting to be able to come back from Korea and not only learn new things there we can implement with our city, but also to strengthen areas in our service that we have been working with our community and those we need to do more work with,” Ms Harrington said.

“Even though we have quite a high level of young people who are unemployed in this city, what social enterprise and the learnings at Seoul taught me was let’s use this as an opportunity for those people who are vulnerable who can’t find work through normal systems that exist in our city we have today.

“What my nanna used to say to me is don’t give them a fish, give them a rod.”

Ms Harrington also shared a video made by California-based non- profit group REDF in 2008 on how social enterprise has helped individuals.

Every councillor, except Cr Eric Kerr, spoke on the report and all voted in favour that it be received and noted.

Wodonga mayor Rodney Wangman said the council would look to work with for-profit and not-for-profit organisations to provide more employment opportunities.

“This report is only a short snapshot, she has provided a lot more detail and will continue to provide into the future,” he said.

Cr Byatt said her presentation made an “important point” about the role of local government in community leadership.

Meanwhile, former Wodonga mayor Ian Deegan will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss the council’s “lack of consultation”, “lack of transparency” and its economic management.

It will be at 7pm at Wodonga’s German Austrian Australian Club.