Voice for SONG
(for Small Organisations Non Government) 

Valuing small community organisations and promoting cooperation.

Voice for SONG is a network that seeks to ensure healthy democratic, vibrant, inclusive communities through the sustainability of small or locally based community organisations by:

• promoting the recognition of the value, efficiencies and effectiveness of small community organisations (in a climate that values large organisations over small organisations across all sectors)
• actively promoting policies and strategies that support the sustainability and development of small community organisations
• encouraging small community organisations to take leadership roles
• connecting and developing cooperative and collaborative relationships between small community organisations, medium and large NGOs (non- Government organisations) peaks, government, business and the general community to progress issues for small community organisations.
• being a vehicle for information exchange, discussion, consultation about key policy, program and service delivery issues affecting small community human service organisations
• working with existing lobby groups such as NCOSS to ensure all levels of government are aware of key policy and sector development issues for small community organisations

While Voice for SONG acknowledges that NCOSS and other peaks have always and will continue to represent and advocate for their member organisations, including small community organisations, Voice for SONG aims to have a complementary and non-competitive role with NCOSS and other peaks. Voice for SONG will lobby NCOSS and other peaks to advocate for the benefit of small community organisations.

Voice for SONG is currently a NSW network with secretariat support provided by NCOSS and TRI Community Exchange Inc.

Publications & Resources

Click here to download the Voice for SONG brochure (PDF document).

Click here to download Voice for SONG’s paper on the issues faced by small community-based, human service, nongovernment, not-for-profit sector organisations.

Surviving the Squeeze: How small NGOs can thrive in the current climate - New South Wales Council of Social Service, (2008) NCOSS News Vol 35, Number 5

Other documents that may be of interest are the SNOW reports. A report developed from the Small Non-Government Organisations Working Together project. The project was designed to explore the strengths, issues and challenges facing smaller non government organisations (NGOs) in the Mount Druitt/Blacktown area and to work with small NGOs in the Blacktown area to identify a range of strategies that would support small NGOs, and assist them in developing and enhancing their potential. Other reports available are –

• the main Summary Document for SNOW,
• SNOW Tips and Tools,
• a report of the findings of the Viability Research Project, available through Metro West Department of Community Services on (02) 9630 1103
• Is the writing on the wall for small community organisations? - Illawarra Community Forum

If you have any documents you would like to share please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We would like to collect case studies on small organisations that have had successful stories about how small has made a real difference to your community.  If you would like to share your stories with everyone please send your articles (keep to less than one page please) to Jane Uff, at TRI Community Exchange,  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We will be placing them on this page to demonstrate the value of small organisations and the work they do.