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Awareness for Action: Parramatta
Last modified: 2010-06-09
Abstract
The Centre for Social Impact is collaborating with Parramatta City Council to identify the key social issues for the Parramatta Local Government Area. Parramatta is seen as facing major challenges and new opportunities over the medium term. These are being driven by: population growth in the Western corridor; Government policies that are focused on the West, including the transfer of public sector jobs; and significant improvements in the road network and the rail system that continue to improve accessibility. However, there is a need and desire to develop a clearer representation of the level of social inclusion in the Parramatta LGA and to engage all relevant stakeholders. The research focuses on the following areas: Learning; Earning; Housing; Being healthy; Belonging and Fairness; Safety and Justice). This study will be conducted in accordance with the Social Inclusion Principles set down by the Australian Social Inclusion Board, including their definition of the term ‘socially included’ (Social Inclusion Principles in Summary, 2008).
The research builds on the methodology used in the Common Cause project on Sydney’s social issues and the MacroMelbourne project including Community Indicators Victoria ( http://www.communityindicators.net.au/). This project involves predominantly secondary data collection using both government and non-government data reporting sources. The former includes the Australian Bureau of Statistics and administrative data from government departments, the latter includes information collected by other stakeholders involved in the process of improving social inclusion - such as local non-profit organisations.
The data will be synthesised and integrated to form a narrative and a series of indicators that can be widely understood – thus maximising the potential for raising awareness and getting a broad set of stakeholders engaged in a dialogue process around the key issues. The early findings show an evident imbalance across social inclusion indicators between the northern and southern areas of the Parramatta LGA, with the more southern census collection districts generally showing greater levels of exclusion than the more northern districts.
This paper will provide a summary of the first phase of the research which focused on the “demand side” and discuss the approach being adopted to formulate a “supply side” analysis and ultimately a mechanism for formulating consensus on the priorities for social investment (Working with and for Communities: Strategies for Collaborative Community Research and Knowledge Exchange’ Sarah MacLean, Deborah Warr and Priscilla Pyett). The focus will be on assessing different methods of cross-sectoral partnership and collaboration (‘Partnership working: policy and practice’ Susan Balloch & Marilyn Taylor, 2001).
The research builds on the methodology used in the Common Cause project on Sydney’s social issues and the MacroMelbourne project including Community Indicators Victoria ( http://www.communityindicators.net.au/). This project involves predominantly secondary data collection using both government and non-government data reporting sources. The former includes the Australian Bureau of Statistics and administrative data from government departments, the latter includes information collected by other stakeholders involved in the process of improving social inclusion - such as local non-profit organisations.
The data will be synthesised and integrated to form a narrative and a series of indicators that can be widely understood – thus maximising the potential for raising awareness and getting a broad set of stakeholders engaged in a dialogue process around the key issues. The early findings show an evident imbalance across social inclusion indicators between the northern and southern areas of the Parramatta LGA, with the more southern census collection districts generally showing greater levels of exclusion than the more northern districts.
This paper will provide a summary of the first phase of the research which focused on the “demand side” and discuss the approach being adopted to formulate a “supply side” analysis and ultimately a mechanism for formulating consensus on the priorities for social investment (Working with and for Communities: Strategies for Collaborative Community Research and Knowledge Exchange’ Sarah MacLean, Deborah Warr and Priscilla Pyett). The focus will be on assessing different methods of cross-sectoral partnership and collaboration (‘Partnership working: policy and practice’ Susan Balloch & Marilyn Taylor, 2001).