(1) COMMUNITIES AS SYSTEMS

APPROACH – PARSIMONY, THEORETICAL SOUNDNESS, PRACTICAL UTILITY

(2) APPLICATIONS1. LOCALITIES OF CUMULATIVE

DISADVANTAGE

2. BLEND COMMUNITY FUNCTIONING AND SPECIFIC PROBLEM INDICATORS (MILDURA)

3. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL INCLUSION INDICATORS

(3) THE INDICATORS(1) SOCIAL DISTRESS: low family income, rental

stress, home purchase stress, lone person households.

(2) HEALTH: low birth-weight, childhood injuries, immunisation, disability / sickness support, life expectancy, psychiatric patients: hospital / community, suicide.

(3) COMMUNITY SAFETY: child maltreatment, criminal convictions, imprisonment, domestic violence.

(4) ECONOMIC: unskilled workers, unemployment, long-term unemployment, dependency ratio, low mean taxable income, limited computer use / internet access.

(5) EDUCATION: non-attendance at preschool, incomplete education, early school leaving, post-schooling qualifications.

(4) VISUAL REPRESENTATION

(5)RECURRING CHARACTERISTICSdeficient education and training deficient labour market credentialsindifferent health and disabilitieslow individual and family incomeengagement in crime, andwhere these characteristics are

concentrated, confirmed child maltreatment.

(6) 3% MOST DISADVANTAGEDWESTERN AUSTRALIA (5)Prison admissions x 15.0Long term unemployment x 5.5Disability/sickness support x 4.75QUEENSLAND (14)Child maltreatment x 3.0Prison admissions x 3.0NSW (20)Child maltreatment x 4.5Prison admissions x 3.5VICTORIA (22)Yr 12 incomplete x 3.0SOUTH AUSTRALIA (4)Child maltreatment x 3.75Long term unemployment x 3.2

(7) BLENDING SYSTEM/PROBLEM INDICATORS“THE MOST LIVEABLE, PEOPLE-FRIENDLY

COMMUNITY IN AUSTRALIA”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOVERNANCE TEAM

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS : CRIME; PSYCHIATRIC ADMISSIONS

(8) Criminal conviction rates (CORRECTIONS, VIC)

Red Cliffs Mildura Central Merbein Irymple Ouyen Mildura RCC Regional Victoria Melbourne

Non Organised 6.967741935 9.97624703100003

7.737824306 4.31034482799998

4.63678516199999

8.70959355200001

6.69574650899998

4.410610923

1.0

3.0

5.0

7.0

9.0

11.0

(9) RATE PER 1000 PSYCHIATRIC ADMISSIONS (2006/07)

(10) IMPORTANT CLUSTERS OF COMMUNITY ATTRIBUTES

Integration of people, groups and community organisations

Maintaining direction, energy and motivation

Substance and style of decision making, and

Resource generation and allocation.

(11) INTEGRATIONSTRENGTHENING:Sentiment of attachment to the local areaConsciousness of communal unityParticipation in community affairsSpirit of mutual help and co-operation within the

communityWorking relationship between organisations in the

communityFormation of alliances and partnerships between local

organisations, andDegree of trust between the people and organisations

of the community.

(12) ATTACHMENT 

ITEMAGREE/STRONGLY

AGREE

MEAN SCORE

Very attracted to this neighbourhood

92.4% 4.05

Given opportunity would not like to move

72.9% 3.76

Plan to remain a resident

77.8% 3.86

(13) NEIGHBOURING AND MUTUAL SUPPORTITEM AGREE/STRONGLY

AGREEMEAN SCORE

Believe neighbours would help in emergency

95.1% 3.86

Regularly stop and talk to people

81.5% 3.75

Go to someone in neighbourhood for advice

73.1% 3.60

Visit neighbours in their homes

47.1% 3.04

(14) SUBSTANCE, STYLE OF DECISION MAKINGITEM AGREE/STRONGLY

AGREEMEAN SCORE

Leaders – Help community develop goals for better future

45.1% 3.31

Develop sound plans to achieve goals

41.4% 3.27Carefully consider community needs

45.1% 3.24Share decision-making with community members

33.3% 3.01