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The Victorian Experience Indicators of Community Strength Professor David Adams and Jeanette Pope
The Victorian ExperienceIndicators of Community StrengthProfessor David Adams and Jeanette Pope
Policy context
National debates dominated by economic and some human capital indicators
Limited national agreement on national measures of social wellbeing
Endless debates about social capital not resonating with public policy makers
Evidence (political/policy/research) that the ideas matter and the determinants of wellbeing and prosperity are interdependent
Importance of communities
Logic of Victorian Approach
Will never get it right the first time – get on and do something
Chose indicators linked to levers of government
Tell stories about peoples lives and the places they live
Create a department to make it happen
Combine a focus on governance with communities
Institutionalise a debate about community and measurement
What is a community?
A place/space where people:
- Spend time together… meet, greet, talk, play, squabble
- Form views about the world
- Turn to each other for support
- Feel comfortable and safe and happy (most of the time)
What makes a strong community?
Economic capital Residing in land, resources,
labour
Human capital Residing in skills and knowledge accrued
through education and cultural goods
Social capital Residing in networks,
relationships
Research and publications webpage
www.dvc.vic.gov.au
Outcomes
Support, practical help, contacts resources, opportunities
A wider pool that can generate above the benefits i.e. jobs
Social outcomes Social integration Positive attitudes and norms Spread of information and innovation
Better and more democratic organisation of assets and services
Close personal networks
Associational & community networks
Governance networks
IndicatorsSocial isolation
Low resource networks (disadvantage)
Participation in public life Perceived opportunities to participate Social outcomes
Participation in governance
Social outcomes
Close personal networks
Associational & community networks
Governance networks
The impact – local areas
The impact – policy and planning
The impact – other stakeholders
Indicators of community wellbeing – the bigger picture
Economic capital Residing in land, resources,
labour
Human capital Residing in skills and knowledge accrued
through education and cultural goods
Social capitalResiding in networks,
relationships
We have learned indicator sets need….
An underpinning body of knowledge/evidence
A story that is commonly understood by stakeholders
Public policy levers
Technical accuracy (validity, reliability)
What can the ABS do?
An underpinning body of knowledge/evidence
A story that is commonly understood by stakeholders
Public policy levers
Technical accuracy (validity, reliability)
Add to the evidence through analysis of its more complex data sets – not surveillance
What can the ABS do?
An underpinning body of knowledge/evidence
A story that is commonly understood by stakeholders
Public policy levers
Technical accuracy (validity, reliability)
Add to the evidence through analysis of its more complex data sets – not surveillance
Data: Across jurisdictions Small area data
Feeling safe on the street alone at night
Neighbourhoods
Victorian average
LGA level
29% 89%68%
Source: DVC
What can the ABS do?
An underpinning body of knowledge/evidence
A story that is commonly understood by stakeholders
Public policy levers
Technical accuracy (validity, reliability)
Add to the evidence through analysis of its more complex data sets – not surveillance
Data: Across jurisdictions Small area data
Support with technical advice and expertise
More information: www.dvc.vic.gov.au
