Transcript Title to go here

Presentation
Libraries Building Communities
Dr. Charles R. Lane
Executive Director
Community Strengthening & Volunteering
Monday 13 December 2004
Department for Victorian Communities (DVC)
Our Aim
• Active, Confident, Resilient Communities
Our Focus
• Community Strengthening
• Linking Up Services
• People and Place
The structure of DVC
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DVC Ministerial Portfolios:
Local Government
Sport and Recreation (inc Commonwealth Games)
Youth Affairs
Multicultural Affairs
Women’s Affairs
Aboriginal Affairs
Employment Programs
Senior Victorians
Community Strengthening
Features of successful community
strengthening:
• Leadership by local social entrepreneurs
• Involvement of a wide range of stakeholders
• Sustainable local institutions
• Meeting places and spaces
• Knowing local data and what is valued
• Encouragement of volunteer involvement
Social capital is positively correlated with:
• Lower crime rates
• Improved health
• Higher educational attainment
• Increased governmental efficacy
• Higher individual income
• Improved economic performance
(Productivity Commission, Social Capital, 2003, Ch. 3)
Community strengthening interventions drive a
wedge in the cycle of disadvantage
with
Low social
cohesion
High school
drop out
rates (0.55)
with
High social
cohesion
Much lower
drop out rates
(0.12)
Disadvantaged
postcodes with high
levels of low birth weight
Source: Community Adversity and Resilience, Tony Vinson, March 2004 (Jesuit Social Services) Ch 5
Community strengthening interventions drive a
wedge in the cycle of disadvantage
with
Low social
cohesion
with
High social
cohesion
Disadvantaged
postcodes with high
levels of early school
leaving
Strong
correlation
with
imprisonment
(0.46)
Very low
correlation with
imprisonment
(0.11)
Source : Community Adversity and Resilience, Tony Vinson, March 2004 (Jesuit Social Services) Ch 5
Evidence is growing that community
strengthening works
The Victorian Population Health Survey (2003)
demonstrates that strong social networks lead to:
• Greater sense of safety
• Improved health status
• Improved sense of control over one’s life
• Feeling more valued
• More involvement in civic life
Community strengthening trends are generally positive
Indicator
Percent 2001
2003
Change
Feeling safe walking alone down the street after dark
55 → 59%
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Enjoying diversity, including multiculturalism, in the local
area
69 → 73%

Feeling there are opportunities to have a real say on
issues that are important
36 → 42%
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Feeling valued by society
42 → 55%
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Volunteering
32 → 35%
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Members of organised groups – all groups
68 → 63%
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Members of organised groups – sports groups
29 → 28%
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Members of organised groups – school groups
15 → 15%

Attendance at local community events
n/a
Ability to get help from friends, family or neighbours
92 → 92%
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Ability to raise $2000 within two days in an emergency
79 → 80%
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Source: Department of Human Services 2004 and DVC
analysis
However, we don’t know what drives different community
strengthening outcomes at the level of people and place
(including the role of government interventions)
Select indicators of community strength - LGA case studies
90
80
Percentage of LGA population
70
60
GREATER SHEPPARTON
50
TOWONG
WHITTLESEA
YARRA RANGES
40
STATE AVERAGE
30
20
10
0
Opportunities to have a say
Volunteers (yes)
Volunteers (yes + sometimes)
Select indicators of community strength
Source: DVC 2004
Member of an organised group
Policy implications profound
• Community strengthening can buffer the impact of poverty &
disadvantage for many
• Solutions are not complicated
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Volunteering
Being active (sport, recreation, arts)
People to turn to for support
Community, Business and Government Partnerships
Government working together
• A ‘new’ form of prevention / early intervention – touches all
departments
• Reduces demand on statutory services – child protection / prison
system
• Close to being able to quantify cost effectiveness
• Basis for a new approach to social policy
DVC’s Outcomes
focus
Libraries as community asset
Confirmed by LBC research
Locus of community strengthening activities
Focal point for social, learning & cultural engagement
Meeting place
Linking with government – grants
Place for redressing
Social exclusion
Equity & justice issues
Communities of disadvantage
New & emerging communities
Digital divide
Government investing in libraries
VCSG funding for community infrastructure
Support of ‘community hubs’ including libraries
Range of community needs and activities accommodated
Generally, library component funded by Council
Supported by Living Libraries grants (CSF through LGV)
$12m program, up to 50% final eligible cost, max of
$500,000
Purposes:
Extend & improve library services
Increase facilities available for library services
Support innovation, flexibility & creativity
Provide modern, life-long building infrastructure