CIV Newsletter - December 2007
Message from the CIV Team
Welcome to the first Community Indicators Victoria newsletter. The newsletter reports on some important breaking CIV news. It shares some general information about special projects the CIV team are working on and concludes with a ‘what’s next’ section. We aim to provide our members with a newsletter up to three times a year.
Since the launch of the CIV website in July it has been a busy few months for CIV staff and our partner organisations. We have been overjoyed by interest in the website with more than 64,000 hits and 573 registered members in just 4 short months. While the ‘behind the scenes’ team at CIV have continued to improve the quality of data available on the website, the ‘front of house’ staff have continued to present at conferences, forums and workshops. Local, national and international research projects are currently in development and will be reported on in future newsletters as details come to hand.
At the end of this busy year the CIV team want to wish you the best for the Season and we look forward to working with you in the New Year.
BREAKING NEWS
Data Release News
The McCaughey Centre is pleased to announce the first major data release on the Community Indicators Victoria website. A partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics has enabled customised 2006 Census results for each Local Government Area across Victoria. New Census data is now available for the indicator topics listed below:
· Housing Affordability;
· School Retention;
· Destination of School Leavers;
· Highly Skilled Workforce;
· Income;
· Distribution of Income;
· Local Employment;
· Employment Rate;
· Educational Qualifications;
· Public Transport Patronage.
The recent release of Census data has also enabled re-weighting of the CIV Survey data according to the 2006 Estimated Resident Population and some minor corrections to the Survey data. All indicators derived from the CIV Survey have been updated accordingly.
Age and gender based results have also been released for all CIV Survey based indicators on the CIV website. These results can be accessed via the Live Reports Section of the website using the “Show More” links beside the presented Wellbeing Data.
New Indicators Included in Wellbeing Reports
Following the release of the ABS data, the automated Wellbeing Reports for each Victorian Local Government Area have been updated with new indicators. Six additional indicators have been added to the Wellbeing Reports and include:
· Housing Affordability;
· Destination of School Leavers;
· Employment Rate;
· Highly Skilled Workforce;
· Income;
· Educational Qualifications.
Further details will be announced in the next CIV Newsletter.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Lessons from Ballarat City Council – additional sample size
The Ballarat City Council was one of 16 Councils that purchased additional questions in the Community Indicators Victoria Survey (2007). As a pilot project, Ballarat City Council agreed to purchase an additional 1200 interviews in addition to the 300 interviews completed by Community Indicators Victoria. Additional survey items were included on the topics of physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption and smoking. These additional survey items were included by the City of Ballarat to assist with Municipal Public Health Planning. The report prepared by Community Indicators Victoria can be viewed at the Ballarat Pilot Project pages of the CIV website.
Review of Local Government Community Planning
CIV team member Sue West joined together with CIV partner Hayden Raysmith to undertake an assessment of local government community planning on behalf of Local Government Victoria. The review sought to build knowledge about how local government community planning has evolved in Victoria, the strengths and issues arising. The report includes an assessment of nine case studies and will be released early in 2008.
Sue and Hayden will be presenting their findings at a series of workshops in early December 2007 which have been jointly sponsored by LGPro and Local Government Victoria: ‘Local Government and the Integration of Community and Council Planning’. Contact Chris Newman on 03 2943 8765 or Christopher Phoon on 320 83621 for further details.
International Indicators Research
A range of CIV partners led by Mike Salvaris, are actively exploring an international research project comparing the use of indicator frameworks in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and Bhutan. We hope to provide details on the project in the New Year.
World Forum on Measuring the Progress of Societies
CIV and partners have contributed to a 12 minute movie made at the Istanbul World Forum In June this year. It explains why there is growing recognition that the time has come to get serious about Measuring the Progress of Societies. The movie is available to download here.
NEWS FROM CIV PARTNERS
An Invitation for Public Comment on the 2011 Census of Population and Housing
The ABS is seeking views on its plans for the Census of Population and Housing to be held in 2011. The invitation to have a say in the way the nation's largest statistical collection is undertaken is contained in the Information Paper: 2011 Census of Population and Housing: ABS Views on Content and Procedures (cat. no. 2007.0). This paper is designed to initiate public consultation about the content and procedures of the 2011 Census by seeking comments on views expressed in this publication. The information paper also outlines the ABS plans for the 2011 Census, in the areas of privacy and confidentiality, collection operations, processing and output of results.
Users of Census data and interested members of the public are invited to make submissions on any aspect of the Census, using the Submission Form provided. Submissions can be lodged either on-line, by email, or in hardcopy. The Submission Form, as well as information and guidelines about making a submission, is available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Submissions must be lodged by 31 March 2008. Further information is available on 1300 175 070 or email 2011.census@abs.gov.au.
Users of Census data and interested members of the public are invited to make submissions on any aspect of the Census, using the Submission Form provided. Submissions can be lodged either on-line, by email, or in hardcopy. The Submission Form, as well as information and guidelines about making a submission, is available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Submissions must be lodged by 31 March 2008. Further information is available on 1300 175 070 or email 2011.census@abs.gov.au.
EVENTS
Special Seminar
The seminar will provide an overview of the ground breaking work being led by Professor Saunders to produce a new framework and methodology for identifying and measuring exclusion and deprivation in contemporary Australian society. This work is generating important findings about the ’necessary requirements’ which citizens need to participate in all levels of Australian society and economy. It also draws on new quantitative and qualitative data to provide evidence about the population profile of the individuals and groups who are being denied these opportunities.
Tuesday 11th December 12.00 – 1.00pm.
University of Melbourne
Seminar Room 515
Level 5 207 Bouverie Street
Carlton
WHAT’S NEXT?
Learnings Forum 2008
The McCaughey Centre and a range of partners will present a ‘Learnings Forum’ in the first half of next year. The purpose of the forum will be to exchange knowledge about indicators, data and evidence used in local planning. Full details will be announced in the next CIV Newsletter.
Tell us your story
Practitioners, planners, policy makers and academics are searching the CIV website seeking stories about how community wellbeing indicators and data are being used by local communities. We would like to build the ‘useful links’ web page with links to work being undertaken by CIV members such as case studies, reports and documents. You can forward your links by emailing us on