Opportunity to Have a Say on Important Issues

Last Updated:

2008

Update Frequency:

every 3 years from 2008

Indicator Rationale

Community wellbeing depends on people having a say on important issues and a sense of choice or control over their lives. In a democratic community, people participate in decision making via the local government. People have confidence that government will make good decisions so that individuals feel that their voice is being heard in the wider community leading to greater community wellbeing.

Data Source

Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), Indicators of Community Strength at the Local Government Area Level in Victoria

Indicators of Community Strength data were collected in telephone surveys conducted in 2008 and involved 450 individuals over the age of 18 in each of the 79 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Victoria. These data were collected as part of the Victorian Population Health Survey which was conducted at the LGA level for the first time in 2008.

The Indicators of Community Strength data were previously collected in 2006 and 2004 by the then Department of Victorian Communities. However, the Indicators of Community Strength and Victorian Population Health Surveys were combined in 2008 to reduce the burden of surveying on Victorian communities and to give the indicators an institutional home into the future. The Victorian Population Health Survey has a substantially better survey methodology that includes a larger sample, the use of primary approach letters, interpreters and a different method of calculation. This means the 2008 Indicators of Community Strength data are not comparable with the previous 2004 and 2006 data. Therefore, the earlier data have been removed from Community Indicators Victoria at the request of the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development.

Measure

People Who Feel They Have a Say on Important Issues: expressed as a percentage of the adult population.

The response category "Yes, definitely" has been used to derive the measure.

Survey Question

Do you feel there are opportunities to have a real say on issues that are important to you?

Response categories - Yes, definitely; Sometimes; No, not at all.

References

Hill M and Wiseman J (2004) What is community strengthening and why does it matter? Session 1 in Wiseman J (ed) Local Government, Leadership and Community Strengthening: the Cranlana Programme occasional Publication No 4. Cranlana Programme Foundation: Melbourne.