The Victorian Experience
Indicators of Community Strength
Professor 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
Social capital
Residing in skills and
knowledge accrued
through education and
cultural goods
Residing in networks,
relationships
Research and
publications webpage
www.dvc.vic.gov.au
Close personal networks
Outcomes
Support, practical help,
contacts resources, opportunities
Associational & community networks
A wider pool that can generate
above the benefits i.e. jobs
Social outcomes
Governance networks
Social integration
Positive attitudes and norms
Spread of information and
innovation
Better and more democratic
organisation of assets and services
Close personal networks
Indicators
Social isolation
Associational & community networks
Low resource networks
(disadvantage)
Participation in public life
Perceived opportunities to
participate
Social outcomes
Governance networks
Participation in governance
Social outcomes
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
Social capital
Residing in skills and
knowledge accrued
through education and
cultural goods
Residing 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
Victorian average
29%
68%
Neighbourhoods
89%
LGA level
Source: DVC
What can the ABS do?
An underpinning body of
knowledge/evidence
A story that is commonly
understood by stakeholders
Add to the evidence
through analysis of its
more complex data sets
– not surveillance
Public policy levers
Data:
Across jurisdictions
Small area data
Technical accuracy (validity,
reliability)
Support with technical
advice and expertise
More information: www.dvc.vic.gov.au