Presentation Libraries Building Communities Dr. Charles R. Lane Executive Director Community Strengthening & Volunteering Monday 13 December 2004.

Presentation

Libraries Building Communities

Dr. Charles R. LaneExecutive Director

Community Strengthening & VolunteeringMonday 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

– 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

High social cohesion

Disadvantaged postcodes with high levels of low

birth weight

High school drop out

rates (0.55)

Much lower drop out rates

(0.12)

Low social cohesion

with

with

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

High social cohesion

Source : Community Adversity and Resilience, Tony Vinson, March 2004 (Jesuit Social Services) Ch 5

Disadvantaged postcodes with high levels of early

school leaving

Strong correlation

with imprisonment

(0.46)

Very low correlation with imprisonment

(0.11)

Low social cohesion

with

with

Evidence is growing that community strengthening works

• Greater sense of safety

• Improved health status

• Improved sense of control over one’s life

• Feeling more valued

• More involvement in civic life

The Victorian Population Health Survey (2003) demonstrates that strong social networks lead to:

Community strengthening trends are generally positive

Indicator Percent 2001 2003 Change

Feeling safe walking alone down the street after dark 55 → 59% 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%

Feeling valued by society 42 → 55% Volunteering 32 → 35% Members of organised groups – all groups 68 → 63% Members of organised groups – sports groups 29 → 28% 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% Ability to raise $2000 within two days in an emergency 79 → 80%

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

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Opportunities to have a say Volunteers (yes) Volunteers (yes + sometimes) Member of an organised group

Select indicators of community strength

Per

cen

tag

e o

f L

GA

po

pu

lati

on

GREATER SHEPPARTON

TOWONG

WHITTLESEA

YARRA RANGES

STATE AVERAGE

Source: DVC 2004

Policy implications profound

• Community strengthening can buffer the impact of poverty & disadvantage for many

• Solutions are not complicated– 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 researchLocus of community strengthening activitiesFocal point for social, learning & cultural engagement

Meeting placeLinking with government – grants

Place for redressingSocial exclusionEquity & justice issuesCommunities of disadvantageNew & emerging communitiesDigital divide

Government investing in libraries

VCSG funding for community infrastructureSupport of ‘community hubs’ including librariesRange of community needs and activities accommodated

Generally, library component funded by CouncilSupported by Living Libraries grants (CSF through LGV)

$12m program, up to 50% final eligible cost, max of $500,000

Purposes:Extend & improve library servicesIncrease facilities available for library servicesSupport innovation, flexibility & creativityProvide modern, life-long building infrastructure