Some Recent Projects
- Building the Relationship between Tourism and Agriculture
- Cardinia Compass Sustainability Indicators
- Cherry Project
- Enterprise and Student Aspirations in the East
- Indicators of Community Sustainability
- Regional Skills Audit
- Schools pilot projects
- Victorian Community Indicators
Building the Relationship between Tourism and Agriculture
This project has been developed from identified trends in both the tourism and agribusiness sectors and builds on the learning gained through the Regional Branding and the Building Harmony with Rural Neighbours projects. Experience shows that, although the two sectors have much to gain from close co-operation in many of the scenic rural areas of Victoria , they do not always communicate and co-operate effectively. Building links between the two sectors is important for strong reasons including:
- The rural landscape is a significant tourism asset;
- Tourism and agribusiness are important to regional economies;
- Trends towards "industrial tourism" where the visitor experiences how things are made are being increasingly exploited by wineries, cheese makers and other rural industries;
- Farmers markets are attracting regional visitors willing to pay premium prices for fresh quality local produce;
- Increasing interest in regional food as well as wine;
- Farm stays, bed and breakfast accommodation can provide added income to farming business;
- The new Australian Tourism Strategy and the Food Wine Tourism Strategy in Victoria acknowledge the importance of the connection.
Cardinia Compass Sustainability Indicators
In collaboration with a group of interested community members under the name of the Cardinia Compass group, the Shire of Cardinia together with Swinburne's Centre for Regional Development has developed a suite of sustainability indicators.. The project has produced an initial report outlining the state of Cardinia in the North, (natural environment), South (social environment), East (economy) and West (wellbeing of individuals) domains. This process presented an opportunity to inform both Council and the community about the state of their community and to link this work to the state wide Victorian Community Indicators project. It is also an opportunity to connect community members with their role in achieving sustainability, since these indicators are not performance measures for council, but rather broad trends in community outcomes.
Cardinia Compass: Indicators of Community Stability - full report
Cherry Project
Crop load management is critical to an orchard's success, however it is often hard to predict yield and fruit size distribution. A new program has been initiated to develop a simple model that could be used to aid orchard management decisions and optimise fruit size and yield. This information provides many opportunities to improve decision making such as determining the desired average fruit size a priori by pruning to precise bud numbers and the prevention of over cropping. Together with information on planting distances when establishing new blocks, this information allows growers to forecast the year in which full production is reached.
Optimising crop load and fruit size in sweet cherries - Charlotte Brunt and Steve Chapman
Enterprise and Student Aspirations in the East
In this project, the Centre for Regional Development, in collaboration with regional schools and the Outer East Local Learning and Employment Network, researched Year 10 students' knowledge of education and career options, their educational and career aspirations and their intentions to work and live in the region. The project also mapped enterprise opportunities and through case studies identified examples of excellence in enterprise education.
Indicators of Community Sustainability
The three Councils of Outer Eastern Melbourne (Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges ) have each developed a vision for the future with their communities. Sustainability is a common and important theme for all three. The search for indicators of sustainability came with the realization that the community had no tools to use to track progress towards (or way from) sustainability. The Regional Indicators Project, a collaborative project between three municipalities and Swinburne's Centre for Regional Development began in 2003 and continued until 2008. Indicators were identified to measure progress towards achieving this vision and are seen not as an end in themselves, but a means to inform and focus whole community action. The project has established high levels of collaboration between the Councils and key regional agencies to improve regional sustainability and has been cited as a model in the Department of Victorian Communities publication "Indicators of Community Strength, Victoria". The State Government has a strong interest in community sustainability and this project links into the Victorian Community Indicators Project initiative.
Regional Skills Audit
Over the last decade the Australian labour market (and that of most OECD nations) has experienced persistent levels of skill mismatches between employees and jobs or employers and persistent levels of skill shortages in many occupations and particular industries. These mismatches have impacted heavily on regions around Australia .
The regional indicators report highlights concerns about regional educational status and capacity of the residents to participate in the emerging knowledge economy .
Swinburne University and the three municipalities of Outer Eastern Melbourne (Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges) have identified a need to develop a comprehensive skills and employability inventory for the Outer Eastern Region of Melbourne. The need for a skills audit occurs in the context that today's dynamic workplace is characterized by technological advances, new management techniques and other changes which spell shifting requirements for workers, businesses and the community at large. In this changing occupational landscape, informed decision-making requires employees, employers, and policy makers to consider occupational requirements in a new way, which requires a closer focus on skills. Skills are the measurable variables that allow us to link human capital requirements in the workplace, individual capacities, and the education and training programs that can bridge the gap.
Current Skills and Knowledge in the Outer East: Signposts for the Future Report Overview
Current Skills and Knowledge in the Outer East: Signposts for the Future - summary report
Current Skills and Knowledge in the Outer East: Signposts for the Future - full report
Schools pilot projects
Since 2006 the Centre for Regional Development together with the Faculty of Higher Education Lilydale has been working with schools with a view to establishing student engagement projects. The purpose of this work was twofold: to enhance the learning and engagement of university students; and to enhance the learning and raise the aspirations of regional secondary school students.
During 2007 several pilot programmes were run with eight regional secondary schools. Although the intention was to build the schools project into curriculum as happened with the media discipline, the Hills project and to a lesser degree the work with Upper Yarra Secondary School, involved students as volunteers. The hills students were recommended by academics and went through a selection process. As a result they were eligible for a "Dean's Award".
Evaluation of the project demonstrated significant student learning and the potential to enhance engagement particularly with the Lilydale Faculty. University student project work with schools is also an opportunity for a student to gain experience above and beyond normal course work that demonstrates their social commitment and civic contribution.
Victorian Community Indicators
The Victorian Community Indicators (VCI) Project is a VicHealth funded initiative designed to support local governments develop and use community indicators as tools for measuring health, wellbeing and sustainability and for improving citizen engagement, community planning and policy making.
Visit the Website at: http://www.communityindicators.net.au