Indicators of community strength
Since its inception, the Department for Victorian Communities has been developing a set of Indicators of community strength. The indicators examine Victorian’s ability to get help when needed, their participation in a range of community activities (such as volunteering and parental participation in schools) and community attitudes around life in their local area (such as safety and tolerance).
The indicators represent a significant tool for community planning, and are not a report card on progress of local government areas. The indicators are affected by the combined actions of government, business and the community, and no single organisation is likely to be able to impact on the indicators alone.
As context to the latest report using data collected in 2006, please note that:
- The 2006 report examines indicators of community strength at the local government area level and presents five new indicators on perceptions of opportunities to participate in local areas.
- Every local government area has strengths and performs above their regional average on at least one of the indicators.
- The 2004 and 2006 LGA indicators cannot be used to ascertain time trends as there are only two data points and there is seasonal variation between the surveys (Oct and Jan). Six years of data is available in the Victorian Population Health Survey to examine trends over time.
- Some indicators, such as multiculturalism and perceptions of safety, may be influenced by global events outside local communities’ control.
Indicators of Community Strength at the Local Government Area Level in Victoria 2006 (2007)
This report examines indicators of community strength at the local government area level using data collected in 2006. It also examines the new collection of neighbourhood data and the first collection in a group of young people in a rural town in Victoria. This report should be read in conjunction with the data for each local government area below (Attachment D). A report providing a rationale for the indicators is also available below. See A framework and evidence.
Indicators of community strength at the local government area level in Victoria 2006 (PDF 1213 kb)
Local government area data 2006
To be read in conjunction with the 2006 Indicators of Community Strength report
Indicators of Community Strength: a framework and evidence (2006)
This report provides a theoretical framework for the indicators (why we chose them and what they represent). It also reviews the international evidence about the outcomes of networks and participation for communities and summarises what we know from the Victorian findings to date.
Indicators of Community Strength: a framework and evidence (2006) (PDF 515kb)
Draft Laverton Statistical and Community Profile 2006 (Community Renewal)
This report brings together information from a range of sources to describe the Laverton area, its people, participation, community attitudes and infrastructure. It provides baseline measures for the Community Renewal initiative and includes the indicators of community strength with six additional Laverton specific indicators (written by the Laverton Action Group). This is our second report describing the indicators at the neighbourhood level.
Draft Laverton statistical and community profile 2006 (PDF 1.3mb)
Indicators of Community Strength at the Neighbourhood Level: Shire of Melton (2006)
This report examines 20 indicators of community strength across the three neighbourhoods in the Shire of Melton. The indicators report on participation and perceived opportunities to participate in community life and attitudes to living in the community. The study was part of a neighbourhood pilot run by the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) in 2005 and eight new indicators are included.
The indicators have been collected for a community strengthening partnership that has been planning and delivering infrastructure and services in Caroline Springs. The partnership involves DVC, the Shire of Melton and Delfin Lend Lease working with community groups, industry and government to build facilities and services identified as needed by the community.
Indicators of Community Strength at the Neighbourhood Level: Shire of Melton (2006) (PDF 1.43mb)
Indicators of Community Strength at the Local Government Area Level in Victoria 2004 (2005)
This report examines 15 indicators of community strength across the 79 local government areas in Victoria. Four new indicators have been included: participating in organised sport, liking the community you live in, parental participation in schools, and participation on decision-making boards and committees.
Indicators of community strength at a Local Government Area level in Victoria (PDF 917kb)
Report Card on Measuring Community Strength: 2004 (2005)
These indicators allow governments, businesses and communities to monitor the effect of community strengthening activities across the State.
Report card on measuring community strength in Victoria: 2004 (PDF 58kb)
Indicators of community strength in Victoria (2004)
This report examines 11 indicators of community strength, including feeling safe in the streets after dark, being able to have a say on local issues, volunteering, and having networks of people who can provide support in a crisis. The report examines time trends (2001-2003), population groups and the results of a pilot of the indicators measured at the small geographic area.
Indicators of community strength in Victoria: 2004 (PDF 92kb)
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