"7 Pillars for Healthy Communities: Practices & Traits for Success & Sustainability", Slides of Human Development

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BUILDING HEALTHY

ENTERPRISING AND

SUSTAINABLE RURAL

COMMUNITIES

-Presentation Notes-

‘The trouble with our times

is that the future

isn't what it used to be’

(Paul Valery)

Regionalisation and centralisation of

services – growth of ‘sponge’ regional

centres

Declining educational and health services

Low income levels

High family and business costs

Changes in lifestyle preferences

Environmental challenges – salinity, water,

environmental attitudes

Deteriorating infrastructure

City attitudes

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE

1900 37% lived within what is now defined as the 8 state and territory capital cities

9% lived in large coastal towns (eg, Newcastle, Geelong, Cairns)

54% scattered through rural areas

2000 63% live in capitals

16% in coastal provincial cities

21% in rural areas

71% of population live in 10 cities

Farmers and their partners work on average 60 hours a week each. Farmers are on average 55 years of age. By 2016, 26 per cent of all people living in rural areas will be aged 65 or over. In city areas, 18 per cent will be 65 or over. Twenty per cent of farms earn less than $10, a year. The average income of a farmer is $27 310, while the average wage of all Australians is $38 740. There are now 140 700 farms in Australia, a decline of 40 000 in the past 25 years. (ACCORDING TO MARGARET ALSTAN, CENTRE FOR RURAL SOCIAL NETWORK)

FARMING AT A GLANCE

‘We stand at a crossroads,

one path leads to

despair and destruction,

the other to annihilation,

may we have the wisdom to

choose the right path.’

(Woody Allen)

SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES

Build on the strengths of local individuals, associations and institutions; Focus on specific actions and measurable results to improve community life; Promote participation by people of all races, genders, cultures and age groups; Ensure local decision making and ownership; Draw upon the resources of the whole community; Bridge all sectors to develop healthy children, families and communities, and Share experience and knowledge to promote continuous community learning. (ACCORDING TO PRIME MINISTERS YOUTH PATHWAYS ACTION PLAN TASKFORCE 2001) Docsity.com

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTHY,

ENTERPRISING AND

SUSTAINABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES

Openness to change and alternative thinking Sustainable balance Participation and social connectedness Asset and idea obsession Local business employment and organisational creativity Local ownership and investment Leadership renewal Passion and ‘we can do’ mindset

‘ WE CAN EITHER BE VICTIMS OF CHANGE OR WE

CAN PLAN FOR IT, SHAPE IT, AND EMERGE

STRONGER FROM IT. THE CHOICE IS OURS’

(Sonaran Institute)

‘WE NEED TO ACCEPT CHANGE, AND MAKE IT OUR FRIEND’ (Robert Theobald)

‘DESTINY IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE. IT IS NOT A THING TO BE WAITED FOR IT IS A THING TO BE ACHIEVED’ (William Jennings Bryan)

‘BIG THINGS HAPPEN

WHEN A LOT OF

PEOPLE DO SMALL

THINGS

DIFFERENTLY’

(JOHN THEOBALD)

Today:

450 shareholders

Cooperative has spent $1m and is debt free

Annual payroll of $1m

Largest employer in community - 50 staff

Has achieved a financial surplus every year

except one

Source of incredible local pride

Current Services:

7 bed hospital

Accident and assessment room

9 bed nursing home

9 bed hostel

8 bed special care unit for dementia

Day-care centre

Physiotherapy

Community care packages

Volunteer ambulances

Meals on Wheels Docsity.com

SUSTAINABLE BALANCE

Environmental Integrity Economic Vitality Community Well Being Cultural Enhancement

PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY AND PRESERVATION

have strong leaders have strong networks with other communities can build on their existing assets and resources have a ‘can-do’ community spirit and are optimistic about the future can grasp the opportunities that come their way have a sense of ‘belonging’ to the community among it’s members embrace change and take responsibility

(Stronger Families, Stronger Communities at Department of Family and Community Services)

STRONG COMMUNITIES