Strengthening Communities

A Changing Landscape

Recent decades have witnessed a significant expansion of council responsibilities into contributing to, even shaping social and economic wellbeing drawing on multiple social planning and community development approaches.

This shift reflects both evolving community expectations and a growing recognition that local councils and other place-based programs are uniquely positioned to respond to the specific needs of these communities. As Professor Carol Mills, Director at the Institute for Public Policy and Governance at UTS explains, "Local governments are no longer just service providers — they are key enablers of community wellbeing and inclusion. Their proximity to local issues means they are uniquely placed to design and implement responses that are targeted, responsive and equitable… How to do this effectively, is one of the key challenges and opportunities for Australian Local Government.”

Some of the specific issues facing councils include:

• Complex issues and a diversity of perspectives
  Many communities across Australia are dealing with a complex layering of historical issues and current challenges, spanning different social, economic and environmental factors, each demanding government and community attention. In many instances this creates a competition of needs, that when fuelled by campaigning, can create divisions and tensions. There is often no quick and easy solution.
• Capacity and Capability Gaps
  Many councils —particularly those in regional and rural areas—report significant skills shortages in particular specialisations. For example, a recent Local Government Professionals Australia survey found that 68% of councils identified social planning expertise as a critical capability gap.
• Resource Constraints
  While responsibilities have expanded, funding models for councils have not kept pace. Rate capping in states like Victoria and NSW limits revenue-raising ability, forcing difficult prioritisation decisions between infrastructure maintenance, service provision and social programming.
• Policy Complexity
  Staff working with and in communities are needing to navigate increasingly complex policy environments spanning all levels of government. Housing initiatives, for instance, may involve federal funding, state regulation and local implementation—requiring sophisticated policy literacy and advocacy skills.

A Strategic and Practical Approach

While these and other challenges are significant, there are practices that can help councils and community focused organisations respond to local needs and implement responsive, place-based solutions, focused on building community wellbeing over time. These include:

• Outcomes Based Approaches
  Councils across Australia have often been weighed down by a legacy of master plans, strategies, social initiatives and community development options that were never fully actioned. In many instances this can be attributed to plans not having realisable targets, nor the mechanisms to measure impact. By focusing on outcomes-based thinking and building in regular monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) practices, professionals at all levels can observe and as needed adjust their planning and development processes.
• Evidence-based Decision Making
  Professionals working in social planning and community development have unprecedented access to various forms of data, research and stakeholder views to help councils understand the local landscape. Demographic mapping, robust desktop research and quality community engagement methods can help develop tailored plans and strategies that directly respond to local priorities rather than apply one-size-fits-all approaches.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration
  Forward-thinking decision makers are breaking down barriers between different levels of government and other parties working in local areas and help forge common agendas towards better social and economic outcomes. For example, Penrith City Council's Cooling the City strategy integrates urban planning, environmental management and social vulnerability mapping to address heat inequality in Western Sydney.
• Emerging Tools and Techniques
  Councils in Australia and internationally are trialling new development models, including various forms of participatory democracy, such as citizen juries, empowered neighbourhood planning committees and participatory budgeting. These emerging governance approaches distribute power more equitably and offer practical means to break down ‘us-and them’ type thinking.
• Building Tomorrow's Communities Today
  While challenges around resources and capabilities remain, decision makers at all levels are demonstrating that evidence based social planning and meaningful community engagement and development initiatives, can deliver community benefits in the short and long term.

As communities face increasing social and economic pressures, councils with sophisticated social planning capabilities will be best positioned to build resilient, inclusive communities. For local government professionals the opportunity is clear - learn new approaches and practices based on the understanding of systems and collaborative approaches needed to navigate this complex landscape.