Archived Additional Project Descriptions
FNQ 2010 community conservation plan
During 1996, a Community Solutions constorium involving Chenoweth & Associates and the Community Biodiversity Network, completed a community consultation process designed to assess incentives for community conservation on private land within the FNQ 2010 regional planning area. The project involved extensive consultation with both government agencies and non-government organisations within the region, and included a focus group forum. Back.
Consumers' review of Telstra's consumer consultative processes
In carrying out this review funded by Telstra and conducted for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network, Community Solutions sought survey responses from major user groups and individuals, conducted both phone and face-to-face interviews and held roundtable meetings with Telstra Regional Consultative Councils in two locations. The resulting report assisted CTN in making submissions regarding future consultation both by Telstra and more broadly within a deregulated telecommunications industry. Back.
Women in agriculture
A national project commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries & Energy and the Rural Industries R&D Corporation. This 12 month project, commenced in January 1997, sought to gain greater recognition of the role of women in Australian agriculture and to provide a basis for building diversity in the management of that sector. The project was undertaken by a Community Solutions consortium in which the partners in Community Solutions worked with Dr Louise Crossley of Lateral Concepts and Jackie Ohlin, Consultant. The project included an extensive literature review, telephone surveys with 256 women and men involved in the agricultural sector across Australia, a postal survey and focus group forums in two locations. The final report "Missed Opportunities" was published in February 1998, and Community Solutions presented a paper on the project at the international Landcare 2000 Conference held in Melbourne. Back.
Incentives for the conservation of biodiversity
As part of a national project 'Reimbursing the Future', which evaluated the broad range of incentives for increasing conservation of biodiversity, the partners in Community Solutions ran a series of regional workshops in metropolitan, regional and rural centres across Australia to gain an overview of stakeholder perspectives. Back.
An overview of remnant vegetation R&D in the rural landscape
Completed for the Land & Water Resources R&D Corp. during a ten-week period in 1993, this project required extensive consultation with staff from a range of Commonwealth and State agencies and from community conservation organisations to identify current R&D in this area and to assist in determining national priorities for further research and development. The outcomes of the project are reflected in LWRRDC Occasional Paper No. 04/93 'Remnant Vegetation in the Rural Landscape'. Back.
Bioregional planning for biodiversity conservation
In October 1995 the Commonwealth Department of the Environment sponsored a national conference on 'Approaches to Bioregional Planning'. In the lead-up to that coinference, the partners in Community Solutions led a team, with Alan Chenoweth and Stephen Cole from Chenoweth & Associates, that prepared a case study based discussion paper on bioregional planning for biodiversity conservation. Based on identified elements of best practice and local successes, the project team developed a model process capable of being adapted to bioregional planning across the diversity of regions and needs for biodiversity conservation found throughout Australia. Back.
Social Impact Assessment in Kings Cross
In 1997, Jane Elix worked with the South Sydney City Council to conduct a social impact evaluation of a proposed amusement centre development in Kings Cross. The work involved consultation with local resident, business and community groups and ascertaining both the immediate and cumulative impacts of the proposal. Back.
Conservation of Grassy White Box Woodlands
In 1995 Community Solutions brought together a consortium involving the World Wide Fund for Nature, the NSW Farmers Association and Charles Sturt University's Environmental Studies Unit in a Land and Water Resources R&D Corp. grant-funded project. The project team worked with both public and private landholders to assess community perspectives on incentives for and barriers to improved conservation management of Grassy White Box Woodlands. From 1999-2001, the same consortium is working together (supported by NHT funding) to implement the findings of the first report, using farmers appointed to the project team to promote conservation and sustainable management within their local communities. A small grants program is also part of this project. More than 500 people are currently on the contact database representing farmers, government officers, scientists and others. Back.
Social issues and values in native vegetation management
In 1999, Community Solutions drew together for the NSW Native Vegetation Advisory Council, a research paper on social issues and values in native vegetation management. The paper explored such issues as cultural and historical aspects of Australian understanding of native vegetation and the beliefs about native vegetation found in today's urban and rural communities, and summarised work on government and other mechanisms which might be used to encourage its protection. The paper will guide the development of a Native Vegetation Conservation Strategy for NSW. Back.
A youth café for Bankstown
In late 1999, Jane Elix worked with the Bankstown Multicultural Youth Service (BMYS) to consult with stakeholders in the area on the establishment of a youth centre/café for the Bankstown CBD. This was in response to community concern about the number of street frequenting young people in the CBD who have nowhere to "hang out". Jane worked with BMYS in meeting with local businesses, government officers, other service providers, cultural organisations and the police. She also met with and surveyed street frequenting young people to ensure that the final proposals would meet their needs. The final report will be used by BMYS in pursuing their goal of a youth specific facility. Back.
Shoalwater Bay Inquiry
The partners in Community Solutions worked with both the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Wilderness Society, to assist those organisations in putting their positions to the 1993/94 Inquiry into the future use of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area on Queensland's central coast. Community Solutions assisted through preparation of submissions to the Inquiry, presentations to the Inquiry and follow-up work on behalf of the two organisations. Back.
Office of Women's Affairs (Vic.) - Family Violence Project
In 1999, Community Solutions worked with Phoenix Projects to identify and describe the pathways taken by family members experiencing family violence, and the range of groups outside the home with whom they come into contact. The project was undertaken for the Victorian Office of Women's Affairs, and was part of the Commonwealth Partnerships Against Domestic Violence program. The project involved consultation with service providers and victims/survivors of family violence in both urban and rural Victoria, and an extensive search of and reporting on published and unpublished literature. Back.
NSW Health Consumers Project
Funded by NSW Health and conducted for the NSW Council of Social Services, this project provided health consumers in NSW with an opportunity to make input to a strategy for consumer participation in health policy and planning. The partners in Community Solutions worked with NCOSS consultant Beverly Duffy to plan and conduct public forums in regional and metropolitan NSW during 1997 and provided a report on the consultative process. The final report "Have your say about health" was published in 1998. Back.
Community Biodiversity Network
The partners in Community Solutions worked with key proponents of the Network, to assist in developing an intial strategic plan and associated work plans for the organisation. In doing so, Community Solutions adopted a consultative approach in seeking to build an organisation which could meet the needs of the diversity of stakeholders upon which its funding as a Network was based. More recently Community Solutions has conducted an independent review of the Network and its performance against agreed Terms of Reference. An essential aspect of that review was in assisting the organisation to meet external expectations while operating within a changing climate of political and community expectations. Back.
National Threatened Species Network
Community Solutions worked with the Network and its major stakeholders to complete an external evaluation of the Network and its performance agaisnt Terms of Reference agreed with Environment Australia, as its major funding provider. More recently, the partners in Community Solutions have conducted short skills building sessions with staff in the Network, based on needs identified as part of the review process. Back.
Baulkham Hills Project
Community Solutions (in conjunction with Louise Crossley and Jackie Ohlin) worked with the Baulkham Hills Shire Council and the University of Western Sydney 'ecoprofessoriate' to explore opportunities for collaborative projects on integrated social, environmental and economic development in the area. The process involved research of the needs in the area, reporting on the economic activities being undertaken, and extensive community consultation with a variety of interest groups. Liaising with the Council and UWS was a key part of this project. Back.
Jervis Bay Marine Park
The partners in Community Solutions worked with the Australian Conservation Foundation to assist through the development of a lobbying kit, promoting the declaration of a Marine Protected Area and opposing the placement of a location of a naval armaments depot at the Bay. Community Solutions also worked with and provided advocacy training for staff involved in this campaign. Back.
Sutherland Shire Council - Social Impact Assessment
Commissioned by Sutherland Shire Council's Environmental Science & Policy Unit early in 1998, the partners in Community Solutions worked with staff in the Unit to develop a simple and readily transparent process for assessing social impacts of policy and program changes directed to achieving ecological sustainability within the Shire. Building on the Unit's preliminary risk assessment of issues affecting air and water quality, land use change and biodiversity conservation within Sutherland Shire, the project provided a report intended to advance the integration of environmental, social and economic considerations in the ongoing development of a Local Agenda 21 for the area. Back.
Social needs of women and children in Warringah
In early 1999, Community Solutions worked with Jackie Ohlin to prepare a social needs assessment to assist Warringah Council in the development of its Social Plan for the Warringah community. Focus groups were held both with women and primary school aged children. A mail survey of women across the Local Government area was conducted. The final report focused on what defined 'liveability' for women and children, and focused on issues of safety, transport, the environment and community facilities. Back.
LWRDC Vegetation R&D
Back.
NSW Women's Centre feasibility study
Conducted for the NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women during 1994, this project sought to determine the feasibility of establishing a women's centre for the women of NSW and to assess women's needs and expectations of such a centre. Public forums in metropolitan and regional areas, a statewide phone-in and interviews with a diversity of groups representing women across the state provided the information presented to the Ministry. Back.