Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
CommunityWise
Audit
Program
A
Community
Guide
Contents of this Guide
INTRODUCTION 5
What is the CommunityWise Audit Program? 5
Community Flows 10
THE ENVIRONMENT - 12
THE INDICATORS 18
THE ENVIRONMENT - 19
COMMUNITY INDICATORS 19
Core Environmental Indicators 19
3. Agricultural Yields 24
4. Pasture Usage 26
Adding Value to the Land Use by Hectares, 27
Agricultural Yields, and Pasture Usage Indicators 27
COMMUNITY INDICATORS 31
Core Social Indicators 31
4. Ethnic Structure 37
Adding Value to this Indicator 38
5. Housing 39
6. Welfare Payments 40
COMMUNITY INDICATORS 44
Core Economic Indicators 44
1. Employment by Industry 44
2. Employment by Occupation 46
Social Indicators 64
Economic Indicators 64
SUMMARY OF FORMULAS 65
Have a keen interest and concern about the long-term well being of the community;
Would like to see an improved quality of life for everyone now and for the future;
Are looking for ways to assist the community to enhance opportunities for its
economic, social and environmental development.
Should you require more information about the CommunityWise Audit process, or
about other CommunityWise Programs, contact the Department of Commerce and
Trade.
There has to be some organisation that acts as the local champion for the audit.
This organisation may be a Local Government Council, a Local Progress
Association, Ratepayers Group or other interest group operating within a Local
Government Area. Alternatively it may be an organisation (like a Telecentre or
School), or an interest group (for example a Chamber of Commerce, or local
environmental organisation).
There has to be a venue provided that has sufficient computers available to begin
the audit. Such organisations as a Junior High School (during Semester break or
on weekends), a Telecentre, or even a Shire Council Office would be eminently
suitable.
The Community Consultant, identified by the people living in the Shire, who will
assist in the production of the audit needs to be a person who has the following sets of
skills and abilities.
i) Firstly he (or more often she) needs to have sufficient time and
motivation to do the task. As there are three sub-group working
parties established at the audit workshop, it is the job of the Community
Consultant/Coordinator to ensure these working parties do continue to
meet in order to get the work of their team completed.
ii) Secondly he or she needs to be a person who has the respect and trust of
the community in which they live. As such they need to have well-
developed personal and communication skills. It often helps to have
someone who is a long term resident and is fairly well known by the
community to undertake this task.
iii) Thirdly they need to be a person who is not intimidated by statistics and
calculations. If possible they need to be a person who understands how
to use a spreadsheet, enter data or use formulae, even if they are not
familiar with Microsoft Excel (the package that the audit will use).
A Balanced Community
Although the model above would suggest that the layers are separate and distinct, in
reality these aspects of a community are interactive, interdependent and always
changing. Change in one layer of the community will always create a change in at
least one other layer.
The Environment
This aspect of the community includes both the natural and built (eg buildings,
roads, etc) environments. It is the physical environment that underpins all life, as we
need breathable air, drinkable water, fertile soils and to reprocess wastes. Rural
communities are currently facing a range of environmental issues that include
concerns about the natural environment such as soil, water, climate, flora and fauna.
The impact that people have on the environment as evident in buildings, infrastructure,
and land use, also needs to be examined.
Government inputs include the provision of: infrastructure (eg roads, power, water,
sewerage, communications, housing, waste disposal); financial support (eg family,
unemployment, disability, aged); health services (eg hospital, HACC, family planning,
health clinics); education services (eg schools, TAFE, university); community safety
(eg police, fire, ambulance, legal aid); community development (eg telecentre); and
cultural and recreation facilities and services (eg library, sporting, arts, museum).
Government outputs include taxation (eg income tax, land tax, Shire rates, GST), fees
for services (eg schools, Medicare) and fines.
Community Flows
We can think of a community as being similar to an individual, with its own input and
output systems. In the barrel diagrams that follow, the inflows and outflows are
portrayed as taps, implying that it may be possible, with appropriate effort and
intention, to find ways of modifying some of the flows into and out from the barrels
of your community. Indeed, it is the main purpose of the CommunityWise Audit to
identify what flows your community can modify. It is equally important to identify
what resources the community already has - these are shown inside the barrels.
We have tried to identify a number of the important inflows, outflows and internal
resources important for communities. Our list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Communities are unique, and what is important for one community, may or may not
Air Water
Biodiversity Soils
Climate factors as inflows into a natural ecosystem are generally movements of wind
and water, powered by the energy of sunlight, or the geological forces that have
shaped your local area. Outflows tend to be similar, with the addition of erosion and
run-off. The complexity of such a local ecosystem was determined in part by its net
primary production that is, the capture of energy by the plants, and the cycling of
water and nutrients through the system. But such fully natural ecosystems today are
usually quite rare, and often limited to small pockets of remnant vegetation.
Additional fertilisers and energy are ways that humans have an impact on modifying
the natural ecosystem. These inputs assist in the production and export of surplus
primary products. Insufficient (or too much) fertiliser and energy inputs can increase
pollution or degradation of the environment.
The consequences of all these flows affect air and water quantity and quality, the soils
and natural biodiversity. Changing land use patterns result, including buildings and
infrastructure, and the community generates wastes - these must be managed. The net
primary production of the natural ecosystem is now matched by the yield of timber,
fish, mineral and agricultural products.
Community
Resilience
Out Migrants
Loss of Services
Social Impact on
Local Economy
& Environment
The communitys population is affected by births and deaths, and by the numbers of
people moving into (in-migrants) and people leaving (out-migrants). Any change to
the population can be an input or an output to the social system.
Social attitudes are another input into the social barrel. The changing role of women,
position of youth, desire for reconciliation, acceptance of technology, and attitudes
towards conservation and the environment, all affect the way residents interact.
$ Loans &
Investments $ Government
$ Value of Spending
Exports
$
Externally Non Government
owned businesses Organisations
Families &
Households
Local, State and Commonwealth government spending is a financial inflow for the
community. Government taxes, Shire rates and charges are a corresponding outflow
from the community.
Investment and loans are also a financial input into your community. Repayments of
these loans, profits paid to businesses outside the community, and community savings
invested elsewhere are outflows. Local investment (eg a Community Bank) can mean
returns are reinvested locally, and do not flow out into other communities.
Communities are not self-sufficient, and labour, goods and services are exported
(creating a monetary inflow) and imported (creating a monetary outflow) to
neighbouring communities. It is interesting to estimate your communitys balance of
trade.
What is the nature of the flows into and out of your community, in the
environmental, social and financial layers?
What is the nature of the environmental, social, and economic elements inside your
community and how are they linked together?
Are the flows into the community systems, or between the elements inside the
systems, changing in any way?
Is it possible to change the flows, to increase or decrease the flows into or out of
your communitys systems, and between the elements inside the systems?
Climate Factors
Land Use by Hectares
Agricultural Yields
Pasture Use
Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land
1. Climate Factors
Climate factors include conditions such as temperature, rainfall and evaporation rates,
all of which affect the environment and the productivity of the land.
Why is it important?
The climate influences the choice of land use and crop types, and changes can impact
on water usage, and length of the growing season. The climate indicators examine
conditions over time to look for any long-term trends.
Calculate the average maximum and minimum monthly temperature for each
decade.
b. Monthly rainfall figures for your community can be obtained from the Bureau
of Meteorology, Perth. This data is Sheet 2 in your Workshop Folder, and is
included in the environment Spreadsheet.
Calculate the rainfall for the growing season (April to September) and non-
growing season (October-March). Then calculate the decade averages by
season. If the growing season is different in your area, use the appropriate
months.
FORMULA 2
FORMULA 3
b. The annual rainfall can be presented in graphs showing 20-year time spans.
The insertion of a five-year moving average trend line (your excel program will
do this for you) will average out the rainfall figures and help to highlight any
patterns of decrease or increase. A graph showing the comparison over time
for growing and non-growing seasons by decade average will also identify any
changes.
What is it?
This indicator provides information about the way land is used in your community,
including the degree to which land use types contribute to the natural ecosystem.
Where possible, gathering information about land use could include pastoral,
cropping, horticulture and orchards, plantations, remnant native vegetation, salt land,
mine sites, marine environments, wetlands, buildings and roads.
Why is it important?
The total land available for the communitys use is finite. This indicator provides
information about what land is available for sustainable agricultural practices in your
community. Identifying changes in land use over time will assist the community in
managing this valuable resource.
The area and production for each agricultural land use is accessed through the
Australian Bureau of Statistics - Agricultural Commodity Survey for Local
Government Area (LGA) for 1992-1997 inclusive. Additional information for canola,
and remnant vegetation can be obtained from Agriculture WA. As needed, other land
use data can be accessed from the appropriate government departments (eg Fisheries,
Minerals and Energy, Forest Products Commission). Land use information is supplied
as Sheet 4 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the data into the
Environment Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate total agricultural land use for each year as a percentage of the total
area of the Shire.
FORMULA 4
FORMULA 6
The distribution of different land use types can be shown in a stacked bar graph to
give a visual picture of the share of the total of each type. As the information for
some categories are difficult to obtain, you will need an other category.
Has the number of hectares used for agricultural production changed over the
years?
Examine the percentage of land in remnant vegetation. Is it increasing or
decreasing?
Is the number and average size of agricultural establishments changing?
What is it?
This indicator builds onto the information you have calculated for the Land Use by
Hectares Indicator. The productivity of agricultural land use is expressed in crop
tonnage and the dollar value of production.
Why is it important?
The information that this indicator provides can assist in determining the carrying
capacity of the land. Different kinds of land use have different degrees of
productivity, and changing land use will have effects on the environment as well as on
the economic and social life of the community. If individual farmers record the
appropriate information, this indicator can also be calculated at the farm level.
You will need the area and tonnes of each crop type that you entered in the
Environmental Spreadsheet for the Land Use by Hectares Indicator.
The total value of production for each commodity can be accessed from Australian
Bureau of Statistics Agricultural Statistics for LGA for 1993-1997 inclusive. This
can be found as Sheet No. 5 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the information in the
Environmental Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 7
b. For each crop type calculate the crop yield (tonnes per hectare) and the value
per tonne.
c. For each main crop type calculate the gross value of production per average
farm.
FORMULA 9
The comparison of yields for the main crop types over time can be shown on a graph.
Use similar graphs to compare the gross value per hectare for agriculture, and value
per tonne for the main crop types.
Are there any changes in the yields of the main crop types?
Compare the number of hectares planted for each crop type. How do these relate
to the value per tonne?
What changes are occurring in the average value of production per average
agricultural holding?
What is it?
This indicator looks at how pasture is used in regard to the numbers of sheep and
cattle.
Why is it important?
Examining the carrying capacity of the land for animals can help to determine the
sustainability of industries relying on livestock and animal products.
The information for this indicator includes the extent of pasture land, numbers of
sheep and cattle, and the value of animal products such as wool. This information is
part of the agricultural land use data accessed through the Australian Bureau of
Statistics Agricultural Commodity Survey. It is part of Sheet 6 in your
CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the information into the Environment
Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 10
b. Estimate the average kilograms and average value of the wool clip per
agricultural establishment.
FORMULA 11
Comparison over time of the numbers of sheep and cattle can be presented in graphs to
highlight any trends. Similarly, the value of wool production and any other animal
products can be put into graphic form to show changes over time.
What are the trends in regard to the amount of land in pasture, numbers of sheep,
and numbers of cattle?
Are the stocking rates for sheep and cattle changing?
Has the average weight and value of the wool clip per agricultural establishment
changed over time?
Use the information for this earlier time period, and compare past trends for the Land
Use by Hectares, Agricultural Yields, and Pasture Usage Indicators with the more
recent information. This will help project future trends.
This indicator determines the amount of land no longer productive because of salinity,
degradation and erosion. In contrast, non-productive land that is once again
productive due to rehabilitation or a change in land use, is likewise estimated.
Why is it important?
The amount of land available for the communitys use is finite and loss of land to
degradation, erosion, and salinity is of concern in some rural communities. Wherever
possible, it is important to establish baseline data about the rate of loss and
alternatively, the amount of land that is being rehabilitated.
Data showing the amount of salt affected land in your Shire, in both hectares and as a
percentage of the total land area of the Shire, is shown on the map. Likewise,
information showing vegetation loss and recovery is available.
Calculate the number of hectares of land that has been lost to salinity over the time
period measured.
Calculate the number of hectares of land that has been cleared and recovered in
relation to vegetation.
Use local knowledge to ascertain if salt affected land has been reclaimed.
Likewise, use local knowledge to ascertain if salt affected land is productive due to
a land use change.
If the number of hectares of land being lost to salinity is increasing, what strategies
does the community have in place to assist in slowing or stopping the loss?
A. Waste Management
Adequately managing wastes from production and consumption is also important to
sustain a healthy environment. Information about waste management for your
community can be obtained locally from the Shire Council. If possible, obtain
information relating to the last five years for:
D. Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint model has been developed to measure the effects of human
consumption patterns on the environment. Its aim is to ascertain human carrying
capacity, that is, the number of people and the type of human activities that the
environment can support and still remain healthy.
To find a general estimate of the ecological footprint for your community, multiply the
Australian average of 4.4 hectares or the WA footprint of 17 hectares by the
communitys population. Compare this with the productive land available to your
community. If the figure greater than the total land available in the Shire, your
community may be exceeding its sustainable carrying capacity. Alternatively you can
take the quiz at http://www.earthday.net/footprint/info.asp and form a survey of people
in your community do a figure for your community.
For Australians who are interested in, or are undertaking Ecological Footprint
research, analysis or education check out the discussion list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/footprintaustralia/. You can also subscribe to the
international Ecological Footprints newsgroup by through egroups.com, or sending a
blank e-mail to: ecofootprints-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
What is it?
This indicator provides information about change in the communitys population due
to births and deaths that have occurred over a given time period. Calculating your
communitys natural increase or decrease is easy; simply subtract the deaths from the
births.
FORMULA 12
Why is it important?
It is important to know how the natural increase or decrease contributes to any change
in the population. If not, it means people are moving to or leaving the community for
other reasons.
The source of the information is the Profile of the Local Government Area for your
local government area. This is provided as Sheet No. 7 in your Workshop Folder.
Enter this information into the Social Spreadsheet.
What has been the natural population trend over the last 5 years?
Is the community naturally renewing itself?
What is it?
This indicator records changes in the communitys population because of new people
coming to live in the community (in-migration) or people leaving to live elsewhere
(out-migration).
Why is it important?
To determine whether population change is because of in-migration, out-migration, or
natural change. Reasons for out-migration, or strategic planning to manage in-
migration can then be discussed.
The source of this information is the Profile of the Local Government Area for your
community. This is provided as Sheet 8 in your Workshop Folder. Enter these figures
into the Social Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 13
Net migration:
What is it?
Why is it important?
Knowing the composition of your local population can assist community leaders in the
planning and provision of community facilities and services for residents current and
future needs.
The information you need to compare the population across time is from the ABS
Census data Time Series Profile. The 1996 data provides the age and gender
breakdown for the last three Census 1986, 1991, and 1996. This is provided as
Sheet 9 in your Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Social Spreadsheet.
Comparable information for Western Australia is already in the Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate the percentage of the total population for each gender and age
category for each time period.
FORMULA 14
The following graphs can be produced from the above data and may be of interest to
the community.
A Population Pyramid (shows how many people in each age group) for each year
of the data for the 5-year age categories.
The percentage change for each 5-year age category between the census periods.
A comparison between your community and Western Australia of the percentage
change for each 5-year age category.
A Population Pyramid for each year of the data for collapsed age categories as
compared to Western Australia.
Population Pyramids
These graphs are not easy to do using Excel but your contact person at the Department
of Local Government and Regional Development will be able to assist you.
What is it?
This indicator provides further information about the composition of the local
population. It describes where residents were born, if they speak a language other than
English, and if people are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
Why is it important?
This indicator can identify if specific cultural needs exist in your community.
Comparison across census data collection periods can highlight any changes in the
ethnic composition of the community.
The information is accessed from the ABS Census - Time Series Profile. The 1996
Census data provides information for the last three Census collections 1986, 1991,
and 1996. This data is provided as Sheet 10 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the
information into the Social Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate each ethnic category as a percentage of the total population for each
year.
FORMULA 15
Of those residents born overseas, where are most of those people from?
Is the ethnic composition of the community changing?
Does the community have many people who speak a language other than English?
How many residents describe themselves as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders?
How culturally diverse is the community?
Local knowledge is also useful when collating this information as residents will be
aware of the nationality of families who live in the community. For example:
What is it?
This indicator examines private housing stock by describing ownership and rental
numbers. Information gathered can also include types of rental accommodation and
the number of people who live in non-private dwellings such as nursing homes.
Why is it important?
The information is sourced from the ABS Census data. As no time series is available
for this indicator, the data must be accessed from each separate census collection.
This is provided as Sheet 11 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the information for
1986, 1991 and 1996 into the Social Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 16
The indicator is best presented in a graph comparing the three time periods. This will
highlight any changes across time, and data from future census collections can be
easily added at a later date.
What is it?
It is the purpose of this indicator to estimate the annual amount of income that is
received by residents in the form of government welfare payments. Data will also
show the numbers of people in the community who received some type of assistance
from the government.
Why is it important?
To examine the trends in welfare payments across the various government categories
such as retirement, disabilities and sickness, unemployment and families.
You will also need the number of residents aged 15 years or older for these years.
Calculate this from the information provided for the Population Analysis Indicator.
a. Estimate the amount of income being received by residents for each category
of welfare payments. The Spreadsheet already contains the Australian per
capita figure for each category of welfare payments. This is calculated by
dividing the total for each category by the number of people 15 years and
older.
FORMULA 17
Sheet 12 has grouped the different welfare payments into four categories: aged related,
disabled/carers/sickness, family related and other. The numbers of residents receiving
welfare payments in each category and estimated total amount received by the
community can be presented in graph form.
A. Family Structure
This indicator will enhance the understanding about the people who live in your
community. Information about the number of married couples with and without
dependent children, one-parent families, and single households, can be compared
across census periods. The data can be accessed through the ABS Population Census -
Community Time Series. Additional data from the most recent census will provide a
more detailed breakdown of family structure.
B. Qualifications
This indicator can also expand the understanding about the people who make up your
community. Information about the number of residents with a range of educational
qualifications can be accessed through the ABS Population Census - Community Time
Series. Comparison over time will highlight any change in education levels, and
possibly the life experiences and skills of residents.
C. Participation
Rates of participation in community groups and organisations are a good indicator of
residents commitment to the community. People participate in community groups for
social and professional interaction. In addition, many rural communities depend on
residents to provide some essential services, and rely on their fundraising efforts to
assist in the supply of community facilities. The number of hours that residents
contribute in an unpaid capacity is often an unacknowledged economic resource.
The following is useful data that can be collected through local Shire records,
interviews, and community surveys.
The number of groups and organisations that exist in your community. Record the
name of each group, and if possible classify the group or organisation under the
headings of Political, Economic/Business, Social, Environmental. This is a useful
resource for the community and should be up-dated annually.
D. Social Services/Facilities
This indicator provides information about the extent of social services and facilities
that are available to your community. Education, health, and police services are
usually of prime importance to regional communities, but you may decide that you
will include other social services as well. Undertake an audit to determine the number
and type of social services and facilities that are available.
The following data can be collected through interviews with involved residents:
F. Levels of Crime
Crime level is an important social indicator, as a high crime rate can reduce the
communitys ability to response to change. Figures relating to crimes against
property, persons, and other (includes drugs etc) is available from your local police
station. If possible obtain information about levels of crime for the last five years to
compare across time.
Employment by Industry
Employment by Occupation
The Labour Force
Local Gross Product
Family Income Distribution
1. Employment by Industry
What is it?
This indicator provides a breakdown of the number of people employed across the
different industry sectors for the community and allows a comparison of employment
with Regional Western Australia.
Why is it important?
To highlight any change that is occurring in the types of industries in which
community residents are employed. For example, a downturn in an industry will be
reflected in a declining percentage of the total number of people employed, whereas
new industries may show up as an increase in the percentage of people employed.
Information about the number of people employed in each industry sector is accessed
in the ABS Census Time Series Profile and is provided as Sheet 13 in your
CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Economic
Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet already contains the data for Regional Western
Australia to provide a comparison for your community.
a. Calculate the percentage of employment for each industry sector for the last
three census periods for your community and Regional Western Australia.
b. Calculate the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 for each
industry sector for your community and Regional Western Australia.
FORMULA 19
The information is best presented in graph form and the types of graphs that may be
useful include:
A comparison of employment by industry for the last three census collections for
your community.
A comparison between your community and Regional Western Australia of the
percentage of people employed in the industry sectors for the most recent census
data.
A comparison of the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 in
employment for the industry sectors for your community.
Comparisons of the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 in the
industry sectors for your community and Regional Western Australia.
Incorporating local knowledge in the presentation of this information will add to its
meaning.
What industry category has experienced the greatest decrease in the percentage of
people employed?
What category shows the greatest increase?
What local businesses/services do these sectors include?
What are some of the reasons for the changes?
How do these changes compare with Regional Western Australia?
What is it?
This indicator provides further information about the nature of employment in your
community through the classification of residents occupations.
Why is it important?
This information is accessed in the ABS Census Time Series Profile for Local
Government level and is provided as Sheet 14 in your CommunityWise Workshop
Folder. Enter this information into the Economic Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet
already contains the data for Regional Western Australia and Western Australia to
provide a comparison for your community.
a. Calculate the percentage of employment for each occupation category for the
last three census periods for your community, Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia. Use Formula 18 from the Employment by Industry
Indicator, substituting occupation category for industry sector.
b. Calculate the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 for each
occupation category for your community, Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia. Use Formula 19 from the Employment by Industry
Indicator, substituting occupation category for industry sector.
Graphs can provide a visual picture and are a useful way to present the information for
this indicator. These can include:
What is it?
This indicator provides information about the local labour force including the numbers
of residents who are employed and unemployed, whether they work full time or part
time, the balance between men and women, and whether they are employees or
employers.
Why is it important?
Information from this indicator can provide useful information for local business
planning. It can highlight any changes in the composition of the labour force and any
changing patterns of work.
A breakdown of the labour force for gender, part time/full time workers, and
employees/employers for the 1991 and 1996 census years can be accessed from ABS
Census Time Series Profile. This is provided as Sheet 16 in your CommunityWise
Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Economic Spreadsheet. The
Spreadsheet already contains the data for Regional Western Australia and Western
Australia to provide a comparison for your community.
A graph showing the comparison of the unemployment rate between your community,
Regional Western Australia and Western Australia, is useful. The other information
can be shown in table format and examined for change.
How does the unemployment rate for your community compare with Regional
Western Australia and Western Australia?
Is the trend any different from Regional Western Australia?
What are some of the local reasons for the trend?
Has the total labour force increased, decreased or remained static?
What is it?
This indicator enables the community to estimate the local gross amount earned for
each industry sector, and when totalled, it provides an estimate of the local equivalent
of Gross Domestic Product. This is referred to as Gross Local Product (GLP).
Why is it important?
Information about exports, imports and industry production is only available at the
State or National level. However, this indicator assists the community to estimate the
industry production for the community. While the main sources of GLP may be
common knowledge in most communities (eg Agriculture), a comparison across time
will identify trends, make possible an estimation of local economic growth, and
highlight local opportunities.
a. The number of local people employed in each industry sector for 1991 and
1996 is contained in Sheet No. 13. This is the same information you used for
the Employment by Industry Indicator. Enter this into the Economic
Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 20
iii) Add GLP FOR EACH INDUSTRY SECTOR FOR TOTAL GLP
FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
b. We now need to calculate the Location Quotient (LQ) for each industry sector
for 1991 and 1996. The LQ indicates how over or under represented an
FORMULA 21
Location quotient (LQ) for each industry sector for 1991 and 1996:
c. We can now use the LQ to estimate what proportion of the GLP for each
industry sector is exported (over-represented) or imported (under-represented).
FORMULA 22
FORMULA 23
iii) If the ratio is -1 (no local people employed for that industry): TOTAL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED multiplied by WA %
EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY SECTOR, multiplied by FACTOR
INCOME PER WORKER, multiplied by EXPORT/IMPORT RATIO
(-1) = IMPORTS IN DOLLARS.
iv) These can be totalled to provide a total export or import figure for the
community for each census year.
It is useful to present the information in a table making it easy to look for change. The
use of local knowledge about business and employment can add information to this
indicator.
FORMULA 24
What is it?
Why is it important?
To determine the range of income levels that local families are currently reliant on.
This will indicate the number of families who are on low incomes and who may have
special needs. This figure can also be used to calculate the wages, salaries and
subsidies component of your communitys total financial activity.
There are several steps to calculating the Family Income Distribution for the
community.
a. Find the Midpoint for each income category and enter into the spreadsheet.
Add together the not stated and partial income figures. These need to be
allocated to the other income categories as described in Formula 26.
FORMULA 25
FORMULA 26
c. Calculate the Gross Community Annual Income for each income category as
described in Formula 27.
FORMULA 27
d. Calculate the percentage of families for each income category for your
community. This has already been done for Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia in your spreadsheet.
FORMULA 28
e. Calculate the percentage of Gross Community Annual Income for each income
category for your community. This has already been done for Regional
Western Australia and Western Australia in your spreadsheet.
FORMULA 29
This information is useful when presented in a series of graphs. The following are
some suggestions:
Compare the percentage of families across the range of income categories in your
community with Regional Western Australia.
Compare the percentage of gross income across the range of income categories
with Regional Western Australia.
Compare percentage of families and percentage of gross annual income across the
range of income categories for your community.
Compare the cumulative percentage of families in your community with both
Regional Western Australia and Western Australia.
Compare the cumulative percentage of gross annual income for your community,
with Regional Western Australia and Western Australia.
Second Workshop:
The Nature and Importance of Reporting the Information
Our experience with Community Auditing has shown us that a second workshop is
always needed, as without this workshop there will be serious flaws in the analysis of
the data gathered. As before, we need to gather together all the people who have been
involved in the Audit so far, in a venue that is appropriate, that has sufficient
computers and provides an opportunity for instruction and presentation of the
information. Once again, this is a workshop that the Department of Local
Government and Regional Development can facilitate.
INTRODUCTION:
To begin with we need to consider in depth your answers to the question Why is it
important to report the information? Clearly answers to this question will differ
according to the nature of the community. Generally there are three different reasons
why reports are necessary
It is only when the data gets put into a report and circulated that it has a chance of
influencing decisions that get taken, and so help provide a way of steering local
plans and policies.
The report is also important as it provides a framework for the collection of data when
he next CommunityWise Audit is completed in 1-2 years time. It is through repeating
the Audit process that the value of the data grows because
(a) It establishes whether the trends seen in the first Audit do continue on into the
future or not,
(b) It shows whether the programs established to deal with the community
problems diagnosed after the first audit are responding to treatment.
Then in 3 or 4 years time, when someone starts to put together a Community Profile or
a new audit, once the wheel has been reinvented, the old one gets rediscovered, with
the finding that nothing much has changed.
In the second workshop the group will plan local approaches that actions would
prevent the report being put aside, and ensure that it is widely used and discussed
within the community.
The first question then is Who are the audience(s) for the information of the report
(in (a), (b) and (c) above)? How can the report be made useful (comprehensible) for
the different target audiences?
The group will prioritise approaches and rank solutions, allocating suggestions to
different working parties to make sure the results of the report dont get lost, but get
continuously updated.
A CommunityWise Audit is not just a listing of data and information discovered about
the nature of your community. It also involves a judgement about the data. For
instance
These are all questions of judgement. The greater the number of people involved in
making these judgements, the better will be the eventual quality of the report. The
second workshop thus largely consists in report back sessions from each group
facilitated by the Departmental staff in answering these and other questions. Answers
to these to be documented on butchers paper as the group proceeds.
THE REPORT FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP
3. What is problematic? Do the people of this community know? How can they best
be informed? How do we deal with denial, despair, anger and resignation in the
face of our problems?
4. Often when viewed form a different, larger or more holistic framework problems
may be reframed as opportunities. How can this be done for your community?
Moving from denial and despair to empowerment and action is important.
Reframing of issues. The Turning towards a Life Sustaining Environment is
here important. The community participants will then examine some examples
currently underway.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What ways will the participants carry the
information out into the wider world to change their practices, individually and
collectively, in the future? Here we examine opportunities for further action.
How to get the community more involved and motivated? is an important part of
this section.
THE REPORT FROM THE SOCIAL GROUP
2. What is desirable? What the community appreciates about the Social Environment
For instance, what makes this place a good community in which to live? How can
these characteristics be built upon and preserved? Extended? Enhanced?
4. How can these social problems be seen as opportunities? What ways can the
community move from denial and despair to empowerment and action. Reframing
of issues. The Turning to a Socially Vital and Supportive Community is here
the main issue. Examples currently underway in this and other communities can
then be considered
.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What opportunities are there for further action
to build social capital of our community? How do we get the community more
involved and motivated?
THE REPORT FROM THE FINANCIAL GROUP
Once again the financial group will consider a similar list of questions
3. What economic problems exist? Do the people of this community know of these
problems? Do they effect everyone equally, or some more (and earlier) than
others? How can everyone in the community best be informed on economic
matters? How do we deal with denial, despair, anger and resignation in the face of
our problems?
4. How can economic problems be seen as business opportunities? Once again, how
to get people to move from denial and despair to empowerment and action.
Reframing of issues here is again important. The Turning towards a Resilient
Economy is the question to be considered. Where possible, examples currently
underway in this and other communities can then be considered.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What opportunities does this community have
for further collective economic action? How can we get the community more
involved and motivated?
In each case the group will have considered Robert Kennedys famous quote God
grant me the strength to change what can be changed, the forebearance to accept
what cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference
The group will have a good understanding now of Where are the leavers for change
in our community? What factors can we change through community effort in the
appropriate places? What are the factors that cannot be changed? In what ways can
we adjust better to accommodate those factors?
Report Framework
Write an introduction that gives some basic information about your community.
Ask long term residents to write a couple of paragraphs about the communitys
history, including some of the main changes that have happened.
Use the three broad headings from the three-tiered cake Environment, Social
System, Financial Economy as the headings for the main section of your report.
Use the names of the core indicators as sub headings under each broad category,
and write a paragraph summarising the trends from each indicator. Use the prompt
questions under the presenting this information to the community sections to help
you write about the trends for each indicator.
Add local knowledge to your writing so that the report belongs to your
community. However, it is not wise to mention individuals or families by name.
Write a section that describes the communitys strengths and weaknesses. This
can include areas identified by the indicators that residents are happy about, or
alternatively, would like to make changes.
The community will be able to access more recent information as it becomes available
to update your Audit. In some cases, the Department of Local Government and
Regional Development may be able to help. Keep in mind that many of the indicators
rely on Census data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to undertake the next
Census in 2001, and this information should begin to be available by 2002.
Your community can set in motion many ways to gather data at the local level. For
example, we have made suggestions about running local surveys that could be
undertaken on a regular basis and used to update your Audit. If your school joins the
Globe Project, environmental data will be collected regularly.
Your CommunityWise Audit will point to the areas where change is desired. In
some cases, assistance through government programs may be necessary. Many
different programs are available through a variety of Government Departments. Your
Audit Report will be a useful tool in any application to access these programs.
It is important in concluding your Audit that you give proper recognition of those
involved. For instance
- Champion organisation
- The Consultant
- Telecentre staff
- Shire Council
- Department of Local Government and Regional Development
- The Community
This gratitude and thanks could lead on to a possible celebration, in which friends,
family, work colleagues and others could be invited in to see what has been achieved.
Environmental Indicators
1. Climatic Factors 17
2. Land Use by Hectares 20
3. Agricultural Yields 22
4. Pasture Use 24
5. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land 26
Social Indicators
1. Natural Population Change 29
2. Net Migration Change 31
3. Population Analysis 33
4. Ethnic Structure 35
5. Housing 37
6. Welfare Payments 38
Economic Indicators
1. Employment by Industry 42
2. Employment by Occupation 44
3. The Labour Force 46
4. Local Gross Product 48
5. Family Income Distribution 51