Community Strengthening

All publications in this section are available online only.

Measuring Up : linking planning and performance

The new guide MEASURING UP: linking planning & performance provides guidance to councils on how to integrate their accountability framework through key documents required under the Local Government Act. The paper focuses on the links between performance reporting and strategic planning - especially the relationship between a Council Plan and other documents and reports.

This guide was developed in conjunction with the LGPro Corporate Planners Network and Municipal Association of Victoria. LGV would like to acknowledge the valuable resource materials sourced from the Victorian Auditor-General's Office and LGPro. Measuring Up: linking planning and performance April 2009 (PDF 522 kb) or (Word 1509 kb)


Local Government and Community Planning

Local Government Victoria undertook a project to capture the experience of Victorian local governments in community planning. The Local Government and Community Planning project is aimed at sharing the knowledge and understanding of community planning within the local government sector and among other interested stakeholders; enhancing the evidence base for community planning as an effective and efficient way of increasing civic participation, and evaluating the nature of local government involvement.

Ararat, Casey, Golden Plains, Hume, Loddon, Mitchell, Surf Coast, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges were selected from the 30 expressions of interest received to participate in the project. These nine councils undertook in September and October 2007 a review of their community planning efforts utilising a self-reporting tool that was developed. The nine individual reviews are below.

The reviews have informed the development of a research report entitled Planning Together: lessons from the local government community planning in Victoria (PDF 266 kb).

The reviews identified benefits to both councils and communities. Benefits to councils included a stronger understanding of important community issues, better strategic decision-making, providing a powerful lobbying tool for council, and enabling partnerships with key stakeholders. Community benefits included better connected communities, enhanced feelings of empowerment, belonging and well-being, increased community capacity, new avenues to articulate local needs to resource-holders and authorities.

The issues highlighted in the report will inform current and future work to advance community planning in local government. The Department of Planning and Community Development through LGV will continue to work with the local government peak bodies in a range of areas, in particular developing useful tools, building the evidence base, strengthening the mandate for local government leadership, and improving the interface between State and local governments.


Recognition, Reform and Partnerships (August 2006)

Recognition, Reform and Partnership: Governments working together for stronger communities and better services has been incorporated in a publication that includes a number of case studies showing how State and Local Government partnerships are benefiting local communities.

Recognition, Reform and Partnership: Governments working together for stronger communities and better services (PDF 1.1mb)


Local Government: Partnerships, ideas and actions (March 2006)

Partnerships, ideas and action report, highlights innovative and responsive local government projects. The projects show how councils work with their communities rather than for them.

Partnerships, ideas and action report (PDF 1.22mb)


Strengthening Communities: an overview of research examining the benefits of neighbourhood houses (July 2005)

In July 2005, the Department for Victorian Communities’ Strategic Policy and Research Division released this research report examining the benefits of neighbourhood houses.

Strengthening Communities; An overview of research examining the benefits of neighbourhood houses (PDF 309kb)


State and Local Governments Working Together to Build Stronger Communities Conference Report and Next Steps (Sept 2005)

This conference was held in May 2005 to discuss what actions were necessary to fundamentally change the way government works with local communities across Victoria. The report summarises the proceedings of the conference and discusses the actions being undertaken to implement the strategies identified in the “Actions for Community Strengthening With Local Government” strategy paper.

State and Local Governments Working Together to Build Stronger Communities Conference Report and Next Steps (Sept 2005) (PDF 80kb)


Actions for Community Strengthening With Local Government (April 2005)

This strategy paper proposes actions that local governments can undertake on their own or in collaboration with state government to increase their community strengthening role. There are also proposed support actions for the State Government.

Actions for Community Strengthening With Local Government (PDF 345kb)


Building Connections – Community Strengthening and Local Government in Victoria (August 2004)

Community Strengthening is a practical idea supported by a simple objective – to help communities become stronger through initiatives to address the specific problems and priorities of local citizens. The purpose of this paper was to review the kinds of experiences that Victorian municipalities have had with their own community strengthening projects in order to better understand their dynamics and to see where these experiences might inform future strategy developments.

Building Connections – Community Strengthening and Local Government in Victoria (PDF 444kb)




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Web Site Updates

DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) as changes are being made.


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