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Home > Share your knowledge > Resources > For regional areas

Regional research

Research reports

Australia

Australia's Young People: Their Health and Wellbeing 2003 (AIHW). This is the second national report on the health and wellbeing of young people in Australia. It provides comprehensive information on the health status of young people and the behavioural risk and protective factors influencing young people's health and wellbeing. Social conditions are also important determinants of health. The report therefore includes information on the family environment, relationships and social participation, education, employment and income.

Older Australia at a Glance 2002 (AIHW). Australia's population is ageing and significant changes will flow to all aspects of social and economic life as both the number and proportion of older people in the community increase. This third edition of Older Australia at a Glance provides insights into the diversity of the older population of Australia at the beginning of the 21st century, where they are living, what they are doing, how healthy they are and the services they are using.

Rural, Regional, and Remote Health: A study on mortality (AIHW Rural Study Series #2). Provides information on mortality outside of major centres and identifies where and how increased mortality is linked to remoteness.

Australia Social Trends 2003 (ABS cat #4102.0). Describes Australian society and how it is changing over time. The document is organised around 30 articles, organised into seven areas of social concern: population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; and housing.

International

The Future of Rural Policy: from sectoral to place-based policies in rural areas, OECD, 2003. This document is a collection of articles exploring international and local dimensions of rural policy development. The underlying messages include the importance of local leadership and the human dimension of development, the interdependence between rural and urban, the importance of mobilising investment (rather than distributing subsidies) and the need to expand the definition of countryside. This document is available from the OECD (fee applies) or may be obtained through departmental or university libraries.

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Evaluation/reporting outcomes

Queensland Government, the Community Engagement & Development Policy Unit evaluation resources

Evaluation and reporting for regional Australia

Social Indicators for Regional Australia, J. Rob Bray (2001), Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services Policy Research Paper No. 8. This paper provides an insight into the social characteristics of regional Australia. More specifically, the paper considers the relative outcomes of different regions through the use of a range of statistical indicators, identifying the extent to which systematic differences in outcomes occur.

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Current issues for regions

Health and community services

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Regional development

What makes communities tick? Local Government & Social Capital Action Research Project, Geoffrey Woolcock, Desley Renton & Jim Cavaye, 2003 Pilot Study in Queensland, A Collaboration Between the Local Government Association of Queensland and the 'Boilerhouse' Community Service & Research Centre, University of Queensland.

The Identification and Analysis of Indicators of Community Strength and Outcomes, A. Black and P. Hughes (2001), Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services Occasional Paper 3. This long and academic style paper provides a review and analysis of literature on the conceptualisation and measurement of community strength and its outcomes and places this information in an analytical framework, identifying the commonalities and differences between various approaches to these issues. It will be of more interest to those interested in the conceptual foundations of concepts such as sense of community, quality and life, social capital and similar.

Beyond the Boundaries: the contribution of regions to Queensland's Economic development, Stephen Jones (2003), Committee for Economic development of Australia Information Paper No. 79. This report document evidence of the type and level of economic development activity undertaken in Queensland. A summary and the overview are available free on the link below.

Can Regional Communities Successfully Participate in the Smart State? The case of Maranoa online regional community portal, J. Summers and M. Lawley (2003), 'Queensland Review' Volume 10 No. 1. This paper presents a case study of the initial planning and implementation of an emerging e-model, community portals. Two key implications from the research include the need to focus not only on the establishment of the portal but also on its long term
development. The results of the research question the viability of regional community portals if they are to be self-funding. (This document is not available online).

Money Matters in the Bush, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services Inquiry into the Level of Banking and Financial Services in Rural, Regional and Remote Areas of Australia, January 2004.

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Education, training and employment

Learning alternatives: a last chance or a real choice? John Spierings, Dusseldorp Skills Forum September 2003. This paper examines the provisions made for education of young people, and asks the question: If we have 'special' senior schools for gifted young people in the arts and in sports why not open access to such alternative learning environments to younger people who are in fact coping with adult responsibilities in their early teens? These questions lie at the heart of 'alternative education' and recognition that broad based reform especially in the middle and senior years of schooling is necessary if a strong educational base is to be provided for all young people.

Declining Apprentice Training Rates: Causes, Consequences and Solutions, Phillip Toner, Australian Expert Group in Industry Studies, University of Western Sydney, July 2003. The paper presents new data on long-run apprentice training rates by broad occupational group and demonstrates a statistically significant and sustained decline in the training rate over the last decade. A broad range of solutions are required to redress the problem including lifting the level of employer investment in training, adjusting incentive and subsidy arrangements and better entry level steps on the supply side. The multiplicity of causes will require a combination of measures to achieve a lift in trade training rates.

Australian Vocational Education Statistics: Student Outcomes Survey 2003

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Supporting not-for-profit organisations

GoVolunteer provides free internet advertising for not-for-profit community organisations looking for volunteers.

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Environmental management and planning

Designing 'Eco-civic' regions for NRM: Ecological and social function influencing governance of natural resources, D. Brunckhorst, P. Coop, and I. Reeve (2002), Institute for Rural Futures. The project aimed to catalyse innovation towards more competent institutions and ecologically sustainable resource governance, through examination of the combined influences of social functions and ecological functions operating broadly across regional landscapes.

Tiptoeing round the Slumbering Dragon: Property Rights and Environmental Discourse in Rural Australia, Ian Reeve, The Rural Development Centre, University of New England, 1999. This paper looks at two key perspectives on property rights, institutional and legal, and the question of what role the representation or presumption of property rights and their exercise as de facto rights might play in rural politics and institutional change.

CSIRO Climate Change research - Projections for regional cities in 2030 and 2070

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Transport planning and service delivery

Rural and Regional Young People and Transport Project: an investigation of transport problems and possible solutions for young people in rural and regional Australia, National Youth Affairs Research Scheme The aim of the project is to investigate transport and travel for rural and regional young people, to examine successes and challenges in improving the provision of transport services to young people, and to focus on viable solutions to their transport needs. The project covers every State and Territory in Australia and is due for completion in September 2004. See: Rural and Regional Young People and Transport Project website

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Housing and accommodation

Australian Council of Social Service provides reports and research that deal with issues of housing and homelessness. The Queensland affiliate is QCOSS

The Australia Housing and Urban Research Institute is dedicated to drawing together researchers, policy-makers, industry and the community in order to achieve better housing market outcomes, achieve efficient and effective housing assistance programs, and build viable communities. The site includes links to an extensive library of research relating to housing and community issues.

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Regional arts and culture

Arts Queensland - Regional Arts website provides links to examples of regional arts initiatives and projects within the Arts Portfolio.

Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) - Bidding Guidelines 2004-2005

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Governance for Sustainable Development: strategic issues and principles for Indigenous Australian communities, M. Dodson and D.E. Smith (2003), Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research publication No 250/2003. This paper argues that there is a vital link between governance and sustainable development. A set of key ingredients and core principles which Indigenous communities might use to build more effective governance are proposed.

To view the papaer, go to the Australian National University website and scroll down until you see 2003/250 under the heading Reference Discussion Papers.

Office of Economic and Statistical Research - pages supplying links to statistical information on Indigenous peoples. For a summary Bulletin, select 'Bulletins', then 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, Census 2001', the click on the link to the PDF file.

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Migration and demographic change

Office of Economic and Statistical Research - pages supplying links to statistical information on migration, birthplace, and diversity.

New population projections for Queensland and statistical divisions, T. Wilson, M. Bell, G. Heyen, A. Taylor, Discussion Paper 2003/07, Queensland Centre for Population Research, School of Geography, Planning and Architecture, University of Queensland.

According to the medium series of the recently released population projections the State's population is likely to increase by a further 2.9 million over the next 50 years, passing the 5 million mark in 2022, and reaching a total of 6.5 million by 2051. This paper describes the method, assumptions and results of the new projections. It then goes on to present selected highlights of the future characteristics of Queensland's population.

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Ageing

The Policy-maker's Guide to Population Ageing: key concepts and issues, Natalie Jackson (2001), Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services Policy Research Paper No. 13. This paper recognises the steady social shift of developing countries brought about by the demographic transition, experienced by both developed and developing countries. This paper provides a useful compendium or 'tool kit' of concepts specifically related to population ageing.

Inquiry into long-term strategies to address the ageing of the Australian population over the next 40 years, (2003), Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services submission to the 2003 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Ageing, Occasional Paper 8. The key themes of the submission are:

  1. Demographic change over the next 40 years will involve substantial growth in both the proportion of the population over age 65, and associated government spending;
  2. This will be accompanied by a sharp reduction in the growth of the working-age population%u2014previously a strong driver of Australian prosperity;
  3. Demographic change also carries risks and opportunities for family formation, fertility, care and social participation. The submission puts forward key strategies for addressing demographic change.
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Youth

Rural and Regional Young People and Transport Project: an investigation of transport problems and possible solutions for young people in rural and regional Australia, National Youth Affairs Research Scheme. The aim of the project is to investigate transport and travel for rural and regional young people, to examine successes and challenges in improving the provision of transport services to young people, and to focus on viable solutions to their transport needs. The project covers every State and Territory in Australia and is due for completion in September 2004.

The Young People in Rural Industries Program seeks to encourage greater consultation and increased representation of young people working in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry in decision-making forums. The program provides young people with the skills and understanding required to play a leading role in developing future directions and policies for rural industries at a national level.

Learning alternatives: a last chance or a real choice? John Spierings, Dusseldorp Skills Forum September 2003. This paper examines the provisions made for education of young people, and asks the question: If we have 'special' senior schools for gifted young people in the arts and in sports why not open access to such alternative learning environments to younger people who are in fact coping with adult responsibilities in their early teens?

How Young People are Faring 2003 (including Indigenous report) - An annual report on the learning and work situation of young Australians. Includes a section about Indigenous young Australians by ATSIS. Reports are available for every year 1999-2003. Three main indicators are discussed:

Better Government With Young People (UK) is a joint initiative of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the National Youth Agency (NYA). The key aim is to increase children and young people's active involvement with local authorities and their participation in local democracy. The first phase of the Better Go vernment With Young People initiative is the publication of these Standards for local authorities. The Standards encourage councils to look seriously at how they currently involve and engage children and young people in local democratic processes and to improve this. There are case studies and illustrations of success stories throughout the Standards. The Standards are designed to help councils to secure long-term and sustainable active involvement of young people in local democracy and to encourage continual improvement in their activities. Many councils and other organisations have their own definition of who are 'children' and 'young people'. The Standards are designed to be applicable across all such definitions and councils are encouraged to consider children and young people of all ages in the work they carry out to engage with them.

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Research institutions

Queensland

Australia

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Last updated 29 June 2005