Framework for Place-Based Approaches

The Framework for Place-Based Approaches (the Framework), released by the Minister for Communities and Minister for Disability Services and Seniors, outlines the importance of community, industry and all levels of government working closely together to improve community wellbeing via place-based approaches.

The Framework was informed by:

  • consultation with key Queensland leaders in place-based approaches (overall Framework)
  • Queensland cross-government work (government readiness and responses)
  • the nationally applicable place-based evaluation framework (community readiness and responses)

Government readiness and responses

The Framework includes a focus on improving the way the Queensland Government participates in place-based approaches and partners with the community, industry and other levels of government to help communities to thrive. It focuses on:

  • engagement
  • social services and infrastructure planning
  • commissioning
  • data sharing and analysis
  • public sector governance, culture, capability and capacity.

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Community and industry readiness and responses

The Framework highlights the importance of both community and industries’ active participation in place-based approaches.

Communities are the centre of all place-based approaches. The elements listed in relation to community readiness and responses include:

  • community leadership
  • governance and shared data
  • local priorities and solutions
  • collaboration
  • local resources
  • capability and capacity.

Partners from a range of industry groups also play a key role in place-based approaches. The Framework has application across social, economic and environmental policy areas.

The industry readiness and responses elements are:

  • industry leadership
  • quality services including monitoring outcomes
  • engaging service users
  • collaboration
  • value
  • evidence.

The need to strengthen the readiness of the community services industry to be effective partners in place-based approaches is reflected in the Queensland Government’s Partnering for the future: Advancing Queensland’s community service industry 2017–25 (the strategy). The strategy identifies place-based approaches as a major change driver and priority for action across the industry. Under the strategy, industry development work is underway including:

  • a community of practice to support place-based activities
  • online tools and resources.

Queensland place-based community of practice

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) Queensland place-based community of practice will help build shared understandings of place-based work and capacity, share information, skills and learning, identify opportunities for collaboration and enable locally-driven networking.

Place forums

  • Creating Thriving Communities in Queensland roundtables
    The Queensland Government and QCOSS are working together to connect people from across Australia and Queensland to foster the development of place-based approaches and help build thriving communities across the state. Initiated by the Honourable Coralee O’Rourke MP, Minister for Communities and Minister for Disability Services and Seniors, and QCOSS, 2 roundtables were held in 2018 in Brisbane and Townsville.
  • Changing Lives, Changing Communities
    A series of Changing Lives, Changing Communities events will be held in 13 locations across Queensland during 2018–19. These events aim to bring together all stakeholders (including communities) to co-create solutions to improve community outcomes.

Community readiness assessment resources

The following resources have been included to provide some examples of practical tools that could be referred to when assisting a community to assess their readiness to participate in place-based approaches to improve community wellbeing.

  • The Queensland Stay On Your Feet® Toolkit – Phase 1: Investigate
    Developed by Queensland Health, the toolkit is based on an evidence-based four phase Community Good Practice Model. It was developed to support falls prevention and healthy active ageing strategies for use by anyone who works with older people including individuals, community organisations, health professionals, government departments and fitness providers. The Phase 1: Investigate tool provides a practical approach to assess community readiness to take action.
  • Community tool box, Section 9 community readiness
    Developed by the Centre for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas, USA, Section 9 of the community tool box helps stakeholders to understand and measure a community’s readiness is to address a particular issue, and how to use that knowledge to stimulate community change. This tool box is suitable for those working to improve community wellbeing and bring about social change.
  • Community readiness for community change handbook
    Designed by the Tri-Ethnic Centre at Colorado State University, USA, the handbook describes the process used to asses a community’s readiness to address a range of complex issues such as drug and alcohol use, domestic and sexual violence, head injury, HIV/AIDS, suicide, animal control and environmental issues.

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