Tracking What Works: Voluntary activity, community strengthening and local government
Here is a copy of “Tracking What Works: Voluntary activity, community strengthening and local government” funded through the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC), Victoria, Australia, for your information. The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) commissioned the Centre for Citizenship and Human Rights, Deakin University, to undertake this research, led by Professor Sue Kenny. This work was prompted by the recognition that there has been little formal exploration of the role and contribution of local government in supporting volunteering as a community strengthening strategy, despite the growing evidence that voluntary participation can generate considerable social and other community benefits.
- local government case studies;
- commentary on contemporary approaches to voluntary activity and community strengthening;
reflections on the literature and national and international thinking on volunteering and community strengthening; and
- some suggestions for practical steps forward.
Many councils and community organisations across Victoria are currently involved in the implementation of projects through the Volunteer Support Grants (VSG) funded by DVC. These initiatives will also provide a rich source of information and learning about volunteering and community participation and will hopefully build on the themes and examples presented in Tracking What Works.
The MAV offers the report as a starting point for ongoing discussion and deliberation amongst councils and community organisations on the relationship between volunteering and community strengthening and the role and contribution of local government in facilitating community participation.
Contact Liz Hogan or Sue Kenny (details on the report) if you have any queries. The report can also be found at http://www.mav.asn.au/ecd/LRNP
