The Conference

The "Changing the Way Government Works" Conference, a partnership of the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC), the Institute for Public Administration Australia (IPAA, Victorian Division), and Observatory PASCAL, attracted over 350 participants from all levels of government, business, community, peak organisations, and the research and education sectors.

 

The Themes

International, national and Victorian speakers discussed both the conceptual ideas behind government's community strengthening and linking up agenda as well as case studies of what this looks like in practice.

The Conference examined the nature and implications of this role for government in four major areas:

The Speakers

Conference highlights were addresses by keynote speakers Tom Schuller of the OECD and Noel Pearson of Cape York Partnerships.

The challenges from a Victorian Government perspective were explored by the Secretaries of the Department for Victorian Communities, the Department of Sustainability & the Environment, and the Department for Human Services in their discussion on a key conference theme: "How can we change the way government works?", and in the closing address by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet "Building a culture of innovation in the public sector".

The event provided an opportunity for participants to share ideas from different perspectives about how best for government to plan and deliver services in a changing world.

Conference Background Report

A Background Report was prepared to set the scene for the Conference. It is a starting point for exploring trends in research, social policy and pubic administration. While designed for Conference participants, the report will also be a useful reference for anyone interested or involved in these fields of work. Key references from the literature used in preparing this report can be found on the Department for Victorian Communities website (http://www.dvc.vic.gov.au/).

The Conference Background Report:

Conference Papers and Presentations

Presentations were provided either as papers and/or PowerPoint presentations. These were available to Conference participants in folders at the conference.

The Department for Victorian Communities is committed to publishing select presentations as Conference proceedings.

 

Papers are presented either as PDF files or PowerPoint presentations. Where there is no notation of size, the files are PDFs. Clicking on the name of the speaker will launch a brief biography.

Conference Image Gallery

Image Gallery 1 - morning sessions (opens in new window)

Image Gallery 2 - afternoon sessions (opens in new window)

List of Sessions and Presenters

 

• Breakfast Session

Christine Nixon APM, Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
The Times They are A-Changing (no paper)

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• Opening Address

The Hon. John Thwaites, MP. Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Victorian Communities

• Keynote Speaker

Professor Tom Schuller, Head, Centre for Educational Research & Innovation (CERI), Directorate of Education, OECD.

1. Human Capital & Social Capital: Understanding the Interaction

1. Human Capital and Social Capital: Understanding the Interaction
   _{(131 KB PowerPoint)}

 

 

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• Moderated Discussion : How Can We Change The Way Government Works?

Yehudi Blacher, Secretary, Department for Victorian Communities
Changing the Way Government Works _{(457 KB PowerPoint)}

Fran Thorn, Under Secretary, Portfolio Performance, Department of Sustainability and Environment
Transit Cities - Linking Services, Connecting People _{(336 KB PowerPoint)}

Patricia Faulkner, Secretary, Department of Human Services
Neighbourhood Renewal

 

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Concurrent Sessions

• Session A: How Do We Measure Community Strength?

Dr Dennis Trewin, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics
How do We Measure Community Strength? _{(2,994 KB PowerPoint)}

Dr David Adams, Executive Director, Strategic Policy & Research Division, Department for Victorian Communities
How do We Measure Community Strength? _{(685 KB PowerPoint)}

 

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• Session B: What are the New Governance Models?

David Spokes, CEO, City of Port Phillip
What are the New Governance Models?

Professor John Wiseman, Professorial Fellow, Victoria University
Community Strengthening ... Opportunities, Limitations, Challenges
_{(88 KB PowerPoint)}

Professor Mark Considine, Director, Centre for Public Policy, The University of Melbourne
Stronger Communities through Improved Local Governance: an Idea Whose Time has Come

 

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• Session C: What are the Capabilities and Cultures Needed to Work Differently in Government?

 

Professor John Alford
Building Trust in Partnerships between Community Organisation and Government

Dr Jim Cavaye, Director, Cavaye Community Development
Orientating Government to Support Community Capacity

 

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• Session D: How can Government, Business and Community Work Together?

Professor David Birch, Director, Corporate Citizenship Research Unit, Deakin University
Trust and Values in Corporate Citizenship in Australia

Gerhardt Pearson, Foundation Executive Director, Balkanu, Cape York Development Corporation
The ISX: Doing Indigenous Economic Development Differently
_{(79 KB PDF)}

 

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• Keynote Address

Noel Pearson, Team Leader, Cape York Partnerships
Our Rights, Our Responsibilities — Making Partnerships Work in Indigenous Communities
_{(177 KB PowerPoint)}

 

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• Moderated Discussion - Can Community be Planned?

Marcus Spiller, National President, Planning Institute of Australia
Planning for Community? a Governance Perspective from the Planning Institute

Kelvin Trimper, General Manager, Urban Community, Delfin Lend Lease
Can Community be Planned? — a Developers Perspective

Professor Brendan Gleeson, School of Environmental Planning, Griffith University
Deprogramming Planning: Collaboration and Inclusion in the New Urban Development
_{(82 KB PowerPoint)}

 

 

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Concurrent Sessions

• Session A: Measuring Community Strengths: the Story so Far

Dr Marion Frere, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Growing Victoria Together (PDF)

Damian Ferrie, Director, Office of Neighbourhood Renewal, Department of Human Services
Neighbourhood Renewal: Changing the Way Government Works _{(109,714 KB PowerPoint)}

 

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• Session B: Governing Community Strength: Institutions and Partnerships

Dr Tim Reddel, Director, Social Policy, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Exploring the Institutional Dimensions of Local Governance and Community Strengthening: Linking Empirical and Theoretical Debates

Bill Renehan, Project Manager, Transit Cities, Department of Sustainability and Environment
Melbourne 2030 and Transit Cities - Stakeholder Partnerships
_{(46,038 KB PowerPoint)}

Noelene Duff, CEO, City of Whitehorse
Box Hill Activity Centre _{(11,831 KB PowerPoint)}

 

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• Session C: Engaging Communities: Future Public Sector Capabilities and Cultures

Michael Hogan, Deputy Director-General, Community Engagement Division, Queensland Department for Communities
Engaging Communities: Future Public Sector Capabilities & Cultures in Queensland _{(476 KB PowerPoint)}

Hector Bugeja, Manager, Learning Integration, Department of Education and Training
Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENS) _{(165 KB PowerPoint)}

Shanti Wong, Executive Officer, Brimbank Melton Local Learning and Employment Network Presence - Many Parts to the Whole: How LLENs Can Develop Community Engagement, Build Capacity and Influence Cultural Change (8,387 KB PowerPoint)

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• Session D: Enterprising Communities

Sylvia Admans, CEO, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Enterprising Communities: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's Role _{(619 KB PowerPoint)}

Dr Alison St Clair Baker, Executive Office to Director of Strategic Planning, Kent City Council, UK
Sustainable Community Building in Kent _{(42,828 KB, PowerPoint)}

 

 

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• Closing Plenary Address

Terry Moran, Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Building a Culture of Innovation in the Public Sector