A community’s drive and determination to take charge of the future of its economic development has led to an innovative community capacity building project.
The project in Victoria’s West Wimmera Shire Council was developed amid the typical backdrop of a decline in services and population, and rural recession. Following a meeting arranged by Council to demonstrate its Internet site, local residents declared that they wanted to take charge of their own economic development and establish a steering committee that would drive this initiative.
“Ballarat University worked with the steering committee to develop appropriate skills in community consultation which resulted in establishing the Community Enterprise Centre (CEC),” said Mary Lu Amos, Council’s Executive Officer, Community Economic Development and Tourism.
With partnerships involving Council, Ballarat University, the local Hospital, Australian Taxation Office and Telstra, CEC provides a number of services to educate and develop skills and keep those skills within the community.
“It offers affordable Internet access for all ages, training in numerous courses, lifelong learning for beginners to accredited courses, breaks down the fear and apprehension of Information Technology and gives opportunities for career path choices for the disabled,” said Mary Lu Amos. “It is community owned and driven which has allowed the community of interest to take control and become the drivers of change.”
For further information, contact Mary Lu Amos on (03) 5585 9900.
