June 2023
We are pleased to share that we are working with our Australian Place Collaborative partners, University of Queensland (UQ) and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), to design and establish the next phase of national infrastructure needed to strengthen and amplify place-based change across Australia.
This opportunity to strengthen place-based change in Australia was first announced by the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in December 2022. We recently commenced the foundational work of establishing the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration (Nexus Centre), as the Nexus Centre Foundation Partner consortium. The Nexus Centre is envisaged to be an independent, non-government entity that will work with communities, governments and other stakeholders to amplify the benefits of place-based initiatives that explore and enhance community-led solutions in addressing social complex problems and disadvantage.
We began this work in March with the scoping and establishment phase and are now running extensive consultations across the place-based change ecosystem including communities, funders, researchers, intermediaries, business, service providers and many others with an interest in place-based change. This design process is exploring the demand, opportunities, need and barriers to strengthening the place-based change ecosystem. The outcome of these consultations will be a proposal that will outline the potential scope, role, functions, service offer, governance arrangements and future work plan to support the different components of The Nexus Centre.
As part of the Nexus Centre Foundation Partner, we will also prototype a range of activities and services supporting the diverse group of stakeholders currently involved in place-based change efforts. The type of support will be informed by the consultation activities undertaken during the Nexus Centre design and build on the efforts of individuals, groups, governments and communities over many years.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said in the December 2022 media release , “We need to look at addressing complex social problems and entrenched disadvantage in new and innovative ways. What we’ve been doing to date hasn’t always worked… Place-based solutions, including shared decision making, working across governments, and facilitating access to community-level data will help communities – but it will also help government and non-government sectors to empower communities with the supports that best suit them.”
Pending the outcome of the design process, The Nexus Centre is envisaged to be operational by early 2025.
If you would like to contribute your views on what is needed next to strengthen the place-based change field in Australia, please email your interest to place@collaborationforimpact.com and we will be in touch with ways you can get involved in this important consultation process.
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