Managing Change

Although long term economic, technological and social factors have resulted in the decline of many small inland towns in Australia, other such towns have successfully implemented a range of survival and revival strategies. This has resulted in positive outcomes for residents in terms of quality of life and economic opportunities. T ....

This paper argues for the relevance of social sustainability in the sustainable futures of rural Australia. The research is based on interviews conducted in small towns in Queensland and on current census data, and incorporates the concepts of social capital and social cohesion. It is argued that small towns have the potential to c ....

Strong personal ties and community networks, key forms of social capital, are known to enhance individuals' access to emotional, social and economic resources. But what role do these intimate and neighbourly ties play in enabling individuals' and communities to overcome the deleterious effects of rapid social and economic change? H ....

Part one. What is happening down on the farm? Part two. Rural restructuring: socio-economic change and its community impacts Part three. Problematising change in rural Australia. Report Locationhttp://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1422395 ....

This paper addresses social enterprises as strategies for engaging community resources for sustainable change. In this context, the negotiation of indicators of change in communities and agreement on the indirect and cumulative signs of sustainable progress become critical components for effective risk management as well as for sus ....

This chapter explores the role of innovation in responding to the challenges of Australian food security, both in the domestic and global contexts. The chapter explores the challenge to meet increased food demand through innovative production, as well as how best to manage distribution and supply chains. It acknowledges that regional communities ....

When small towns experience a major shock, such as a 'mill' closure, the effects can be devastating. We analyse the effects of two major meat works closures in New Zealand, Patea (1982) and Whakatu (1986). These examples provide an interesting comparison: Whakatu is located close to a city, while Patea is relatively isolated. We de ....

This report provides a summary of key trends in population growth and decline across Australia’s regions, primarily between 2001 and 2009. The report highlights the role of migration in shaping Australia’s settlement patterns, with a brief discussion on some of the underlying drivers. Report Locationhttp://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/2011 ....

Using the example of the regional Victorian city of Bendigo, this paper discusses new drivers for change in planning for regional cities. Key challenges are associated with environment, global relationships, urban amorphism, water security, sustainable growth, application of new planning policy, the clash between heritage and moder ....

This publication contains three papers: The first paper, by Professor Paul Lawless of Sheffield Hallam University, looks at the impact of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme. The programme evaluation has shown more signs of positive change in relation to place outcomes (community, crime, and housing and the physical environment), than p ....

Has the notion of 'sea change' and its considerable implications for non-metropolitan coastal Australia been exaggerated? In this article alternative perspectives of 'sea change' in Australia are reviewed, and the policy implications of each assessed. One perspective regards migration to coastal areas beyond the capital cities as incidental to co ....

By addressing themes such as social and economic change, government policy and gender relations, this volume tackles the thematic complexities of sustainability. At the heart of this discussion lies a desire to understand how small rural communities have survived in the past; how they are shaped by environmental, economic and social factors at pr ....

Federal Government strategies to increase international migration to regional areas include regional skilled migration, increased business migration and approval of international students living in Australia for permanent residence. Injecting migrants into rural and regional areas raises fundamental questions about quality of servi ....

Teaching and learning of mathematics is challenging when lecturer and students are separated geographically. While student engagement and interaction with the course, with other students and with the lecturer is vital to mathematics learning, it is difficult to facilitate this electronically, because of the nature of mathematics. With tablet tech ....