Community Well-being Statistics in Action

1. Community Well-beingStatisticsin Action Mary Doherty General Manager Sanctuary Energy • NatStatsConference 2010 Sydney, 15 -17 September

2. Presentation Overview • Community Responses to measurements of wellbeing • Potential issues and associated challenges for the future • Regional Recognition (I Love the Central Coast Campaign) • Importance of Statistics in supporting effective community response

3. Quality of life in the Central Coast 1. Achievements in life 2. Standard of living 3. Personal relationships 4. Community connectedness 5. Feelings of safety 6. Future security 7. Health

4. Key Findings • Personal attributes and the external living environment affect quality of life • Quality of life can be measured at both an individual and community level • Governments can make a difference to quality of life by focusing on the external environment

5. Transport • 74% of residents nominated their car as their main mode of transport • 33.4% were not satisfied with the public transport service • frequency of service was the key issue

6. Education • Census, and other ABS survey data, indicates education gap in the Central Coast Region vs. the State • Traditionally low skill base on Central Coast • Most employment growth has been occurring in the “knowledge-based” industries and these new jobs require employees with skills and high qualification level

7. Environment • Over 80% of Central Coast residents had visited a natural environment • Visitation was associated with higher wellbeing and quality of life

8. Deliverables • Recognised Central Coast Region • Support for sustainable local economic development • Improved amenity and liveability • Improved access within the region • Highly developed connectivity

11. What Next? • The most outstanding issue that the community faced was lack of identity and recognition as its own region • Tribe, sense of place, ownership and pride was identified as a key to bring the different groups and sectors together • Lip service was heard by the community from local, state and federal politicians but that’s all there was. If there was to be a change it had to happen from within • The campaign was born

13. Facebook - Internet- Community

14. Outcomes • The Australian Bureau of Statistics after three years changed the classification of the region from Gosford - Wyong to the NSW Central Coast for statistical data. Yippee! • The State government in the last five weeks officially recognised the NSW Central Coast as a region in its own right. The Federal Government also has recognised the region • Health, Education, Transport and Development are being addressed from a measurable and transparent perspective (KPI’s work!)

15. The Future • In partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statics there is a plan to produce “Spotlight on the Central Coast Website” utilising local, state and federal government backing • The future is knowledge, measurable data, education and the environment • The community seeks engagement through social media, instant news coverage and the ability to access information through the internet • The future depends on keeping up with society’s need and thirst for accurate and useful information