The community for community (C4C) project initiative at the University of Southern Queensland as a model of university-community engagement

Community capacity building is a process which brings communities together to address issues of local importance. The concept of Community for Community (C4C) provides a model for a regional Australian university to effectively engage in successful community capacity building activities in its local region. It is a practical way to tackle the challenge set by Ernest Boyer to connect the rich resources of the university to pressing social, civic, and ethical problems. The C4C model also improves the university's capacity to engage more broadly by opening up communication channels, and encourages greater mutual understanding and respect between the university and local communities. In essence, it provides an effective channel for university staff to marry their academic expertise and interests with their personal civic interests for the good of the community. Throughout this process, communities learn and grow together. C4C is thus a model for an engaged university working with its communities as an equal partner in building capacity