Indicators of community action: galvanising action

What began as a short term project for a university centre developing indicators of community sustainability with three local government partners has evolved into a three year journey. The project has evolved in a policy environment where there has been increasing interest in the issue of community sustainability, a focus on evidence based decision making and an increased role for local government in economic development and more recently, community strengthening. The university has been well-placed as a key community partner not only because of research and project management expertise but also because of perceived independence that can help negotiate concerns about indicators being seen as performance measures and the risk of local government 'league ladders'. The trust data providers have in the institution also strengthens the role. After a three-year period of project development with local government and community partners, the establishment of the indicator suite and reporting mechanisms, the need to ensure clear benefit to the university and community has become clear. Thus this is no longer a short term project but one which must become embedded into core university business. In the process key questions need to be answered, given there is little evidence that indicators of community sustainability serve any useful purpose beyond rhetoric. This paper outlines how the work of the collaborative project team has taken the indicators of community sustainability beyond data capture to linking these indicators to community action, student projects and ongoing research