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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4139 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Social planning has become increasingly necessary because the increasing demand for local community services, coupled with scarcity of funds, means that planning of community services is important for allocating resources fairly and efficiently and because awareness that communities can be isolating and non-supportive for many residents has created support for community development and community cultural development as techniques for improving the local quality of life. Social planning must be underpinned by principles of social justice. A well-formulated social plan should take particular care to involve, and protect the interests of, people in vulnerable positions; avoid discriminatory practices and promote positive opportunities for participation by discriminated groups; consider the equity implications of proposals - who pays and who benefits; develop a respect for cultural diversity and an acceptance of basic human rights; promote fair, open and participatory decision-making; and ensure equal opportunity in its practices. That was also from the Local Government Association of New South Wales in their 1993 Ground Rules: Social Planning for Local Government.

There are a series of steps or stages to be followed in the formulation of a social plan. Firstly, a demographic profile of the community is developed. This will draw on existing data such as that from the ABS and DEETYA's labour market survey data. Collection of data will, of course, not be limited to these documents. In the case of the ACT, the current quality of life project being undertaken by ACTCOSS and the Government would prove a valuable resource in informing the development of a demographic profile and the provision of benchmarks for judging progress. The projected population for the next 20 years would be considered at this stage, although planning usually confines itself to potential demand for services over the next five or 10 years.

Secondly, the issues to be researched are identified and prioritised. Certainly, all the traditional social indicators - health, housing, employment, education, training - are included. A social plan is not necessarily restricted to these areas, however, and many progressive social plans include public safety considerations, recreation facilities and transport issues.

Thirdly, an extensive consultation phase takes place. Consultation can be in the form of community forums, public meetings, focus groups, written submissions or interviews with individuals. Usually service providers, consumers, community service groups such as Rotary and Lions, peak bodies and lobby groups are all requested to participate in, and contribute to, the consultation stage. It is at this stage in the formulation of the social plan that existing services, gaps in service provision and the needs of the community are identified, based on sound research methods. Strategies for implementation are canvassed from participants, who are perhaps best placed to propose innovative and effective delivery methods.

Fourthly, an action plan is written outlining the most appropriate method of moving from the present to the desired situation. The action plan focuses not on what is the best thing to do in an ideal world but on what is the best that can be achieved in the real world. It is not a blueprint which prescribes the future but is flexible enough to be revised when circumstances change. The final stage in the development of a social plan is the review phase, which ideally provides for comprehensive annual reviews and ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the plan.

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