Needs Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Local Government today provides a range of community services that, not that many years ago, were considered not to be a council’s responsibility. Councils traditionally were expected to focus on "roads, rates and rubbish".

Today, Local Government is expected to become more involved in community development – social, economic and environmental development. In smaller rural communities such as the Bendemere Shire, this responsibility is often seen as vital to the survival and development of the area, as quite often Local Government is the only organisation willing and/or capable of accepting such a challenge.

When undertaking this "Community Needs Analysis", Council was very mindful that "needs-based planning" can be a fraught with peril in that the distinction between wants, needs and rights of the community underlies the type of response that Council may take to address the identified issues. Council believes that it has an obligation to meet its residents’ rights, a responsibility to meet their needs and an option to meet their wants. Council believes that the proposed solutions and Council’s role in them outlined in this report reflect the recognition of these issues.

The community needs analysis undertaken aimed to clarify what the residents of the Bendemere Shire want, assess which needs and rights should be recognised and indicate which community facilities, services or programs can best meet these.

In addition, underlying medium-term objectives of the process included:

• developing communication links within the community

• enhancing the community’s sense of identity

• developing the capacity of the community to cope with change

• fostering the development of community organisations

Council is very aware that by undertaking this process that our "self-advocacy" in relation to our community’s needs may be considered by some too subjective and not truly representative. Council has undertaken this process in good faith to assist with its community development planning. The methodology outlined later in this report, we believe not only reflects the participatory nature used in this process but also its objectivity.

Council also recognises that this work is in essence a ‘snapshot’ of our community’s needs and should be treated as a dynamic and evolving process which will change as the needs of the community change. Council’s believes that assessment of community needs is an ongoing process and our activities will reflect this fact.

Council also understands that not all proposed solutions to identified needs would be direct responsibilities of Council. In fact, on many occasions Council will play an advocatory or facilitatory role in the provision of any such solutions.

COUNCIL PLANNING

The process undertaken, will in itself assist Council in its planning and value add to its Corporate Plan. It is worth noting that this community needs analysis is in accordance with that Plan. Extracts of the Corporate Plan which demonstrate this are:

• Bendemere Shire Council’s Mission - To ensure that Bendemere Shire is a progressive, attractive and prosperous area while maintaining for the citizens such amenities and services that will provide a quality of life of the highest standard.
• Community Planning and Co-ordination Function – Council plays an important role in providing a focus for planning and co-ordination of services and facilities provided by Government agencies, voluntary and community groups. Council also provides direct and indirect support and assistance for sporting, cultural and recreational facilities.
• Participating Functions – Council provides channels for community participation in policies and decisions affecting the local community.
• Service Functions – the provision of a wide range of property and "people" services, such as refuse collection, water supply, sewerage, drainage roads, public health, libraries, recreation, toilets, parks, environmental health, street lighting, community services, etc.
• Community Service Goal - to provide services to the community which will maintain and improve the quality of life.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology used to develop the Bendemere Shire Needs Analysis was to investigate community needs using a combination of:

• Expressed needs – those stated by residents themselves (predominantly wants which in fact can be needs or rights). Methods used – Bendemere Shire Community Needs Survey; focus group meetings in the areas of youth, sport & recreation and culture; consultations with appropriate service providers in the areas of health, housing, education, aged care, youth, sport & recreation, legal & safety; Bendemere Shire Council workshop.
• Indicative needs – those that are indicated by characteristics of the community, particularly demographic statistics. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Community Profile (2001 Census) was a primary source of information.
• Normative Needs – those derived from applying benchmarks or recommended levels of service provision (Aged Care Benchmarks south west region – ABS 1999)
• Comparative Needs – those suggested by comparison of the community to others that are similar in some way. Existing work used include the Roma District Health Service Community Consultation Report (Wallumbilla, Yuleba & Jackson) 1999 and the Rural Health Priority Map 2000 (Department of Health & Aged Care). In addition to health, other needs in this report were identified using this method in the areas of education, aged care, youth, transport, sport & recreation, legal & safety, telecommunications & technology, infrastructure and culture.