Business, government and community sector meet to discuss tackling state’s big problems

Image of Dr Michael McAfee from here

Government, business and community sector representatives came together in Hobart today to explore a “Collective Impact” approach to addressing some of Tasmania’s deep-rooted problems.

Collective Impact is a framework for successful cross-sector collaboration aimed at achieving large-scale social change.

A keynote speaker at today’s forum, Dr Michael McAfee, heads the President Obama-backed Promise Neighborhoods Institute at PolicyLink. Promise Neighborhoods partners with leaders from more than 60 of America’s poorest communities to improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children in those neighbourhoods. This is achieved by integrating the supports available for children.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service CEO Tony Reidy said the Collective Impact approach held real potential for addressing some of Tasmania’s more deeply entrenched and complex problems.

“Individual organisations can set out with the best of intentions but some problems are just too big for any one organisation to deal with,” Mr Reidy said.

“For example, think about the challenge of improving Tasmania’s low literacy and numeracy rates, or levels of educational retention and attainment.

“Such problems can’t be effectively solved by programs, services, organisations or businesses working in isolation — they require well-organised, long-term collaboration,” Mr Reidy said.

Nyrstar’s Manager of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Barbara McGregor, presented a Tasmanian industry perspective on Collective Impact at the forum.

Ms McGregor said Nyrstar had teamed with North Melbourne Football Club to deliver an Australian-first program. The Nyrstar Hop To It Tasmania program focused on inspiring young Tasmanians to goal set for careers underpinned by healthy and active lifestyles in a supportive environment.

“Through the Tasmanian Association of Community Houses the Nyrstar Hop To It Tasmania program provides information, equipment and inspiring role models in the North Melbourne players to deliver key messages around the importance of goal setting and health and well-being,” Barbara McGregor said.

“At Nyrstar we believe tackling social issues requires a collaborative approach and influencing the next generation to understand the connection between healthy and active lifestyles to inspire learning and commitment is integral to shaping the future of the state,” Ms McGregor said.

“In any program we deliver it is important we have mutual benefits centred around employee engagement opportunities which helps connect and inspire our employees,” Ms McGregor said.

TasCOSS was lead organiser of today’s Collective Impact Practitioners forum, also supported by Community Sector Banking, Nyrstar, TL3, Sustainable Living Tasmania, the Drug Education Network, Department of Health and Human Services, Hobart City Council, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tasmania Medicare Local and the University of NSW-based Centre for Social Impact.

Dr McAfee and fellow forum presenter Dawn O’Neil were brought to Tasmania by Anglicare Tasmania for its Communities for Children conference, held in Launceston Wednesday and yesterday. TasCOSS was grateful for the opportunity to have these two presenters at today’s Collective Impact Practitioners forum.