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Who is missing out in my community?
Gathering information about your local community is a key step to building a successful inclusion initiative. The unique characteristics of your community should shape who you focus on. Learn about who lives and works in the catchment area of your venue, and consider who may not have access to aquatic and recreation opportunities. You may be able to easily identify that some groups have low participation rates relative to their representation in your community. In other cases, local consultation could highlight that particular groups are missing out on your services. You might also know that a particular part of the Victorian community often misses out (for example, people experiencing homelessness), and there are members of this group in your community.
Online resources for learning about your community
There are lots of online resources that will help you learn about your local community. Here are some suggestions.
| Resource | Information |
|---|---|
| Local government websites |
Local government websites provide information about the community and the focus of the council’s inclusion strategies. Look for resources like:
If you need to find your local council, visit Know Your Council. |
| MyVictoria | The MyVictoria website provides information about residents of a community, local services and facilities, infrastructure and industry. |
| Australian Bureau of Statistics |
The Australian Bureau of Statistics website includes a Local Government data portal. This resource provides a range of social and economic data for local government areas and other regions. The Bureau's community profiles tool provides statistical information about geographical areas. |
| .id |
The .id (informed decisions) website provides demographic data about a large number of local government areas. Information includes community profiles, interactive demographic maps, population forecasts, and economic profiles. |
| Discover Victoria's diverse population | This Victorian Government page uses census data to provide a snapshot of the multicultural diversity of Victoria. |
| Multicultural community profiles | This Victorian Government page provides statistical information about multicultural communities in Victoria. The page includes information about the top 100 overseas birthplace groups in Victoria, based on 2016 and 2011 census information. |
| Victorian Government local government areas report on population diversity |
This Victorian Government page provides information about the diversity of local government area residents, including:
|
| Maggolee | The Maggolee website was developed by Reconciliation Victoria. It was designed as a resource for local councils, and provides information about key Aboriginal organisations for each of Victoria’s local government areas. |
Community engagement as a source of information
Community organisations are a valuable source of information, and community engagement is an important part of building inclusion initiatives. Further, in Victoria local governments are required to undertake community engagement. The ‘Create an initiative’ section provides more information about local consultation. Research what organisations operate in your local area, and connect with them to learn more about the people they work with.
Case study
By engaging with the local community, Darebin City Council identified that Trans and Gender Diverse people were missing out on participating in aquatics.
The Council receives advice on issues affecting the LGBTIQ+ community from its Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity Advisory Committee (DSSGDAC). When a member of DSSGDAC suggested that Darebin hold a Trans and Gender Diverse swimming night, the council embraced the idea.
Darebin City Council and the Reservoir Leisure Centre team worked with Transgender Victoria (TGV) to design an event that addressed barriers to inclusion. Barriers that can prevent Trans and Gender Diverse people from participating in aquatics include a fear of discrimination, safety concerns, inadequate facilities, and a reluctance to wear swimwear in public.
Darebin’s first Trans and Gender Diverse Swim Night was held at Reservoir Leisure Centre in February 2018. Before the event took place, TGV delivered training to staff to help them to provide an inclusive experience to Trans and Gender Diverse people, their friends, partners, and families.
Approximately 75 people attended the first event, and the centre received positive feedback. Two further events were held in 2018, with the addtion of exercise classes. The event has continued over subsequent years and has inspired other local council facilities to launch similar events.
