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MacroMelbourne towards 2030 MacroMelboure was the second major strategic initiative of what was formerly the Melbourne Community Foundation, now Australian Communities Foundation. This strategic approach was designed to ensure that Melbourne is, and continues to be, a liveable city for all its people as it faces the challenges of growth over the next 25 years. The Foundation led this initiative for its donors and the broader philanthropic community based on the ideas of partnership and collaboration, creating and investing in evidence-based research and the idea that more can be achieved together than individually. Through the development, testing and implementing of a solid research and evidence base about disadvantage and inequality in Greater Melbourne (in partnership with Deakin and Melbourne Universities), the MacroMelbourne initiative over six years supported the implementation of 27 projects across Melbourne raising more than $2 million dollars in funding as well as in kind support. It also produced deep and lasting partnerships and collaborations between philanthropy, business, government and community sector organisations which have continued beyond the initiative. Of particular significance was MacroMelbourne’s Phase 2 focus on the urban growth areas of Melbourne which enabled emerging issues to be identified through high quality research. The strategies and projects developed to address the specific and emerging needs of these communities were brought to the attention of philanthropy and business relatively early rather than waiting until problems became more entrenched. MarcoMelbourne was delivered in Two Phases between 2005 and 2011, with some projects still continuing.
MacroMelbourne Phase 2 (2009 - 2011)
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The MacroMelbourne Initiative received wide coverage in the media with local and Melbourne newspapers running a series of articles highlighting the research findings and emerging needs in the outer suburbs. A number local papers in the urban growth areas also ran articles to raise the profile of the MacroMelbourne projects in their communities and help garner support. Below are a few examples:
Climate change, sea levels will split rich, poor - study - Herald Sun 01/12/09
Climate change to hit Melbourne: report - The Age 01/12/09
Projects for Hume disadvantaged need cash
MacroMelbourne Phase 1 (2005 - 2008) MacroMelbourne, the second major initiative to be implemented as part of Melbourne Community Foundation's strategic funding focus was a recognition that the decisions taken at a particular point in time have an effect and impact on that generation but also on future generations. At its core was the principle that Melbourne should be a liveable city for all its citizens. This purpose is captured in the MacroMelbourne values statement viewable below.
Phase 1 of the initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Committee for Melbourne, Melbourne Cares, ProBono Australia, the Victorian Local Governance Association, the Victorian Council of Social Service, RMIT University, Deakin University and the Victorian Government.
Whilst government authorities set planning parameters and provide infrastructure, such as roads, public transport, schools and health services, there is much that philanthropic trusts, large corporations, small businesses, universities and community organisations can do to help shape Melbourne’s future. MacroMelbourne provides a focus for building collaboration, considering the evidence and initiating projects that can help shape this future.
To get to the point of considering ideas for action, the MacroMelbourne initiative started by looking at the evidence in relation to disadvantage in Melbourne, the extent to which it already is a divided city and how growth may exacerbate this divide.
Independent research, funded by the Department for Victorian Communities, was undertaken by Associate Professor Linda Hancock and Lucinda Horrocks of the Corporate Citizenship Research Unit at Deakin University, in collaboration with the Victorian Council of Social Service.
Written comments on, and ideas arising from the 140 page report were invited from five highly respected researchers not involved in the preparation of the main study, both from Australia and the UK.
Click here to download a copy of MacroMelbourne Full Research Report (16mb PDF)
A broadly representative forum in July 2006, explored and built on the ideas outlined in the report and responses. It added the experience of a broad cross section of people from business, community organisations, government, universities and philanthropy. The forum focussed on five key issues which fundamentally impact on disadvantage and these included bridging the digital divide, health and wellbeing, affordable housing, education, and transport.
A post forum document summarising several of the key issues discussed at the forum was widely distributed within philanthropic and corporate sectors. It outlined 13 concrete projects which could help in addressing disadvantage in Melbourne and indicated the resources required to make this happen – both financial and in-kind. The document aimed to make it easy for companies and private donors to connect with the organisations working on the ground to address major areas of inequity and disadvantage across Melbourne over the coming decades. There is a solid evidence base underpinning each of the projects selected for inclusion.
Phase 1 of MacroMelbourne clearly demonstrated that evidence-based research can lead to collaborative partnerships between philanthropists, corporates and community organisations to meet identified needs. It is estimated that in excess of $700,000 of MCF and other corporate/philanthropic dollars and in-kind support was provided to the 13 projects.
Safe, liveable and vibrant cities are created by global and national forces and the collective will of the people who live and work in them.
The creation of great cities requires courage, a collective vision, good governance and the willingness of many people and organisations to contribute to the way a city is shaped.
Each city creates its own narrative with which people identify and share a common pride.
For Melbourne, the narrative tells the story of migration, the Hoddle grid, gold, enterprise, financial investment, public education, Redman Barry and the rule of law, reconciliation, Governor La Trobe and the emergence of public institutions such as the State Library, Mechanics Institute and Melbourne University, tram and train systems and grand public buildings.
Melbourne's narrative is the story of its past, the legacies left by each generation and the decisions now that are shaping its future.
MacroMelbourne is about the vision for Melbourne looking a generation ahead. It is about imagining what Melbourne's narrative might be in 25 years. It is a recognition that decisions now will shape what is yet to be written, the narrative that is within the keep of this generation to leave for future generations.
To be able to make judgements now that shape the future there must be guiding principles. We cannot know the outcomes or the impact of decisions before they happen. We can only exercise good judgement based on sound principles.
The over-riding principle of MacroMelbourne is that Melbourne should be a liveable city for all of its citizens.
From this single principle derive many others against which our judgements and decisions can be measured. These touchstones of good decision making are;
MacroMelbourne aims to foster collaboration in order that Melbourne might develop as a liveable city for all of its citizens.
Click here for the project document: MacroMelbourne: A Liveable City for all its People. What you need to know and how to get involved.