By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG is serving as a pilot community for a new measure of Australian wellbeing and progress that will play a key role in future federal policy development.
The Australian National Development Index (ANDI) will be based at Deakin University’s waterfront campus.
ANDI board chair Professor Mike Salvaris said the project would have a “strong Geelong focus” before rolling out across the country.
Prof Salvaris said ANDI would conduct extensive research, establishing a wide community base within the region.
“We want to partner with Geelong organisations and see this as a 10-year community project. We’ll be tapping into local organisational networks and out of that we hope to create a national discussion.”
Prof Salvaris has Geelong connections, undergoing his schooling in the region and working as a consultant on social research, democracy and community engagement. for Surf Coast Shire and City of Greater Geelong
He said the project, aimed at developing a total measure of economic and social well-being, had “huge potential”.
“We want to get Aussies engaged on what kind of Australia we want and how to best measure progress.
“We’re aiming to have 500,000 people engaged in the program, using social media, local meetings local government and kitchen table meetings.
“Current measures are unsatisfactory because GDP is a lousy measure of anything other than the economy.
“Politicians are realising that relying on GDP as a key measure can get them into trouble. This index will have a big impact on the way we think about progress and well-being and will become part of the policy making process.
“We need to change the way people think about progress.”
Prof Salvaris said ANDI had signed a three-year agreement with Deakin as part of an offer to set up the initial research centre.
Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the university’s reputation for innovation earned its selection to host ANDI.
“Central to our mission is producing excellent research that makes a difference to the communities we serve and ANDI is a prime example of that,” she said.
