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People

2. Inclusive community

As a city for people, Melbourne will be an inclusive community that responds to different voices, needs, priorities and rights. The contributions and potential of Melburnians and visitors is realised and all community members have access to the city's services, facilities, events and activities. In a city for people, individuals with diverse backgrounds, ages and abilities can participate freely and respectful consideration for others is a way of life.

Melbourne will welcome all who choose to make our city their home. As an inclusive city, Melbourne will find ways to build the skills and knowledge of its community, ensuring all who live in the city have the confidence to seek what they need to be healthy and happy and a part of the community. A city for people accepts that social justice is a shared responsibility, and sees the happiness of its community as an investment in a healthy future for the city.

Melbourne will support and include everyone including:

Children: The City of Melbourne is seeking UNICEF accreditation as a child-friendly city, and through that process will find new and better ways to ensure children have a voice – and a place – in our municipality and in the central city.
Students: More than one third of our municipality's residents are students, and about half of these are international students. Appropriate social and community services must be available to ensure all students feel welcome and positive about their time here.
Seniors: The City of Melbourne's population of people aged 55 years and over will increase by 75 per cent in the decade from 2005 to 2015. We must ensure their needs are met and they have access to appropriate services, facilities and infrastructure as their circumstances change.
Culturally diverse communities: Ensuring our cultural diversity is reflected within our municipality, and that people from different cultural backgrounds have the opportunity to be active participants, is vital. Our municipality has a diverse cultural mix - at least 122 languages (including English) are spoken by City of Melbourne residents, and almost half our residents speak a language other than English at home (2006 Census). We must also recognise and understand the values and needs of our community generated by religious diversity. We need to ensure particular cultural groups are not marginalised and excluded, and opportunities for social cohesion need to be further developed.

All within our municipality are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, inclusive and engaging city. Informal and organised initiatives by neighbours, schools and businesses will continue to be part of the mix of services. But the business and corporate sectors can also support community groups and organisations by offering meeting, storage and office space. Capital investment by major funds, and incentive programs that encourage small investors to participate in socially responsible ventures, can contribute to social justice initiatives.

The work of volunteers permeates life in Melbourne. Volunteering is mutually beneficial to both communities and individuals. The effort and dedication of volunteers contribute to community building and communities with higher rates of volunteerism tend to be more resilient, especially in times of crisis. People who volunteer also reap benefits. Volunteering contributes to better health and may even have positive effects for those suffering depression and other illnesses. Volunteering is also a platform for acquiring experience and new skills giving people confidence, experience and sometimes even employment.

To be a truly inclusive community we must also ensure access to affordable housing, varied employment opportunities and services and facilities that will support our many and diverse community needs.

Goals	Indicators	Outcomes
Collaborative community People are engaged in and consulted on decisions. This builds social capital, trust and reciprocity, particularly with children, young people, people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and older people.	Community satisfaction rating for council's advocacy and community representation on key local issues (Advocacy)¹ Current: 2007 - 66 out of a potential 100 Target: indicator to be developed Community satisfaction rating for council's engagement in decision making on key local issues (Community Engagement).² Current: 2007 - rating was 61 out of a potential 100 Target: indicator to be developed	Decisions are made in a democratic manner with members of the community participating. All sectors of the community have the opportunity to participate in decision making.
Caring community People, particularly those that are vulnerable, are included in, and supported by, the community. People have opportunities to contribute to and participate in their community.	Social Support - Proportion of City of Melbourne residents said they could definitely get help from friends, family or neighbours when they needed it. ³ Current: 2006 - 90 per cent Target: indicator to be developed	The care needs of the municipality's population are met (incorporating responsive, flexible and culturally literate approaches). Social inclusion and social sustainability are inherent in all municipal activities. The contributions of host cultures (including indigenous, bush, rural, colonial and early immigrant and post war) to Melbourne are widely recognised and acknowledged. Homeless people have a public voice. People volunteer, contributing to the well-being and development of communities and to their own development.
Social justice The capabilities, strength and resilience of our communities are fostered and the development of social capital promotes a shared responsibility for social justice.	Proportion of City of Melbourne residents who volunteer Current: In 2006, 33 per cent of persons living within the City of Melbourne reported that they helped out as a volunteer. ⁴ Target: indicator to be developed Number of people who volunteer in the City of Melbourne C urrent: In 2006 there were 6,400 volunteer positions in the City of Melbourne ⁵. Target: indicator to be developed	Social sustainability is easily understood and measured. Social justice is evident in City of Melbourne structures, processes, plans and strategies and embedded in all communication strategies to ensure greater public understanding, acceptance and adoption of social justice issues. 'Cultural fusion' is embedded in all we do to achieve a cohesive, friendly society which acknowledges and respects all people.
Valuing Melbourne's student community Local and international students are better supported and integrated with local communities.	Satisfaction level of international students. Current: In 2006, 84 per cent of international students living in the city describe it as an excellent or good place to live and study. ⁶ Target: indicator to be developed Local student indicator to be developed. Connectedness indicator to be developed.	Lifelong relationships and networks are fostered through students experiencing Melbourne positively and in an engaging manner. Students feel connected and have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in Melbourne's social and cultural life.
Community infrastructure and support programs The municipality has adequate and accessible infrastructure and support programs to support its growing and diverse communities.	Community satisfaction rating for overall performance in the key service area of Health and Human Services Current: Weighted index of 70 out of 100. ⁷ Target: indicator to be developed	The care needs of the population, particularly vulnerable communities, are met with affordable and accessible infrastructure Growing communities are actively supported. Free health and welfare support services for young people, newly arrived and refugee communities and marginalised communities. Improved liveability of the city for children with a specific focus on children's rights and citizenship. Melbourne is a Child Friendly City with UNICEF and provides health, education and care services that maximise child development health and wellbeing. An Age Friendly City, where opportunities for positive ageing and improved quality of life are available. Older people are active, valued and connected with the community. Cultural exchange and cultural fusion is supported/provided by community and arts grants.

Goals

Indicators

Outcomes

Collaborative community

People are engaged in and consulted on decisions. This builds social capital, trust and reciprocity, particularly with children, young people, people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and older people.

Community satisfaction rating for council's advocacy and community representation on key local issues (Advocacy)¹

Current: 2007 - 66 out of a potential 100

Target: indicator to be developed

Community satisfaction rating for council's engagement in decision making on key local issues (Community Engagement).²

Current: 2007 - rating was 61 out of a potential 100

Target: indicator to be developed

Decisions are made in a democratic manner with members of the community participating.

All sectors of the community have the opportunity to participate in decision making.

Caring community

People, particularly those that are vulnerable, are included in, and supported by, the community.

People have opportunities to contribute to and participate in their community.

Social Support - Proportion of City of Melbourne residents said they could definitely get help from friends, family or neighbours when they needed it. ³

Current: 2006 - 90 per cent

Target: indicator to be developed

The care needs of the municipality's population are met (incorporating responsive, flexible and culturally literate approaches).

Social inclusion and social sustainability are inherent in all municipal activities.

The contributions of host cultures (including indigenous, bush, rural, colonial and early immigrant and post war) to Melbourne are widely recognised and acknowledged.

Homeless people have a public voice.

People volunteer, contributing to the well-being and development of communities and to their own development.

Social justice

The capabilities, strength and resilience of our communities are fostered and the development of social capital promotes a shared responsibility for social justice.

Proportion of City of Melbourne residents who volunteer

Current: In 2006, 33 per cent of persons living within the City of Melbourne reported that they helped out as a volunteer. ⁴

Target: indicator to be developed

Number of people who volunteer in the City of Melbourne

C urrent: In 2006 there were 6,400 volunteer positions in the City of Melbourne ⁵.

Target: indicator to be developed

Social sustainability is easily understood and measured.

Social justice is evident in City of Melbourne structures, processes, plans and strategies and embedded in all communication strategies to ensure greater public understanding, acceptance and adoption of social justice issues.

'Cultural fusion' is embedded in all we do to achieve a cohesive, friendly society which acknowledges and respects all people.

Valuing Melbourne's student community

Local and international students are better supported and integrated with local communities.

Satisfaction level of international students.

Current: In 2006, 84 per cent of international students living in the city describe it as an excellent or good place to live and study. ⁶

Target: indicator to be developed

Local student indicator to be developed.

Connectedness indicator to be developed.

Lifelong relationships and networks are fostered through students experiencing Melbourne positively and in an engaging manner.

Students feel connected and have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in Melbourne's social and cultural life.

Community infrastructure and support programs

The municipality has adequate and accessible infrastructure and support programs to support its growing and diverse communities.

Community satisfaction rating for overall performance in the key service area of Health and Human Services

Current: Weighted index of 70 out of 100. ⁷

Target: indicator to be developed

The care needs of the population, particularly vulnerable communities, are met with affordable and accessible infrastructure

Growing communities are actively supported.

Free health and welfare support services for young people, newly arrived and refugee communities and marginalised communities.

Improved liveability of the city for children with a specific focus on children's rights and citizenship. Melbourne is a Child Friendly City with UNICEF and provides health, education and care services that maximise child development health and wellbeing.

An Age Friendly City, where opportunities for positive ageing and improved quality of life are available. Older people are active, valued and connected with the community.

Cultural exchange and cultural fusion is supported/provided by community and arts grants.

Relevant global city ranking

Mercer Human Resource Worldwide Health and Sanitation Ranking 2007: Melbourne ranked 43rd Mercer Consulting Services (2008) Highlights from the 2007 Quality of Living Survey
Global and World Cities ranking.