Community Wise Audit Guide

The
CommunityWise
Audit
Program
A
Community
Guide
Contents of this Guide
INTRODUCTION 5
What is the CommunityWise Audit Program? 5
The Community Will be Able To 5
Finding a Task to Suit You 6
Using this Guide 6
What are the Responsibilities of Communities? 7
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY 8

The Three Layer Cake 8
The Environment 8
The Social System 8
The Financial Economy 9
Government Inputs and Outgoings 9
THE CHANGING NATURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY 10

Individual Physical Flows 10
Individual Social Flows 10
Individual Financial Flows 10
Community Flows 10
THE ENVIRONMENT - 12
THE ENVIRONMENTAL BARREL 12
THE SOCIAL SYSTEM - 14
THE SOCIAL BARREL 14
THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY - 16
THE ECONOMIC BARREL 16

Government Inputs and Outgoings 17
THE INDICATORS 18
THE ENVIRONMENT - 19
COMMUNITY INDICATORS 19
Core Environmental Indicators 19
The CommunityWise Audit Program 2

1. Climate Factors 19
Adding Value to this Indicator 21
2. Land Use by Hectares 22
3. Agricultural Yields 24
4. Pasture Usage 26
Adding Value to the Land Use by Hectares, 27
Agricultural Yields, and Pasture Usage Indicators 27
5. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land 28
Environmental Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 29

A. Waste Management 29
B. The Built Environment 29
C. The Globe Project 30
D. Ecological Footprint 30
THE SOCIAL SYSTEM - 31
Core Social Indicators 31
1. Natural Population Change 31
2. Net Migration Change 33

3. Population Analysis - Gender and Age 35
4. Ethnic Structure 37
5. Housing 39
6. Welfare Payments 40
Social Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 42

A. Family Structure 42
B. Qualifications 42
C. Participation 42
D. Social Services/Facilities 43
E. Cultural and Other Community Events 43
F. Levels of Crime 43
THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY - 44
Core Economic Indicators 44
1. Employment by Industry 44
2. Employment by Occupation 46
3. The Labour Force 48

4. Gross Local Product 50
5. Family Income Distribution 53
Economic Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 55

A. Local Business Survey 55
B. Grants and Subsidies 55
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 56

Writing the Report 56
Where to from Here? 59
Getting the Message Across 60
WHERE TO FROM HERE? 62

Keep On Keeping On 62
What Else Can We Do? 62
SUMMARY OF CORE INDICATORS 64

Environmental Indicators 64
Social Indicators 64
Economic Indicators 64
SUMMARY OF FORMULAS 65

INTRODUCTION
People aspire to live in communities that reflect their needs, desires and goals.
Communities are always changing, and different communities respond to change in
different ways. The presence of a widespread community vision, and the adoption and
implementation of a consensus view of the future in a successful community plan is
important for a community to be resilient to change.
The CommunityWise Audit Program is a process that is designed to help all

local decision-makers, including members of the Shire Council, community leaders,
local business people, and community members, to gain knowledge about their
community. The information obtained by doing the Audit will help the community to
develop a plan to act upon environmental, social, and economic opportunities that will
improve the overall health of their community.
What is the CommunityWise Audit Program?
Encourages the community to take the time to assess its current

environmental, social and economic condition.
A partnership between the Department of Commerce and Trade and the
community.
Involves two one-day community workshops.
Is expected to take between 2-4 months to complete.
Enables the community to collect data about environmental, social and
economic statistical indicators.
Requires the community to write a report collating and interpreting the
information, which will later be available as an example for other
communities doing the Audit process.
Will have data, technical assistance and workshop expertise provided
by the Department of Commerce and Trade.
Is part of the CommunityWise suite of programs developed by the
Department of Commerce and Trade.
The Community Will be Able To
Assess its current economic, social and environmental status.

Have a better understanding of the way in which it operates.
Arrive at an informed view about likely local trends and developments.
Discuss ideas, make decisions, and implement strategic planning for the
future.
Get practical experience in gathering information about important
community indicators.
Be empowered by seeking answers to its own questions.

Finding a Task to Suit You
The CommunityWise Audit Program needs to involve a good cross-section of people
from your community who
Have a keen interest and concern about the long-term well being of the community;
Would like to see an improved quality of life for everyone now and for the future;
Are looking for ways to assist the community to enhance opportunities for its
economic, social and environmental development.
It is useful to have a variety of people with different skills to assist in the

CommunityWise Audit process, and there are many ways that you can help your
community to successfully complete an Audit Program. Choose a task that best suits
you.
Possible Tasks for Community Residents

Planners to identify the information the community needs to collect.
Data gatherers for information from within and outside the community.
Computer operators to use spreadsheets and produce graphs.
Interviewers to talk to local people and organisations.
Survey designers for community questionnaires.
Note takers and record keepers for the workshops and meetings.
Organisers for the workshops.
Communicators to ensure the Audit becomes local knowledge.
Application writers for grants and submissions.
Report writers to collate the information for the community.
Participants and enthusiastic residents.
Using this Guide

The CommunityWise Audit Program consists of a half day training course, two
facilitated workshops and the provision of the materials that your community needs to
do the Audit. This Guide will assist the community to do the Audit, and is provided as
part of the CommunityWise Workshop Folder distributed by the Department of
Commerce and Trade at the first workshop. It is intended that this Guide be used in
the workshops in conjunction with the other materials provided by the Department.
Should you require more information about the CommunityWise Audit process, or
about other CommunityWise Programs, contact the Department of Commerce and
Trade.

What are the Responsibilities of Communities?
Communities undertaking the CommunityWise Audit Program have to meet a number
of requirements.
There has to be some organisation that acts as the local champion for the audit.
This organisation may be a Local Government Council, a Local Progress
Association, Ratepayers Group or other interest group operating within a Local
Government Area. Alternatively it may be an organisation (like a Telecentre or
School), or an interest group (for example a Chamber of Commerce, or local
environmental organisation).
There has to be a venue provided that has sufficient computers available to begin
the audit. Such organisations as a Junior High School (during Semester break or
on weekends), a Telecentre, or even a Shire Council Office would be eminently
suitable.
There needs to be a preparedness by the local community to undertake any

catering, telephone, postage, duplication or group contact costs for the two day
audit workshop and during the time it takes the audit to be completed.
The community needs to identify a local Consultant/Coordinator who will be

responsible to ensure that the audit is completed. This work is part time and
intermittent. This person will be paid a total of $5,000 by the Department of Local
Government and Regional Development for the task.
The Community Consultant, identified by the people living in the Shire, who will
assist in the production of the audit needs to be a person who has the following sets of
skills and abilities.
i) Firstly he (or more often she) needs to have sufficient time and
motivation to do the task. As there are three sub-group working
parties established at the audit workshop, it is the job of the Community
Consultant/Coordinator to ensure these working parties do continue to
meet in order to get the work of their team completed.
ii) Secondly he or she needs to be a person who has the respect and trust of
the community in which they live. As such they need to have well-
developed personal and communication skills. It often helps to have
someone who is a long term resident and is fairly well known by the
community to undertake this task.
iii) Thirdly they need to be a person who is not intimidated by statistics and
calculations. If possible they need to be a person who understands how
to use a spreadsheet, enter data or use formulae, even if they are not
familiar with Microsoft Excel (the package that the audit will use).
University or tertiary education is not an essential requirement, but someone who is

capable of understanding the CommunityWise Audit Program Community Guide and
explaining it to others is required. This ability would be essential.

Getting to Know Your Community
The Three Layer Cake
For the CommunityWise Audit Program we liken a community to that of a layered
cake1. The layered cake suggests that a community is made up of three equally
important aspects - the environment, the social system, and the financial economy.
The role that government plays is part of the three layers of community.
Layer 3: The Financial Economy
Layer 2: The Social System
Layer 1: The Environment
A Balanced Community
Although the model above would suggest that the layers are separate and distinct, in
reality these aspects of a community are interactive, interdependent and always
changing. Change in one layer of the community will always create a change in at
least one other layer.
The Environment
This aspect of the community includes both the natural and built (eg buildings,
roads, etc) environments. It is the physical environment that underpins all life, as we
need breathable air, drinkable water, fertile soils and to reprocess wastes. Rural
communities are currently facing a range of environmental issues that include
concerns about the natural environment such as soil, water, climate, flora and fauna.
The impact that people have on the environment as evident in buildings, infrastructure,
and land use, also needs to be examined.
The Social System

The social system describes the collective way in which members of a community
relate, and includes both the formal and informal social structures. When a community
is socially vital, there are usually high participation rates, strong community
1 Adapted from Hazel Hendersons Paradigms in Progress: Life Beyond Economics

organisations, and lots of collective events. Residents have a variety of skills and
resources (called social capital) that can contribute to the enhancement of a
communitys social vitality. The health of the social system has a great impact on
the quality of life of community residents.
The Financial Economy

The third layer of a community is the financial economy and includes all financial
activities. An increase in the size of this layer is often referred to as economic
growth. A CommunityWise Audit will provide an indication of the diversity and
viability of the financial economy, opportunities for the creation of new businesses
and/or the expansion of existing businesses, and problems and constraints to local
business that can be addressed locally.
Government Inputs and Outgoings

All communities receive some form of government inputs, and simultaneously
outgoings from your community to government take place. Government refers to
Federal, State and Local Government (your Shire). Government inputs and outgoings
are part of the environmental, social and economic layers of the community.
Government inputs include the provision of: infrastructure (eg roads, power, water,
sewerage, communications, housing, waste disposal); financial support (eg family,
unemployment, disability, aged); health services (eg hospital, HACC, family planning,
health clinics); education services (eg schools, TAFE, university); community safety
(eg police, fire, ambulance, legal aid); community development (eg telecentre); and
cultural and recreation facilities and services (eg library, sporting, arts, museum).
Government outputs include taxation (eg income tax, land tax, Shire rates, GST), fees
for services (eg schools, Medicare) and fines.

The Changing Nature of your Community
What makes the CommunityWise Audit process so important is its ability to assist
local residents to see the cake as a series of integrated systems. These systems are
constantly changing and as you will see we use diagrams of barrels with taps to show
you how we think the systems work. If we look at the systems in your community, we
can see that they comprise a series of flows; flows of energy, flows of matter, flows
of information, flows of people and flows of money and resources, into and out of
your community. Before looking at the flows in and out of your community, lets think
about the environmental, social and economic flows for individuals.
Individual Physical Flows

For an individual, biophysical inflows and outflows are necessary for a good, healthy
life. For example, inflows include the need for a sufficient diet, access to clean
supplies of water for drinking and washing, and shelter from the heat and cold. But
inflows are always linked to outflows. There is a need to burn-up sufficient energy
to maintain your state of health, and safely discard the wastes produced.
Individual Social Flows

Your individual social wellbeing is likewise affected by similar flows. The number of
important people linked to you through feelings of common respect and affection can
increase or decrease depending on your life circumstances. This together with your
involvement in sporting and other interest groups, determines the strength of your
personal support network of family, friends and work colleagues.
Individual Financial Flows

As an individual your economic wealth is determined by your inflow of money your
income minus your outflow of expenditure. If the inflow exceeds the outflow, then
you are able to save, and gather assets for comfortable living. However, if the outflow
exceeds the inflow, then you may be forced to liquidate your assets or live on credit.
Community Flows
We can think of a community as being similar to an individual, with its own input and
output systems. In the barrel diagrams that follow, the inflows and outflows are
portrayed as taps, implying that it may be possible, with appropriate effort and
intention, to find ways of modifying some of the flows into and out from the barrels
of your community. Indeed, it is the main purpose of the CommunityWise Audit to
identify what flows your community can modify. It is equally important to identify
what resources the community already has - these are shown inside the barrels.
We have tried to identify a number of the important inflows, outflows and internal
resources important for communities. Our list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Communities are unique, and what is important for one community, may or may not

be, significant for another. When doing the CommunityWise Audit Program your
community needs to identify what elements are relevant for your community to assess,
and to consider the nature of the flows that link them together.
Now lets look at each of the systems.

The Environment -
The Environmental Barrel
Fertilisers &
Energy
Climate Factors Technologies
Air Water
Biodiversity Soils
Land Use Natural

Wastes Resources
Pollutants/run-off Minerals & Energy

Produced
Primary Industry
Exports
Climate factors as inflows into a natural ecosystem are generally movements of wind
and water, powered by the energy of sunlight, or the geological forces that have
shaped your local area. Outflows tend to be similar, with the addition of erosion and
run-off. The complexity of such a local ecosystem was determined in part by its net
primary production that is, the capture of energy by the plants, and the cycling of
water and nutrients through the system. But such fully natural ecosystems today are
usually quite rare, and often limited to small pockets of remnant vegetation.
Additional fertilisers and energy are ways that humans have an impact on modifying
the natural ecosystem. These inputs assist in the production and export of surplus
primary products. Insufficient (or too much) fertiliser and energy inputs can increase
pollution or degradation of the environment.

Technological inputs assist in the manufacture of produce, minerals and energy from
the natural resources in the community. Technological advances assist to increase the
amount of production and export.
The consequences of all these flows affect air and water quantity and quality, the soils
and natural biodiversity. Changing land use patterns result, including buildings and
infrastructure, and the community generates wastes - these must be managed. The net
primary production of the natural ecosystem is now matched by the yield of timber,
fish, mineral and agricultural products.
Environmental sustainability is the goal of a balanced environmental system.

The Social System -
The Social Barrel
Social Attitudes
Provision of Social,
Economic & In Migrants
Environmental Services
Resident Participation Population
Sense of Community Community

& Cohesion Confidence
Community
Resilience
Out Migrants
Loss of Services
Social Impact on
Local Economy
& Environment
The communitys population is affected by births and deaths, and by the numbers of
people moving into (in-migrants) and people leaving (out-migrants). Any change to
the population can be an input or an output to the social system.
Services for the community (social, economic, environmental) can be provided by

local residents or the government. Services provide support for local residents, an
important input into the social barrel. The loss of any community service is an
outflow from the social system and can affect community resilience (ability to manage
change), sense of community, and residents satisfaction with the community.
Social attitudes are another input into the social barrel. The changing role of women,
position of youth, desire for reconciliation, acceptance of technology, and attitudes
towards conservation and the environment, all affect the way residents interact.

Negative social impacts that residents have on the economic and environmental
systems are an outflow from the social system. In contrast, resident support of local
businesses, or coordinated efforts to address common environmental concerns,
enhances the economic and environment barrels. It also increases the communitys
ability to withstand change.
Aspects of the communitys population including number and backgrounds of

residents, participation in organisations, sense of community and cohesion, social
support, ability for the community to manage change (resilience), and the confidence
of the community to try new economic and environmental ideas, are important
elements inside the social system.

The Financial Economy -
The Economic Barrel
$ Loans &
Investments $ Government
$ Value of Spending
Exports
Locally owned Govt Agencies &

businesses Enterprises
$
Externally Non Government
owned businesses Organisations
Families &
Households
$ Value of $ Government Taxes

Imports $ Repayments & Charges
Local, State and Commonwealth government spending is a financial inflow for the
community. Government taxes, Shire rates and charges are a corresponding outflow
from the community.
Investment and loans are also a financial input into your community. Repayments of
these loans, profits paid to businesses outside the community, and community savings
invested elsewhere are outflows. Local investment (eg a Community Bank) can mean
returns are reinvested locally, and do not flow out into other communities.
Communities are not self-sufficient, and labour, goods and services are exported
(creating a monetary inflow) and imported (creating a monetary outflow) to
neighbouring communities. It is interesting to estimate your communitys balance of
trade.

The financial inputs and outputs affect the flow of money, goods and services
circulating within the community. Government agencies and enterprises, non-
government organisations, locally-owned and externally-owned businesses, families
and households are the elements in this circulation process.
Government Inputs and Outgoings

Government inputs and outgoings are not shown as a separate barrel. Government
inputs and outflows are integrated with the environment, social and economic systems
of your community.

The Indicators
Indicators are measurements of aspects of the community. They can highlight past
and present trends, and can be used to predict for the future. We have chosen a series
of indicators for the CommunityWise Audit Program for each of the three systems.
These indicators are intended to give you answers to the following types of questions:
Important Questions for your Community
What is the nature of the flows into and out of your community, in the
environmental, social and financial layers?
What is the nature of the environmental, social, and economic elements inside your
community and how are they linked together?
Are the flows into the community systems, or between the elements inside the
systems, changing in any way?
In what directions are the changes occurring and why?
Is it possible to change the flows, to increase or decrease the flows into or out of
your communitys systems, and between the elements inside the systems?
What would be the likely consequences of changing such flows?
What information needs to be collected for your community to answer these

questions?
Does the information needed to be provided by some other agency, or can

residents gather the information through local surveys and interviews?

The Environment -
Community Indicators
Core Environmental Indicators

The physical environment includes both the natural and built environments. The
following indicators will help the community to assess the condition of the physical
environment:
Climate Factors
Land Use by Hectares
Agricultural Yields
Pasture Use
Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land
1. Climate Factors
What are they?
Climate factors include conditions such as temperature, rainfall and evaporation rates,
all of which affect the environment and the productivity of the land.
Why is it important?
The climate influences the choice of land use and crop types, and changes can impact
on water usage, and length of the growing season. The climate indicators examine
conditions over time to look for any long-term trends.
What you need to work it out and where to find it
a. Minimum and maximum monthly temperature figures for your community

over several decades can be obtained through the Bureau of Meteorology,
Perth. This data is Sheet 1 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder and the
figures are included in the Environment Spreadsheet.
Calculate the average maximum and minimum monthly temperature for each
decade.

FORMULA 1
Average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures by decade:
i) Add MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR EACH MONTH FOR

EACH DECADE, divided by NUMBER OF YEARS (10 unless there
is not a full decade).
ii) Add THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR EACH MONTH FOR

EACH DECADE, divided by NUMBER OF YEARS (10 unless there
is not a full decade).
b. Monthly rainfall figures for your community can be obtained from the Bureau
of Meteorology, Perth. This data is Sheet 2 in your Workshop Folder, and is
included in the environment Spreadsheet.
Calculate the rainfall for the growing season (April to September) and non-
growing season (October-March). Then calculate the decade averages by
season. If the growing season is different in your area, use the appropriate
months.
FORMULA 2
Average decade rainfall by growing and non-growing seasons:
i) GROWING SEASON = add RAINFALL FOR MONTHS OF APRIL

TO SEPTEMBER FOR EACH YEAR.
ii) NON-GROWING SEASON = add RAINFALL FOR MONTHS OF

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER OF ONE YEAR AND MONTHS OF
JANUARY TO MARCH OF FOLLOWING YEAR.
ii) AVERAGE DECADE RAINFALL BY SEASON = add EACH

SEASONS RAINFALL FIGURES FOR EACH DECADE, then
divide by NUMBER OF YEARS (10 unless there is not a full decade).
c. Evaporation rates over time can be accessed through the Bureau of

Meteorology, Perth. This data is Sheet 3 in your Workshop Folder.
Calculate the average monthly evaporation rates by decade.
FORMULA 3
Average monthly evaporation rates by decade:
AVERAGE EVAPORATION RATE BY DECADE = add

EVAPORATION FOR EACH MONTH FOR EACH DECADE
TOGETHER, then divide by NUMBER OF YEARS (10 unless there is
not a full decade).

Presenting this Information to the Community
a. The average maximum and minimum monthly temperatures by decade can be

presented on a graph.
Are there any trends?

What impacts are the trends likely to have on the length of the growing season,
water usage, and crop types?
b. The annual rainfall can be presented in graphs showing 20-year time spans.
The insertion of a five-year moving average trend line (your excel program will
do this for you) will average out the rainfall figures and help to highlight any
patterns of decrease or increase. A graph showing the comparison over time
for growing and non-growing seasons by decade average will also identify any
changes.
What are the trends in relation to the annual rainfall?

Are there any changes in the relationship between the growing and non-
growing seasons?
Use local knowledge to add value to this indicator. For example, do local
farmers recall any increase in insects or the water table during years where the
community experienced high summer rainfall?
c. Information about evaporation rates can be presented in graphs similar to that

of temperature. Any trends should be similar to that of temperature.
It is important that the climatic indicators are looked at together, as temperature,

rainfall and evaporation rates all impact on the physical environment and will affect
water and land usage.
Adding Value to this Indicator

Many crop types have a narrow temperature band in which they can be successfully
grown. Contact Agriculture WA and use local knowledge to find out what the
temperatures are for the main crops grown in your community. Compare these with
any long-term changes that may be occurring in regard to temperature and rainfall, and
make predictions about future land use.

2. Land Use by Hectares
What is it?
This indicator provides information about the way land is used in your community,
including the degree to which land use types contribute to the natural ecosystem.
Where possible, gathering information about land use could include pastoral,
cropping, horticulture and orchards, plantations, remnant native vegetation, salt land,
mine sites, marine environments, wetlands, buildings and roads.
The total land available for the communitys use is finite. This indicator provides
information about what land is available for sustainable agricultural practices in your
community. Identifying changes in land use over time will assist the community in
managing this valuable resource.
The area and production for each agricultural land use is accessed through the
Australian Bureau of Statistics - Agricultural Commodity Survey for Local
Government Area (LGA) for 1992-1997 inclusive. Additional information for canola,
and remnant vegetation can be obtained from Agriculture WA. As needed, other land
use data can be accessed from the appropriate government departments (eg Fisheries,
Minerals and Energy, Forest Products Commission). Land use information is supplied
as Sheet 4 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the data into the
Environment Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate total agricultural land use for each year as a percentage of the total
area of the Shire.
FORMULA 4
Agricultural land use as a percentage of the total area:
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL LAND AREA = TOTAL NUMBER OF

HECTARES USED FOR AGRICULTURE divided by TOTAL
NUMBER OF HECTARES IN THE LGA, multiplied by 100.
b. Calculate each agricultural production type (eg wheat) as a percentage of the

total agricultural land use for each year.

FORMULA 5
Agricultural production type as a percentage of total agricultural

land use:
PERCENTAGE OF AGRICULATURAL LAND USE = NUMBER OF

HECTARES USED FOR EACH PRODUCTION TYPE divided by
TOTAL AREA USED FOR AGRICULTURE, multiplied by 100.
c. Calculate the average size of farms in your community.
FORMULA 6
Average size of farms:
AVERAGE SIZE OF FARMS = TOTAL AREA OF LAND USED FOR

AGRICULTURE divided by TOTAL NUMBER OF AGRICULTURAL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
The distribution of different land use types can be shown in a stacked bar graph to
give a visual picture of the share of the total of each type. As the information for
some categories are difficult to obtain, you will need an other category.
Has the number of hectares used for agricultural production changed over the
years?
Examine the percentage of land in remnant vegetation. Is it increasing or
decreasing?
Is the number and average size of agricultural establishments changing?

3. Agricultural Yields
What is it?
This indicator builds onto the information you have calculated for the Land Use by
Hectares Indicator. The productivity of agricultural land use is expressed in crop
tonnage and the dollar value of production.
The information that this indicator provides can assist in determining the carrying
capacity of the land. Different kinds of land use have different degrees of
productivity, and changing land use will have effects on the environment as well as on
the economic and social life of the community. If individual farmers record the
appropriate information, this indicator can also be calculated at the farm level.
You will need the area and tonnes of each crop type that you entered in the
Environmental Spreadsheet for the Land Use by Hectares Indicator.
The total value of production for each commodity can be accessed from Australian
Bureau of Statistics Agricultural Statistics for LGA for 1993-1997 inclusive. This
can be found as Sheet No. 5 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the information in the
Environmental Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate the gross value per hectare of agriculture production.
FORMULA 7
Gross value per hectare of agriculture production:
GROSS VALUE PER HECTARE = TOTAL GROSS VALUE OF

AGRICULTURE divided by TOTAL AREA OF AGRICULTURAL
HOLDINGS.
b. For each crop type calculate the crop yield (tonnes per hectare) and the value
per tonne.

FORMULA 8
Crop yield and value per tonne of production:
i) CROP YIELD = NUMBER OF TONNES PRODUCED divided by

NUMBER OF HECTARES.
ii) VALUE PER TONNE = VALUE PER CROP divided by NUMBER

OF TONNES.
c. For each main crop type calculate the gross value of production per average
farm.
FORMULA 9
Average value of production per farm:
AVERAGE VALUE OF PRODUCTION = VALUE OF PRODUCTION

FOR EACH CROP TYPE divided by NUMBER OF FARMS.
The comparison of yields for the main crop types over time can be shown on a graph.
Use similar graphs to compare the gross value per hectare for agriculture, and value
per tonne for the main crop types.
Are there any changes in the yields of the main crop types?
Compare the number of hectares planted for each crop type. How do these relate
to the value per tonne?
What changes are occurring in the average value of production per average
agricultural holding?

4. Pasture Usage
What is it?
This indicator looks at how pasture is used in regard to the numbers of sheep and
cattle.
Examining the carrying capacity of the land for animals can help to determine the
sustainability of industries relying on livestock and animal products.
The information for this indicator includes the extent of pasture land, numbers of
sheep and cattle, and the value of animal products such as wool. This information is
part of the agricultural land use data accessed through the Australian Bureau of
Statistics Agricultural Commodity Survey. It is part of Sheet 6 in your
CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the information into the Environment
Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate the number of animals per hectare of pasture land.
FORMULA 10
Animals per hectare of pasture:
ANIMALS PER HECTARE = add NUMBERS OF SHEEP AND

CATTLE, then divide by NUMBER OF HECTARES OF PASTURE.
b. Estimate the average kilograms and average value of the wool clip per
agricultural establishment.
FORMULA 11
Average production (kg) and value of wool clip per establishment:
i) AVERAGE PRODUCTION (kg) = TOTAL WEIGHT OF WOOL

CLIP divided by NUMBER OF AGRICULTURAL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
ii) AVERAGE VALUE OF WOOL CLIP = TOTAL VALUE OF

WOOL CLIP divided by NUMBER OF FARMS.

Comparison over time of the numbers of sheep and cattle can be presented in graphs to
highlight any trends. Similarly, the value of wool production and any other animal
products can be put into graphic form to show changes over time.
What are the trends in regard to the amount of land in pasture, numbers of sheep,
and numbers of cattle?
Are the stocking rates for sheep and cattle changing?
Has the average weight and value of the wool clip per agricultural establishment
changed over time?
Adding Value to the Land Use by Hectares,

Agricultural Yields, and Pasture Usage Indicators
The following historical data (1975-1990) is available from the Department of Local
Government and Regional Development:
Number of agricultural establishments.

Total area of agricultural holdings.
Area used and tonnage produced for main crop types.
Gross value of agricultural production.
Value and weight of the wool clip.
Number of sheep and cattle.
Use the information for this earlier time period, and compare past trends for the Land
Use by Hectares, Agricultural Yields, and Pasture Usage Indicators with the more
recent information. This will help project future trends.

5. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land
What is it?
This indicator determines the amount of land no longer productive because of salinity,
degradation and erosion. In contrast, non-productive land that is once again
productive due to rehabilitation or a change in land use, is likewise estimated.
The amount of land available for the communitys use is finite and loss of land to
degradation, erosion, and salinity is of concern in some rural communities. Wherever
possible, it is important to establish baseline data about the rate of loss and
alternatively, the amount of land that is being rehabilitated.

Maps showing change over time in salt affected land and vegetation cover can be
obtained from the Land Monitor Program, an initiative of the Western Australian
Salinity Action Plan. The maps for your community will be presented in Workshop
One.
Data showing the amount of salt affected land in your Shire, in both hectares and as a
percentage of the total land area of the Shire, is shown on the map. Likewise,
information showing vegetation loss and recovery is available.
Calculate the number of hectares of land that has been lost to salinity over the time
period measured.
Calculate the number of hectares of land that has been cleared and recovered in
relation to vegetation.
Use local knowledge to ascertain if salt affected land has been reclaimed.
Likewise, use local knowledge to ascertain if salt affected land is productive due to
a land use change.
If the number of hectares of land being lost to salinity is increasing, what strategies
does the community have in place to assist in slowing or stopping the loss?

Environmental Indicators that can Add Value to your
CommunityWise Audit
A. Waste Management
Adequately managing wastes from production and consumption is also important to
sustain a healthy environment. Information about waste management for your
community can be obtained locally from the Shire Council. If possible, obtain
information relating to the last five years for:
The total number of annual tonnes of waste produced;

A breakdown on the types of wastes (eg solid, liquid);
How waste is disposed of locally.
B. The Built Environment

The built environment covers a range of different factors including buildings, roads,
industrial and residential land, recreational areas such as sportsgrounds, playgrounds
and reserves, and community areas such as cemeteries. The following are ideas that
the community can pursue in order to gain a greater understanding of the built
environment for your community.
Do a count of the number of business buildings in the townsite(s). Look at the

non-vacant to vacant land and building ratio.
List the buildings that are available for different events.
Approach your local Shire Council for a list of buildings that are Heritage Listed.
The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) can provide information about
the townsite(s) that are gazetted in the Shire.
DOLA can also provide information about major land owners in the area
(including government or crown land).
Your local Shire Council can provide information about residential, business and
industrial land zoning in the Shire. What land has been set aside for residential,
business and industry for the future? Are there any constraints (eg native title) on
this land?
Local Real Estate agents can provide information about the value of rural, business
and residential property in the community. Has this been increasing, or static over
the last five years?
What communal areas such as reserves, parks, sports facilities and playgrounds are
available for residents? Are these easily accessible?
Produce a map of the area showing main roads, communal areas, residential and
industrial areas, major buildings etc. Identify possible needs for the future.

C. The Globe Project
We suggest local schools could join the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit
the Environment (Globe) Project GLOBE is an international project to which schools
from all over the world belong. It is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and
scientists across 95 countries. Students make environmental observations at or near
their schools and report their data through the Internet. There are GLOBE schools in
every state of Australia. Currently 50 schools in Western Australia are involved in the
program. The GLOBE website is www.globe.gov.
D. Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint model has been developed to measure the effects of human
consumption patterns on the environment. Its aim is to ascertain human carrying
capacity, that is, the number of people and the type of human activities that the
environment can support and still remain healthy.
A populations ecological Ecological Footprint is

determined by calculating how much land and water is
required to produce our resources and absorb our wastes.
The sustainable Earth-share for each person worldwide at
the moment is 1.3 hectares (ha, or about 3.2 acres) of land
whereas the average American uses 9.7 ha (24 acres) to
support his or her current lifestyle. In comparison, the
average Canadian lives on a footprint 30 percent smaller
(6.8 ha or 17 acres), and the average Italian on a footprint
60 percent smaller (3.6 ha or 9 acres). It has been estimated that each Australian needs
4.4 hectares (10.8 acres) of productive land to sustain their standard of living.
Western Australians per capita ecological footprint has recently been calculated as a
part of the State Sustainability Strategy. Contact Karen Charleton, (Phone 9222 7057,
email: karen.charlton@wrc.wa.gov.au) of the Department of Environment for details.
She has calculated the ecological footprint for the average Western Australian to be a
massive 17 hectares of land per person. If the 6 billion people on the planet had such
huge footprints we would require more than 10 Earth-type planets to sustain them!
To find a general estimate of the ecological footprint for your community, multiply the
Australian average of 4.4 hectares or the WA footprint of 17 hectares by the
communitys population. Compare this with the productive land available to your
community. If the figure greater than the total land available in the Shire, your
community may be exceeding its sustainable carrying capacity. Alternatively you can
take the quiz at http://www.earthday.net/footprint/info.asp and form a survey of people
in your community do a figure for your community.
For Australians who are interested in, or are undertaking Ecological Footprint
research, analysis or education check out the discussion list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/footprintaustralia/. You can also subscribe to the
international Ecological Footprints newsgroup by through egroups.com, or sending a
blank e-mail to: ecofootprints-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

The Social System -
Core Social Indicators

The social system includes descriptions about the types of people who make up your
community and the social structures that exist to enhance residents quality of life.
The following indicators will help to assess the social system in your community.
Natural Population Change

Net Migration Change
Population Analysis
Ethnic Structure
Housing
Welfare Payments
1. Natural Population Change
What is it?
This indicator provides information about change in the communitys population due
to births and deaths that have occurred over a given time period. Calculating your
communitys natural increase or decrease is easy; simply subtract the deaths from the
births.
FORMULA 12
Natural population change:
BIRTHS minus DEATHS = NATURAL INCREASE/DECREASE.
It is important to know how the natural increase or decrease contributes to any change
in the population. If not, it means people are moving to or leaving the community for
other reasons.

The source of the information is the Profile of the Local Government Area for your
local government area. This is provided as Sheet No. 7 in your Workshop Folder.
Enter this information into the Social Spreadsheet.

The Natural Population Change Indicator is best used with the Net Migration Indicator
to analyse any changes in the communitys population. However, it is important to
know:
What has been the natural population trend over the last 5 years?
Is the community naturally renewing itself?

2. Net Migration Change
What is it?
This indicator records changes in the communitys population because of new people
coming to live in the community (in-migration) or people leaving to live elsewhere
(out-migration).
To determine whether population change is because of in-migration, out-migration, or
natural change. Reasons for out-migration, or strategic planning to manage in-
migration can then be discussed.
The source of this information is the Profile of the Local Government Area for your
community. This is provided as Sheet 8 in your Workshop Folder. Enter these figures
into the Social Spreadsheet.
a. Formula 13 shows how to calculate the Net Migration indicator. If your

answer is a positive figure then the population is increasing due to in-
migration. If the answer is negative, then the population is decreasing because
people are leaving the community.
FORMULA 13
Net migration:
NET MIGRATION = (POPULATION1 subtract POPULATION2 =

POPULATION CHANGE) subtract NATURAL INCREASE [or add
natural decrease].

The Net Migration Indicator can be presented in graph form with the Natural
Population Change.
Is the population decreasing or increasing?

What has been the net migration trend over the last 5 years?
What percentage of the population does it represent for each year?
If this trend continues how many people will the community lose or gain over the
next 5 years?
If new residents are coming to live in the community, what is attracting them?
If people are leaving to live elsewhere, what are possible reasons why this is
occurring?

Remember that the net migration figure only shows the balance between in-migration
minus out-migration. Information about how long people have lived in the community
can give deeper understanding to this indicator. This can be done through local
surveys asking people how long they have been a resident, and by talking to the local
schools to determine the number of years the children have been together in the same
year groups.

3. Population Analysis - Gender and Age
What is it?
Population analysis is simply looking at the composition of the communitys

population in terms of the numbers of men and women in each of the age groups.
Knowing the composition of your local population can assist community leaders in the
planning and provision of community facilities and services for residents current and
future needs.
The information you need to compare the population across time is from the ABS
Census data Time Series Profile. The 1996 data provides the age and gender
breakdown for the last three Census 1986, 1991, and 1996. This is provided as
Sheet 9 in your Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Social Spreadsheet.
Comparable information for Western Australia is already in the Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate the percentage of the total population for each gender and age
category for each time period.
FORMULA 14
Age and gender as a percentage of total population:
% of TOTAL POPULATION = AGE OR GENDER CATEGORY

divided by TOTAL POPULATION, multiplied by 100.
The following graphs can be produced from the above data and may be of interest to
the community.
A Population Pyramid (shows how many people in each age group) for each year
of the data for the 5-year age categories.
The percentage change for each 5-year age category between the census periods.
A comparison between your community and Western Australia of the percentage
change for each 5-year age category.
A Population Pyramid for each year of the data for collapsed age categories as
compared to Western Australia.

Look for trends that indicate change in the communitys population composition either
by age or by gender, particularly as a percentage of the communitys population.
Identifying increases and decreases across the various subgroups within the
community will assist in strategic planning for future education, health and other
community service needs.
Which age categories as a percentage of the population are on a decreasing trend?

Are there any age categories that are increasing as a percentage of the population?
How does your community compare with Western Australia?
What are the projected changes in the composition of the community?
What are the possible reasons for any changes?
Population Pyramids
These graphs are not easy to do using Excel but your contact person at the Department
of Local Government and Regional Development will be able to assist you.
NOTE: DO WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A COHORT?

4. Ethnic Structure
What is it?
This indicator provides further information about the composition of the local
population. It describes where residents were born, if they speak a language other than
English, and if people are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
This indicator can identify if specific cultural needs exist in your community.
Comparison across census data collection periods can highlight any changes in the
ethnic composition of the community.
The information is accessed from the ABS Census - Time Series Profile. The 1996
Census data provides information for the last three Census collections 1986, 1991,
and 1996. This data is provided as Sheet 10 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the
information into the Social Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate each ethnic category as a percentage of the total population for each
year.
FORMULA 15
Ethnic category as a percentage of total population:
ETHNIC CATEGORY AS A % OF TOTAL POPULATION = ETHNIC

CATEGORY divided by TOTAL POPULATION, multiplied by 100.

The information is best presented in a table so that any changes in the ethnicity of the
community over time can be easily identified.
Of those residents born overseas, where are most of those people from?
Is the ethnic composition of the community changing?
Does the community have many people who speak a language other than English?
How many residents describe themselves as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders?
How culturally diverse is the community?

Local knowledge is also useful when collating this information as residents will be
aware of the nationality of families who live in the community. For example:
How many local Aboriginal families live in the area?

Are they related to each other?
Does the community have any specific cultural needs that should be addressed in
its strategic planning?

5. Housing
What is it?
This indicator examines private housing stock by describing ownership and rental
numbers. Information gathered can also include types of rental accommodation and
the number of people who live in non-private dwellings such as nursing homes.
A high percentage of home ownership can be an indication of residents commitment

to the community. Comparison over time will identify any changes to ownership and
rental numbers, as well as the total number of private dwellings in the community.
The information is sourced from the ABS Census data. As no time series is available
for this indicator, the data must be accessed from each separate census collection.
This is provided as Sheet 11 in your Workshop Folder. Enter the information for
1986, 1991 and 1996 into the Social Spreadsheet.
a. Calculate the percentage of total dwellings for each housing category.
FORMULA 16
Housing category as a percentage of total dwellings:
% of TOTAL DWELLINGS = HOUSING CATEGORY divided by

TOTAL DWELLINGS, multiplied by 100.
The indicator is best presented in a graph comparing the three time periods. This will
highlight any changes across time, and data from future census collections can be
easily added at a later date.
Is the total number of private housing stock changing?

Is the percentage of home ownership increasing or decreasing?
In terms of community commitment, what does this indicate?
Is there a corresponding increase or decrease in rentals?
What percentage of private dwellings is in the form of government housing stock?

6. Welfare Payments
What is it?
It is the purpose of this indicator to estimate the annual amount of income that is
received by residents in the form of government welfare payments. Data will also
show the numbers of people in the community who received some type of assistance
from the government.
To examine the trends in welfare payments across the various government categories
such as retirement, disabilities and sickness, unemployment and families.
The numbers of people receiving government assistance is available from the

Department of Family and Community Services. Data showing the numbers of
residents receiving welfare payments for 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 is provided
as Sheet 12 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the information into
your Social Spreadsheet.
You will also need the number of residents aged 15 years or older for these years.
Calculate this from the information provided for the Population Analysis Indicator.
a. Estimate the amount of income being received by residents for each category
of welfare payments. The Spreadsheet already contains the Australian per
capita figure for each category of welfare payments. This is calculated by
dividing the total for each category by the number of people 15 years and
older.
FORMULA 17
Estimation of total annual welfare payments:
WELFARE PAYMENTS = PER CAPITA FIGURE FOR EACH

WELFARE CATEGORY FOR EACH YEAR multiplied by THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTS 15 YEARS AND OLDER FOR EACH
YEAR. Add the welfare categories to estimate the total welfare
payments for each year.

Sheet 12 has grouped the different welfare payments into four categories: aged related,
disabled/carers/sickness, family related and other. The numbers of residents receiving
welfare payments in each category and estimated total amount received by the
community can be presented in graph form.
Has the number of residents receiving government assistance increased, decreased

or remained constant?
What category has shown the most change over the time period?
Suggest reasons for any changes?
Have members of the community needed assistance with any of the special welfare
payments such as drought relief or farm household support?

Social Indicators that can Add Value to your
CommunityWise Audit
A. Family Structure
This indicator will enhance the understanding about the people who live in your
community. Information about the number of married couples with and without
dependent children, one-parent families, and single households, can be compared
across census periods. The data can be accessed through the ABS Population Census -
Community Time Series. Additional data from the most recent census will provide a
more detailed breakdown of family structure.
A question in a community survey asking residents about the number of immediate

and extended family they have living in the community, will provide further
information about family and personal social networks.
B. Qualifications
This indicator can also expand the understanding about the people who make up your
community. Information about the number of residents with a range of educational
qualifications can be accessed through the ABS Population Census - Community Time
Series. Comparison over time will highlight any change in education levels, and
possibly the life experiences and skills of residents.
C. Participation
Rates of participation in community groups and organisations are a good indicator of
residents commitment to the community. People participate in community groups for
social and professional interaction. In addition, many rural communities depend on
residents to provide some essential services, and rely on their fundraising efforts to
assist in the supply of community facilities. The number of hours that residents
contribute in an unpaid capacity is often an unacknowledged economic resource.
The following is useful data that can be collected through local Shire records,
interviews, and community surveys.
The number of groups and organisations that exist in your community. Record the
name of each group, and if possible classify the group or organisation under the
headings of Political, Economic/Business, Social, Environmental. This is a useful
resource for the community and should be up-dated annually.
The numbers of people who volunteer or belong to each group or organisation. An

annual up-date will determine an increase or decrease in membership. Change in
volunteer or membership levels are particularly important in regard to
organisations that provide essential services. Changes in other organisations (eg
sporting groups) may reflect changes in the population structure.

The number of hours (weekly or monthly) that volunteers and members contribute
to running the organisation.
D. Social Services/Facilities
This indicator provides information about the extent of social services and facilities
that are available to your community. Education, health, and police services are
usually of prime importance to regional communities, but you may decide that you
will include other social services as well. Undertake an audit to determine the number
and type of social services and facilities that are available.
E. Cultural and Other Community Events

Collective events foster a sense of belonging and pride in the community. In many
instances these events also contribute to the local economy by attracting visitors to the
area, thus increasing spending in local businesses.
The following data can be collected through interviews with involved residents:
The number of events that take place on a yearly basis.

The number of community members who participate in the organisation of each
event.
The size of the event in regard to attendance levels.
The approximate financial contribution that each event makes to the community.
Take note of who is organising these events in your community.

Is it the same or different people for each event?
Have there been any events that were run regularly in the past that no longer occur,
and if so, why?
Are there any events that were one-offs and were not successful, and if so, why?
F. Levels of Crime
Crime level is an important social indicator, as a high crime rate can reduce the
communitys ability to response to change. Figures relating to crimes against
property, persons, and other (includes drugs etc) is available from your local police
station. If possible obtain information about levels of crime for the last five years to
compare across time.

The Financial Economy -
Core Economic Indicators

The economy includes all the financial activities that occur within the community.
The following indicators will help you assess your communitys local economy.
Employment by Industry
Employment by Occupation
The Labour Force
Local Gross Product
Family Income Distribution
1. Employment by Industry
What is it?
This indicator provides a breakdown of the number of people employed across the
different industry sectors for the community and allows a comparison of employment
with Regional Western Australia.
To highlight any change that is occurring in the types of industries in which
community residents are employed. For example, a downturn in an industry will be
reflected in a declining percentage of the total number of people employed, whereas
new industries may show up as an increase in the percentage of people employed.
Information about the number of people employed in each industry sector is accessed
in the ABS Census Time Series Profile and is provided as Sheet 13 in your
CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Economic
Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet already contains the data for Regional Western
Australia to provide a comparison for your community.
a. Calculate the percentage of employment for each industry sector for the last
three census periods for your community and Regional Western Australia.

FORMULA 18
Percentage of employment for each industry sector:
% of EMPLOYMENT FOR INDUSTRY SECTOR = NUMBER OF

PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY SECTOR divided by TOTAL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED, multiplied by 100.
b. Calculate the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 for each
industry sector for your community and Regional Western Australia.
FORMULA 19
Percentage change (delta) for each industry sector:
% CHANGE IN INDUSTRY SECTOR = % EMPLOYED FOR MOST

RECENT CENSUS YEAR (eg 1996) minus % EMPLOYED FOR
EARLIER CENSUS YEAR (eg 1991).
The information is best presented in graph form and the types of graphs that may be
useful include:
A comparison of employment by industry for the last three census collections for
your community.
A comparison between your community and Regional Western Australia of the
percentage of people employed in the industry sectors for the most recent census
data.
A comparison of the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 in
employment for the industry sectors for your community.
Comparisons of the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 in the
industry sectors for your community and Regional Western Australia.
Incorporating local knowledge in the presentation of this information will add to its
meaning.
What industry category has experienced the greatest decrease in the percentage of
people employed?
What category shows the greatest increase?
What local businesses/services do these sectors include?
What are some of the reasons for the changes?
How do these changes compare with Regional Western Australia?

2. Employment by Occupation
What is it?
This indicator provides further information about the nature of employment in your
community through the classification of residents occupations.
To examine any changes that may be happening to the types of occupations of

community residents. For example, change in this indicator could be influenced by
change in employment across industry categories, or be a reflection of change in the
social characteristics of residents. This information can be compared to Regional
Western Australia and Western Australia as a whole.
This information is accessed in the ABS Census Time Series Profile for Local
Government level and is provided as Sheet 14 in your CommunityWise Workshop
Folder. Enter this information into the Economic Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet
already contains the data for Regional Western Australia and Western Australia to
provide a comparison for your community.
a. Calculate the percentage of employment for each occupation category for the
last three census periods for your community, Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia. Use Formula 18 from the Employment by Industry
Indicator, substituting occupation category for industry sector.
b. Calculate the percentage change between 1986-1991 and 1991-1996 for each
occupation category for your community, Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia. Use Formula 19 from the Employment by Industry
Indicator, substituting occupation category for industry sector.
Graphs can provide a visual picture and are a useful way to present the information for
this indicator. These can include:
A comparison of the percentage of employment by occupation for your community

for the last three census collections.
The percentage change in occupation categories for 1986-1991 and 1991-1996
comparing your community with Regional Western Australia and Western
Australia.

Use local knowledge gained through community surveys and interviews with local
businesses to add greater information to this indicator.
What occupations have declined in percentage of employment?

What occupations have increased by percentage of total employment?
What local businesses and services does this involve?
Has the total number of people employed increased, decreased or remained
relatively static over the last 15 years?
How does this relate to changes in the occupation categories?

3. The Labour Force
What is it?
This indicator provides information about the local labour force including the numbers
of residents who are employed and unemployed, whether they work full time or part
time, the balance between men and women, and whether they are employees or
employers.
Information from this indicator can provide useful information for local business
planning. It can highlight any changes in the composition of the labour force and any
changing patterns of work.

The quarterly figures (1994-2000) for the number of people unemployed and the
unemployment rate, number of people employed, and the total labour force for your
community, Regional Western Australia and Western Australia, can be accessed from
the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. This is
provided as Sheet 15 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter the
information for your community into the Economic Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet
already contains the data for Regional Western Australia and Western Australia.
A breakdown of the labour force for gender, part time/full time workers, and
employees/employers for the 1991 and 1996 census years can be accessed from ABS
Census Time Series Profile. This is provided as Sheet 16 in your CommunityWise
Workshop Folder. Enter this information into the Economic Spreadsheet. The
Spreadsheet already contains the data for Regional Western Australia and Western
Australia to provide a comparison for your community.
A graph showing the comparison of the unemployment rate between your community,
Regional Western Australia and Western Australia, is useful. The other information
can be shown in table format and examined for change.
How does the unemployment rate for your community compare with Regional
Western Australia and Western Australia?
Is the trend any different from Regional Western Australia?
What are some of the local reasons for the trend?
Has the total labour force increased, decreased or remained static?

What are the local industries that are associated with any changes?
What pool of workers is available for new business ventures?
Has the composition of the labour force changed in terms of men/women or
employers/employees?
Have work patterns changed in regard to full time and part time workers?
What local industries employ full time and part time workers?

4. Gross Local Product
What is it?
This indicator enables the community to estimate the local gross amount earned for
each industry sector, and when totalled, it provides an estimate of the local equivalent
of Gross Domestic Product. This is referred to as Gross Local Product (GLP).
Information about exports, imports and industry production is only available at the
State or National level. However, this indicator assists the community to estimate the
industry production for the community. While the main sources of GLP may be
common knowledge in most communities (eg Agriculture), a comparison across time
will identify trends, make possible an estimation of local economic growth, and
highlight local opportunities.

The Factor Income for Western Australia and the Employment figures by Industry
Sector are accessed through ABS Australian National Accounts State Accounts and
ABS Census Data respectively. The factor income for each industry consists of wages
and operating surplus for the whole of the State, and the Economic Spreadsheet
already contains this information for 1991 and 1996.
a. The number of local people employed in each industry sector for 1991 and
1996 is contained in Sheet No. 13. This is the same information you used for
the Employment by Industry Indicator. Enter this into the Economic
Spreadsheet.
FORMULA 20
GLP for each industry sector for 1991 and 1996:
i) FACTOR INCOME PER WORKER = WA FACTOR INCOME

divided by WA EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.
ii) GROSS LOCAL PRODUCT (GLP) = FACTOR INCOME PER

WORKER multiplied by COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS.
iii) Add GLP FOR EACH INDUSTRY SECTOR FOR TOTAL GLP
FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
b. We now need to calculate the Location Quotient (LQ) for each industry sector
for 1991 and 1996. The LQ indicates how over or under represented an

industry sector for your community is when compared to the rest of Western
Australia.
FORMULA 21
Location quotient (LQ) for each industry sector for 1991 and 1996:
i) NUMBER EMPLOYED divided by TOTAL NUMBER EMPLOYED

= % OF EMPLOYMENT. Calculate for both WA and your
community.
ii) LQ = COMMUNITY % divided by STATE %. Any industry sector

with a LQ greater than one indicates over-representation, less than
one suggests under-representation.
c. We can now use the LQ to estimate what proportion of the GLP for each
industry sector is exported (over-represented) or imported (under-represented).
FORMULA 22
Export and import ratios for each industry sector:
i) EXPORT/IMPORT RATIO = LQ 1. A positive figure indicates an

export, a negative figure indicates an import.
d. It is also possible to express the export/import ratio in dollar terms, but be

cautious with this as it is based on the number of people employed, not the
value of actual products. There are several steps to this so work slowly
through the following formula.
FORMULA 23
Export/import ratio in dollars for each industry sector:
i) If the ratio contains a whole number: GLP divided by LQ multiplied

by EXPORT/IMPORT RATIO = EXPORTS (positive) or IMPORTS
(negative) IN DOLLARS.
ii) If the ratio is a decimal: GLP multiplied by EXPORT/IMPORT

RATIO = EXPORTS (positive) or IMPORTS (negative) IN
DOLLARS.
iii) If the ratio is -1 (no local people employed for that industry): TOTAL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED multiplied by WA %
EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY SECTOR, multiplied by FACTOR
INCOME PER WORKER, multiplied by EXPORT/IMPORT RATIO
(-1) = IMPORTS IN DOLLARS.
iv) These can be totalled to provide a total export or import figure for the
community for each census year.

It is useful to present the information in a table making it easy to look for change. The
use of local knowledge about business and employment can add information to this
indicator.
Are there any industry sectors where the LQ has changed?

What are the local businesses involved in the change?
What is the relationship between the local employment percentages and the GLP
for each industry sector when comparing 1991 and 1996?
Are there any sectors where the employment percentages and GLP have both
increased or decreased?
What could cause the employment percentage and GLP to change in opposite
directions (one increase, one decrease)?

It is possible to estimate local economic growth by comparing the GLP over time. To
compare figures across years, inflation rates must be taken into account so that the
GLP is expressed in constant (market) figures. The CPI (inflation rate) for 1991 and
1996 is included in your Economic Spreadsheet. The 1996 census is the baseline, so
the GLP for 1996 will not change. Use the formula shown to express the 1991 GLP in
market figures and estimate the annual economic growth.
FORMULA 24
Local annual economic growth:
i) 1991 GLP AT MARKET PRICE = 1991 CPI divided by 1996 CPI,

then divide the 1991 GLP by this answer.
ii) ANNUAL ECONOMIC GROWTH = 1996 GLP minus 1991 GLP AT

MARKET PRICE, divided by 1991 AT MARKET PRICE, divided by
5 (years between census).

5. Family Income Distribution
What is it?
This indicator shows the distribution of family incomes in your community by

providing information about the number of families in each income bracket.
To determine the range of income levels that local families are currently reliant on.
This will indicate the number of families who are on low incomes and who may have
special needs. This figure can also be used to calculate the wages, salaries and
subsidies component of your communitys total financial activity.

This information is accessed in the ABS Census Basic Community Profile and is
provided as Sheet 17 in your CommunityWise Workshop Folder. Enter this
information into the Economic Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet already contains the
data for Regional Western Australia that will be used as a comparison with your
community.
There are several steps to calculating the Family Income Distribution for the
community.
a. Find the Midpoint for each income category and enter into the spreadsheet.
Add together the not stated and partial income figures. These need to be
allocated to the other income categories as described in Formula 26.
FORMULA 25
Allocation of partial/not stated families:
i) KNOWN FAMILIES = TOTAL FAMILIES minus PARTIAL/NOT

STATED.
ii) FAMILIES IN THE FIRST INCOME CATEGORY ($1-$119)

divided by NUMBER OF KNOWN FAMILIES (this answer will be a
decimal).
iii) PARTIAL/NOT STATED FIGURE multiplied by THE DECIMAL

CALCULATED IN ii) above.
iv) Add the answer to the NUMBER OF FAMILIES IN THIS INCOME

CATEGORY = ADJUSTED FAMILIES.

v) Repeat for all income categories.
b. Calculate the amount of Gross Community Weekly Income for each income
category as described in Formula 26.
FORMULA 26
Gross community weekly income:
i) COMMUNITY WEEKLY INCOME = INCOME CATEGORY

MIDPOINT multiplied by ADJUSTED FAMILY.
ii) Add ALL INCOME CATEGORIES to calculate TOTAL GROSS

COMMUNITY WEEKLY INCOME.
c. Calculate the Gross Community Annual Income for each income category as
described in Formula 27.
FORMULA 27
Gross community annual income:
i) COMMUNITY WEEKLY INCOME multiplied by 365, then divided

by 7.
ii) Add ALL INCOME CATEGORIES to calculate TOTAL GROSS

COMMUNITY ANNUAL INCOME.
d. Calculate the percentage of families for each income category for your
community. This has already been done for Regional Western Australia and
Western Australia in your spreadsheet.
FORMULA 28
Percentage of families in each income category:
For each income category - ADJUSTED FAMILIES divided by TOTAL

FAMILIES.
e. Calculate the percentage of Gross Community Annual Income for each income
category for your community. This has already been done for Regional
Western Australia and Western Australia in your spreadsheet.
FORMULA 29
Percentage of gross community annual income per income category:
GROSS COMMUNITY ANNUAL INCOME divided by TOTAL

GROSS COMMUNITY ANNUAL INCOME.

f. Calculate the cumulative percentage for your community, for both the
percentage of families, and for the gross community annual income. This has
already been done for Regional Western Australia and Western Australia in
your spreadsheet.
This information is useful when presented in a series of graphs. The following are
some suggestions:
Compare the percentage of families across the range of income categories in your
community with Regional Western Australia.
Compare the percentage of gross income across the range of income categories
with Regional Western Australia.
Compare percentage of families and percentage of gross annual income across the
range of income categories for your community.
Compare the cumulative percentage of families in your community with both
Regional Western Australia and Western Australia.
Compare the cumulative percentage of gross annual income for your community,
with Regional Western Australia and Western Australia.
What income bracket contains the greatest percentage of families?

How does income distribution in your community compare with Regional Western
Australia?
What percentage of families in your community earn a gross income of less than
the National Mean Income?
How does this compare with Regional Western Australia and Western Australia?
Economic Indicators that can Add Value to your

CommunityWise Audit
A. Local Business Survey

Survey the local businesses in the community to determine
their type of business

the number of people they employ
whether employees are full or part time workers.
B. Grants and Subsidies

Check with your Local Shire Council to gather information about the amounts
received for community projects and facilities in the form of grants and subsidies.

Putting it All Together
Writing the Report
As part of the partnership process with the Department of Local Government and
Regional Development, the community will need a second Workshop to put the
information gathered together in such a way as to enable a report collating the
information gathered during the CommunityWise Audit process to be written. You
have done a lot of work and have collected lots of information. This information
consists of figures, graphs, notes and maybe local surveys. For it all to make any
sense it needs to be brought together so that it can tell the story of where your
community is at - environmentally, socially, and economically.
Second Workshop:
The Nature and Importance of Reporting the Information
Our experience with Community Auditing has shown us that a second workshop is
always needed, as without this workshop there will be serious flaws in the analysis of
the data gathered. As before, we need to gather together all the people who have been
involved in the Audit so far, in a venue that is appropriate, that has sufficient
computers and provides an opportunity for instruction and presentation of the
information. Once again, this is a workshop that the Department of Local
Government and Regional Development can facilitate.
INTRODUCTION:
To begin with we need to consider in depth your answers to the question Why is it
important to report the information? Clearly answers to this question will differ
according to the nature of the community. Generally there are three different reasons
why reports are necessary
(a) To your own community to demonstrate what has been discovered

(b) To assist other communities with benchmarking your data
(c) To show you have acquitted the funds from State Development
It is only when the data gets put into a report and circulated that it has a chance of
influencing decisions that get taken, and so help provide a way of steering local
plans and policies.
The report is also important as it provides a framework for the collection of data when
he next CommunityWise Audit is completed in 1-2 years time. It is through repeating
the Audit process that the value of the data grows because
(a) It establishes whether the trends seen in the first Audit do continue on into the
future or not,
(b) It shows whether the programs established to deal with the community
problems diagnosed after the first audit are responding to treatment.

The danger of reporting is that it gets put aside, gathering dust on a shelf.
Then in 3 or 4 years time, when someone starts to put together a Community Profile or
a new audit, once the wheel has been reinvented, the old one gets rediscovered, with
the finding that nothing much has changed.
In the second workshop the group will plan local approaches that actions would
prevent the report being put aside, and ensure that it is widely used and discussed
within the community.
The first question then is Who are the audience(s) for the information of the report
(in (a), (b) and (c) above)? How can the report be made useful (comprehensible) for
the different target audiences?
The group will prioritise approaches and rank solutions, allocating suggestions to
different working parties to make sure the results of the report dont get lost, but get
continuously updated.
FORMAT FOR THE REPORT WORKSHOP
A CommunityWise Audit is not just a listing of data and information discovered about
the nature of your community. It also involves a judgement about the data. For
instance
Is the data showing a favourable or unfavourable trend?

How likely is the trend discovered to continue in the future?
Does this trend contradict other trends discovered about your community?
What opportunities are there to accentuate the positive and eliminate the
negative?
These are all questions of judgement. The greater the number of people involved in
making these judgements, the better will be the eventual quality of the report. The
second workshop thus largely consists in report back sessions from each group
facilitated by the Departmental staff in answering these and other questions. Answers
to these to be documented on butchers paper as the group proceeds.
THE REPORT FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP
Consider the following questions
1. What was found about the environment in your community

(a) What static snapshot information is there which shows no change?
(b) What are the current trends?
(c) What the trends say about the possible future? Are they sustainable?
2. What is desirable? It is always important to start with examining what the

community appreciates about the Natural Environment. The Appreciative Enquiry
method amongst others suggest that we always need to start with Coming from
Gratitude as this is the place on which one then can gather the strength to look at
serious problems a community may have. For instance, what is good about this

place? How can it be preserved? Extended? Enhanced? Only after these
questions are considered should we look at
3. What is problematic? Do the people of this community know? How can they best
be informed? How do we deal with denial, despair, anger and resignation in the
face of our problems?
4. Often when viewed form a different, larger or more holistic framework problems
may be reframed as opportunities. How can this be done for your community?
Moving from denial and despair to empowerment and action is important.
Reframing of issues. The Turning towards a Life Sustaining Environment is
here important. The community participants will then examine some examples
currently underway.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What ways will the participants carry the
information out into the wider world to change their practices, individually and
collectively, in the future? Here we examine opportunities for further action.
How to get the community more involved and motivated? is an important part of
this section.
THE REPORT FROM THE SOCIAL GROUP
Once again a similar format is used
1. What was found by the Social Group Auditors

(a) Static snapshot information with no change
(b) Current trends
(c) What the trends say about the possible future
2. What is desirable? What the community appreciates about the Social Environment
For instance, what makes this place a good community in which to live? How can
these characteristics be built upon and preserved? Extended? Enhanced?
3. What is problematic about this community? Do the people of this community

know what these problems are? How can they best be informed? Once again
How do we deal with denial, despair, anger and resignation in the face of our
problems?
4. How can these social problems be seen as opportunities? What ways can the
community move from denial and despair to empowerment and action. Reframing
of issues. The Turning to a Socially Vital and Supportive Community is here
the main issue. Examples currently underway in this and other communities can
then be considered
.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What opportunities are there for further action
to build social capital of our community? How do we get the community more
involved and motivated?
THE REPORT FROM THE FINANCIAL GROUP
Once again the financial group will consider a similar list of questions

1. What was found
(a) Static snapshot information with no change
(b) Current economic trends effecting this community
(c) What the trends say about the possible financial future
2. What is economically desirable in this community? What the community

appreciates about the Economic situation in which it exists (Yet again coming
from Gratitude Appreciative Enquiry method). For instance, what is good
financially about living this place? How can these economic strengths be
preserved? Extended? Enhanced?
3. What economic problems exist? Do the people of this community know of these
problems? Do they effect everyone equally, or some more (and earlier) than
others? How can everyone in the community best be informed on economic
matters? How do we deal with denial, despair, anger and resignation in the face of
our problems?
4. How can economic problems be seen as business opportunities? Once again, how
to get people to move from denial and despair to empowerment and action.
Reframing of issues here is again important. The Turning towards a Resilient
Economy is the question to be considered. Where possible, examples currently
underway in this and other communities can then be considered.
5. Going forth Where to from here? What opportunities does this community have
for further collective economic action? How can we get the community more
involved and motivated?
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Generally, the group will then have answered
Q.1 What environmental indicators have social and financial consequences?

Q.2 What social indicators have environmental and financial consequences?
Q.3 What finacial indicators have social and environmental consequences?
In each case the group will have considered Robert Kennedys famous quote God
grant me the strength to change what can be changed, the forebearance to accept
what cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference
The group will have a good understanding now of Where are the leavers for change
in our community? What factors can we change through community effort in the
appropriate places? What are the factors that cannot be changed? In what ways can
we adjust better to accommodate those factors?
Where to from Here?

The workshop will conclude with considering the issue of Up dating the audit in the
future How is this to be accomplished? Who should be responsible? What
additional surveys could be conducted? How can we get others in the community

involved (eg. school groups, sporting clubs, churches, business associations,
Aboriginal Corporations etc). When will the update process start?
Report Framework
Write an introduction that gives some basic information about your community.
Ask long term residents to write a couple of paragraphs about the communitys
history, including some of the main changes that have happened.
Use the three broad headings from the three-tiered cake Environment, Social
System, Financial Economy as the headings for the main section of your report.
Use the names of the core indicators as sub headings under each broad category,
and write a paragraph summarising the trends from each indicator. Use the prompt
questions under the presenting this information to the community sections to help
you write about the trends for each indicator.
Add local knowledge to your writing so that the report belongs to your
community. However, it is not wise to mention individuals or families by name.
Write a section that describes the communitys strengths and weaknesses. This
can include areas identified by the indicators that residents are happy about, or
alternatively, would like to make changes.
Make suggestions for future directions.
Getting the Message Across

Not all residents have been involved in the CommunityWise Audit process, and it is
important to share the findings with the wider community. Remember: awareness
can promote interest! The following are some ideas for disseminating the
information.
How to get the information out there

Create an event at which to give a community presentation/s
Public meeting
Community breakfast
Get everyone talking and spreading the message by word of mouth

Through membership in community groups and organisations
Sharing with friends and neighbours

Put the message into print
Design a newsletter to display the main results and leave it in the local shops
Publish the results month by month in the local community newspaper
Use noticeboards and the telecentre to disseminate printed results
Publish a statistic of the week over a period of months
Put several copies of the Report in the local library

Where to From Here?
Keep On Keeping On
The CommunityWise Audit has provided your community with base-line data that can
be added to on a regular basis. This means that you can continue to measure the
changes that are occurring in the community, and gain insight into the effects of
planning as it is implemented.
The community will be able to access more recent information as it becomes available
to update your Audit. In some cases, the Department of Local Government and
Regional Development may be able to help. Keep in mind that many of the indicators
rely on Census data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to undertake the next
Census in 2001, and this information should begin to be available by 2002.
Your community can set in motion many ways to gather data at the local level. For
example, we have made suggestions about running local surveys that could be
undertaken on a regular basis and used to update your Audit. If your school joins the
Globe Project, environmental data will be collected regularly.
What Else Can We Do?

The purpose of the Audit is to identify the communitys strengths and weaknesses in
the areas of the environment, social system and local economy. Your Shire Council
will be very interested in the outcome of the Audit to assist in their strategic planning.
Make sure they get a copy of the Report. After getting the message out to the whole
community, a Futures Workshop enabling community input into planning would be
useful.
Your CommunityWise Audit will point to the areas where change is desired. In
some cases, assistance through government programs may be necessary. Many
different programs are available through a variety of Government Departments. Your
Audit Report will be a useful tool in any application to access these programs.
It is important in concluding your Audit that you give proper recognition of those
involved. For instance
- Champion organisation
- The Consultant
- Telecentre staff
- Shire Council
- Department of Local Government and Regional Development
- The Community
This gratitude and thanks could lead on to a possible celebration, in which friends,
family, work colleagues and others could be invited in to see what has been achieved.

This is the main purpose of the report - to bring the data together and help to identify
the specific areas where the community may wish to focus on creating change. The
following is a suggested framework for your CommunityWise Audit Report.

Summary of Core Indicators
Page No.
Environmental Indicators
1. Climatic Factors 17
2. Land Use by Hectares 20
3. Agricultural Yields 22
4. Pasture Use 24
5. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land 26
Social Indicators
1. Natural Population Change 29
2. Net Migration Change 31
3. Population Analysis 33
4. Ethnic Structure 35
5. Housing 37
6. Welfare Payments 38
Economic Indicators
1. Employment by Industry 42
2. Employment by Occupation 44
3. The Labour Force 46
4. Local Gross Product 48
5. Family Income Distribution 51

Summary of Formulas
Page No.
1. Average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures by decade. 18

2. Average decade rainfall by growing and non-growing seasons. 18
3. Average monthly evaporation rates by decade. 18
4. Agricultural land use as a percentage of the total area. 20
5. Agricultural production type as a percentage of total agricultural land use. 21
6. Average size of farms. 21
7. Gross value per hectare of agriculture production. 22
8. Crop yield and value per tonne of production. 23
9. Average value of production per farm. 23
10. Animals per hectare of pasture. 24
11. Average production (kg) and value of wool clip per farm. 24
12. Natural population change. 29
13. Net migration. 31
14. Age and gender as a percentage of total population. 33
15. Ethnic category as a percentage of total population. 35
16. Housing category as a percentage of total dwellings. 37
17. Estimation of total annual welfare payments for 1991, 1996 and 1998. 38
18. Percentage of employment for each industry sector. 43
19. Percentage change (delta) for each industry sector. 43
20. GLP for each industry sector for 1991 and 1996. 48
21. Location Quotient for each industry sector for 1991 and 1996. 49
22. Export and import ratios for each industry sector. 49
23. Export and import ratio in dollars for each industry sector. 49
24. Local annual economic growth. 50
25. Allocation of partial/not stated families. 51
26. Gross community weekly income. 52
27. Gross community annual income. 52
28. Percentage of families in each income category. 52
29. Percentage of gross community annual income per income category. 52

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The

The Community Will be Able To 5

Finding a Task to Suit You 6

Using this Guide 6

What are the Responsibilities of Communities? 7

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY 8

THE CHANGING NATURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY 10

THE ENVIRONMENTAL BARREL 12

THE SOCIAL SYSTEM - 14

THE SOCIAL BARREL 14

THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY - 16

THE ECONOMIC BARREL 16

The CommunityWise Audit Program 2

2. Land Use by Hectares 22

5. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Land 28

Environmental Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 29

THE SOCIAL SYSTEM - 31

1. Natural Population Change 31

2. Net Migration Change 33

3. Population Analysis - Gender and Age 35

Social Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 42

THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY - 44

3. The Labour Force 48

The CommunityWise Audit Program 3

5. Family Income Distribution 53

Economic Indicators that can Add Value to your CommunityWise Audit 55

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 56

Where to from Here? 59

Getting the Message Across 60

WHERE TO FROM HERE? 62

What Else Can We Do? 62

SUMMARY OF CORE INDICATORS 64

The CommunityWise Audit Program 4

The CommunityWise Audit Program is a process that is designed to help all

What is the CommunityWise Audit Program?

Encourages the community to take the time to assess its current

The Community Will be Able To

Assess its current economic, social and environmental status.

The CommunityWise Audit Program 5

It is useful to have a variety of people with different skills to assist in the

Possible Tasks for Community Residents

Using this Guide

The CommunityWise Audit Program 6

There needs to be a preparedness by the local community to undertake any

The community needs to identify a local Consultant/Coordinator who will be

University or tertiary education is not an essential requirement, but someone who is

The CommunityWise Audit Program 7

Layer 3: The Financial Economy

Layer 2: The Social System

Layer 1: The Environment

The Social System

1 Adapted from Hazel Hendersons Paradigms in Progress: Life Beyond Economics

The CommunityWise Audit Program 8

The Financial Economy

Government Inputs and Outgoings

The CommunityWise Audit Program 9

Individual Physical Flows

Individual Social Flows

Individual Financial Flows

The CommunityWise Audit Program 10

Now lets look at each of the systems.

The CommunityWise Audit Program 11

Climate Factors Technologies

Land Use Natural