Benchmarks for Australian Citizenship

Posted on 14 September 2011

Organisation

National Citizenship Project

Purpose

The National Citizenship Project has been a long running community research project exploring related issues of citizenship and democracy, social indicators and community development.
It was initiated in 1995 by Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne (SUT) and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), following the establishment of a Senate Inquiry into better ways to measure progress and well being in Australia: the ‘National Citizenship Inquiry’. With funding from the Australian Research Council and the Myer Foundation, it has brought together various partners in the community and from other universities including Deakin, RMIT, and the universities of New South Wales and Tasmania.
The project’s broad goal has been to develop benchmarks and indicators for a ‘good society’ (nationally) and ‘good communities’ (locally) and to do so in ways that combine ‘best practice’ standards (such as human rights) with a strong democratic, community development and citizen participation element (i.e, communities and citizens deciding on the goals and priorities that they think important for their community) It is thus both a social research and a community development and networking project.
The following are taken from the national survey carried out for the project. People were asked to rank the staments out of ten to answer the question "What makes a good society..."

Link

http://www.anewnz.org.nz/attachments/docs/spre-ms-community-social-indicators-citizens-m.pdf (See Appendix A)

Goals / Aspirations used in the survey

High standards of honesty in politics and public life

Everyone treated equally and fairly by the law

Basic human rights of all citizens strongly protected

Good quality basic services (health, education etc) for all

Eliminating crime and violence

Protecting the environment, resources and wildlife

Equal opportunities for men and women

Everyone paying tax fairly, according to income and wealth

Justified confidence that public institutions act fairly

Local communities having good quality public facilities

Looking after vulnerable and disadvantaged people well

Cut environmental pollution, develop renewable energy sources

People feeling responsible for each other and to the community

People who work hard can succeed in life

Encouraging family life and family values

Young people are valued, and have secure future prospects

Eliminating poverty

Respect for, and strict enforcement of, the laws

Secure, satisfying, fairly paid jobs for all who want work

Strong social protection (age, sickness, unemployment etc)

Ability to trust other people, including strangers

Special care to protect rural and remote communities

Attractive and well planned towns and cities

Protection of religious freedom

Fair and independent relations with other nations

High standards of technology and scientific progress

Respecting the culture of indigenous peoples

Vigorous freedom of speech, diverse public opinions

People participating in decision-making that affects them

Diverse ownership and control of the media

Strong local communities and local organisations

Freedom to do what we like if we don’t harm others

Generosity in helping disadvantaged countries

No big differences in wealth and power between people

Accepting refugees, even at some cost to ourselves

A strong free-enterprise economy, minimal government

Putting a strong economy before equity and environment goals

People having similar social values and lifestyles

How do the Benchmarks for Australian Citizenship goals fit within the MAP2010 framework?

for more information on the MAP2010 frameworks see here

Image:Benchmarks for Australian Citizenship