Charter & Core Responsibilities
Ministerial Charter
The national network of Area Consultative Committees
(ACCs) provides an important link between the Australian Government
and rural and metropolitan Australia. As volunteer community
based organisations, ACCs are uniquely placed to respond to
issues in their regions and provide a vital conduit to government
on social and economic conditions locally.
The Chairs of the ACCs, who are appointed by the Minister
for Transport and Regional Services, are leading members
of the local community. They and their Committee Members are
drawn from the community, local business and government, and
provide strategic leadership and direction to ACCs in fulfilling
the ACC charter and functions.
The Australian Government recognises that optimal regional
growth and development will only be achieved when regional
communities manage change at the local level, realise their
potential and plan for and lead their own development with
the support of both the Government and the private sector.
However, this in turn will work best if there is an effective
organisational arrangement in place that enables the Government
to respond to each region’s needs and that encourages
the local community to take up the Government programmes designed
to achieve these goals. It is this role that ACCs fulfil.
ACC Core Responsibilities
The ACC Charter comprises three core responsibilities from
which all activities are derived.
1. ACCs are a key facilitator of change and development
in their region.
To do this, ACCs know their region and communities well,
from an economic, social and environmental perspective, by:
- understanding the dynamics of their communities and region
in terms of investment patterns and demographics;
- searching out the unique strategic advantages in the
region that generate growth and development, and determining
what is making these communities thrive;
- identifying and working in partnership with the leaders
in the community who are able to build enthusiasm for new
initiatives, and fostering their support;
- identifying issues that are impacting on their communities,
and determining the needs and priorities arising from these
issues; and
- being particularly conscious of any sector of disadvantage
in their communities and region, and looking to ensure such
disadvantage is addressed as a priority.
2. ACCs are the link between Government, business and the
community.
To achieve this, ACCs create and maintain cross-regional
networks with all levels of government, particularly the Federal
Government by:
- promoting and disseminating information on Government
policies and programmes, particularly those orientated towards
business and communities;
- informing Government of the impact of policies and programmes
on business and the community;
- from a local community context, providing comment on,
and as appropriate endorsement of, project proposals submitted
for consideration under Government programmes; and
- providing constructive and regular advice and feedback
to Government on community needs, service and development
requirements
3. ACCs facilitate Whole of Government responses to opportunities
in their communities.
To achieve this, ACCs act as a catalyst and coordination
point for regional development by:
- drawing together the range of avenues and resources by
which communities and regions can foster development;
- working to maintain constructive alliances with all levels
of government, business and the community;
- actively identifying opportunities to bring Whole of
Government solutions to community and regional issues; and
- facilitating the development and submission of suitable
project proposals by local proponents and sharing ownership
of the results.
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