While traditional community development methods have harnessed the strengths of communities for many years, place-based approaches include a focus on measuring against community outcomes and driving changes in investment.
What has been clear to us during this work is that there is a broad range of understandings and views of what place based work is. However, what has also been clear is the significant emphasis that has been placed on relationships. This came to be the cornerstone of the work between QCOSS and Darumbal Enterprises.
Simply put, we understand place based work to be the bringing together of people in place to address entrenched disadvantage. Place-based approaches requires the wisdom, expertise, resources and shared responsibility of many.
This case study provides an in-depth look at how place-based approaches have improved relationships between community leaders and traditional custodians in and around the Darumbal community.