atticusnow has a particular specialisation in undertaking place-based initiatives. We have worked with community groups, governments and businesses on precinct or regional based initiatives aimed at social or economic development. Over the last 15 years, James van Smeerdijk has led a series of projects to develop strategies for most of the key employment and innovation precincts in Melbourne including the CBD, Parkville, Docklands, Melbourne Arts Precinct, Fisherman's Bend, Monash, La Trobe, Werribee, Sunshine, Dandenong, Maribyrnong and Cloverton. He has advised state and local governments as well as corporations. He has undertaken a range of projects in regional areas with a focus on economic or social development in Victoria including Geelong, Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Albury-Wodonga.
In Australia and globally, there is good evidence that for long term social and economic development effective action needs to be taken at a local level. In economic and urban development, the jobs of the future are likely to be clustered in precincts or districts that require careful curation of elements such as transport, health, education, housing and culture and hospitality to grow and thrive. Regional development can harness similar approaches. In social development, are strong benefits from acting locally in early childhood, education, health, human services, justice and emergency services. These benefits arise from better community engagement, collaboration, prevention and early intervention and recovery.
But there are challenges to overcome from a siloed approach within and between levels of government, service systems that don’t easily connect with social systems, a bias towards investment at the acute end rather than in prevention and early intervention, and gaps in resources, skills and technology sometimes exist at a local level.
We have developed a methodology to help communities and organisation navigate and overcome these challenges so that they can design and implement better place-based approaches to make a real difference in their communities.
Team experience includes:
University of Melbourne – a feasibility study for the University and the State government on the potential for the development of an R&D commercialisation hub in Parkville along similar lines to the MaRS model in Toronto
Gippsland Emergency Relief Foundation – reviewed the state of play for this community organisation that provides cash relief to people affected by emergencies, including the lessons from the recent major bushfires and a pathway for the future development and also how this model might be shared with other regions
Department of Jobs Skills Industry and Regions (Victoria) – a project for five governments (Commonwealth, NSW, Victoria, Albury, and Wodonga) on progressing the three strategic pillars of the community plan. Developed business cases/feasibility studies for three priority initiatives: (1) cross–border community governance, (2) Aboriginal aged care facility, and (3) education and employment hub
City of Melbourne – designed an Economic Development Strategy for the City, aimed at addressing immediate COVID recovery and a longer term place-based development program
City of Melbourne – produced concept paper for the development of an Indigenous Precinct in the City of Melbourne