Diversity of Local Government Research

The increasing depth of research emerging from the Australian local government sector has surely been confirmed today with the publication of a selection of peer-reviewed papers that were presented at the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) national Local Government Researchers’ Forum in June.

The online volume Proceedings of the 3rd National Local Government Researchers’ Forum comprises thirteen papers and is freely available from the University of Technology, Sydney’s (UTS) ePress site.

“The papers in this collection reinforce the diversity and depth of research that is undertaken in the local government sector,” said ACELG Director, Associate Professor Roberta Ryan. “Of particular note is the representation of local government practitioners, with a pleasing number contributed by council staff.”

“The Researchers’ Forum and current ACELG research and policy initiatives aim to facilitate discussions between local government practitioners and researchers about how to build research capacity in the local government sector to address pressing policy issues. These proceedings are an important part of this drive.”

Some of the papers include: Motivating and retaining local government workers: What does it take?;  Local government as a facilitator of systemic social innovation;  Meaningful participant-based research in a remote Indigenous community context;  Community wellbeing indicators: Measures for local government;  Carbon offsetting by Queensland councils: Motives and benefits.

The papers in the collection have undergone an academic peer-review process overseen by the ACELG Research and Advisory Committee (RAC) which includes members of councils, local government associations and the academic community.

“The RAC have done a tremendous job of oversight on this project,” said Associate Professor Ryan. “And thanks to UTS and its ePress initiative the papers are openly available to a wide readership. This supports ACELG’s inclusive approach whereby all local government stakeholders can access quality research and be part of a national and informed policy debate.”

The Proceedings can be accessed here

The next ACELG Local Government Research Forum will be held in Melbourne on 30 April 2014 in association with the LGMA National Congress and Business Expo. To support researcher involvement in the Forum and to enhance researcher skills generally ACELG is hosting a free research workshop in Sydney on November 21.

For further detail visit www.acelg.org.au