Neighbourhood Renewal
Targets for revitalising disadvantaged communities
Neighbourhood Renewal is a whole-of-government approach to narrowing the gap between disadvantaged
Victorian communities and the rest of the State. The initiative brings together the resources and ideas of
residents, governments, local businesses and community service organisations to tackle severe disadvantage
and to build inclusive communities.
Renewal projects across metropolitan and regional Victoria are improving housing, education and community
infrastructure, creating jobs, revitalising local economies, reducing crime, promoting health and wellbeing and
connecting communities.
To strengthen the State Government’s commitment to creating a fairer Victoria, targets have been identified to
further drive the transformation of Neighbourhood Renewal communities into vibrant and liveable places. In
every Neighbourhood Renewal location, the Victorian Government aims to:
Pride and participation
• Increase membership of local community organisations or other affiliations to within 10% of the State
average
Housing and environment
• Improve and maintain all public housing in Neighbourhood Renewal areas to the highest property
standard
• Reduce public housing turnover rates to meet the State average
Employment and learning
• Increase the workforce participation rate to 90% of the State average
• Decrease rate of student absenteeism in primary and secondary schools by 3%
• Increase proportion of students meeting national minimum standards in numeracy and literacy by 3%
• Increase proportion of students participating in post school education or training by 3%
• Increase no of students completing year 12 or equivalent by 2%
• Increase utilisation of Internet technology to within 10% of the State average
Health and wellbeing
• Improve self reported health to within 10% of the State average
• Increase use of maternal and child health services to meet the State average
Crime and safety
• Reduce total crime by 12% between 2008 and 2013.
Department of Human Services
The 2008 evaluation of the Neighbourhood Renewal demonstrates the initiative is reducing disadvantage in
communities affected by social and economic exclusion. The downward trend into deeper disadvantage on
many key indicators has been arrested, and local conditions and life opportunities for residents have markedly
improved. In many areas the gap between renewal locations and the rest of the State has narrowed.
Key achievements include:
Over 5500 job opportunities have been generated contributing to a 4% reduction in unemployment
Over 40 social enterprises have been created
16% reduction in secondary school absenteeism
13 School Regeneration projects underway
Over 8,000 housing works have been completed contributing to a 33% perceived improvement in
housing
Over 100 community infrastructure projects including major IT projects, community hubs and gardens,
revitalised parks and reserves
27% reduction in reported crimes against property
14% perceived improvement in government performance.
To ensure that the gains made in Neighbourhood Renewal areas are durable, and improvement continues after
funding is complete, targets have been agreed by State Government departments.
Targets will continue to focus investment in renewal areas, beyond the eight year timeframe of Neighbourhood
Renewal, until the gap between renewal locations and the rest of Victoria is substantially narrowed.
Information about this approach is outlined in the Neighbourhood Renewal Mainstreaming Strategy, which can
be accessed from the Neighbourhood Renewal webpage: www.neighbourhoodrenewal.vic.gov.au
For further information about Whole of Government Targets or Mainstreaming contact:
Dianne Hill
Manager, Corporate Reporting, Strategy and Communication
Neighbourhood Renewal
Tel: (03) 9096 7230
Email: Dianne.Hill@dhs.vic.gov.au
Marie McLeod
Manager, Mainstreaming and Quality Assurance
Neighbourhood Renewal
Tel: (03) 9096 9916
Email: Marie.Mcleod@dhs.vic.gov.au