This initiative has been undertaken in collaboration with the Committee for Melbourne, Melbourne Cares, ProBono Australia, the Victorian Local Governance Association, the Victorian Council of Social Service, RMIT University, Deakin Universityand the Victorian Government.

Whilst government authorities set planning parameters and provide infrastructure, such as roads, public transport, schools and health services, there is much that philanthropic trusts, large corporations, small businesses, universities and community organisations can do to help shape Melbourne’s future. MacroMelbourne provides a focus for building collaboration, considering the evidence and initiating projects that can help shape this future.

To get to the point of considering ideas for action the MacroMelbourne initiative started by looking at the evidence in relation to disadvantage in Melbourne; the extent to which it already is a divided city and how growth may exacerbate this divide.

Independent research, funded by the Department for Victorian Communities, was undertaken by Associate Professor Linda Hancock and Lucinda Horrocks of the Corporate Citizenship Research Unit at Deakin University, in collaboration with the Victorian Council of Social Service.

Written comments on, and ideas arising from, the 140 page report were invited from five highly respected researchers not involved in the preparation of the main study, both from Australiaand the UK. 

Click Here to download the Full Report, Overview Document or researcher responses.

• MacroMelbourne Full Report (16mb PDF)
• MacroMelbourne Overview
• Responses
      Howe, Considine & Smyth
      Donald Hirsch, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
      Julian Disney, Uni of NSW
      Ian Manning, NIEIR
      Nicola Brackertz, Swinburne

A broadly representative forum, attended by the Deputy Premier, John Thwaites and held at KPMG in July 2006, explored and built on the ideas outlined in the report and responses. It added the experience of a broad cross section of people from business, community organisations, government, universities and philanthropy. The forum focussed on five key issues which fundamentally impact on disadvantage and these included: bridging the digital divide; health and wellbeing; affordable housing; education; and transport.

A post forum document, which is being widely distributed within the corporate and philanthropic sectors, summarises several of the key issues discussed at the forum. It outlines 13 concrete projects currently operating or being developed which could help in addressing disadvantage in Melbourne and indicates the resources required to make this happen – both financial and in-kind. The document aims to make it easy for companies and private donors to connect with the organisations working on the ground to address major areas of inequity and disadvantage across Melbourne over the coming decades. There is a solid evidence base underpinning each of the projects selected for inclusion.

Click here for the document:  MacroMelbourne:  A Liveable City for all its People.  What you need to know and how to get involved.

The MacroMelbourne Statement of Principles

Safe, liveable and vibrant cities are created by global and national forces and the collective will of the people who live and work in them.

The creation of great cities requires courage, a collective vision, good governance and the willingness of many people and organisations to contribute to the way a city is shaped.

Each city creates its own narrative with which people identify and share a common pride.

For Melbourne, the narrative tells the story of migration, the Hoddle grid, gold, enterprise, financial investment, public education, Redman Barry and the rule of law, reconciliation, Governor La Trobe and the emergence of public institutions such as the State Library, Mechanics Institute and Melbourne University, tram and train systems and grand public buildings.

Melbourne's narrative is the story of its past, the legacies left by each generation and the decisions now that are shaping its future.

MacroMelbourne is about the vision for Melbourne looking a generation ahead. It is about imagining what Melbourne's narrative might be in 25 years. It is a recognition that decisions now will shape what is yet to be written; the narrative that is within the keep of this generation to leave for future generations.

To be able to make judgements now that shape the future there must be guiding principles. We cannot know the outcomes or the impact of decisions before they happen. We can only exercise good judgement based on sound principles.

The over-riding principle of MacroMelbourne is that Melbourne should be a liveable city for all of its citizens.

From this single principle derive many others against which our judgements and decisions can be measured. These touchstones of good decision making are;

• Will it make Melbourne more sustainable?
• Will it increase people's safety and wellbeing?
• Will it close the gap between the privileged and the underprivileged?
• Will it increase inclusiveness, social cohesion and access to services?
• Will it increase opportunities to work and participate?
• Will it protect human rights, tolerance and diversity?

MacroMelbourne aims to foster collaboration in order that Melbourne might develop as a liveable city for all of its citizens.