Upper Spencer Gulf Common Purpose Group
Education
Upper Spencer Gulf Education & Research Alliance
A key initiative of the Upper Spencer Gulf Common Purpose Group is the active pursuit of a new model of industry, community and skills/research institute collaboration for the region.
Whilst the USG has a strong history and future capability in servicing future mining operations, it also has considerable opportunity to utilise the existing industrial strengths to support a number of emerging clean-tech, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and agricultural value-adding opportunities that will assist transformation of the region.
To support this growth and foster innovation and leadership in these sectors, access to technical expertise and research will be required as a priority. Several recent reports highlight the current lack of scientific and technical capability as a key barrier to growth and economic diversification of the region.
The Upper Spencer Gulf Industry Research Hub aims to address this gap by bringing together the needs of emerging local industry, within a the most relevant and cost-effective research capability by brokering and supporting local access to postdoctoral research, intern placements, researcher exchanges, visiting specialist academic experts, tertiary student study support and facilitating access to demonstration and pilot sites.
The Research Alliance concept is available here
Capacity Building
Community Asset Mapping & Social Indicators Project
In 2012 SA Health and Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Technology, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) commissioned University of Adelaide’s Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) to develop a regional atlas of community health and wellbeing in the Upper Spencer Gulf. DOWNLOAD HERE
The report illustrated wellbeing as layers of influence, starting with individual factors and extending to aspects of families, neighbourhoods and wider community. The report also identified characteristics of healthy communities that would best support the USG to capitalise on current and future opportunities and mediate future challenges.
Phase 2 of this initiative is now being delivered – building on the findings of the regional atlas by mapping the positive capabilities and assets of the USG communities.
Rather than taking a deficit approach, this project aims to build on the strengths of regional communities. This ‘strengths-based’ community assessment is underpinned by a focus on existing capacity of the community, local leadership investment and control, and use of both formal and informal strengths and resources including those of individuals and associations.
