Mount Alexander Shire Council is at the forefront of changing the way we look at the economy by using the ‘wellbeing economy’ ethos as the basis for the council’s Economic Development Strategy.
Late last year, the council hosted a screening of ground-breaking documentary, Purpose, to help explain the wellbeing economy model to the community.
The idea behind a wellbeing economy is to consider immediate economic gains, but also looking at the long-term health and welfare of the community and the environment. Finding ways for economic activity to support the wellbeing of people today, without compromising future generations.
The movie screening was followed by a Q&A featuring globally recognised advocate for the wellbeing economy, Dr Katherine Trebeck, who told the Express that the wellbeing economy required shifts from the “very very local, right up to the super national”.
“There has to be changes in the way we design cities, the nature of businesses, how we think about work, our tax systems, how we produce food. So many different pieces are needed to change,” she said.
Katherine said the work being done by the community, businesses and the council in the Mount Alexander Shire was an inspiration to so many other places.
“This place is a really good example, of course it’s not perfect, there are challenges, but this is a place where a lot of people are focused on community and are prepared to set up institutions and take ownership of the economy and create collective activities together and have a different vision for how the economy operates,” she said.
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s manager of economy and culture, Merryn Tinkler, has spent the past three years working alongside the Castlemaine Institute to find ways to utilise the wellbeing economy ethos and embed the philosophies into the council’s Economic Development Strategy.
“It’s about finding ways to use the economy to help build a community that is sustainable and equitable and serves the people rather than the economy serving investors,” Ms Tinkler said.
The strategy focuses on six goals for the community. The goals broadly look at the importance of things like – supporting locally owned and governed businesses, setting up precincts that are accessible and include different forms of transport, enhancing resilience and adaptability in people and industries. The goals also address the importance of equality; addressing discrimination, poverty and housing and promoting sustainability to ensure a healthy Country for future generations.
Some of the key premises of a wellbeing economy are the importance of considering the whole system, being guided by community values and goals, and considering the interconnections of issues.
Ms Tinkler told the Express that premises behind the recently released Economic Development Strategy would also begin to influence the Council Plan.
“We are going to put together an economic wellbeing reference group and we will do an annual action plan, based on the six goals and strategies and what we hear from the community,” she said.
“Council is on a trajectory to really try to understand how to best support and really honour the community. What does the community, the local businesses and local people need? Where are the points that the council can influence that and how we can support the community the best?
“This is a journey that we’re going on – it’s not necessarily something we’re going to see come through immediately – we’re looking at a long-term trajectory of change in attitude.”
