2006 Media Releases
Thursday, 26 October 2006
Research investigates change in Australia’s rural heartlands
La Trobe University’s Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC) is leading an innovative research project to examine the momentous social and economic changes sweeping Australia’s rural heartlands.
CSRC Director, Professor John Martin, said La Trobe University had been awarded a $170,000 Australian Research Council (ARC) grant for the project. It will bring together a team of eight leading Australian researchers – geographers, regional economists, and sociologists - from La Trobe University and the universities of Melbourne, Sydney, New England and Griffith.
“It’s the first time in Australia that such a comprehensive research effort will be undertaken to develop innovative social and economic modeling of rural change.”
Australia’s rural heartlands comprise inland cropping and grazing belts with an annual rainfall of between 600 and 1200mm. Agriculture in these places provides high quality food and fibre for domestic consumption, and food export contributes significantly to national earnings.
“A major benefit of this research will be to present a more accurate picture of the social and economic changes in rural heartlands, how these places function, and why some differ in their development.“
Professor Martin said research efforts will focus on four strategically selected case study areas in the most important economic region of the rural heartlands, the Murray Darling Basin.
Two areas in Victoria will be examined including ‘Wimmera Central’ which is serviced by Bendigo to the east and Horsham to the south, and ‘Murray Valley’ on the Victorian/New South Wales border which is serviced by Shepparton to the east and Wagga to the north-east.
The research will also examine the New South Wales regions of ‘Lachlan’, south west of Orange, and ‘North New England’ including Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Inverell.
The project will draw on data from the 2006 Census to build a picture of the farm structure in each area, farm expenditure, and social views and attitudes on challenges, change, farming, and the future.
It will involve face-to-face interviews with farm managers, as well as surveys of rural residents to obtain views on rural change and adaptability.
The regional farm expenditure survey will generate a comprehensive picture of the importance of farms in the rural economy. The rural residents’ survey will provide a social perspective outlining views on what it is like to live in the rural heartlands, how people’s lives have changed over time, and what their expectations are for the future of the rural community in which they live.
The survey will also examine people’s roles in social service and sporting organisations, as well as their perspectives on the role of farming to ascertain if these roles have changed.
The research team will employ research assistants from the four study areas to co-ordinate interviews and public meetings and help build relationships within the communities being studied.
Feedback from local communities will be a vital part of this project.
Professor Martin said regional Australia continued to be presented as a place of declining opportunity when compared with life in capital cities, yet anecdotal evidence suggests there is considerable variation between towns and communities in regional Australia.
“This research will provide a detailed understanding as to why it is that places differ in their development, and lead to practical strategies that rural places and governments can adopt to ensure long term sustainability.“
The project entitled, ‘Australia’s Rural Heartlands: Declining Economic Fortune or Dynamic Regional Adjustment?’ will be conducted over the next three years.
The research team comprises Professor John Martin, La Trobe University Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC); Dr Neil Argent, Associate Professor Tony Sorensen and Professor Jim Walmsley, all from the University of New England; Associate Professor Lisa Bourke from the University of Melbourne; Associate Professor Scott Baum from Griffith University, and Dr Phil McManus and Dr Bill Pritchard both from the University of Sydney.
For further information:
For further information on La Trobe University’s Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC) phone Professor John Martin on 03 5444 7804 or visit: www.latrobe.edu.au/csrc