The goal of the Doing IT Better Project is to enable community organisations to significantly improve both their organisational technological expertise and their ability to transmit that expertise to their clients—ultimately empowering both.
The project is lead by Dr Larry Stillman of the Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash, with Dean Lombard of VCOSS.
In 2004, a small scale participatory research project identified many of the information, training, and support needs of Neighbourhood Houses, the archetypical neighbourhood centre, in a deprived part of Melbourne. Knowledge and information links were weak between members of the service network, despite the availability of ICTs. Something else was missing in the groups understanding of the issues and a capacity to move forward. The centres, on the basis of a draft report prepared through an interactive, and participatory research methodology, were able to use it as an advocacy tool. Public servants and parliamentarians who saw the report were stunned to read peoples’ actual words, rather than the bland filtering that occurs in traditional consultants’ reports. Evidence was presented to parliamentary committees, and while it cannot proved that the project had a direct causal effect, in 2004, additional funds were provided by government for technology infrastructure and the May 2006 Victorian State budget greatly increased overall support for Neighbourhood Houses .
Continuing interest in participatory action with the community sector led to discussions in 2005-6 by CCNR with VCOSS. VCOSS members have a rich depth of knowledge about social-technological issues, but lack a vehicle and forum to express them. Outside assistance—or at least an empathetic partnership—is required to help draw out their own knowledge, build independent capacity, and to help them locate funding for long-term sustainability of human-centred technology use.
Another environmental effect on the project has been research in which the Centre for Community Networking Research has been involved on behalf of the Commonwealth Government with other key community sector organisations. The research similarly established a high degree of information, training and support needs across the country.
There are several key aspects of the project:
· A Working Group—to act as a leadership group and ongoing participant base within the community sector, akin to a community of practice in Victoria.
· In-depth case-studies—to provide discrete and detailed knowledge about problems and solutions and an opportunity, through participatory methodologies, for organisations to set their own questions and develop priorities and solutions.
A key guiding principle is that of collective ‘Open Knowledge’, as distinct from individualistic activity. The idea of Open Knowledge is akin to that found in the Open Source movement, in that strength can only come about through collaboration, information sharing, and information distribution, in a sector that is used to this principle.
For more information:
· Dr Larry Stillman 03 9903 1801 larry.stillman AT infotech.monash.edu.au
· Dean Lombard 03 03 9654 5050 dean.lombard AT vcoss.org.au
Oct 2007