Benefits of community strengthening
The Department of Planning and Community Development puts a priority on working with people and organisations at a local level to find practical solutions to local problems.
Our belief is that community strengthening actions directly improve the wellbeing of Victorians in very practical ways. This belief is backed by research which shows that successful community strengthening strategies contribute to the creation of stronger civic institutions and increased social and economic opportunities.
The Department for Human Services’ Victorian Population Health Survey found that people with strong social networks generally:
- have a greater sense of safety
- have improved health status
- have improved sense of control over their life
- feel more valued
- have more involvement in civic life
Learn more about the evidence that demonstrates the benefits of community strengthening.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
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