Learning Communities Catalyst

Vision Statement

As a learning city Lithgow will be the social, economic and business leader of regional New South Wales

Characteristics of the region

Lithgow Local Government Area (LGA) is located at the western end of the Blue Mountains at an altitude of 940 metres. The Lithgow LGA has a population of 20,389 (ABS 2001), approximately 14,000 of whom live in the city of Lithgow itself.

The main industries consist of: mining, manufacturing; electricity supply, and construction but there have been significant decreases in employment in these industries since the early 1990's. Unemployment runs at slightly higher than the state average, at around 10%. Currently considerable growth has been recorded in: property and business services; personal and other services, and accommodation, cafes and restaurant.

History as a learning community

Lithgow City Council declared Lithgow to be the first learning city in New South Wales on 12th February 2001. This move signified a dramatic shift away from the traditional industrial/mining economic base of the community and was in response to a significant downturn in the local economy. Prior to Lithgow becoming a learning city, there had been considerable research into the local situation plus opportunities for community consultation. A community Search Conference was held in 1997, a Skill's Audit in 1998 and a Women's Forum in 1999, all aimed at analyzing the local conditions and planning for a healthier future.

The learning community was seen as a vehicle to help diversify Lithgow's skill base, promote economic diversification and strengthen the social capital that has been so threatened by the economic downturn. The project has been driven by:

• the Lithgow Library - through the initial planning and organizing, and the continual operation of the project
• the Lithgow City Council - through funding for the Learning City Co-ordinator's position and the establishment of the Management Committee as a Council sub-committee
• the Learning City Management Committee which consists of 13 representatives from State and Local Government, business, health, education and welfare.

There is considerable community support from all sectors, and many benefits have come to the Lithgow area as a result of the project. Applications for funding are supported by the very principles of learning communities - which emphasise partnership building and promote lifelong learning. People with innovative programs have a mechanism by which they can showcase their programs and receive support, plus interact with relevant sections of the community. Education programs, such as the Smith Family's Learning for Life, have been introduced because the structures for support are already in existence. Adult and community education programs are facilitated and supported because of the amount of interaction and communication already existing through existing committees and interagencies.

Achievements/Plans

• development of the Lithgow Library Learning Centre in the central CBD. This facility is the symbol of Lithgow as a learning city and consists of the Lithgow public library service, Lithgow Learning Shop and the Technology Centre
• Delta/TAFE training partnership which originated through contacts made within the Learning City Management Committee and has resulted in Delta, owner of the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations, sourcing all their training locally through the Western Institute of TAFE.
• Spread the Word community literacy program which aims to raise community awareness of the importance of talking to, singing to, playing with and reading to children from birth. This program is a co-operative venture between local government, pre-schools & day care centres, schools, adult education, health and human services groups.
• Books for Babies is part of Spread the Word and is a joint venture between Lithgow Library and Community Health. Babies born in the Lithgow Hospital are presented with a book, calico bag and information about the importance of reading to children, before they leave hospital. At 18 months of age, when the child has finished the immunization program, another book bag is presented to their family by the Lithgow Centrelink office.
• Promotion of Lithgow as a learning city through: media, development of a logo, presentations to local groups, and talks at state and national conferences
• Better communication between the education sector, especially amongst adult education providers. Consequently Adult Education Week has achieved a much higher profile than previously was possible
• Development, and ongoing maintenance, of a learning city website
• Fostering relationships with universities to establish a university presence in the Lithgow area.
• Increasing community discussion about the provision of apprenticeships within the region and providing adequate education facilities and support for businesses employing apprentices
• Planning for the development of an information kit to promote the benefits of living in the Lithgow region plus providing information about services, housing, employment, social & recreational facilities etc.

What this means for Lithgow

• community action at its best! We have seen the need for change and are acting on it
• innovative responses to reverse the downturn in the local economy - being proactive rather than reactive
• positioning Lithgow for the new economy
• changing role for Lithgow Library - a leader of the community rather than just a storehouse of information
• increasing awareness of the importance of lifelong learning. Encouraging people to realize they learn all their lives and that learning is not a "dirty word"!
• building partnerships within the community so that innovation is encouraged, duplication reduced and information shared