Mining and Community Engagement in Chile, by Steve Fisher

Community Works was very pleased to work with InnovacionAL (www.innovacional.com) to develop and present a seminar at the Alberto Hurtado University on 5^th March 2015. The theme was Mining and Community Engagement. As well as the university, the event was supported by the Ministry of Mining of the Government of Chile and Casa de la Paz, an NGO in Chile with interests in improving the interaction between mining companies, communities and stakeholders.  

Yanina Kowszyk, Director of InnovacionAL introducing
 Steve Fisher from Community Works

For the first hour, I presented materials on the subject drawn from Australian experiences, including case studies from projects in which Community Works has been involved, as well as the Aboriginal Community Research network of Ninti One Ltd (www.nintione.com.au) and others. The IAP2 Framework is a useful tool for discussion of the subject, as is the generational framework developed by Kemp and Boele and adopted as part of the best practice manuals promoted by the Australian Government Department of Industry. I presented both frameworks, together with other methods and approaches.

When working with the Queensland University of Technology on training programs for mining professionals, I have always found it useful to separate community engagement into strategic and transactional levels. Strategic refers to the choice of overall frameworks for how to work effectively with communities, such as partnership agreements. Transactional work refers to the day-to-day interactions between community residents or members and outsider professionals from companies, government agencies and NGOs. Facilitation skills are a part of these processes and the seminar discussed them in some detail. Clearly an underlying principle is the need to generate rapport and respect in both directions.

Steve Fisher at Alberto Hurtado University, during the seminar
Mining and Communities organised by InnovacionAL

Participants at the event were very active in their comments and questions. Topics that arose included processes for managing and reducing conflict, a discussion of the pressures that bear on communities in making decisions on whether to accept mining activity, incentives for their participation and attitudes of wider society to rural communities. 

We have been delighted to work with the team at InnovacionAL. Their energy, practical skills and local knowledge makes for a productive partnership. We are looking forward to developing projects on which the two organisations can collaborate in the future.  

Steve Fisher

March 2015

The Chaco Networks; environment and development in South America by Steve Fisher

The Redes Chaco (pronounced Red-es Cha-co) or Chaco Networks is a group of people and organisations concerned with the sustainable development of the Gran Chaco Region of South America, an extensive low-lying and semi-arid area that is part of the territory of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.

Ivan Arnold of Nativa addressing the
Redes Chaco Meeting in February 2015

I recently participated in the regional meeting of Redes Chaco held in Embarcación, Argentina, close to the border with Bolivia. More information on the organisation can be found here: www.redeschaco.org. I was invited to the meeting by Ivan Arnold of Nativa, a Bolivian organisation that will be the subject of a separate blog post. Afterwards I spent some time visiting Nativa and understanding their programs, with a view to Community Works assisting or working with them in some way.

The home of a Chaqueña family participating in a Nativa project
to reduce pressure on forest resources

Taking an Australian perspective on the Chaco, it has much in common with the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Water quality and availability is a challenge, seasonal climate change (especially the rainy season) can present difficulties for access and infrastructure, while the pattern of sparse settlement leads to complexities around access to services and economic development. Topics of interest to Redes Chaco include water, climate change vulnerability, enterprise development and natural resource management. The presence of many indigenous people and organisations in the region brings a unique social and cultural dynamic to the region.

Redes Chaco has recently launched a fund to support sustainable development projects. Community Works will maintain our interest in the work of the organisation and any opportunities to make positive connections in Australia and elsewhere.  

Steve Fisher

Director, Community Works

15th March 2015

Celebrating Christmas in Summer

Earlier this year our Community Works Team had its yearly Christmas celebration. It was difficult to put all the calendars together and find a date where we all could be at the same place, at the same time. So, we decided the best time of the year for this was mid January, and gathered on a lovely sunny day in Melbourne for a yearly meeting, followed up by a social gathering including family and kids; ice-cream, a few drinks and pizzas. It was such a great opportunity to catch up with fellow team members, families... and meet new babies!

CW Team Family

Community Works exists to help organisations working on community-oriented projects and programs to improve the quality and result of their activities. The company started in 2008; although, our Director, Steve Fisher, had been doing similar work for several years prior to that. 

Our team consists of a very talented group of people with different skills, knowledge, experience and backgrounds. We gathered at a meeting room booked at the Abottsford Convent for a change, and discussed about all the different projects we have engaged in this year. 

A group from RACI visiting the
Akeyulerre Healing Centre with ELP in Alice Springs

The impact of the work we do at Community Works is growing through partnerships, new and existing regular clients; as well as, by developing a close relation with other development organisations and NGOs.

This year we hope to develop new partnerships, sign new agreements, keep working with our regular clients and to continue to contribute to great results and programs of high positive impact at local, national and international levels. 

For more information about the different services offered by Community Works please visit: http://communityworks.com.au/services/

Vanessa Angulo
International Development Associate
Community Works
www.communityworks.com.au