About Bank of IDEAS
 

The Bank of I.D.E.A.S. is motivated by two passions:

  • the development of healthy, inclusive, sustainable and enterprising communities and local economies; and
     
  • the active participation and leadership by young men and women in the creation of such communities and economies.

The Bank of I.D.E.A.S. operates from the basic assumption that communities do not develop from the ‘top down’ or from ‘the outside in’. It believes that communities need to build from ‘the inside out’, and for their residents to invest themselves, ideas, assets, capabilities and resources in the process.

This philosophical basis incorporates the following nine key operational beliefs:

  • Meaningful and lasting community change always originates from within, and local residents in that community are the best experts on how to activate that change.
  • Community residents act responsibly when they care, and support what they create.
  • Building and nourishing relationships is at the core of building healthy and inclusive communities.
  • Communities have never been built by dwelling on their deficiencies, needs and problems. Communities respond creatively when the focus is on resources, capacities, strengths and aspirations.
  • The strength of a community is directly proportional to the level that the diversity of its residents desire, and are able to contribute their abilities and assets to the well being of their community.
  • Every single person has capacities, abilities, gifts and ideas, and living a good life depends on whether those capacities can be used, abilities expressed, gifts given and ideas shared.
  • In every community something works. Instead of asking ‘What’s wrong, and how to fix it’, ask- ‘What’s worked, and how do we get more of it?’ It generates energy and creativity.
  • Creating positive change begins simply with conversation. It is the way that human beings have always thought together, and initiated action.
  • Hope and passion, visionary leadership, social connectedness, altruism, generosity, collaboration, pride and forgiveness are the most important qualities of community life.

Click here to download a copy of the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. Philosophical Beliefs.

Project work by the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. currently involves the following

  • Healthy community development

Facilitated workshops on such themes with 16 federal and state agencies throughout Australia.  Bank of I.D.E.A.S. has been a significant contributor to the introduction of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) methodologies to Australia, New Zealand. 

  • Community asset mapping, visioning and planning

Assisted with the formulation of over 100 community plans and the facilitation of over 250 community planning workshops. 

  • Rural community revitalisation

Involved with over 1000 rural communities in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Namibia, USA, UK, Canada and authored six publications / videos on the theme. 

  • Youth participation and empowerment

Designed and implemented the 'Youth at the Centre' national initiative, aimed at stimulating youth involvement in their rural community's future. Involved in promoting the youth program: ru MAD? (Are You Making A Difference?) through schools across Australia.

  • Community and Economic development

Developed LED plans for over 50 communities / regions, authored six publications on the theme and designed methodologies and tools specifically in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa eg. the Business Expansion and  Retention Program (B.E.A.R.), Community Opportunity Workshops, First Impressions Exercise, Community Builders Program etc. 

  • National youth strategy facilitation; and

Facilitated the development of 20 National Youth Policies / Strategies within the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Middle East. Authored three publications on such themes.  During 2005, Bank of I.D.E.A.S. was involved with the facilitation of National Youth Strategies and Action Plans in Bahrain, Jordan and Yemen. Currently involved with the development of National Youth Strategies in Somalia. 

  • Youth enterprise promotion.

Authored 3 publications on this theme. Currently popularising this concept in rural communities, designed and implemented the C.R.E.A.T.E. (Creating Rural Entrepreneurial Attitudes Through Education) Initiative through 45 rural sites in Australia.

 
Organisations / groups with whom the Bank of I.D.E.A.S has undertaken work projects in the last 2 years :
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Canada)
  • Alpine Valleys Leadership Program (Vic)
  • Amathole District Council (South Africa)
  • Amathole Regional Economic Development Agency (South Africa)
  • Ararat Shire (Vic)
  • Asset Based Community Development Institute (USA)
  • Auckland City Council (NZ)
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Bulls and Districts Enterprise Inc (NZ)
  • Buloke Shire (Vic)
  • Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce (QLD)
  • Business Retention and Expansion International
  • Campaspe Shire Council (Vic)
  • Central Coast Community Congress (NSW)
  • Central Goldfields Local Community Employment Network (Vic)
  • Central Hawkes Bay Promotions (NZ)
  • Central Otago District Council (NZ)
  • Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (Canada)
  • Centre for Rural Leadership (Canada)
  • Chathams Community Focus (NZ)
  • Chathams Enterprise Trust (NZ)
  • Claremont Town Council (WA)
  • Clutha District Council (NZ)
  • Commonwealth Study Conference
  • Community Boards Forum (NZ)
  • Creative New Zealand (NZ)
  • Curtin University (WA)
  • Department of Education and Training (WA)
  • Department of Education, Science and Training (Federal)
  • Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Federal)
  • Department of Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (Federal)
  • Department of Trade and Industry (South Africa)
  • Department of Transport and Regional Services (Federal Government)
  • Disability Services Commission (WA)
  • Durban Investment Promotion Agency (South Africa)
  • Eastern Eyre Health Service (SA)
  • East Kimberley Family Support Group (WA)
  • Economic Development Association of New Zealand (NZ)
  • Education Foundation (Vic)
  • Enterprising Communities Program, Ministry of Social Development (NZ)
  • Enterprise Network New Brunswick (Canada)
  • Family Action Centre (University of Newcastle (NSW)
  • General Organisation of Youth and Sports (Bahrain)
  • Genetic Technologies (NZ)
  • GTZ - German Technical Assistance (South Africa)
  • Goldfields Local Community and Employment Network (Vic)
  • Gosford City Council (NSW)
  • Hastings Tourism (NZ)
  • Hay Tourism and Development (NSW)
  • Heritage International Ltd (NZ)
  • Hutt City Council (NZ)
  • Hyden Progress Association (WA)
  • ICMI Speakers
  • Imagine Virginia (SA)
  • Industrial Development Corporation (South Africa)
  • International Council on National Youth Policy (Austria)
  • International Labour Office (Switzerland)
  • Kwa Zulu - Nata Provincial Department of Economic Development (South Africa)
  • Lead On Australia (Vic)
  • Lead On Kalamunda (WA)
  • Learning Centre Link (WA)
  • Local Government Community Development Association of WA (WA)
  • Local Government Managers Australia
  • Local Economic Developement Network (South Africa)
  • Maryborough City Council (QLD)
  • Melville City Council (WA)
  • Mildura Economic Development Board (Vic)
  • Mid West Area Consultative Committee (WA)
  • Ministry of Social Development (NZ)
  • Ministry of Social Development (Yemen)
  • Monto Landcare (QLD)
  • Municipal Association of Victoria (Vic)
  • Murray Area Consultative Committee (Vic)
  • Murray-Mallee Local Enterprise Network (Vic)
  • Narrogin Senior High School (WA)
  • National Indigenous Council (Federal)
  • National Local Government Conference
  • National Mainstreet Conference
  • Nebraska Rural Institute
  • North Canterbury Enterprise (NZ)
  • Northern Areas Council (South Australia)
  • Northern Grampians Shire (Vic)
  • Nortern Regions Council (SA)
  • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Canada)
  • Ontario Rural Council (Canada)
  • Orana Area Consultative Committee (NSW)
  • Otgao Community Trust (NZ)
  • Riverina Area Consultative Committee (NSW)
  • Rural City of Benalla (Vic)
  • Rural City of Wangaratta (Vic)
  • Rural HealthWest (WA)
  • Salisbury Youth Enterprise Centre (SA)
  • Saxton Speakers Bureau (Aust)
  • Smith Family
  • South African LED Network (South Africa)
  • South Australian Rural Health (SA)
  • South Carolina Department of Commerce (USA)
  • South West Local Learning and Enterprise Network (Vic)
  • Spirituality in the Pub (NSW)
  • Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board (Vic)
  • Swan Hill Business Awards (Vic)
  • The Regional Development Company Ltd (Vic)
  • Trade & Investment Kwazulu-Natal (South Africa)
  • Trans Tasman Mainstreet and Towns Centre Conference (NZ)
  • UNC International (USA)
  • UNDP (Bahrain)
  • UNICEF Somalia
  • UNICEF Yemen
  • University of Naseby (NZ)
  • Villa Maria (WA)
  • Vision Nebraska (USA)
  • Victorian Principals Association (Vic)
  • Walwa Bush Nursing Centre (Vic)
  • Wellington Shire Council (Vic)
  • West Kimberley Family Support Group (WA)
  • World Art Deco Congress
  • World Bank
  • Yilgarn infrastructure (WA)
  • Youth Employment Summit (Kenya)

Plus 45 schools in Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and NSW