Unlocking Collective Potential: Exploring the Impact of Purposeful University-Community Engagement

To remain true to our purpose as public-spirited higher education institutions during a time when many institutions are suffering a loss of public trust, we need to build purposeful relationships and partnerships with diverse communities at a local, national and international level to address pressing local and global issues.

The session will explore a case study from the University of Melbourne and how it is enabling community, students, and academics to build deep relations, form partnerships and collectively address issues and create shared impact.

This panel brings together representatives from the university community and local Carlton neighbourhood to discuss and interrogate the value that we can create collectively through purposeful and deliberate community engagement. We will do this through case studies and sharing approaches and learning from neighbourhood community collaboration including:

• Carlton Community Network: mobilising with over 56 local not-for-profits and the City of Melbourne to address local challenges. During the pandemic we identified the challenges of digital exclusion and joined up to support families and individuals in the Carlton Estate to access computers and digital support. This led to a coordinated approach lobbying and advocating for digital inclusion.

• Carlton Harmony Day: University students and staff working with local not for profit and community organisation, the Carlton Neighbourhood and Learning Centre to support and deliver the annual Carlton Harmony Day that creates shared benefits for all partners.

This session shares experiences and learning as we work together across the university community and with external collaborators to build stronger community and cultural links so that we can work respectfully, inclusively and together to improve conditions and make a difference.

This session is run as part of the Carnegie Community Engagement Network offerings.  

*Please note that this session is free.

Contact us:

If you have any questions about the session or the Carnegie Community Engagement Network, please contact carnegie@engagementaustralia.org.au