National ACC Charter

The ACC Charter sets out the roles and purposes for which the Australian Government funds Area Consultative Committees (ACCs). The Charter describes the outcomes the Australian Government is seeking from ACCs and defines the functional responsibilities of ACCs. The Charter also reflects the pivotal role of ACCs in helping communities revitalise local capacity for growth, by assisting regions to harness their communities’ strengths to achieve longer term sustainability.

The Australian Government recognises that regional growth, development and sustainability will be achieved only when regional communities manage change at the local level, realise their potential and plan for and lead their own development with the support of the Government, the community and the private sector.

This will work best if there is an effective organisation in place to enable the Government to respond to each region’s needs and to encourage the community to take up Government programs designed to assist them to achieve their developmental goals. It is this role that ACCs fulfil as the Australian Government’s regional development network.

A core function of ACCs is to be the primary point of promotion, project identification and application development for the Regional Partnerships program (including the Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund), and the key provider of advice to the Australian Government on Regional Partnerships applications from their region.

The national network of ACCs provides an important link between the Australian Government, business and community. As volunteer community based organisations, ACCs are uniquely placed to respond to issues and opportunities in their regions and provide a vital conduit to government on local social, economic and environmental conditions. ACCs are also well placed to assist Australian Government agencies in the delivery of their programs.

The Regional Partnerships program constitutes an important component of the Australian Government’s ‘whole of Government’ policy approach, which is based on collaboration, regional need, flexibility, accountability and leadership. ACCs therefore have a critical role in implementing this approach.

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the ACCs, who are appointed by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, are leading members of the community. They and their committee members are drawn from the community, business and government to reflect the economic, social and cultural diversity of the region. These members collectively have a strong understanding of the economic social and environmental opportunities and challenges facing their region and they provide strategic leadership and direction to ACCs in fulfilling their charter and functions.

ACC Core Responsibilities

The ACC Charter comprises three core responsibilities from which all activity is derived.

1. ACCs are key facilitators of change and development in their region.

ACCs demonstrate knowledge of their regions and communities by:

• identifying issues that are affecting their communities and how the Regional Partnerships program can address these issues;
• understanding the dynamics of their communities and region in terms of investment patterns and demographics;
• searching out unique strategic advantages in the region that generate growth and development; and
• identifying and working in partnership with leaders in the community.

2. ACCs are the link between Government, business and the community.

ACCs create and sustain regional, cross-sectoral networks by:

• fulfilling their responsibilities under the Regional Partnerships program;
• promoting and disseminating information on Government policies and programs, particularly those orientated towards business and communities;
• informing Government of the impact of policies and programs on business and the community;
• providing constructive and regular advice and feedback to Government on community needs, service and development requirements; and
• facilitating the development of suitable project proposals by local proponents and their submission to the Regional Partnerships program and where appropriate to other Australian Government programs.

3. ACCs facilitate Whole of Government responses to opportunities in their communities.

ACCs act as a catalyst to encourage and facilitate a collaborative approach by government departments and agencies to achieve integrated regional development responses by:

• drawing together the range of avenues and resources through which communities and regions can foster development;
• working to maintain constructive alliances with the community, business, local development organisations and all levels of government;
• actively identifying opportunities to bring Whole of Government solutions to community and regional issues; and
• engaging the community, business, local development organisations and all levels of government in coordinating strategic regional plans and solutions.

In pursuing their core responsibilities ACCs will contribute to regional development by actively seeking opportunities to;

• promote a planned and co-operative approach to regional development;
• encourage the growth of regional business and employment;
• identify pressing social and economic issues; and
• sustain our natural resources and environment

Australian Government's Statement of Priorities

The Government has tasked the Area Consultative Committees with contributing to regional development with a particular focus on the following four priority areas for the Regional Partnerships program in 2006-07:

• small or disadvantaged communities;
• youth;
• economic growth and skill development; and
• Indigenous communities

It is important to point out that these priorities are not intended to discourage any other projects addressing other areas of need in your regions. Each of these specific priority areas will have different levels of importance depending on the individual circumstances of your local community.

Of course, the Government’s broad policy objectives for the Regional Partnerships program remain as before. The priorities for 2006-07 complement these objectives. The objectives of the Regional Partnerships program continue to be:

• stimulate growth in regions by providing more opportunities for economic and social participation
• improve access to services in a cost effective and sustainable way, particularly for those communities in regional Australia with a population of less than 5,000
• support planning that assists communities to identify and explore opportunities and to develop strategies that result in direct action, and
• help communities make structural adjustments in regions affected by major economic, social or environmental change

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