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Home » National Network of ACCs - Charter

National Network Of Area Consultative Committees - Charter

The national network of Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) provides an important link between the Federal Government and rural and metropolitan Australia. As volunteer community based organisations, ACCs are uniquely placed to respond to issues in their regions and provide a vital conduit to government on local, social and economic conditions.

The Chairs of the ACCs, who are appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services, are leading members of the local community. They and their committee members are drawn from the community, local business and government, and provide strategic leadership and direction to ACCs in fulfilling their charter and functions.

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

However, this in turn will work best if there is an effective organisational arrangement in place that enables the Government to respond to each region’s needs and that encourages the local community to take up the Government programmes designed to achieve these goals. It is this role that ACCs fulfil.

ACC Core Responsibilities

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

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

To do this, ACCs know their region and communities well, from an economic, social and environmental perspective, by:

understanding the dynamics of their communities and region in terms of investment patterns and demographics;
searching out the unique strategic advantages in the region that generate growth and development, and determining what is making these communities thrive;
identifying and working in partnership with the leaders in the community who are able to build enthusiasm for new initiatives, and fostering their support;
dentifying issues that are impacting on their communities, and determining the needs and priorities arising from these issues; and
being particularly conscious of any sector of disadvantage in their communities and region, and looking to ensure such disadvantage is addressed as a priority.

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

To achieve this, ACCs create and maintain cross-regional networks with all levels of government, particularly the Federal Government by:

promoting and disseminating information on Government policies and programmes, particularly those orientated towards business and communities;
informing Government of the impact of policies and programmes on business and the community;
from a local community context, providing comment on, and as appropriate endorsement of, project proposals submitted for consideration under Government programmes; and
providing constructive and regular advice and feedback to Government on community needs, service and development requirements.

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

To achieve this, ACCs act as a catalyst and coordination point for regional development by:

drawing together the range of avenues and resources by which communities and regions can foster development;
working to maintain constructive alliances with all levels of government, business and the community;
actively identifying opportunities to bring Whole of Government solutions to community and regional issues; and
facilitating the development and submission of suitable project proposals by local proponents and sharing ownership of the results.

Ministerial Statement of Priorities

The Government has determined the policies and programmes it will instigate in support of regional development. It has tasked Area Consultative Committees with contributing to regional development in the following priority areas arising from these policies:

Supporting a planned, cooperative approach to regional development, particularly to the social and economic impacts of structural change, in rural, regional and metropolitan Australia;
Improving the business and investment environment in regions;
Addressing pressing social issues faced by regional communities, particularly through building community skills and capacity;
Improving regional services, particularly by encouraging Federal Government programme take-up and support for partnership solutions;
A partnership approach with indigenous communities to bring whole of government solutions to indigenous disadvantage;
Encouraging the growth of regional businesses and employment; and
Sustaining our natural resources and environment
Actively seeking out those opportunities that arise from the evolving economic, social and technological environment that lend themselves to / are suitable for joint private / public sector development.

For further information visit www.acc.gov.au

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