Building Stronger Research Links with Rural Communities

30 April 2013

The Centre for eCommerce and Communications, University of Ballarat, has been exploring collaborative research opportunities with Dr Helen Sheil, founder and Director the Centre for Rural Communities Inc.

With a wealth of experience in undertaking research, Dr Sheil’s has a track record in developing valuable resources for community development. Helen has also conducted research into social enterprise through partnerships with Universities/TAFEs leading to the development of professional pathways for staff. This work has enabled staff to have access to skills, knowledge and resources in community engagement and has also furthered the research into the modelling of Collaborative Engagement towards transformation in rural and urban communities.

Helen is keen to expand her research and to explore the potential for a new and exciting partnership with the University of Ballarat:

Collaborations with the University of Ballarat will provide a unique opportunity to undertake further research to identify potential areas of collaboration with regional, national and International partners and to share my research findings and recommendations.

The Centre for eCommerce and Communications Director, Dr Helen Thompson sees the new partnership between the University of Ballarat and Monash University (Gippsland Campus) as an exciting opportunity to develop collaborative research partnerships with Dr Shiel and to further explore community development and resilience in regional areas of Victoria.

By way of furthering the collaboration and fostering new learnings, Dr Sheil – with the support of the University of Ballarat – recently presented a workshop at the British Red Cross Resilience Conference in London in April 2013 (see also Resilience Conference 2013 Delegate Handbook). The conference explored ‘what works’ in relation to moving beyond crisis management to investing in resilience of communities (before and following major events). This conference provided an opportunity for engagement with potential regional, national and international partners that, it is hoped, both the University of Ballarat and the Centre for Rural Communities Inc. can further benefit from.

Helen has recently been invited to discuss the conference and to share her expertise about resilience and community on ABC radio Gippland (Monday 29 April) with breakfast show host, Gerard Callinan.

For further information about CeCC, contact Director Dr Helen Thompson, Email: h.thompson@ballarat.edu.au