What is Community Networking Research?
For the past decade or so the Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University has been researching the value and various uses of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for communities. Access to communications and to the world’s knowledge is a start for community groups, but effective use is a more difficult objective to achieve. Making the best use of ICTs for knowledge sharing is an important objective for any group. The Centre focuses on assessing the effectiveness of ICTs for groups, community organizations, virtual communities, non-government organisations, and any members of civil society, or the third sector. It helps community organizations with their research. It has a team of experienced researchers and a tool-kit of tried-and-true research methods to apply to help solve any community ICT need.
Why Community Networking Research?
The third sector lags behind business and government in its overall use of ICTs. Also, various studies show that there are many marginalised groups in the community which have special needs that are not well served by business or government. The situation is much worse in many developing areas of the world.
About 7% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product is generated by third sector organisations, not to mention the even larger contribution by volunteers, yet infrastructure and literacy support is very thin on the ground. Rural and regional populations do not have adequate access to the world’s knowledge or skills. Ageing populations everywhere need to maintain contact with families and mainstream culture and services. ICTs have potential for poverty alleviation if managed equitably with an eye to special needs. Ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and minority language speakers frequently struggle with lack of reliable broadband access and knowledge sharing. Globalisation and migration presents very serious challenges for social cohesion. In coping with change, community-based organisations are a special case, and cannot be treated simply as arms of government or business.
Civil society makes an essential contribution to the social capital of a community and nation, to the provision of voluntary services and literacy training, and so to the development of a learning society, increased human capital, overall social health and economic growth. Community-based ICT projects are poorly understood, and rely heavily on the goodwill of community groups to supplement short-term government interest. Third sector organizations in Australia are beginning to collaborate on the benefits of ICTs in innovate ways, but they require further knowledge and advocacy to help to increase their operations and profiles.
How and Where is Community Networking Research undertaken?
The Centre for Community Networking Research undertakes academic and contract research with funds from business, government and NGOs to help to solve community ICT problems. Our underlying research philosophy respects the expectations and requirements of the communities which are researched. The Centre has undertaken many research projects nationally and internationally with the aim of improving ICTs for community applications.
A large Centre project beginning now is focusing on how mobile phones can assist in poverty alleviation, household livelihoods, improved social capital, and community development in India, China, Indonesia and South Africa. The Centre is enlisting the resources of researchers and community organizations to promote this original comparative study. The International Development Research Centre and World Vision is providing funds and advice. A local project assesses the needs of community organizations in Victoria for ICTs for internal planning and efficiencies, and for supporting their external relationships with other organisations. VCOSS supports this 3-year study.
Who undertakes Community Networking Research?
There are few research teams in Australia which can claim the impressive Centre track record and ideals. The Centre is chaired by Emeritus Professor Don Schauder, and directed by Associate Professor Graeme Johanson. Key senior researchers are Doctor Larry Stillman and Tom Denison. Together they have decades of experience of Community Networking Research. We have many research students working on projects also.
For more information please refer to http://www.ccnr.net
or contact:
Associate Professor Graeme Johanson, Ph.D.
Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University.
Phone: +61 3 9903 2414.
E-mail: