MacroMelbourne Forum

A recent MacroMelbourne Forum has urged corporate and philanthropic investment in grass roots community projects to address issues around vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in urban growth areas of Melbourne.

The Forum, attended by more than 100 people, addressed issues around Melbourne Community Foundation’s MacroMelbourne Report which reveals the impact of climate change, access to transport, lack of affordable housing, health, employment and social welfare issues in emerging communities in Melbourne.

The event offered representatives of the philanthropic, corporate, community, government and social policy sectors to learn about the MacroMelbourne projects and to meet people providing solutions to the issues raised in the MacroMelbourne Report.

The new Victorian Minister for Community Affairs, Lily D’Ambrosio opened the Forum saying that the common theme for all the projects under the MacroMelbourne project is innovation with new ways of doing things; new ways of bringing different groups of people together; and new ways of reaching out to Victorians in need.

Chair of MCF’s MacroMelbourne Committee, and Pro Bono Australia Founder Karen Mahlab says the MacroMelbourne initiative highlights the role that philanthropy can have in pulling together many sectors around an important issue.

Mahlab says one of the satisfying aspects of the initiative is that the ideas on how to tackle these social issues are coming from the communities where they are happening.

The MacroMelbourne Report details statistics and provides a birds-eye view of where Melbourne is heading in 2030 and areas of disadvantage and inequity.

The report was prepared by John Wiseman and Belinda Robson through the McCaughey Centre and the University of Melbourne for MCF.

For more information go to www.melbournecf.org.au