What is Community Economic Development?

Many Rivers Community Economic Development provides support to regional and remote Indigenous communities who want to establish or grow economic activity on their land.

Together, with the community leaders, we step through what is required for a community to strengthen its understanding, planning, leadership, and organisation to actively participate in the Australian economy.

Our Community Economic Development program recognises that no two Indigenous communities are the same. Each community has their own goals that they want to achieve for their family as well as future generations. Our role is to support this goal by helping the community know exactly what this means for them and to make the right choices to achieve this outcome. Therefore, we do not have a strict framework for how we work with our clients but instead we tailor the support to each community’s and individual’s needs.

Our CED Managers

We currently have eight Community Economic Development Managers across Australia. They work with communities over the long-term, about 5 years, and make regular contact with the community to affect change. Together they discuss the strengths, weaknesses, goals and challenges within the context of the community experiences. Our Many Rivers principles for sustainable economic development are incorporated in everything that we do. These include:

• • • • • • • • • • trusted relationships,
                  • responsible, recognised and confident governance and management,
                  • an operating platform that works and is resourced,
                  • viable economic opportunity, including businesses and employment,
                  • informed and participating decision makers,
                  • good planning that is sustainable and achievable, and;
                  • practical application of plans undertaken with the community not for the community.

Our Impact

“We are the champions of small wins within Many Rivers, because its really about all the small things that we do with our clients. We work with our clients over a long period of time. The quality of relationship is really one of the most amazing things. It is through these relationships that were able to affect some change and improvement in peoples lives. We are always learning from each other but our clients are always teaching us as well. Communities always know what it is that they want to achieve for their family and future generations but its just knowing exactly what that means for them and making the right choices.”

– Bridget, Head of Community Economic Development at Many Rivers

Community Economic Development is just one of the ways which we support people right around Australia. If you would like to read more about what we do, read about our other Programs here.

If your community is interested in working with us, please make contact with us here by either calling us or sending an email.
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