Regionalised education initiatives : a model for regional social capital and economic development

The reformation of education in Australia is currently been driven by Dr. Brendan Nelson's education reform agenda, as well as some individual state govenrment initiatives. This article redefines the Nelson agenda and proposes a regionalized model, introducing heightened opportunities for social and economic benefit through an investment by local government, and the communities they repreesent, in this education reform process. The fundamental proposition underlying this paper is that partnerships brokered by local government between communities, state government, the federal government and the education industry can deliver highly relevant contemporary education and training outcomes that also contribute to the achievement of the regional vision. It follows that the provision of high quality tertiary education will also contribute to social capital and economic development by contributing to societal goals. Further, this tailored regional approach, in partnership with a community, and with aligned visions and goals, would contribute to an even higher societal outcome the form of a regional collective consciousness, or meta vica. Note: This expression is used to denote 'of a higher order' which is the meaning conveyed by my argument. (Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary) To capture such points the article investigates and challenges the roles and relationships of all three levels of government education. It considers not inter-governmental relationships and policy, but also the position of the education industry within community, with particular attention paid to the Noosa Education providers Partnership model of collaboration between local Government education.