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PROCESSES OF COMMUNITY CHANGE
A Colloquium Inspired by
Professor John D Smith

Central Queensland University
Rockhampton  Queensland  Australia

31 October - 1 November  1996



Background

A colloquium is an informal conference or seminar.  It is intended that this
colloquium will serve as a forum to give participants an opportunity to
learn from one another and develop improved ways of achieving positive
results for rural and urban communities.  The forum has been designed to
enable practitioners and academics to contribute their knowledge and
experience, and their ignorance and questions, to identify critical success
factors.  Participants will focus on how to apply these success factors for
the benefit of communities and agencies responsible for serving communities.

The colloquium has very practical aims.  Participants will gain knowledge of
processes, methods, techniques and tools applicable to enabling change in
their own environment.  Participants will share knowledge about what works,
what doesn't work and why.

The following areas relating to change will be addressed:

1. Change involving groups
2. Change involving the use of media and marketing
3. Achieving change at a distance
4. Managing for change
5. Change involving the use of technology
6. Applied research, approaches for contributing to behavioural change.


Discussion of the philosophies underlying various methods and approaches to
change, and perceptions of key factors enabling change in different areas of
application will be promoted.  (For example, one approach that could be
discussed is action research.)

There will be an emphasis on discussion of processes and experiences that
have resulted in significant practical outcomes.

A key issue in the management of change is the management of diversity.
Diversity and difference are acknowledged as being one of the important
issues to address in both urban and rural communities, and in large
organisations.  If they are managed effectively they could add value to any
intervention.  The colloquium is an opportunity to exchange and discuss
experiences of the processes and protocols for the management of diversity.

There is a body of evidence from a variety of domains (health, agriculture,
development, education) that provision of information by itself does not
lead to desired behaviour change.

There is increasing evidence that where a research focus on process has been
adopted, the rate of innovation can be improved, with associated measurable
benefits.

Colloquium Format

The colloquium will involve opportunities to:

 - learn from key speakers
 - participate in one of the six learning groups mentioned above
 - present papers, ideas, methods, problems, hypotheses and to contribute to
the description of key factors, methods and techniques to achieve change
 - document conclusions of about improving processes of change
 - participate in satellite workshops (to be held during the weekend
following the colloquium).

Keynote speakers will include
 Ann Taket
 Professor of Primary Health Care
 South Bank University  London  UK

 Leroy White
 Principal Lecturer in Primary and Community Care Research
 Faculty of Health and Social Science
 South Bank University  London  UK

 Elizabeth Woods
 Director
 Rural Extension Centre
 University of Queensland
 Gatton  Qld  Australia

 Shaun Coffey
 Program Manager (Livestock Improvement)
 CSIRO Division of Tropical Animal Production
 Rockhampton  Qld  Australia

Profile
Professor John D Smith

John Smith may have had an ordinary name, but he will be remembered as an
extraordinary person; a man unrestrained by the normal fences.  His death in
August 1995 saddened his family and friends and the many people who knew him
through his work at Central Queensland University over a quarter of a century.

The former Englishman had already earned an international reputation in
computing when he arrived at the then-Capricornia Institute of Advanced
Education in 1968.  After a period as an industry consultant, he returned to
CIAE as Head of Mathematics and Computing in 1973.

He was able to influence change because he was often leading it,
contributing to developments such as the Capricornia Aboriginal and Islander
Tertiary Education Centre, distance education, self-managed workgroups,
teaching technologies and student welfare and bridging programs.  Apart from
his role as Professor of Computing, he was a Fellow of the Australian
Computer Society, a keen collaborator with industry and an
internationally-recognised researcher in the areas of intelligent control
and knowledge-based systems.

John had a humanising influence on his science-oriented colleagues and
established a community-based socio-technical discussion group to
 nurture thinking about the human face of technology. He was known for being
kind-hearted and especially for his different insight into the nature of the
world.  Despite his gentle demeanour and apparent shyness, John is
remembered as one of the sharpest and most creative individuals at CQU; a
towering influence.
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 Your input is considered valuable and it is for this reason that you are
asked to return this page, by fax (079  30 9729) or email, as soon as
possible so that the colloquium format can be finalised.
Add your details where indicated.

You are invited to participate in the colloquium by first selecting a
Learning Group.
(Mark one group)

Learning groups
1. Change involving groups
2. Change involving the use of media and marketing
3. Achieving change at a distance
4. Managing for change
5. Change involving technology
6. Applied research, approaches for contributing to behavioural change.

Each learning group will be facilitated by a leader and will include
opportunities for descriptions of experience, discussion and dialogue
leading to new knowledge.  After choosing your Learning Group, you should
indicate the type of participation you wish to pursue from these suggested
activities.

1. Preparing a paper for presentation (and publication) to the learning
group of your choice
2. Preparing a poster paper for presentation and publication
3. Contributing ideas, methods, hypotheses and/or problems for discussion
with the learning group of your choice
4. Involvement in the learning group without formal preparation

Satellite Workshops

The following Satellite Workshops may be conducted.  Please indicate your
area of preliminary interest.
1. Action Research
2. Process Management
3. Managing for Change
4. Community Development
5. Communication Plans
6. Not interested in satellite workshops

Name and address:
Phone:                           Fax:                             Email:


Participation:

Call for Papers:

Submissions on topics relating to any aspect of Processes of Community
Change are welcome.  A submission can relate to a paper, panel session,
demonstration, workshop, or learning group.  Selected papers and records of
discussions from the colloquium will be published as the Proceedings of the
John D Smith Memorial Colloquium - Processes of Community Change.

Abstracts up to 500 words of papers or posters are to be lodged with Joanne
Barrie, Department of Mathematics and Computing, Central Queensland
University by 16 August  1996.  Surface mail, facsimile or electronic mail
submission is acceptable.

Papers and preparations are to be submitted at the Colloquium on 31 October
1996.



Registration Information

Earlybird Registration (until 13/9/96)          Full Fee (from 14/9/96)

        $200.00                                         $220.00

Registration includes admission to sessions, lunch, morning and afternoon
tea and copy of colloquium proceedings.


To register interest in attending the conference, or to obtain further
information, please contact:

Joanne Barrie/Judy Yewdale
Department of Mathematics and Computing
Central Queensland University
Rockhampton  Qld  4702

Phone: (079)  30 9921/30 9866
Fax:     (079)  30 9729
Email:  j.barrie@cqu.edu.au / j.yewdale@cqu.edu.au
htp://mc.cqu.edu.au/conference/