An equity-focussed social impact assessment of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy

Venessa L. Wells; Karen E. Gillham; Milly Licata; Anne M. Kempton

doi:10.1071/NB07070

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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An equity-focussed social impact assessment of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy

Venessa L. Wells ^A ^C , Karen E. Gillham ^A , Milly Licata ^A and Anne M. Kempton ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service

^B NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet

^C Corresponding author. Email: Venessa.Wells@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 18(10) 166-168 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07070
Published: 26 September 2007

Abstract

The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy prepared by the Hunter Department of Planning identifies how development in the region will be managed on a sustainable basis over the next 25 years. In order to inform decision-makers about the potential social and health impacts arising from the proposed population increase, the Hunter Regional Coordination Management Group, in collaboration with the NSW Premier’s Department and Hunter New England Health, completed an equity-focussed social impact assessment of the strategy. The assessment illustrates how equity can be systematically addressed within an impact assessment process and provides insight into the mechanisms which led to equity considerations influencing the policy and planning agenda.

Acknowledgements

The social impact assessment of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy was undertaken in collaboration with representatives of the Hunter Regional Coordination Management Group and managed by NSW Premier’s Department, Hunter Branch and Hunter New England Population Health, with funding provided by NSW Health. We would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of work by the members of the Hunter Regional Coordination Management Group. We would also like to thank the Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE) for their support throughout the project.

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