Centre for Civic Innovation Ltd

The Centre for Civic Innovation Ltd is an Australian nonprofit organization established on January 28, 2019. It operates as a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), with its financial year ending on June 30. The organization focuses on supporting community-driven initiatives that foster civic innovation and social enterprise to address local challenges and drive meaningful social change across Australia[1][4].

Purpose and Activities

The Centre for Civic Innovation aims to empower individuals who want to make a difference in their communities by providing support, connections, and skills necessary to transform ideas into actionable projects. These initiatives include civic innovations, social enterprises, partnerships, and not-for-profits that tackle various social issues at the grassroots level[2].

One of the organization's key strategies involves setting up local centres throughout Australia, serving as hubs that bring together the innovation ecosystem and impact economy. These centres nurture networks of innovators and encourage shared responsibility for community challenges, promoting constructive civic participation and reducing pressure on local government services[2].

Community Engagement and Impact

A notable example of the Centre’s impact is its 2019 partnership with Liverpool City Council, where it operated a six-week pop-up centre in the local high street. This initiative facilitated community engagement and demonstrated the potential for such civic hubs to inspire and support local problem-solving. Feedback from this project highlighted the value of the Centre in providing inspiration and practical tools for hands-on civic action[2].

The Centre frequently collaborates with governments facing resource constraints and social pressures, offering starter packs and frameworks to support community-led change. Through these efforts, the Centre encourages a "do-ocracy" culture, where individuals actively participate in societal improvement beyond traditional roles such as taxation or voting[2][5].

Founding Vision

The Centre for Civic Innovation was founded with the philosophy that active citizenship and engagement with government decision-making processes are essential for sustainable and meaningful social change. Its founder has over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of government, technology, environment, and society, focusing on participatory governance and open government initiatives. The organization's theory of change is based on the belief that government possesses unique tools to effect change at scale but requires active civic collaboration to maximize impact[5].

Location and Industry

The Centre is headquartered in Prestons, New South Wales, Australia. It is classified under the nonprofit sector focusing on civic innovation and social impact[3].

This summary encapsulates the mission, activities, and impact of the Centre for Civic Innovation Ltd as an Australian nonprofit dedicated to fostering civic engagement and innovative community solutions.

[1] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/07fe0025-ef41-ec11-8c60-000d3acc27c5 [2] https://www.centrecivicinnovation.org/government [3] https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.centre_for_civic_innovation_ltd.b94bc5c3f3a1d982ba26130e032843f6.html [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/07fe0025-ef41-ec11-8c60-000d3acc27c5/documents/8721ab7a-1aa1-ed11-aad1-002248122521 [5] https://engage2.com.au/why-start-the-centre-for-civic-innovation/