VISIONS AND VALUES IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

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VISIONS AND VALUES IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

• EDUCATING FOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING CITIZENSHIP
  CAPACITY
• Dr Christina Gillgren
•  
• Citizens Civics Unit, Policy Office,
• Department of the Premier and Cabinet
• Western Australia

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EDUCATING FOR DEMOCRACY

• A democracy is an open society in which all
  state power is derived from the people
•  Democracy guarantees human dignity.
• Strasbourg Consensus of 1983

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State Strategic Plan
Governance
Social
Environmental
Sustainability
Economic
Democracy
Citizenship Governance Democracy
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CHANGING OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR GOVERNMENT
Changing Role of Government
Changing Social Expectations
DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
Emerging Technologies
Globalisation
Changing Market Conditions
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What is citizenship?
Small c Citizenship is participation in the
life of the community and empowerment
CITIZENSHIP AS PRACTICE
Capital C Citizenship is the LEGAL STATUS of a
person as a citizen of Australia enjoying full
rights and responsibilities
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• Encouraging and empowering people to participate
  effectively, creatively and critically in
  community life must be a priority.
• Dr Geoff Gallop
• Premier of Western Australia

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A Voice for All Strengthening Democracy
Participation
Consultation
Information
Citizens as Partners Handbook OECD, 2001 17
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4. DEMOCRACY Developing public trust
redefining the compact between citizens their
governments
3. PARTICIPATION Proactive citizens taking the
initiative making a difference
2. INCLUSION All citizens count have
opportunities to play a role
1. KNOWLEDGE UNDERSTANDING Informed citizens
in a learning community
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GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS CITIZENS

• Be open and accountable
• Consult widely to identify needs
• Provide appropriate services to address these
  needs
• Ensure citizens are able to input into
  decision-making
• Build the sense of worth value of all citizens
  build confidence a sense of belonging and of
  having a stake in the community

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Growing Democratic Citizenship Capacity

• We teach reading, writing and maths by having
  students do them, but we teach democracy by
  lecture.
• Shelley Berman

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• If you are not part of the planning, someone
  else will do it for you and it may not be where
  you want to go
• Response to Discussion Paper on Citizenship