communitybuilders.nsw, an example of e-government

Steve Clift uses communitybuilders.nsw as an example of e-government in an article E-Governance to E-Democracy: Progress in Australia and New Zealand toward Information-Age Democracy

Steven Clift is an Online Strategist and Public Speaker and Editor at Democracies Online Newswire. This article was commissioned by the Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance.

The article recommends communitybuilders.nsw as a model for e-government:

"One of the more exciting government-sponsored interactive examples I have discovered anywhere is the communitybuilders.nsw online "community of practice" hosted by the State of New South Wales.

If online consultation related to policy development, government-hosted communities of practice relate to the implementation of policy.

The Premier of NSW states that the Community Builder initiative is designed to "to help local communities across the State share ideas on how to enhance and strengthen their community" … "

This site aims to communicate how different communities have addressed various issues such as enhancing public safety, stimulating employment and promoting reconciliation. It shows how my government is forging partnerships with communities around the state. It is very much your site.

Although the Premier's Department will be responsible for updating the site and keeping information fresh, the site's success will depend on people such as yourself sharing the information you think is relevant.

" With over 1100 participants, their hybrid web forum - e-mail notification system with a supporting web site positions government as a facilitator of public work rather than just as a provider of services. Providing a many-to-many online space related to a public mandate will allow government departments to adapt their implementation strategies and incrementally improve their policy approaches as well. The Internet improves through trial and error. Communities of practice hosted by government may be a starting point for incremental government reform rather than the huge mega-project model that often falls on its face."

Follow this link for the full article E-Governance to E-Democracy: Progress in Australia and New Zealand toward Information-Age Democracy (opens in a new browser window)