2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

3.1.2       Summary of the attributes of different existing institutes
All of the existing institutes selected for analysis were divided into Community based Institutes;
University based Institutes and those institutes that were non-aligned (usually with a business focus).
Appendix C provides further detail on the common or important information extracted from the
analysis of these institutes. The following provides a high level summary of the attributes of the
considered institute further analysis of these attributes in forming potential model options is
considered later in this report.

Community based/focused institutes
There are a large number of community-based Institutes that were able to be assessed for their
purpose and operations. The varying aims and activities of these community-based Institutes is
presented in Figure 2.
The majority of the community-based institutes are led by segments of the community and run by a
small team of employees. The management of some of the larger institutes is overseen by a board
of local experts or notable community members. Funding is achieved from a range of funding
sources varying from Government grants through to community memberships.
The role of the community institutes is almost always focused on community education and providing
training and resources to help the local community with the means to achieve a more sustainable
local environment and living. Some also have a legacy preservation or indigenous recognition
component. A number of the Community Institutes have a research focus; however, the research
activities undertaken tends to be via very localised, small projects with a significant community
science motivation.
The majority of the community institutes examined have a physical presence as well as web
presence that provide facilities for training, venue hire and community gardens. Many also have café
facilities or other revenue raising means (e.g., markets and plant sales) as a mechanism to assist
with funding.




Figure 2. Aims and functions of Community-based Institutes




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