This page provides an example of how objectives can be set to respond to goals from Wonderland Shire’s Council Plan.
The Cultural Development Planner has selected two goals from the Council Plan to address.
Goal 1: The Council Plan offers this aspiration, which can be considered a goal: A resilient, connected community.
Re-frame the goal as a measurable objective: While it is not clear what resilience might mean in this context, the second half of the goal indicates a clear intention of connection between people, so this aspiration can be re-framed as a change that the Cultural Development Plan could potentially contribute to.
Identify the policy domain: Because this objective is about connection between people, we can identify that it is sited in the social domain.
Choose a measurable outcome: Because this objective is about connection between people, either of these outcome measures could be selected: Social capital -bonding (positive connection to like others) or Social capital – bridging (positive connection to unlike others, including inter-generational and inter-cultural connections). To make the decision, information in the Council Plan that is associated with this goal is read. This makes it clear that council is most interested in increasing positive social connection between people who are unlike each other, especially people of different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs.
Thus the Objective 1 is Increased social capital (bridging).
Goal 2: Increased community awareness and appreciation of arts, culture and heritage
Measures: how will we know that this change has occurred?
Policy domain: Cultural, a culturally rich and vibrant community
- amount of opportunity for creative expression experienced by our residents, especially young people
- sense of connection to past (history, heritage, identity) reported by our residents
Objective 3: Provide strong leadership in representing the community
Measures: how will we know that this change has occurred?
Policy Domain: Civic, a democratic and engaged community
- representation of the shire’s cultural development prowess at state level or beyond.
Policy domain: Cultural, a culturally rich and vibrant community
- Information about Wonderland Shire’s cultural development leadership shared at state level or beyond.
Cultural Development Plan 2015 – 2017, Wonderland Shire
2d. Set objectives to address the goals.
The Cultural Development Department then set objectives to address the goals they identified, by re-framing the aspiration of the goal as a measurable change:
Goal: A connected and healthy community, which is supportive and confident
Objective set for the Cultural Development Plan: Increased community connection and health, especially social support and confidence.
Goal: A diverse culture, that expresses its creativity and heritage
Objective set for the Cultural Development Plan: Increased expression of cultural diversity, creativity and heritage.