Building Stronger Communities is a community regeneration initiative of Housing NSW which commenced in 6 priority locations throughout NSW in 2006. The initiative was led by Housing NSW on behalf of the NSW Government through a local partnership approach, with the aim of:

• Improving housing and the local environment of the public estates
• Improving educational opportunities for residents
• Coordinating the delivery of appropriate services in the places where they are needed
• Increasing the number of residents entering employment
• Encouraging residents to take responsibilities for their communities
• Achieving more stable communities

City Futures Research Centre was commissioned by Housing NSW in 2007-2008 to conduct a baseline study of the project. As the initiative winds down its operation in mid-2011, City Futures Research Centre, in partnership with Social Policy Research Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has won the tender to conduct its final evaluation. This $300,000 project will be completed during 2012 and concludes in December. It will involve a telephone survey of residents of these regenerated estates, and in-depth interviews and focus groups with the regeneration teams, project partners and other stakeholders of the 6 priority locations of:

• Claymore
• Dubbo
• Killarney Vale / Bateau bay / Tumbi Umbi
• Macquarie Fields
• Mount Druitt
• Orange / Bathurst

This final evaluation will determine the extent of the initiative’s achievements, identify key challenges, and inform Housing NSW implications the initiative has for future policies and programs.