Contributing to sustainable community livelihoods: corporate social responsibility programmes of resource companies

Abstract

Many rural communities in Australia are looking to arrest population decline and secure their future viability. This article examines how resource companies contribute towards building sustainable community livelihoods through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. The study uses structuration theory to explore how human agency combines with key structural processes to create CSR with long-term benefits. Data collection includes semi-structured interviews with employees from 25 Australian resource companies and relevant stakeholders. The study identifies three main CSR approaches reflecting how companies support community livelihoods: minimalist-financial, shared-value, and corporate citizenship models. These approaches are shaped by company values and culture, effectiveness of CSR policies and human capacity. The study highlights the importance of resource companies developing links with local organisations to facilitate livelihood approaches. Overall, the capacity for rural communities to access long-term opportunities from resource development is highly variable, symptomatic of a broader lack of strategic direction for rural development.