Victoria’s manufacturing sector has been in decline for several years. A range of workplace closures – not least the announcement by Australia’s last remaining carmakers that local motor vehicle manufacturing would be wound-down by 2016-17 – have had a significant impact on communities. Job losses threaten to undermine households and community cohesion. How affected cities and regions respond to these challenges is extremely important, including the collaborative efforts of government, business and community organisations.

In this context, there are many lessons from post-industrial cities and regions globally. Detroit is perhaps the global exemplar of industrial decline. After decades of depopulation and deindustrialisation, the ‘Motor City’ was severely undermined by America’s recession in 2008-09 and the bankruptcy of its city government in 2013. Importantly, Detroiters are implementing a range of innovative measures in response to these challenges.