We began, in 1988, with the intention of bringing the Hall-Tonna Inventory of Values (HTI-V) to Australia. Over the years since then, working with an international team, the Australian version of the HTI-V developed into the AVI (A Values Inventory).   

We specialise in developing tools, techniques and resources to assist people in applying values-based approaches for themselves, their teams, their workplace, and for societal change - the AVI is our flagship product.

Our Values and Vision

• Our Values. Research and Pioneerism, Minessence, Prophet and Vision, Technology and Science, Tradition and Convivial Technology.

• Our Vision. To create a world where all people can live a meaningful, fulfilling life.

Our People

The Minessence Group, the Values Education Network, and the Australian Values Institute have accredited many people since 1988 in the use of the AVI (A Values Inventory) and other values-based processes. These people are the Minessence Group.

The group is co-ordinated by Paul Chippendale. Paul has been working full time in the field of values research and education since he founded The Values Education Network in 1988.

Our Technology

The original AVI was PC based and developed using the Object Pascal language on Borland's Delphi Platform. Originally, people completed a hardcopy questionnaire and their responses were faxed to us for data entry. In 1997, a web-based questionnaire was developed and, since then, 99.99% of all respondents have used the online versionin preference to a hardcopy questionnaire.

Since 2002 we have been developing the AVI so the reports from people's responses can also be generated on the web - this project is now nearing completion with several key reports being already instantly available online. Microsoft's ASP.NET 2.0 framework, utilising Visual Basic and C# programming languages, is the platform on which the online AVI is being developed. As part of this project, we have developed a web-based support site, MissionControl, for use by all Accredited AVI Consultants. From MissionControl, consultants can set up group codes for clients to select when completing the AVI, alter the visual appearance of their AVI site, monitor who has/hasn't completed the AVI, produce AVI, individual and group, reports for clients, and much more.

Our website, the online AVI, and MissionControl are database driven web applications. The database server is Microsoft's SQL Server. Each night the entire site, including the database, is backed ou to tape and the tape stored off site in a secure location. Separate monthly backups are also done in the same way. Additionally, the site and database are backed up daily to the hard-drive of our development system, which is also off-site from the ISP.

The Future

We are in the process of transforming the Minessence Group into the Minessence Foundation.