Brotherhood Comment August 2004

Brotherhood Of St Laurence

Description

ISSN 1320 8632A REGULAR UPDATE FROM SOCIAL ACTION AND RESEARCHAugust 2004Taking social governance seriously:The vital role of non-government organisationsThe concept of social governance by pressures for NGOs to remain community decisions can influence refers to present dominant beliefs financially viable, for example by policy formation.about the best way to organise the amalgamation of some smaller the relationship between the NGOs. The present association Thus, it seems that implementing the government and its citizens, or in between government and NGOs is policy of government partnership short, new ideas about the process largely based on an unequal power with both NGOs and the community of governing. The precise meaning relationship of contractor–provider, holds a number of challenges. Fully of social governance is ‘slippery and where NGOs commonly compete utilising the strengths and capacities elusive’ (Bevir & Rhodes 2003, p.2). to gain a contract to deliver a of NGOs may provide a way However, there does appear to be (usually) prescribed program within forward. For partnerships to work, For partnerships broad agreement that, in contrast to a (usually) predetermined budget. NGOs need to be involved in the to work, NGOs a bureaucratic, hierarchical structure, development of policy and programs, need to be social governance is a process where A government partnership with not just at the end-point service involved in the decision-making is ...

Informations

• Publié par: Istey
• Nombre de lectures: 188
• Langue: English

Extrait

A
R E GULAR
UPDATE
FROM
SOCIAL
AC TION
AND
RESEARCH

ISSN
1320
8632 August
2004

Taking
social
governance
seriously: The
vital
role
of
non-government
organisations The concept of social governance by pressures for NGOs to remain community decisions can influence refers to present dominant beliefs financially viable, for example by policy formation. about the best way to organise the amalgamation of some smaller the relationship between the NGOs. The present association Thus, it seems that implementing the government and its citizens, or in between government and NGOs is policy of government partnership short, new ideas about the process largely based on an unequal power with both NGOs and the community of governing. The precise meaning relationship of contractor–provider, holds a number of challenges. Fully of social governance is ‘slippery and where NGOs commonly compete utilising the strengths and capacities elusive’ (Bevir & Rhodes 2003, p.2). to gain a contract to deliver a of NGOs may provide a way However, there does appear to be (usually) prescribed program within forward. For partnerships to work, For
partnerships
broad agreement that, in contrast to a (usually) predetermined budget. NGOs need to be involved in the to
work
,NGOs
a bureaucratic, hierarchical structure, development of policy and programs, need
to
be
social governance is a process where A government partnership with not just at the end-point service involved
in
the
decision-making is decentralised the community is also based on provision. As NGOs are closely in development
and value is placed on citizen an unequal power relationship touch with the needs and strengths of
policy
and
participation. This way of governing in terms of knowledge, capacity, of the community, NGOs can also programs,
not
just
is facilitated through the formation resources and status. For example, provide the support to increase at
the
end-point
of partnerships and networks within the relationship may be between community capacity. They can also service
provision. organisations and the community. landlord (government) and tenant provide a formal structure to gather People are empowered to participate (community members), as in the and organise community input to through government policies which neighbourhood renewal programs give feedback from the community address personal and community in Victoria. While the government to the government. disadvantages, commonly referred states a commitment to community to as social exclusion and locational capacity-building, the precise types Progress towards an effective disadvantage. of capacity and the time needed to partnership at the policy level, as develop this ‘capacity’ are unclear. well as the service delivery level, Following the policy of social Even if the community is able to would be assisted by reviewing the governance, the Victorian achieve power equality, the present existing design of the service delivery Department of Human Services government–community networks system. Such a review would include states that it wishes to work in appear to lack a channel to provisions to enable organisational partnership with other government feed the community voice back sustainability rather than the present and non-government agencies to government so that and that it has a vision of ‘shared responsibility for policy and Contents program development, planning, implementation and evaluation’ The
Frankston
Community
Project:
Making
decisions
together (The Allen Consulting Group 2003, p.77). Knowledge
centres
:Building
community
and
overcoming
social
exclusion Building
futures
for
vulnerable
children Non-government organisations Towards
a
social
investment
state (NGOs) in the welfare sector are critical to the successful Advancing
Australia
fairly

:The
Brotherhood’s
message
to
the
electorate implementation of social policy, as What
social
investment
means
for
long-term
unemployed
people they play a major role in the delivery of services. The present system Given
the
Chance:
Cost-effective
assistance
for
refugees of service delivery by NGOs has Eyecare
in
Victoria:
Better
focus
needed largely evolved through the changing ll roles of the church-based welfare Faing
short
:The
future
of
informal
care
for
older
Australians services. It is also currently shaped The
art
of
social
inclusion:
Engaging
people
through
creative
arts

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uAugts
2004

4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

1

g f r   a c n o ti m ng p   e o ti f  i c v o e  n t t e r n ac d t e s r   i o n n g   . t   he basis   New
leader
for
the
Brotherhood o t The Brotherhood is keen to progress  Mr Tony Nicholson has been Announcing the appointment, the goal of social governance by  appointed as the new Executive Professor Stephen Duckett, Chair developing new processes which  Director of the Brotherhood, to of the BSL Board commented, facilitate better outcomes for the  commence in October. ‘Tony brings leadership and a community and a more productive  strong personal commitment partnership with government.  A social worker by training, since to social justice and the values 1990 Tony Nicholson has been the of the Brotherhood, as well as Janet Stanley Chief Executive Officer of Hanover his considerable management [phone]  Welfare Services, a Melbourne- experience, energy and passion for [e-mail] based organisation regarded as his work’. Australia’s leading agency in the References field of homelessness. He has The Allen Consulting Group 2003, Protecting overseen its significant growth children: The Child Protection Outcomes through service development and Project . The Allen Consulting Group, Melbourne. innovation, research and policy Bevir, M & Rhodes, R A W 2002, Decentering analysis and strong advocacy for British governance: From bureaucracy to people experiencing homelessness. networks, paper presented at the Knowledge, Networks and Joined-Up Government Conference, Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne, 3–5 June. Recent
submissions Submissions or statements made in • Response to the Productivity the last year include: Commission First Home  Ownership Discussion Draft, • Submission to the House of February 2004  Representatives Standing  • Submission to the Steering  Committee on Employment and  Workplace Relations Inquiry into     P C r o in m ci m p i l t e t s e   e o   f r   e  C D o r r a p f o t  ra O te E   CD   employment: Increasing  Governance, February 2004  participation in paid work,  August 2003  • Joint submission to the Essential   • Submission to the Board of       e S f e f r e v c i t c iv es e   n C es o s  m of m  r is e s t i a o il n     co Re m v p ie et w it   i of    Taxation regarding the Charities  in gas and electricity, with the  on  Bill 2003, September 2003  Fitzroy and Carlton Community • Submission to the Productivity Credit Cooperative, April 2004  Commission Inquiry into  • Submission to the Victorian  First Home Ownership,  November 2003    F O r p a h m th e a w l o m r o k l ,  o A gy p   r S il e   r 2 v 0 ic 0 e 4  Planning   • Submission to the Victorian  Treasurer regarding 2004–2005  state budget priorities,  December 2003

Brotherhood Comment is published three times a year by the Social Action and Research Division of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. The Brotherhood of St Laurence works for the well-being of Australians on low incomes to improve their economic, social and personal circumstances. It does this by providing a wide range of services and activities for families, the unemployed and the aged. It also researches the causes of poverty, undertakes community education and lobbies government for a better deal for people on low incomes.

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August
2004

• Supplementary submission  to House of Representatives  Standing Committee on  Employment and Workplace  Relations Inquiry into  employment: Increasing  workforce participation,  May 2004   • Joint submission to the  Productivity Commission Review  of National Competition Policy  Arrangements, with VCOSS and  the Centre for Public Policy,  University of Melbourne,  June 2004 • Submission to the Senate  Employment, Workplace  Relations and Education  References Committee Inquiry  into student income support,  June 2004.

Published in August 2004 by Brotherhood of St Laurence 67 Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065 Australia ABN 24 603 467 024 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

www.bsl.org.au

From
the
General
Manager,
Social
Action
and
Research We decided to introduce this segment services for all Australians ought to work done on access to affordable so that readers might get some sense be a government priority and not eye care by Emer Diviney and of how all the particular projects left to the vagaries of private choice Serena Lillywhite; of the successful and activities reported in Comment  and affordability. Also short-sighted, employment support program run hang together as parts of an overall as Ziguras shows in this issue, is the by the Ecumenical Migration Centre research and action program. provision of employment services on for refugees and asylum seekers the cheap. involving volunteer mentors; of the The last issue was of course devoted tools of cultural inclusion being to the federal election campaign. It Our own election campaign, developed by community artists in suggested that this might be the first brilliantly executed by the BSL media initiatives such as The Torch. election campaign for two decades team (reported by Low in this issue) where social policy was centre stage. has indicated that people respond Perhaps you could join us? We With the uncertain timing of the very positively to joining the concept have postgraduate students doing election we thought it better not to of investment up to the inclusive doctoral, masters and honours level make this issue election-specific. society. In recent years action on theses, as well as researchers who poverty has been somewhat deflected simply volunteer. If so we would Regardless of the election, we believe by a preoccupation with welfare like to hear from you. Please contact it is safe to say that a new era in dependency. This has helped to Janet Stanley (phone [phone] Australian social policy is well and create a stifling atmosphere in which or e-mail [e-mail]). truly upon us. A defining factor is social spending is portrayed as surely the ‘social services revolt’ money down the drain and recipients Paul Smyth in public opinion. As Wilson and are stigmatised. Against this our [phone] Breusch from the ANU report, the respondents see readily that the [e-mail] wheel has now turned full circle modern economic market place is a from the ‘tax revolt’ of the mid- very uneven playing field and that Reference   1980s, with a solid majority now only strong supports, collectively r W e i v I o s l on,  W S  h & y    M Br e e d u i s c c ar h e ,    T m   a 2 t 0 te 0 r 4 s ,    ‘ m A o f r t e e   r t   o t   he m  t i a d x d   le  wanting increased social spending provided, can assure a real t:  s’ Aust and only a small minority favouring equality of opportunity. Investing o A f u S st o r c a i l a i l a     I t s h s a u n e   s l ,  o v w o e l. r     3 ta 9  x n e o. ,  2, pp. r 9 a 9 li – a 1 n 1   6 J . o   urnal tax cuts (Wilson & Breusch 2004). in an inclusive society would afford Australia a much more In the Social Action and Research positive future. team we have tried to pick up on this political ‘return of the social’ with Stanley and Jope in this issue both a research program concentrating highlight the policy profile which on the three related themes of social has developed around the concept investment in sustainable economies, of social governance—and rightly an inclusive society free of poverty, so. Metaphysical arguments about and a social governance regime ‘community’ aside, few in the sector which is truly democratic. These would disagree that the bane of themes are getting considerable much service delivery today is the traction on the policy scene. absence of a community base. Too many individuals ‘fall between the For example, our July symposium, cracks’; too many programs don’t ‘From the welfare state to the social join into a sense of community. We investment state?’ was sold out. At believe that major changes will be such events and in our projects we needed to the ways governments and are drawing attention to the plain the community sector do business short-sightedness of portraying before these problems will be solved. social spending as waste. It sends the wrong signal, for example, These might seem like great to portray government spending challenges but they are less daunting on higher education as ‘middle- when you work at the Brotherhood class welfare’ and something to be of St Laurence with its marvellous minimised. Equally, in the knowledge tradition of applied research. Read economy, quality early childhood in this issue, for example, of the

www.bsl.org.au

August
2004

3

The
Frankston
Community
Project:
Making
decisions
together As global trends have increasing and literature will provide the Social governance impacts on local opportunities for theoretical background to the project The Frankston project will explore social and economic participation, development. how more collaborative styles of initiatives that bring people together administrative arrangements—with to respond to these impacts are Engagement and consultation new forms of contracts between state receiving increasing attention. In The collaborative model will and citizen, based on concepts of Victoria these initiatives include be based on the principles of responsible and active citizenship, neighbourhood renewal, community participation and partnerships. The networks and partnerships—provide capacity building and community initial and ongoing engagement of opportunities to build community strengthening programs. They are ‘the community’ in decision making and overcome some of the exclusion based on an alternative to both about the development of the currently experienced. the centralised bureaucratic and complex is critical. This engagement market-based approaches to public is currently being facilitated by As a service provider and advocate, administration, which is the subject The Torch project team, in a series the BSL plays an important of the social governance research of workshops at High Street. The intermediary role between the state theme of Social Action and Research team, with extensive experience in and its citizens. The Frankston (SAR) and will be explored with community cultural development, Community Project will allow us to The
people
Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) explores issues under the themes test some assumptions underlying best
placed
to
services in the Frankston of history, culture, identity and this alternative approach to identify
barriers
Community Project. belonging. These themes can identify governance. During the development to
inclusion
in
contemporary groups of people with and implementation stages, any any
place
are
The project will be based in the shared interests as a community differences these new administrative those
who
share
a
former Wesley Church complex at and can be applied to the ideas and arrangements make to the delivery relationship
with
High Street Frankston, now leased practice of strengthening the capacity of services, the shaping of policy and the
place
and
by the BSL. The project direction of spatially bounded communities to the building of community capacity experience
the
is influenced by the strong wish of participate in decision making and will be explored. This exploration local
impacts
of
the congregation, shared by BSL, partnerships. will be from the bottom up, government
and
to see the complex used to serve informed by those who participate corporate
policies.   the wider community of Frankston Inclusive communities in the project and have experienced and particularly its more vulnerable The Frankston Community Project social and economic exclusion. members. will explore how governance arrangements can overcome barriers For the BSL, community building is So while the complex will host some to inclusion, especially through about building a sustainable society existing regional BSL services and directing social investment into more based on the recognition of the some new youth-focused projects, inclusive communities. inherent value in people, and about it is the BSL’s aim to develop an processes that bring out that value. overarching model of governance One assumption underlying the We intend to explore this through that includes community and other project is that the people best placed the Frankston Community Project. organisations in the ownership of to identify barriers to inclusion the complex and the direction of in any place are those who share Sally Jope its activities. a relationship with the place and [phone] experience the local impacts of [e-mail] The project is planned to have three government and corporate policies. stages over two years: engagement, Every day they experience the implementation and consolidation. joined-up impacts of policies in their The first stage, in which the homes, schools and workplaces. collaborative model of governance Their position on scales of socio- (working title) is developed, has economic disadvantage further already commenced. It includes affects the quality and quantity of initial engagement and consultation those influences. with local residents, non-government agencies and organisations, all levels of government and other relevant research projects. A review of policy

4


August
2004

www.bsl.org.au

Knowledge
centres:
Building
community
and
overcoming
social
exclusion

The Brotherhood of St Laurence Leadbeater (2003) argues that to Any such BSL venture must take is keen to explore creative ways to promote and inclusion, libraries into account existing community foster access to information and need to ‘excite people’s curiosity resources and services—libraries, sharing of knowledge for clients, and help them satisfy that appetite’ youth centres, citizens’ advice staff and the wider community. (p.15). There should be a network bureaux and neighbourhood The Centre which the BSL is ‘encourag[ing] people to start houses—so as to avoid duplication redeveloping in Frankston to reading, questioning, enquiring and and to strengthen relationships. support social, economic and learning’ (p.17). Ideally a knowledge centre would cultural activities might also house be a gateway for contact with an innovative ‘knowledge centre’. This suggests not only broadening other organisations, and a place Accordingly, the BSL Library and the conventional ‘library’ model, where people can pursue these Information Services team has but also developing complementary shared interest or concerns, perhaps surveyed initiatives in Australia and activities which engage more people through adult education, a self-help overseas. This article summarises a in learning and taking action about group or an action campaign. longer paper from a seminar held issues which matter to them. with staff from BSL services, local The BSL’s library and information government and community agencies Knowledge centres service might provide access for There
is
a
strong
in Frankston. A ‘knowledge centre’ is a place other community organisations, emphasis
on
where knowledge as well as via an online catalogue and library connecting
people
Innovative resource centres information is collected, organised membership, to key publications and with
each
other,
There is increasing experimentation and disseminated. Staff may not do trends relating to social policy. A as
well
as
with
with different models of connecting all this themselves; but they create a community knowledge centre could information.
with communities. In the United framework and provide leadership also foster collaborative research Kingdom, local councils are and expertise. The underlying idea and advocacy, involving local people addressing social exclusion by is that knowledge resides primarily in shaping the research focus and locating library, information and in people rather than in documents joining the research team, not just as cultural resources in places where or computer systems. Hence there interview subjects. people gather for other reasons (e.g. is strong emphasis on connecting shopping, coffee, health services) as people with each other. (National Patricia Newell well as to access information. Electronic Library for Health 2001). [phone] [e-mail] Other initiatives include: A knowledge centre can operate at • a library working with an aged three levels: Deborah Patterson care provider to set up an events • providing access to information [phone] diary, a database of community • enabling people to share [e-mail] organisations and a feedback knowledge line on the community on-line • fostering the building of new References information network knowledge. T A h rt e s     Q Q u u e e e e n n s s l l a a n n d d     G 20 o 0 ve 2 r , n C m r e e n at t i   v C e u   l Q tu u r e a e l  n P sl o a li n c d y :     • a library partnering with a 2002 , viewed 20 February 2004, community education centre to The knowledge centre concept has <www.arts.qld.gov.au/snapshots.asp >. devise a ‘buddy’ system in which taken a particular creative shape in Leadbeater, C 2003, Overdue: How to create local unemployed people received remote Indigenous communities in L a o m n o d d o e n r , n v   i p e u w b e li d c     2 li 0 br J a a r n y u s a e r r y v   i 2 c 0 e , 0   4 D ,  E   MOS,  certificate training in computer Queensland (Arts Queensland 2002) <www.demos.co.uk/catalogue/overdue /> . use and were then paired with and the Northern Territory (NTLIS Muddiman, D et al. 2000, Open to all? The novices who wanted to learn how 2002), with government funding and public library and social exclusion , Library and to use the internet. considerable community support. Information Commission report 84, London. National Electronic Library for Health 2001, Challenges for libraries A knowledge centre in suburban < K w no w w w l . e n d e g lh e . c n e h n s t . r u e k s / ,  k v n ie o w w e le d d  1 ge 9 J m an a u n a a r ge y  m 2 e 0 n 0 t/ 4,  _ While public libraries have much to Melbourne km2/knowledge_centres.asp>. offer, UK researchers (Muddiman The knowledge centre offers a Northern Territory Library and Information et al. 2000) found that they framework for thinking about what Service (NTLIS) 2002, Submission to the tend to provide passive access r te es ch ou n r o c lo es g   y (i )  nf w o o r u m ld a   ti b o e  n a ,  p p p e r o o p p l r e i ,  t I E n n q v u ir ir o y n  i m n e to n   t t , h v e ie R w ol e e d     o 2 f 0 L F i e br b a ru ri a e r s y i   n 2   0 t 0 he 4 Online to information resources and to  fo the High Street Centre.  a e .aph.gov.a/senate/committee/ecita ,  _   ctte/ <www u favour existing users rather than r online libraries/submissions/sub142.do c>. _ disadvantaged groups.

www.bsl.org.au
uAugts
2004

5

Building
futures
for
vulnerable
children

The Breaking Cycles, Building the child and their parents, both Other sites lacking such experience Futures project centres on in the short term and the took longer to progress to this encouraging universal early long term model. It is hoped the evaluation childhood services to better meet • strategies to establish strong will further tease out the nature of the needs of vulnerable children and reciprocal links with other the different partnerships and what their families. It is hoped that these services targeting vulnerable has contributed to their success or opportunities will lead to healthy groups. difficulties. development and will minimise problems later in life. By investing To date the strategies have included Building relationships time and money in communities a facilitated playgroup running The Brotherhood of St Laurence to develop local partnerships, the concurrently with an open session of has worked hard to develop project aims to investigate innovative maternal and child health, cultural relationships with agencies and strategies to increase access to sensitivity training around the issues individuals, especially in places and participation in services such faced by Indigenous children and where the organisation had little as maternal and child health and their mothers and the development or no profile. The Whittlesea preschool. It is funded by the of plain language publicity materials project in particular relies on Victorian Premier’s Drug Prevention to promote the value of preschool. building solid trusting relationships Council and is part of the State with the Indigenous community. Government’s Best Start Strategy. Understanding vulnerability Despite the common framework, Developing community partnerships Local implementation the effectiveness of the three take time and lots of it—to develop The project’s implementation project sites has been influenced relationships, to carry on existing phase has been under way for six by understandings of vulnerable work, to try new ideas and months at three sites: Shepparton, children and local capacity to work importantly to reflect. Invariably the Maribyrnong and Whittlesea. collaboratively and to challenge time allocated is far outweighed by Implementation relies on a central practices that may exclude some the time needed. This project is no project advisory group, three local children. Vulnerability is a complex exception. While some partners are advisory groups and project staff concept and people at each site frustrated by slower progress, others based in each site. Using an action have been challenged to articulate appreciate the time taken to consult research model, each local advisory their local understanding. A useful and share decisions. group has developed a range of illustration of vulnerability is that strategies to increase access by and of a platform on which families rest As the project progresses, the participation of vulnerable families. precariously: the collapse or stability Brotherhood of St Laurence, with of the platform depends greatly the evaluation team from Melbourne The strategies, which are on pressures imposed locally. For University, hopes to capture continuously evaluated and modified, example, events or factors which both quantitative and qualitative follow the framework designed in do not put at risk one family in one outcomes: increases in participation the initial phase: place might have quite a different at universal early childhood service effect on the same family if they were as well as improved mechanisms • strategies to minimise the in a location remote from relatives and processes that make it possible. ‘practical’ (structural) access and friends. Further developing this The ultimate aim of the project is barriers and support parents understanding in each location is a to better serve vulnerable children to overcome their knowledge, continuing process. and their families. This is a lifelong financial, transport and time pursuit that involves all agencies, difficulties to maintain attendance Community partnerships underpinned by research and • strategies to build positive and The strength of existing community brought alive through experience. affirming relationships with partnerships in each local area prior parents, which counteract distrust to this project has noticeably affected Catharine Hydon and stigma, and assist parents its capacity to implement strategies. [phone] to build positive relationships Communities where people knew [e-mail] with others each other well and had previously • strategies to ensure that services collaborated to support children are culturally sensitive and and families were able to extend provide a perceived benefit for these connections to this project.

6


August
2004

Vulnerability
is
a
complex
concept
and
people
at
each
site
have
been
challenged
to
articulate
their
local
understanding.

www.bsl.org.au