Creating Capable Communities (CCC), Southern Family Life, Melbourne, Vic
Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.5 Autumn 2004 p.48-49
A Second Look - the project provides an update on progress
What has the project been doing since its last report?
The project has continued to build on and consolidate some of its previous activities and initiatives. This allows for us to try some new things, take up the opportunity to look at previous challenges and try different ways to address them. It also allows for continuity and a sense of safety and familiarity for families who are participating.
An example of this is through our long-standing and consistent weekly Homework Club. We now have a core group of parents attending this who feel comfortable to take on particular roles, both practical and supportive. One of the Dads of the participating families has agreed to maintain a presence at the weekly sessions as a result of adolescent boys turning up unannounced and causing disruption. This has been supportive of all parents and children in creating a sense of safety for the group. Although the consistent turn-up of a core group of parents is positive, the next challenge for us is to consider how we may attract families beyond this core group. We are hoping that setting up a regular time separate to the Homework Club for parents to talk and raise issues or ideas will be a springboard for this.
What has been learned since the last report that may be of interest or value to other developing projects?
These issues have brought home strongly the critical factor in working effectively with families and communities. Our first base is in being able to critique our own work practice and delivery and how this becomes a demonstration model for the ideals we aim for in building a sense of community. These are the things which are easy to say and harder to do Ð being transparent and honest with people, working collaboratively, stating our common goals and reminding ourselves of them along the way, building new partnerships and keeping communication open and meaningful. If we get it as right as we can at first base, it will be evident in our work and in our outcomes.
How has the community responded to the project so far?
Meanwhile, we must be getting some if it right! Families from the Neighbourhood Estates continue to access our ongoing Homework Club which has had increasing numbers over time. Residents are involved in a recently convened Community Care Group which seeks to give voice to common concerns and explore possible solutions. Residents are also involved in helping to set up and run some programs from our new community facility to be up and running shortly. There have been some in-roads made in offering support to parents with young infants and a new program through our service will allow for the engagement of such families in more intensive support but with complementary outcomes. That is, the focus of community participation in strengthening family relationships.
These later initiatives are those which will carry outcomes well beyond the project's dollar provision and into the ongoing reality of people's lives.
