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Arthurson, K
Creating inclusive communities through balancing social mix: a critical relationship or tenuous link?
Urban Policy and Research v.20 no.3 Sept 2002: p245-261, table

Acknowledged problems relating to large public housing estates include poor design, poverty, older residents' problems, low education levels, high unemployment and increasing levels of crime and violence. The author considers some proposed solutions to this, particularly the attempts to create a broader socioeconomic mix of residents on estates, described variously as social mix, tenure mix or residential mix. The reason for pursuing these policies is that disadvantaged people are believed to have disadvantages compounded by living in neighbourhoods of concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage such as public housing estates. As little is known about the application of social mix models in Australia, the author explores the way these are implemented. She examines the empirical evidence for the social mix, and investigates what the housing authorities hope to achieve for tenants. She also examines negative impacts and then weighs up the findings.

Arthurson, K
Social inclusion and community regeneration: is the role of public housing excluded?
Strawberry Hills, NSW: Australian Council of Social Service, 2002, 14p (ACOSS Info no.335)

The author discusses the concept of social exclusion: its contested nature and how it has developed in relation to social welfare, with particular reference to Australian housing and urban policy. She then reports the findings of research into social inclusion in public housing estates in Australia, and suggests that policy makers should take a broader view of the role of public housing as a tool for promoting social inclusion, rather than merely a solution to a housing problem.

Arthurson, K
Whole of government models of estate regeneration: the way forward?
Just Policy no.29 Apr 2003: 26-35, table, figure

Examining the effects of various whole of government models for the regeneration of public housing estates, the author asks whether an inherent conflict exists between government social justice objectives and ongoing demands for cost effective social services. She evaluates differing approaches towards achieving interagency cooperation, and considers additional factors in the success of regeneration, such as the recovery effort required to rebuild lost social and community infrastructure or the effects of poverty and inequality.

Arthurson, Kathy
Neighbourhood regeneration: facilitating community involvement.
Urban Policy and Research v.21 no.4 Dec 2003: 357-371, table

In this paper, the courses of action taken to facilitate residents' participation in developing community action plans, in two Australian public housing estate regeneration projects are examined. The findings are placed within the context of changes, over the past 20 years, to the operation of housing authorities that were antecedents to the newly emerging partnership models of regeneration between the public and private sectors and communities. Three major findings are highlighted. First, the government role, in terms of providing support positions and allowing adequate time for residents to participate is critical to the success of community participation activities. The second finding is that the ever increasing privatisation of public sector activities and pre occupation with developing a more efficient, effective and lean public sector, essentially defined in economic terms, is in conflict with meeting government social goals of community participation. Third, much of the rhetoric used in neighbourhood regeneration projects of 'rights and obligations' and 'sustainability' is not well defined and is sometimes implemented in contradictory ways. In applying these terms, the housing authorities and their regeneration partners need to elucidate the principles they are promoting. In light of the findings overall, it is concluded that the capacity of market oriented regeneration policy to lead to resident inclusion should be questioned. (Journal abstract)

Aziza, I; Smith, G
Greening the grass roots: establishing a working relationship with families and children of neglect on broad acre housing estates: a proactive approach to child protection.
In: One child's reality, everyone's responsibility: proceedings, 8th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Melbourne, Vic: Department of Human Services, 2001, CD-ROM, 7p

Barnardos Australia operates two innovative child and family community development projects targeting the prevention of child abuse and neglect on the Bundaleer Housing Estate in the Illawarra region and the Cranebrook Housing Estate, Penrith in the Western Sydney region of NSW. The authors compare these two projects, looking at how they have addressed social problems and how community development can benefit services as well as children and families. (Author abstract, edited)

Badcock, B
Replacing 'problem' housing: a South Australian case study.
Just Policy no.9 Mar 1997: 3-13, tables, figures, illus.

This article provides a case study to illustrate how a 'city of tomorrow' became a problem area. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the wider implications of regulatory changes to the mode of public housing provision in Australia. The author shows how elements of housing reforms are often at cross purposes with the social objectives that have guided public housing provision since the 1950s. The case study also demonstrates what new housing forms are likely to emerge as a result of redirection in relation to social housing provision. The author outlines some of the post war history of housing provision leading up to the redevelopment of a number of these public housing estates and then describes the specific approach that is being taken in South Australia and community reaction to the proposals. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the contradictions between the reform agenda in public housing and the operational practicalities that confront the states and their housing agencies during a time dominated by economic restructuring and scaling back of the welfare state in Australia.

Bottrell, D
Working with 'hardened criminals': a youth worker's perspective on perceptions of young people in a housing estate.
In: Housing, Crime and Stronger Communities Conference, Melbourne, May 2002. Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2002, 17p, Online only (PDF 40 KB)
http://www.a ic.gov.au/conferences/housing/bottrell.pdf

Based on an ethnographic study, this paper discusses young people's attempts to counter negative stereotypes associated with living in an inner city public housing estate. Where they live is experienced as a key determinant of image, reputation and opportunities. Marginalisation fosters young people's attempts to obtain status and empowerment through involvement in illicit activities. These are their 'ordinary' recreations and the basis of the stereotypes they resist. At the same time, there are few rewards for conforming to more conventional norms. Young people's responses to denigrating community perceptions and everyday cultural options are a mixture of resistances and conformities and are indicators of their resilience. Youth work in this context entails connecting into the community as an advocate as well as practical support for young people. It is argued that hardline law enforcement targeting young people reinscribes their marginalisation and undermines the potential of crime prevention strategies based on advocacy. (Author abstract)

Digney, K
Assessment of service needs for young people and families living on the North Richmond housing estate: a project for Richmond Community Care - a program of Jesuit Social Services.
Melbourne, Vic: Jesuit Social Services, 1999, 55p, and Online (146 KB)
http://www.jss.org.au/media/reports/kd_doc.pdf

This service needs assessment was conducted in response to a perceived need for more resources to support the community living on the North Richmond Housing Estate. Recent public concern having arisen specifically in response to illicit drug activity on the grounds of the Estate, the issue was explored within the much broader context of social justice, equity and empowerment of community life for residents of public housing estates such as the estate in North Richmond. The report places the effect of the current drug activity on the lives of residents within the context of other issues affecting their lives such as changes to public housing policy, the broadening of service regions and the feelings of isolation and powerlessness amongst low income people who lack the power of economic choice in an increasingly marketised society. Data collected were through interviews with service providers and residents. The report describes the aims and significance of the study, and its methodology. It provides an overview of the community context and the social policy context, and presents findings about characteristics of participating programs and community organisations; the needs of residents as perceived by service providers and community organisation representatives consulted; and resident' perceptions of life on the Estate.

Downie, M
Community building: Housing Bridgwater Urban Renewal Project (BURP).
In: Children, Young People and Communities: the Future is in Our Hands: conference proceedings. Hobart, Tas: Division of Child, Youth and Family Support, Department of Health and Human Services, 2001, p116-119

The Bridgewater/Gagebrook Urban Renewal Program (BURP) was established by Housing Tasmania and the Bridgewater community in response to the area's perceived social problems. Bridgewater is an area with high unemployment. The town has many vacant houses and vandalism was high. The author describes how BURP has made Bridgewater a better place to live by improving the social, economic and physical environment. He describes the area's history as a planned housing estate, and contrasts this with the town since the establishment of BURP, which has seen a lowering in the vandalism and crime rate. He believes that the community group has been very effective and states Housing Tasmania's continuing support for the development of such groups.

Ewing, S; Hayward, D; Hopkins, L; Thomas, J
The new social policy and the digital age: a case study of a wired high rise public housing estate.
Just Policy no.29 Apr 2003: 36-46, figures, table

The digital divide - the difference between those who have access to electronic information and those who do not - is widening, and the authors consider that lack of access to this information is causing serious social deprivation to certain disadvantaged groups. The authors describe the planning and setting up of Reach for the Clouds (RFTC), a public / private partnership providing computer hardware and internet access to tenants of public housing estates in Victoria. They point out the significance of RFTC, firstly as an example of how community participation can influence policy direction and government service delivery, and secondly because of its community empowerment focus.

Frances, N
Entrepreneurial welfare: two views.
Eureka Street v.12 no.9 Nov 2002: 28-29

The author discusses the need for structural responses from the Government to redress Australia's growing social and economic divide. He describes the programs offered by the Brotherhood of St Laurence at Atherton Gardens, a public housing estate. He suggests that rather than viewing communities like Atherton Gardens as a source of social problems, government should work to foster social entrepreneurs among non government organisations, in order to help the community achieve its positive potential.

Guiness, C
Community development in highrise public housing estates.
In: VCOSS Social Policy Congress: developing visions for new ways forward: proceedings 2001. Melbourne, Vic: Victorian Council of Social Service, 2001, 12p on CD-ROM

The current whole of government approach to public housing places greater emphasis on effective community development within public housing estates. The author discusses the impact of this approach to policy on disadvantaged groups and their neighbourhood. She describes the effectiveness of the Communities Together project in the City of Yarra high rise estates and other similar community projects in the United States and the United Kingdom, concluding that such projects build stronger communities and individuals.

Guinness, C
Assessment of the service needs of low income families: Collingwood and Fitzroy housing estates: a project for Jesuit Social Services.
Melbourne, Vic: Jesuit Social Services, 2000, 46p, and Online (152 KB)
http://www.jss.org.au/media/reports/cg_doc.pdf

Compiled for the City of Yarra and Jesuit Social Services, this report aims to assist service providers to identify the needs of low income families in Collingwood and Fitzroy, Melbourne, covering people living on the Atherton Gardens and Collingwood housing estates, and also families who are homeless. Three main sources of information have been used: interviews with service providers, focus groups with community members living on the Estates, and recent local needs assessment reports already produced. As well as describing the research methodology and presenting findings and recommendations, the report profiles the high rise community of the City of Yarra, and outlines the policy and services context.

Henry, K; Lane, M
Community development, neighbourhood conflict and peacebuilding.
New Community Quarterly v.1 no.1 Mar 2003: 22-27

Peace building is defined by the authors as creating alternatives to oppressive conditions of existence, exploitative relationships, and violent ways of doing things. It requires a multi strategy approach and includes community development. The authors describe a number of community development projects that took place in a south western Sydney neighbourhood, mostly on a public housing estate. They describe the projects from the points of view of several community workers.

Hoatson, L; Grace, M
Public housing redevelopment: strategies for building sustainable communities.
In: VCOSS Social Policy Congress: developing visions for new ways forward: proceedings 2001. Melbourne, Vic: Victorian Council of Social Service, 2001, 8p on CD-ROM

The Victorian Government has begun redeveloping inner city high rise public housing estates. Recently it made a policy shift from one that focused on redeveloping building fabric to one that in addition is committed to enhancing community building and sustainability. This paper explores what makes a sustainable community and the strategies needed for community building. It focuses on the crucial role residents play in the process and the implications of participation where there is a public private mix. With a focus on building quality of community life and empowerment it explores how community development strategies need to be integrated into decision making, network building, research, and problem solving in the process of public housing redevelopment. The Kensington estate has been chosen because it is the first of the thirteen Victorian estates to be redeveloped by the Bracks government. (Author abstract, edited)

Holdcroft, D
Barriers to employment: why jobs are hard to get if you live on the high rise estates in the City of Yarra.
Richmond, Vic: Ignatius Centre for Social Policy and Research, Jesuit Social Services, 2003, 36p

This research investigation found that a clear majority of City of Yarra public housing estate residents wished for full time employment and financial independence. In these communities, low education levels, unemployment, poverty, social exclusion and disadvantage are widespread. The study investigates how the residents can pursue and fulfil their employment aspirations and what type of barriers they encounter. It also considers the capacities for, or barriers to employment that exist in the high rise estate communities and what can be done about them. It is hoped that this study will lead to improvements in policy formation in the areas of welfare reform and social housing. The study consists of a literature review and interview responses from a group of estate residents.

La Trobe University. Lincoln Gerontology Centre
The support needs of older people in high rise public housing.
Melbourne, Vic: Aged, Community and Mental Heath Division, Department of Human Services, 1998, p103

This report explores the support and care needs of vulnerable older residents in public high rise estates. A survey of 109 low mobility residents of 13 high rise blocks was conducted. Focus groups were also conducted with service providers, housing managers and residents. Interviews with translators were conducted to explore issues relevant to non English speaking background groups. The report covers: the characteristics of vulnerable older public tenants, housing careers and housing satisfaction, social issues and well being, heath and care, the perspectives of older residents, service providers' and housing managers' views and an overview of findings and issues. The report found that high rise public housing provides appropriate support for highly vulnerable people.

Lane, M; Henry, K
Community development, crime and violence: a case study.
Community Development Journal v.36 no.3 Jul 2001: 212-222

The potential of community development to contribute to the prevention of crime and violence is explored in this paper which refers particularly to developmental and sociocultural approaches which link the incidence and fear of crime and violence, with inequality, social exclusion and lack of opportunity for children and young people to develop their potential. The Residents in Safer Environments (RISE) project, based in a public housing estate in Farfield, Sydney, is described and its impact considered in terms of changes in perception of crime, levels of fear, and quality of life. Difficulties with making links between interventions and outcomes are addressed.

Meredyth, D; Ewing, S
Social capital and wired communities: a case study.
In: 8th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 12-14 February 2003: proceedings. Melbourne, Vic: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2003,23p, tables, figures. Online only (PDF 67 KB)
http://www.aifs .gov.au/institute/afrc8/meredyth.pdf

This paper describes the first stages of research on the Reach for the Clouds (RFTC) project, which aims to establish a 'wired community' in Atherton Gardens, a high rise public housing estate in Fitzroy, Melbourne. The authors explain their objectives in evaluating the network and discuss the two issues that underlie the RFTC initiative: the response of governments and communities to the digital divide and how electronic networks can help reduce social exclusion. They provide a social profile of the area and describe the progress to date of the project. They conclude with some preliminary hypotheses on the social impact of the network.

Meredyth, D; Hopkins, L; Ewing, S; Thomas, J
Measuring social capital in a networked housing estate.
First Monday v.7 no.10 Oct 2002, Online only
http:// firstmonday.org/issues/issue7_10/meredyth/index.html

Reach for the Clouds is a scheme to build a resident-maintained 'networked community' in Atherton Gardens, an ethnically-diverse, low-income, high rise public housing estate in Melbourne, Australia. The project was developed by the InfoXchange, a not-for-profit Internet service provider with a 'social entrepreneurial' orientation, as a practical way to act on their corporate motto of 'technology for social justice'. Drawing on a combination of voluntary labour, commercial enterprise, government funding and donations of equipment by local business, the long term goal of the project is to become self-funding and to turn the network over to residents to operate. The project offers Internet-ready PCs for tenants, connected to an intranet that provides information from local and state government, welfare agencies, local retailers and utilities as well as having the potential for Internet access. The authors of this article give a brief description of the project and its protagonists, consider the motivations and suppositions behind the initiative, and the difficulties which lie in evaluating such a project. In particular they examine the difficulty of engaging with conceptions of 'community', especially in a low-income, multi-ethnic population.

New South Wales. Department of Housing
Building partnerships: transforming estates into communities.
Sydney, NSW: Department of Housing, 1999, 12p

The NSW Department of Housing began addressing social exclusion on estates in 1994 with the introduction of the Neighbourhood Improvement Program. Under the program twenty housing estates were identified for improvement. Community renewal strategies build on what was begun under the Neighbourhood Improvement Program. This document describes what community renewal is, and provides information about the community renewal strategy, describing case studies which demonstrate some of the potential strategies that can be adopted.

Picone, C
Brave new world: community development and barriers to tenant empowerment at Atherton gardens.
In: VCOSS Social Policy Congress: developing visions for new ways forward: proceedings 2002. Melbourne, Vic: Victorian Council of Social Service, 2002, CD-ROM, 15p, tables

A pilot neighborhood renewal project is currently being introduced on the Atherton Gardens High Rise Estate in Fitzroy. The author supports the principles behind the initiative, but aims to identify problems with its introduction. Nine interviews were conducted with tenants of the estate and relevant professionals. The author compares the initiative with the implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal initiative in Collingwood, which introduced the new political structures at a slower pace and included greater amounts of community consultation. She suggests that the speed of implementation employed at Atherton Gardens compromised the important processes of community consultation, education, and participation in the early stages of the initiative, which resulted in raised tenant anxieties and the formation of unresolved teething problems. She provides some suggestions on how to address these problems.

Randolph, B
Renewing disadvantaged areas: issues and policies.
Penrith South, NSW: Urban Frontiers Program, University of Western Sydney, UFP publications - conference papers: Paper presented to the Creative Approaches to Urban Renewal Conference, Shelter WA, Perth, June 2000, 18p, Online only (59 KB)
http://www.uws.edu.au/download.php?file_id=3619&filename=rendis.pdf&mimetype=application/pdf

The author explains that his talk is based on work he is undertaking at the Urban Frontiers Program in partnership with Bruce Judd at the University of New South Wales on community renewal in the public and private sectors as a way of increasing social cohesion and community building. The paper reviews some of the findings from the research and provides brief discussion on: the way policy debates from a variety of directions seem to be converging at the present time; mapping disadvantage in Sydney and other Australian cities; the range of approaches to renewal in Australia; and one of these approaches - comprehensive urban renewal. Discussion includes how far disadvantage is associated with public housing estates, and current policy options for disadvantaged communities.

Randolph, B; Judd, B
Community renewal and large public housing estates.
Urban Policy and Research v.18 no.1 Mar 2000: 91-104

The extent of social disadvantage in local neighbourhoods has come to the fore in recent years partly as a result of the problems that State Housing Authorities have faced in managing the concentrations of social marginalised populations on larger public housing estates. However, a wider understanding of the processes at play in these neighbourhoods is needed to inform policy development. The authors consider the evolution of local renewal policy in New South Wales at the present time and suggest potential policy options for the future. (Journal abstract)

Sheedy, T
Building new and developing housing estates into communities.
In: VCOSS Social Policy Congress: developing visions for new ways forward: proceedings 2002. Melbourne, Vic: Victorian Council of Social Service, 2002, CD-ROM, 15p

The City of Casey, an area of around 400 square kilometres on the south eastern edge of Melbourne, is Victoria's fastest growing municipality and the third fastest in Australia. In 1999 the City of Casey developed the New Estates Community Development Program, which helps new residents develop their estate into a community. The author describes the program and explains its focus on community building, which emphasises active citizenship, empowerment, and the development of local social capital and a sense of community.

Spiller Gibbins Swan Pty Ltd
Public housing estate renewal in Australia.
Canberra, ACT: Department of Family and Community Services, 2000, 67p, Online
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36764/20051018-0000/www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/programs/house-public_housing_estate_renewal.htm

The nation's investment in public rental housing in the post-war period has created major social and economic benefits - however much of the stock is now at the end of its economic life and/or it does not meet current needs. Concentrations of entrenched social disadvantage have developed in some public housing estates. The aim of the study reported in this document was to gain an understanding of the problems being faced in public housing estate renewal projects and to develop a framework for project evaluation, particularly with respect to social and economic impacts. In undertaking the study all States and Territories were consulted and nineteen case studies were documented (available as an appendix). The study has developed the evaluation technique termed 'Sectored Cost Benefit Analysis' for application to Australian public housing estate renewal projects. It is potentially suitable for application to projects in prospect where the implementation options are significantly different. It is be recommended that the technique be tested by application to a number of case studies where this is the case.

Westacott, J
Keynote address for Housing, Crime and Stronger Communities Conference.
In: Housing, Crime and Stronger Communities Conference, Melbourne, May 2002. Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2002, 12p, Online only (PDF 97 KB)
http://www. aic.gov.au/conferences/housing/westacott.pdf

The author first discusses what evidence there is to show that public housing is affected by high crime rates, stating that there isn't much. She then discusses the change in public housing clients during the past decade, suggesting that this change has influenced the safety and security picture. The Victorian Office of Housing security policy up to now is described, and some current initiatives mentioned. Two current programs within the Office of Housing's activities that aim to address social exclusion are described: the Neighbourhood Renewal program and the Victorian Homelessness Strategy. The author argues that the response to crime and anti-social behaviour on housing estates requires more than a mere security response, but needs to canvass a range of options including changes to allocations policy and estate management that seeks to enhance residents' sense of safety and to prevent crime. She advocates an approach that takes the best of safety and security options and uses them within a cooperative community building process that seeks to prevent crime rather than deter it.

Wood, M
A balancing act? Tenure diversification in Australia and the UK.
Urban Policy and Research v.21 no.1 Mar 2003: 45-56

Diversifying tenure on public housing estates, it is frequently claimed, helps to create a healthy social mix and leads to the establishment of balanced communities. This viewpoint stems from the perception that social and economic problems are reinforced on certain estates by the concentration of disadvantaged households. Residents in these areas, it is maintained, are isolated from the wider community, have fewer opportunities to gain education and employment, and are more likely to be engaged in anti-social behaviour or suffer their effects. Diversifying tenure, it is suggested, remedies these problems, creates 'social capital' and leads to a more sustainable social environment. While this perspective has reinforced the strategy of sale and transfer of stock in neighbourhood regeneration over the last decade in both Australia and the UK, much of the research evidence that exists, in both contexts, questions the effectiveness of the strategy. Conceptual difficulties are also apparent in current debates about the nature and role of social capital and the type of 'social cohesion' that is being aimed for. This presents particular difficulties to those wishing to empirically test policy outcomes. (Journal abstract)