Bibliography - Community Participation
Principles, Concepts, Methods


Australian literature

Government of ourselves, by ourselves - does it work? Community participation in decision-making and service delivery - Canberra, 10 August 1999.
Canberra Bulletin of Public Administration no.94 Dec 1999: 11-52

This section of the journal comprises papers presented at the 1999 conference 'Government of ourselves, by ourselves - does it work? Community participation in decision making and service delivery'. Also included are verbatim transcripts from question and discussion sessions. Papers are: Beyond the standard accountability framework by Andrew Podger; Representative democracy and the place of participation by Patrick Bishop; The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission: a sophisticated working model - a decade of experience by Gerry Hand; The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission: achievements and prospects by Gatjil Djerrkura; Regional Councils: roles and functions by Olga Havnen; Actively engaging citizens by Pauline Peel and Peter Pearce; Experience of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations by Peter Grogan; The Body Shop: the triple bottom line by Alex McDonald; Community consultation: an expectation of equality by Patrick Bishop; Rights and justice as well as effectiveness and responsiveness by Andrew Podger.
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Methods manual: engaging communities in participatory action research.
Southport, Qld: South Coast Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, 2002

A companion document for the Queensland Health's Supportive Environments for Active Living (SEAL) Strategic Framework, this manual provides a methodology for implementing one of the four elements of SEAL, the People element. It provides guidelines on: engaging a community, building social capital, establishing a partnership within the community, communicating with the wider community, implementing a participatory action research (PAR) data collection and analysis process, developing action plans, obtaining community feedback on action plans, managing the ongoing implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SEAL plans for action.

Alston, Margaret & Bowles, Wendy.
Research for social workers: an introduction to methods.
Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin, 2nd ed., 2003

This revised and updated edition provides an introduction to research methods specifically needed in social work and social welfare. It outlines the major stages of research projects step by step, covering both quantitative and qualitative methods. Chapters are: Social work research; Choosing your topic area; Developing research questions; Steps in the research process; Sampling; Surveys and interviews; Needs identification and analysis; How do I evaluate my program? ; Action research; Best practice evaluation; Other methods; Producing results: qualitative research; Producing results: quantitative research; Statistics for social workers; and Influencing policy and practice.

Barton, John, [et al].
Evidence from three perspectives.
Systemic Practice and Action Research v.17 no.1 Feb 2004: 3-36

Where is systems thinking currently positioned and where will it head in the next decade? The authors look at how the different systems schools relate and diverge, and illustrate how far systems thinking has come since the 1970s. They document a discussion among three prominent systems theorists and practitioners that explores many contemporary themes in systems thinking.

Bohill, R; Douglas, G.
Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Law (1), Associate Lecturer, Gummurrii Centre (2), Griffith University, Qld
Community consultation in an anti-social environment: part one.
Indigenous Law Bulletin v.5 no.2 Sept 2000: 7-9

In part one of this two part article, the authors argue that the requirement of the Children (Protection and Parental Responsibility) Act 1997 (NSW) to consult with young people and Indigenous communities is crucial both to legitimating the Act as a form of social control and to empowering community members in exercising some control over the implementation of the Act. On the one hand, consultation may be used to coerce consent to and sanction the perpetuation of assimilationist policies of child removal. On the other, effective consultation may produce positive social change. The authors suggest that which outcome prevails will depend on the ideas and practices of consultation, decision-making and proper social relations adopted by governmental agencies. Discussion includes the objectives of the Act, and outcomes of local crime prevention plans.
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Bourke, L; Muir, J.
Senior Lecturer (1), Senior Research Assistant (2), Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Shepparton Vic 3630
Indigenous health and self determination.
Health Education Australia v.1 no.3 2001: 33-36

One of the major issues in rural and remote health is Indigenous health. The authors of this paper have recently completed an evaluation of an Indigenous health program operating in a rural and regional setting. Throughout the process of conducting the evaluation, they found themselves continually confronted with issues of self determination and social control. These concepts are taken up for discussion in this paper with the goal of raising some of their implications for Indigenous health.
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Bradshaw, M.
Postgraduate Research Fellow, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Tas 7005
Combining social research with 'community consultation' for more inclusive local planning outcomes.
Urban Policy and Research v.19 no.2 Jun 2001: 251-257

This article focuses on the micro urban - that is some of the small projects through which the urban environment is changed every year, just as definitely as it is changed by major schemes. The author has two main aims: first to argue for the development of closer links between academic social researchers and government agencies concerned with consulting communities; and second to present a model of social research and consultation that is producing more democratic local planning outcomes in Hobart. A productive relationship can be established between government agencies, increasingly required to undertake consultation with communities, and academics with the skills to meaningfully conduct social research and the cross over into consultation.
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Branigan, E.
But how can you prove it? Issues of rigour in action research.
Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin no.2 Spring - Summer 2002: 12-13

Many of the people who are involved with the Stronger Families Fund projects, as well as those in government departments and the wider research community, may be coming into contact with action research for the first time with the Commonwealth Government's Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. The question of whether action research is rigorous is often raised when people encounter action research for the first time. Although action research has a different kind of methodology from some of the more scientific or experimental forms of research with which people may be more familiar, it is still a rigorous method of research. This article explains how action research achieves rigour in its careful application of multiple methods techniques.

Burkett, I.
Lecturer in Community Development, University of Queensland, Qld 4072
Navigating for a community of relationships.
QCOSS Bulletin Feb 2001: 22-23

How does a service work with and in a community? The author reflects on this question, focusing on human services and offering ideas that are informed by some of the principles of community development.
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Carson, L.
Department of Government and Public Administration, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006
Random selection in consultation and participation.
Community Quarterly no.47 Dec 1998: 68-76

Bureaucrats, elected representatives and workers wrestle with the problems associated with citizen participation, particularly how to involve all those who might be affected by a decision. There are other constraints of course, not the least of which is ensuring that consultation or participation is meaningful and not tokenistic or manipulative, achieving what it sets out to achieve. This paper focuses on random selection as a means for fairness. They may be of interest to those working in government or community organisations who have been dissatisfied in the past by the representativeness of participants in consultations. Randomness is an important component of citizen participation when it leads to fairness and can strengthen the democratic process. Much more work could usefully be done to test this belief in the appropriateness of random selection. (Journal abstract)
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Cheney, Helen, Willetts, Juliet & Wilson, Erin.
Not just for me: researching rural needs through dialogue.
New Community Quarterly v.1 no.4 Summer 2003: 13-15

The article discusses a project conducted in 2002 - 03 by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Institute of Sustainable Futures to explore the potential needs of GPs and their families so as to attract and retain rural GPs more systematically. The methodology, which combined collaborative evaluation, action research and community development, is discussed as are the results of the project. The findings of the project are seen by the authors to be relevant to other professions and rural community needs generally.

Cuthill, Michael.
The contribution of human and social capital to building community well-being: a research agenda relating to citizen participation in local governance in Australia.
Urban Policy and Research v.21 no.4 Dec 2003: 373-391

This paper discusses the interrelationships between concepts such as human and social capital, community well being, citizen participation, community capacity building and community engagement. Working from this discussion a research agenda is presented relating to citizen participation in local governance with particular emphasis on the role of local government in building human and social capital, thereby contributing to the well being of communities. (Journal abstract)

Cuthill, M.
Senior Research, Gold Coast City Council, Qld
Developing local government policy and processes for community consultation and participation.
Urban Policy and Research v.19 no.2 Jun 2001: 183-202, tables, figures

This paper documents the development of a local government community consultation and capacity building vision and strategy. A central argument is that traditional government perspectives on community consultation must be reconsidered to include greater opportunities for informed community participation in planning and decision making processes for a sustainable community. (Journal abstract)
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Dadich, A.
The self-help support group: a means of fostering social capital.
Third Sector Review v.9 no.1 2003: 7-24

This paper demonstrates the important role of self help support groups in fostering social capital. Following a brief discussion of key concepts, findings are presented from a study which explored the experiences of young people in these groups. The young people self identified as experiencing mental health issues and became involved in groups that met around these issues. The principal finding suggests that the young people spoke highly of the sense of connectedness they had to others who shared their personal issues. This in turn gave rise to other benefits - particularly improved connectedness with people outside the group context, namely family, friends and the wider community. The paper also highlights the potential influence of psychological status in the development of social capital. Psychological status may affect the importance awarded to particular group conditions that are believed to foster a sense of connectedness. (Journal abstract)

Dick, B.
Structured focus groups.
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.8 no.1 Apr 2003: 33-49

The author discusses structured focus groups, a form of group discussion in which a facilitator asks open ended questions to trigger discussion amongst a panel. In this type of focus group, the facilitator provides less guidance and the process is more structured than usual. He describes conventional focus groups and action research and then explains in detail how structured focus groups work in the context of action research.

Douglas, G; Bohill, R.
Associate Lecturer, Gummurrii Centre (1), Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Law (2), Griffith University, Qld
Community consultation in an anti-social environment: part two.
Indigenous Law Bulletin v.5 no.3 Oct 2000: 8-12

This article continues the discussion of the critical nature of consultation with indigenous communities begun in Part One (Indigenous Law Bulletin v.5 no.2 Sept 2000). Ensuring that effective and appropriate consultation has been undertaken is an integral process of any new legislative or policy framework. Part One questioned the values underpinning the consultative processes directed at improving social harmony under the Child (Protection and Parental Responsibility) Act 1997 (NSW). Part Two addresses the way ancestral social organisation may assume a vital role in ensuring communities are informed and are active participants in the process of consultation. (Journal abstract, edited )
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Dunbar, Terry, [et al].
CRCATH 1997 - 2002: working towards change in Indigenous health research.
Casuarina, NT: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, 2004

The LINKS action research project aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health's procedures associated with undertaking, managing, and disseminating research. This report provides the background to the development of the project, presents key findings and recommendations and discusses project outcomes and future directions. Presentation of results from the literature review and research findings includes discussion of: the Indigenous research reform agenda; organisational change; institutional research capacity; priority driven research; research methodologies; research ethics; research transfer; research dissemination; research planning and brokerage; collaborative research; research management; and capacity exchange and professional development.

Fielder, J; Roberts, J; Abdullah, J.
Teacher, Communication Studies, Aboriginal Bridging Course, Centre for Aboriginal Studies (1), Director, Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (2) Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6001
Research with Indigenous communities.
In: Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D. and Pickett, H. eds. Working with Indigenous Australians: a handbook for psychologists. Perth, WA: Gunada Press, Curtin Indigenous Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology, 2000, p349-356

Arguing that it is essential to examine and reframe underlying philosophical assumptions which underpin research about Indigenous people, this paper describes: constructive research partnerships; history of previous research practices; the role of the psychologist in conducting research; step by step guidelines to working with the Aboriginal community in culturally appropriate ways; and community based and participatory approaches to research.
F 155.849915 WOR

Ford, G.
Senior Project Officer, National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health
Involving consumers on committees.
Health Issues no.66 Mar 2001: 18-20, tables

Health services are increasingly recognising the benefits of actively involving consumers in service planning, policy development and program evaluation. One of the most common ways consumers participate at this level is through membership of steering committees, reference groups and advisory groups. To help health services successfully involve consumers in such committees and groups, this article outlines five points for service providers to consider. For simplification, the word 'committees' will be used throughout the article, however, the information also applies to working groups, reference groups and advisory groups. (Journal abstract)
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Frkovic, I.
Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Immigrants and policy development.
In: Teesson, M. et al, eds. THEMHS Conference 1996: There is a person in here. Balmain, NSW: The Mental Health Services Conference Inc. of Australia and New Zealand, 1997, p172-175

This paper will explore some of the community consultation processes utilised by the Policy Officer of Queensland Health, Mental Health Branch in the development of the Queensland Non-English Speaking Background Mental Health Policy Statement 1995. Attempts will also be made throughout the paper to relate these experiences to successful policy development consultation processes utilised by other agencies and organisations, and finally a process for consulting with non-English speaking background communities will be suggested which (a) brings together the various experiences of those who have successfully undertaken policy development consultations with non-English speaking background communities and (b) which may be of assistance to other agencies and organisations, both in the public and non-government sector when engaging immigrant communities in policy development. (Author abstract)
F 362.220993 THEMHS-CON

Haviland, Maya, [et al].
Creative documentation.
Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin no.5 Autumn 2004: 3-18

This section of the Bulletin focuses on some of the forms of creative documentation which have been used in the work of community-based projects. It comprises the following articles: Gathering information to inform action, by Maya Haviland (pp3-5); Scrapbooking, by Katrina Bredhauer (pp6-7); Scrapbooks in the context of a parent peer support group, by Anne Garrow (p7); Review - Centres collaborate on new visual resource, by Ellen Fish (p8-9); Using photography as a tool in action research, by Maya Haviland (pp10-15); and An ocean of stories, by Kelley Johnson (pp16-18).

Hecker, R; Gordon, E; Delaney, S; Schuil, C; Capon, A.
The benefits of participatory evaluation methods in evaluating Aboriginal health programs.
In: Evaluation: equipping communities and government: conference proceedings. Curtin, ACT: Australasian Evaluation Society, 1997, p279-284

In a bid to improve the manner in which evaluation and research is undertaken with Aboriginal communities, many evaluators and researchers in Australia are now utilising more collaborative and participatory methods, where the focus is as much on the process of the evaluation, as on the results. This paper describes a community based Aboriginal maternity program which is run through the community controlled Daruk Aboriginal Medical Service in Mt Druitt. Aboriginal health workers and a non-Aboriginal midwife work in collaboration with a female general practitioner to provide care for urban Aboriginal women in the Deerubbin local land council area in NSW. Issues discussed include: methodology and aim of the evaluation; and evaluation issues for Aboriginal people, including ownership of the research, Aboriginal co-researchers, demographic makeup of urban Aboriginal communities, and mobility of communities. The evaluation process is outlined highlighting the evaluation team's work with the Aboriginal women recipients of the program and the antenatal staff.
F 658.4013 AUS

Henry, John, [et al].
Indigenous research reform agenda: a review of the literature.
Casuarina, NT: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, 2004

The Links action research project explored ways of managing and doing research in an Indigenous context. This literature review identifies issues and trends that may have an impact on the future development of research and management practices in Indigenous health research. It covers the following: recent Australian health and medical research reviews, policies, reports and initiatives of significance to Indigenous health research; research methodologies; the development of guidelines for the ethical conduct of Indigenous health research in Australia; institutional arrangements for the management of Indigenous health; transfer and dissemination of research findings; and capacity building.

Littlejohns, L B; GermAnn, K; Smith, N; Bopp, J; Bopp, M; Reichel, C; Harcus, S; Goldthorp, J; Hoppins, Y.
Research and Evaluation, Regional Public Health, David Thompson Health Region, 2845 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1S2 Canada (1,2,3,6,7,8,9); Four Worlds Centre for Development Learning, Box 395, Cochrane, Alberta, TOL OWO Canada (4,5)
Integrating community capacity building and enhanced primary health care services.
Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange v.6 no.3 - no.4 2000: 175-189, tables, figures

The purpose of this study was to design, test and evaluate a community capacity assessment process within a Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) in conjunction with model development for enhanced primary health care (PHC) services in small rural communities. This paper describes the HCI planning process and community capacity assessment methods and tools, in the context of a small rural community that identified enhanced MC as a key priority area. A MC demonstration project was developed and a model integrating community action with the MC team and the services they provide was created. It is the community action component of the model that is highlighted in this paper in order to further knowledge development of strategies to strengthen community action. (Journal abstract, edited)
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McAdam, E.
Bethel Child and Family Centre, Mary Chapman House, Hotblack Road, Norwich NR2 4HN, England
The appreciative enquiry project.
Dulwich Centre Journal no.2 and no.3 1998: 58-62

The author, working out of a child psychiatry clinic in Norwich, England, wanted to try and empower a particular area of Norwich where there was a significant proportion of low income single mothers, high unemployment and accompanying problems with drug use. She began her work at the local middle school, attended by children aged between eight and eleven years. Drawing on the natural curiosity of the children, a project based on the idea of appreciative enquiry was set up. Appreciative enquiry creates contexts in which questions are asked of members of the community that build on the things that people do well, are life giving, energy giving and of which people are proud but which perhaps are not often talked about. The appreciative enquiry project spread from the children to the teachers, families, the elderly and to other schools.
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Macpherson, Ian, [et al].
Constructing a territory for professional practice research: some introductory considerations.
Action Research v.2 no.1 Mar 2004: 89-106

How can professional practice research be defined? The authors present four projects in which they have been involved and which have focused heavily on the work of professional practitioners, as well as discussion of some significant ideas that have appeared in the research literature on action research, practitioner research and teacher research. They consider what it means to construct a territory for professional practice research and they share some ideas for advocating the worthwhile nature of professional practice research.

Munford, R. & Sanders, J. (eds.)
Making a difference in families: research that creates change.
St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin, 2003

The essays in this book address the question often asked by participants in family research and evaluation: Will it make a difference to the lives of my family and other families? The contributors have long term involvement in family research and evaluation and each brings a different perspective when considering who will benefit. The book is intended for teachers, students and researchers from a number of disciplines and has a particular emphasis on international work in family and community change. All chapters have been separately indexed - Empowerment-based evaluation: Research and social change by Pauline Raven, Michelle Rivard, Yolande Samson and Madine VanderPlaat; Optimising the relationships between research, policy and practice: A systemic model by John Canavan, Pat Dolan and John Pinkerton; A model for Maori research: Te whakaeke i te ao rangahau o te Maori by Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata; Disabled people and research: putting families first by Anne Bray and Brigit Mirfin-Veitch; Action research with families/whanau and communities by Robyn Munford and Jackie Sanders with Ann Andrew, Peter Butler and Leland Ruwhiu; Clients as researchers: The benefits of strengths-based research by Di O'Neil; Mandatory social work: Research with vulnerable families by Jill Worrall and Margaret McKenzie; Strengthening practice through research: Research in organisations by Jackie Sanders and Robyn Munford; Evaluation research in social programmes: The centrality of families Briar and Mike O'Brien.

Munford, R, [et al].
Action research with families / whanau and communities.
In: Munford, R. and Sanders, J. eds. Making a difference in families: research that creates change. St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin, 2003, p93-112

The authors discuss research they conducted in New Zealand to identify what social service interventions were effective in supporting families to achieve positive change in their relationships and parenting, and in developing problem solving strategies. They consider the application of participatory action and community development practices as a basis for research leading to social change. They discuss the research methodology, including several questions that arose along the way. The key challenge they identify is how to carry out truly participatory and cooperative research that forges new partnerships.

Oliver, P.
Qualitative Director, Colmar Brunton Research, Auckland NZ
Giving 'voice' to the researched in evaluation research.
In: Evaluation: equipping communities and government: conference proceedings. Curtin, ACT: Australasian Evaluation Society, 1997, p377-382

Some ways in which researchers can afford the researched, both consumers of social services and other populations who are subjects of evaluation research, a real voice in evaluation are explored in this paper. It stresses making opportunities for research participants' own words to be communicated to the decision makers in ways which render the power and truth of those words unable to be ignored. Discussion includes the use of written quotes, the audio playback, video playback, and including research respondents at the research presentation.
F 658.4013 AUS

Parnell, Matthew.
Reticence in action: reflections on people-centred research.
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.9 no1 Apr 2004: 65-80

The action research approach adopted in a program to investigate the interrelationship of culture, learning and technology in the sustainable development of small communities is explored in this paper. The research takes an action oriented, people centred approach to data collection and is based on respect for local viewpoints and a meaningful exchange of service. The paper discusses the research framework, the community development context and the intent of the researcher, ethics and data ownership in the community context, data collection methodologies, and difficulties and rewards associated with the researcher's attitude of reticience.

Partnerships Against Domestic Violence (Australia); CultureShift.
Claiming back community : the final report for the Partners for Prevention participatory action research study.
Canberra, ACT: Partnerships Against Domestic Violence, Office of the Status of Women, 2001, 283p, and Online (4087 KB)

Through this study, the Domestic Violence Prevention Council inquired into the way in which families and friends recognise family violence when it is taking place, how they respond to the help seeker's requests and what value personal support actions have. The Council wanted to generate a 'sense' of community participation in responding to family violence and to raise awareness about the issues. The research method included those seeking and giving help in a facilitated and on-going inquiry relationship that operated within an inquiry 'partnership' with participating agencies. The inquiry moved in iterative cycles, from one set of propositions to the next, exchanging reported workshop data between the groups. This report constitutes the collective consensus of these perspectives. It assimilates the study's findings, and aims to provide a strategic resource to augment the social capital potential of personal support. The report includes an executive summary; an analysis of the context of personal support; discusses problems made visible by the study, and illustrates them by participants' quotes, secondary references and survey data; looks at the nature of personal support; describes how the study responded to the key problems and what was learned from this response about community development and social capital, particularly with regard to personal support; describes the proposed community development strategy to develop personal support in the ACT, which is captured in 21 recommended actions; and concludes with a description of the study's evaluation strategies and its research method.
F 362.829270994 CLA

Price, C.
What is action research in Reconnect?
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.7 no.2 Oct 2002: 61-66

Reconnect is an early intervention youth program of the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services. It has developed a program-wide action research capacity to assist its continuous improvement, and this article presents an information piece for use by new staff that has been developed by action research consultant Yoland Wadsworth, in collaboration with a number of the Reconnect action research facilitators. The piece describes research in actual practice; what makes it 'research'; what makes it participatory; and finding the time to 'build in' action research. Examples are presented to illustrate the discussion.

Pyett, P.
Working together to reduce health inequalities: reflections on a collaborative participatory approach to health research.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health v.26 no.4 Aug 2002: 332-336

With mounting evidence that health problems are related to social inequalities, health researchers increasingly need to engage with disadvantaged and marginalised groups. These groups can present specific challenges to conventional research methods. This paper reflects on the need for health researchers to meet these challenges in order to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which social disadvantage affects people's health, and to develop appropriate interventions for these groups. Models of collaborative, participatory and action research are defined on a continuum. The value of a collaborative participatory approach to health research is discussed. Key processes in collaboration are outlined, and some of the methodological tensions and ethical issues that arise when using such an approach are addressed. The recognition that power is directly related to knowledge lies at the heart of the collaborative participatory research project. Collaborative participatory research offers a strategy that embraces self determination, encourages and even demands ongoing consultation and negotiation, and provides opportunities for capacity building and empowerment in the communities involved in the research. Nowhere is such a strategy more needed in Australia today than for research with Indigenous communities. (Journal abstract)

Rice, J.
Context Pty Ltd, Brunswick Vic 3056
Reference groups that really work.
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.7 no.1 Apr 2002: 37-45, tables

Reference groups refer to a group of people drawn from the community, fulfilling the roles of both a steering committee and an advisory committee. This paper draws on the author's experiences as a consultant running reference groups over the past few years. The author outlines the aims and usefulness of reference groups, and how to ensure that reference groups are effective.
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Scanlon, K; Wilson, M.
Manager, Prevention, Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health Department (1); Senior Mental Health Promotion Officer, Western Sydney Area Health Service (2)
Planning, disseminating and implementing the National Action Plan 2000 in NSW.
Auseinetter no.13 Sept 2001: 14-15

This overview of the process of implementation of the National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000 in New South Wales includes information about the local forums that were conducted, and issues to consider when planning local forums.
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Schwab, R G; Sutherland, D.
Fellow and Deputy Director, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Faculty of Arts, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 (1); Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (2)
Building Indigenous learning communities.
Canberra, ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University, 2001, 22p (CAEPR discussion paper no. 225/2001)

The limited engagement of Indigenous Australians with education remains one of this country's most perplexing and intractable problems, state the authors. They propose the building of Indigenous learning communities as an avenue to address the problem. Placing their discussion against the backdrop of broader debates about social capital and community capacity building, they explore educational policy and program options for linking families, schools and communities (including business and government) to identify and address local needs through drawing upon local resources. Five program models, from both Australia and overseas, are sketched to illustrate a range of approaches. The experience derived from these programs suggests there is value in attempting to position the school at the centre of Indigenous communities. Further, it is argued, in extending the traditional role of the school to incorporate other initiatives such as adult education and the coordination and integration of various child and family services, these programs necessarily bring more members of the wider community into contact with the school. The paper makes specific recommendations related to funding, evaluation and essential program components.
330.0899915 CAEPR-DIS

Scougall, J.
Giving voice: the conduct of evaluation research in Aboriginal contexts.
In: Evaluation: equipping communities and government: conference proceedings. Curtin, ACT: Australasian Evaluation Society, 1997, p460-465

Arguing that evaluation research can play a part in enabling Aboriginal communities to speak with their own voices, this paper describes the approach adopted by Curtin University's Centre for Aboriginal Studies where staff are involved in the conduct and teaching of community based evaluation research as part of a Bachelor of Applied Science (Aboriginal Community Management and Development Program). The ownership of evaluation research is considered and the way in which the purpose of an evaluation research project is defined, the choice of data collection methods, the analysis of data and the making of findings, and the process by which recommendations are arrived at, are examined. It is suggested that evaluation research only becomes relevant to Aboriginal people when it is conceived of as a process which enables communities to better understand their situation, give voice to their own issues and concerns and determine future directions.
F 658.4013 AUS

Secretariat of the National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC).
SNAICC, 4 Brunswick Place, Fitzroy 3065
Aboriginal family needs: what does consultation mean?
SNAICC Newsletter Apr - May 1996: 1-6

This is a revised version of a paper presented to the Family Court Directors of Court Counselling and Casework Supervisors Seminar held in South Australia in February 1996. It describes the process of 'consultation' in Aboriginal affairs, explaining why it has developed as bad a reputation as 'research' in Aboriginal communities. The principle of the right of self-determination for indigenous people is reviewed, particularly in the context of the Internationl Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and barriers which continue to confront Aboriginal people are discussed. Pointers about the way consultation ought to be conducted are set out in conclusion.
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Stephens, U.
Strengthening rural communities resource kit.
Sydney: Strengthening Communities Unit, NSW Premier's Department, 2001, 101p report, and CD-ROM

The publication of this resource kit is the product of the Sustainable Rural Communities Project in which six rural communities with a population of less than 10,000 people were analysed to determine how and why some rural communities adapt positively to change. The kit was designed to be used by local organisations and community groups to help rural communities manage change. The program allows residents to gain understanding about the community's strengths and vulnerabilities, enabling them to identify key actions and priorities of importance to the long-term viability of the community as a whole. The accompanying CD includes templates, spreadsheets and other tools for data gathering, collating and analysing responses, evaluating options etc.
F 307.7209944 STR

Stone, Wendy.
Bonding, bridging and linking with social capital: towards building capacity and sustainable communities.
Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin no.4 Spring - Summer 2003: 13-16

Social capital is a concept that describes the extent and nature of relationships people have with others, their communities, and between people and various services, institutions and systems. Most recently, the concept has been adopted and developed in various capacity building and community development strategies, both nationally and internationally. Within this context, the aims of this paper are to: outline what social capital is; examine how different types of social capital are distributed among families and communities; describe how a focus on relationships can relate to capacity building, using examples; and outline some of the principles involved in relationship building in working with families and communities.

Uhlmann, V.
Nexus Australia
Consulting on a consultation protocol: a project where the means were as important as the end.
Brisbane, Qld: Action Learning Action Research and Process Management Association, Prosperity Press, and Interchange, 1994, 73p (Action research case study series monograph no.1)

This book is based on the author's experience with an action research approach when working on a 1991 consultation protocol project being conducted by the Social Policy Unit of the Office of Cabinet in Queensland which aimed to produce guidelines for consulting with stakeholders which could be used by all state government departments. She explains that she has written it for people, whether government or community, who are interested in ways in which the community can meaningfully participate in government decision making, and possibly have more control over their own lives. The author argues the case for stakeholder involvement, describes the consultation protocol project, discusses evaluation, and reflects on what she learned.
302.3 UHL

University of Melbourne. VicHealth Koori Health Research and Community Development Unit.
We don't like research ... but in Koori hands it could make a difference.
Parkville, Vic: VicHealth Koori Health Research and Community Development Unit, Centre for the Study of Health and Society, University of Melbourne, 2000, 32p, illus.

This publication is a report of the first community workshop conducted in cooperation with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Department of Rural Health (University of Melbourne, Shepparton) and the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative in Shepparton in 1999. The goal of the workshop was to examine: the Koori community's concerns about research; the barriers to community control in health research; what would facilitate community control in health research; and strategies that would strengthen community participation in and control of health research.
F 362.8499150945 WED

Watene-Haydon, N; Keefe-Ormsby, V; Reid, P; Robson, B.
Te Pumanawa Hauora Kite Whanganui-a-Tara, Maori Health Research Centre, Wellington NZ (1,2,3,4)
Issues of research and evaluation by indigenous peoples.
In: Evaluation! Are you being served? Conference proceedings. Curtin, ACT: Australasian Evaluation Society, 1995, v.2, p490-496

This paper states that evaluation research by Maori in New Zealand has identified three main frameworks in which evaluation has been carried out: the theoretical framework involving processes, models of health, and colonialism of research; the ethical framework involving trust, ownership, and autonomy; and the practical framework involving starting points, process issues, and presentation of findings. Issues to consider in evaluation are outlined and include: the purpose of the evaluation; who the evaluation is for; accountability processes; and level of community involvement. The paper highlights the importance of consultation, participation, ownership and control by indigenous peoples in any research or evaluation project that involves the use of their data.
F 658.4013 AUS

Wildman, P & Cundy, L.
The esoteric thesis: making inner sense of the ineffability of knowledge obtained during the exoteric research process.
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.7 no.2 Oct 2002: 3-21

This article explores aspects of the conventional research thesis and identifies one approach - the 'esoteric thesis' - for explicating inner meaning of the outward 'research quest'. The authors argue the importance of an inner journey that runs parallel to the conventional outward-looking research quest, and in doing so offer an approach that accommodates both.


International journal literature

Community involvement: theoretical approaches and educational inititatives
Journal of Social Issues vol.58 no.3 Fall 2002: Special issue

This special issue contains the following articles: Community Involvement: Theoretical Approaches and Educational Initiatives by Arthur A. Stukas and Michelle R. Dunlap; Four Motives for Community Involvement by C. Daniel Batson, Nadia Ahmad, and Jo-Ann Tsang; Dispositional and Organizational Influences on Sustained Volunteerism: An Interactionist Perspective by Louis A. Penner; Role as Resource for Action in Public Service by Jane Allyn Piliavin, Jean A. Grube, and Peter L. Callero; Inter-Group Helping Relations as Power Relations: Maintaining or Challenging Social Dominance Between Groups Through Helping by Arie Nadler; Campus -Community Partnerships: The Terms of Engagement by Robert G. Bringle and Julie A. Hatcher; Reflection: Linking Service and Learning-Linking Students and Communities by Janet Eyler; Personal Identity and Civic Responsibility: "Rising to the Occasion" Narratives and Generativity in Community Action Student Interns by Jefferson A. Singer, Laura A. King, Melanie C. Green, and Sarah C. Barr; Designing Service-Learning to Empower Students and Community: Jackson Elementary Builds a Nature Study Center by Carol M. Werner, Rose Voce, Kellie Gaufin Openshaw, and Michael Simons.

Barter, Ken.
Building community: a conceptual framework for child protection.
Child Abuse Review vol. 10 no. 4 Jul-Aug 2001: 262-278

This paper proposes an innovative strategy to help re-claim those children and families who are at risk. This strategy is based on a community-building framework.

France, Alan.
Involving communities in the evaluation of programmes with 'at risk' children and young people.
Children and Society vol. 15 no. 1 Jan 2001: 39-45

This article explores the relationships between evaluators and those who take part in community-based programmes. It draws specifically on experience gained from the continuing evaluation of the Communities that Care (CTC) programme in Britain. Different community perspectives towards evaluation are discussed, highlighting the challenges these create for evaluators. In the final sections examples are used to identify different strategies used on the CTC evaluation, showing how trust', boundary setting, independence and identification of benefits' are central to including community participants in evaluation.

Jonson-Reid, Melissa.
Evaluating empowerment in a community-based child abuse prevention program: lessons learned.
Journal of Community Practice vol. 7 no. 4 2000: 57-76

Confusion regarding the definition and use of community empowerment can significantly affect program evaluation. This paper illustrates the issue with highlights from a 3-year process and outcome evaluation of a community-based program designed to prevent child abuse. Lessons learned from this evaluation suggest ways to empower future research. These suggestions include: 1) researching how a project defines community empowerment; 2) using a theory- based framework to connect program definitions, components and measures; and 3) understanding the relationship of time to the use of the program outcome.

Nash, Vicky.
Building communities: civic renewal and public policy.
New Economy vol. 8 iss. 1 Mar 2001: 52-54

This article raises two questions: 1) what are the characteristics of a strong community? and 2) how can public policy build and foster 'strong communities'? Some of the most frequently mentioned factors which contribute to a strong community include: the extent of social capital; good access to public services; a well-designed physical environment; and participation and involvement. The article then discusses how public policy can promote and strengthen these factors. New measures for public policy are suggested.

Scanzoni, John H.
Reconnecting household and community: an alternative strategy for theory and policy.
Journal of Family Issues vol. 22 no. 2 Mar 2001: 243-264

This article argues that the model of household isolation that has prevailed in the United States since the 1950's is structurally flawed. Critics of this theory argue that there is a meso layer of society which links households to their communities. This article elaborates this theme by suggesting households may form pacts or alliances in four areas: gender; children/youth; older people; and economic disadvantage.

Stevens, Georgia L. and Lodl, Kathleen A.
Community coalitions: a longitudinal study of a statewide model.
Family Science Review vol. 13 no. 3 and 4 Dec 2000: 176-181

This article highlights a 10-year model coalition-building project, KIDS' TEAM, which was designed to bring existing statewide programs addressing youth-at- risk issues into a network to model and nurture local community coalition development. This program provides a model that can be adapted and replicated by other coalition building projects.

Watt, S., Higgins, C. and Kendrick, A.
Community participation in the development of services: a move towards community empowerment.
Community Development Journal v 35 n 2 2000: 120-132

The principal aim of this community study was to devise a model - to be employed by a Council in the east of Scotland - for engaging local people in the identification and assessment of expressed need and unmet need in relation to early years services. A collaborative approach with community members was used to identify issues, and to devise and partially pilot a model for future use in creating a 'dialogue' between the Council and its constituents. This paper outlines the methodology of the model and focuses on the successful aspects of the methodology and the obstacles encountered. The findings can be extrapolated onto many contexts where there is a desire to move towards developing an authority-community approach and, as such, will be of interest to policy-makers and practitioners alike.