Building Community Connectedness in Broadmeadows

1. Building Community Connectedness in Broadmeadows Communities for Children

2. Funded by the Australian Government under the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. Aims to improve outcomes for children & families in areas identified as �disadvantaged� by developing and implementing local strategies for children aged 0-5, their families and the community. Broadmeadows site is one of the 45 sites across Australia. Communities for Children

3. Setting the hubs humming (6 activities) Playgroups Rule ok! (3 activities) Connecting Dots and Neurons (8 activities) We are All Community (6 activities) Catching them all (5 activities) Strategy Groups

4. The site forms a small geographic corner of City of Hume in the north west of Melbourne. Suburbs are Broadmeadows, Jacana, Campbellfield, Meadow Heights, Coolaroo & DallasSuburbs are Broadmeadows, Jacana, Campbellfield, Meadow Heights, Coolaroo & Dallas

5. 153,729 At 30 July 2006 � this is an increase of 2.5% since 2001.

6. Country of Birth & Language Spoken at Home

7.

8. Service Users Study Short-term outcomes for parents and children Assesses: - parenting skills - parent and child health - satisfaction with neighbourhood - community services - service expectation and satisfaction levels Part 1 2006 n=108, Part 2 2007 n=50

10. Statistical Analysis Quantitative data: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Qualitative data: NVivo qualitative software package Two tests for statistical significance for the quantitative data. Wilcoxon signed ranks test McNemar test

11. Limitations Relied upon participants self report Fear of losing and frightening parents Parents were �surveyed out� Not translated into other community languages Missing data Not all activities completed surveys Lowered response rate in 2007

12. Results Positive Results- No Statistical Significance Parents� frequency of contact with other family members and friends Children�s frequency of contact with grandparents, other family members and parents� friends Parents� attitudes towards neighbourhood Parents� attitudes towards their neighbourhood as a place to bring up children Moving away from neighbourhood

13. Positive Results- Statistical Significance Parents� Frequency of Contact with Neighbours Results

14. Results

15. Results

17. Most Noticeable Changes in Child�s Development Four key themes emerged from the data regarding the most noticeable changes in the child�s development The child�s increased capacity and/or willingness to share Child�s increased skills and/or interest and/or time spent playing Improved language and/or literacy skills and abilities The child�s increased capacity and/or willingness and/or confidence in socialising/interacting with other children

18. How CfC Contributed to the Changes in Child Development Two key themes emerged from the data CfC services provided the child with the opportunity to meet and/or interact and/or make friends with other children. CfC services had helped the child to learn how to share and play.

19. Conclusion Increased contact with neighbours for both parents and children Increased contact for children with other young children Parents feeling more supported CfC is contributing to the community connectedness in Broadmeadows area

20. For Further Information Cemile Yuksel Community Facilitator/Research Officer Communities for Children Broadmeadows UnitingCare 413-419 Camp Road, Broadmeadows VIC 3047 Phone: 03 9351 3645 Email: bcarefac@vicnet.net.au Colleen Turner Project Manager Communities for Children Broadmeadows UnitingCare 413-419 Camp Road, Broadmeadows VIC 3047 Phone: 03 9351 3640 Email: bcarecfc@vicnet.net.au