FRAMEWORK MATTERS

1. FRAMEWORK MATTERS From Welfare Recipients to Residents in Control

2. Discovery is not so much about new landscapes, it’s about having fresh eyes

3. What & Where is Bundaleer? • Bundaleer is a Radburn designed medium density public housing estate of 188 homes • Located in Warrawong, 2 hours south of Sydney. • Warrawong is in the top 40 most socially disadvantaged suburb in NSW ( Tony Vinson: Unequal In life) • Bundaleer in economic and social terms is highly disadvantaged

4. Bundaleer’s Statistics • 75% of households are single parents • Family accommodation-2-3 bedrooms • 85% of tenants on Centrelink benefits • 13% employed in any form

7. The Bundaleer Community Centre

8. Barnardos Role • Range of programs for children-homework, craft & interest groups • Breakfast program • Adult groups • Currently: Cooking & exercise groups (resident facilitated) • Previously: Jewelry making, Knitting (resident facilitated) • Supported Playgroup • Teen Space

9. Barnardos Role Cont… • Advocacy • Mediation • Financial literacy • Practical Assistance • Tax Help • EAPA • Employment Programs • Referrals • Nils • Housing NSW Issues • Health Issues • Centrelink Issues • Food • DV • Parenting Concerns...

10. Previous research 2002-2004 • Key issues identified by residents in a needs analysis were: • Safety • Crime • Drugs • Social Isolation • Stigma • Financial Stress • Child Abuse & Neglect • Unemployment

11. Strengths Pressure Model

12. Our Experience • Recognition of the hard yards done by previous Barnardos staff and the “timing”factor • Parents abdicating responsibility • “Client” mentality being reinforced • Welfare recipient view being reinforced • Capacity of individuals not being utilised • Needs based framework with focus on problems was overwhelming • Desire to change the framework

13. Example of this experience in practice • Bundaleer Playgroup • Children under 5yrs would attend playgroup without parents. • Parents engagement if any was as an observer • No parent/child interaction  poor child/parent attachments

14. The Dilemma . . . People and Communities havedeficiencies & needs “Clients” Individuals and Communities haveskills and talents “Citizens” or “Residents”

15. We can ask questions in two ways • What is wrong with our community? What problems can we fix? What are the needs of our community? What is broken? OR 2. What are the strengths and assets of our community? What do you value most about our community? What is it about our community that makes it unique and strong?

16. Unemployment Truancy Broken Families Slum Housing Grafitti Mental Disability Child Abuse Crime Gangs Illiteracy Welfare Recipients Lead Poisoning Dropouts Neighborhoods Needs Map

17. Some Consequences of the Needs Map for Local Residents • “We are deficient” • Most money comes into our community for programs – defined by organisations • Money can get misdirected towards professional helpers, not residents • Our community has a poor self-image

18. Asset Based Community Development Implemented

19. Asset Based Community Development • Cup half full-with focus on people not programs-relationship driven • Recognises that everyone has gifts, skills, talents and strengths • Focuses on people as contributing citizens rather than clients

20. A power Ladder Residents in Control Residents As Participants Residents As Information Sources

21. Asset Based Community Development Three steps: • Find the assets-map them celebrate them • Personal , Community, Agency, Physical • Connect the community’s assets • Harness the connected assets to a vision for the future

22. Community Assets Map Local INSTITUTIONS Business Schools Churches/ Houses of Worship Citizens’ Associations Block Clubs Gifts of INDIVIDUALS Income Libraries Parks Artists Labeled People Youth Older Adults Cultural Groups Community Colleges Hospitals

23. Our Process • Develop a Community Resources Inventory • Why? • To identify gifts, strengths and abilities of residents • To identify associations and connections residents have with other organisations or groups

24. The Process continues • Residents complete inventory • Residents strengths and skills are matched with needs or interests of community • We connected with other associations and partnerships to value add their assets

25. Purpose • To enable people to utilise their skills, gifts, abilities within their community • For residents to take control of programs and activities on their estate • For residents to move from seeing themselves as welfare recipients to seeing themselves as residents in control of their community

26. Successes/Outcomes • Resident facilitation of children’s interest groups- Amy’s story • Children see their parents positively engaged in activities & interests. • 2 Adult groups 100% facilitated without Barnardos input. Sustainable!!! • Resident to resident relationships enhanced • Residents encouraging each other to attend groups & to be engaged in their community.

27. Successes/Outcomes Cont... • Resident run community projects. • Residents arranged meetings with Housing NSW, Police, & Council around issues relating to: • drug related violence, drug paraphernalia • domestic violence and police slow/no response • Evidence of residents moving up the ladder & taking control

28. Resident Facilitated Interest groups • Gardening, Swimming, Bike Maintenance, Karaoke • Aboriginal Cultural Awareness • Jewelry Making, Dancing, T-Ball • Duck Feeding, Cooking, Bike Riding

29. Resident Lisa’s Bottom Gardening with Lisa is GREAT!!!

30. Great way to use my skills

31. We made these earrings I’m Amy. You heard my story before Looking good

32. Teaching the children Koori skills

33. CHALLENGES • Mapping the gifts, strengths and abilities of the residents. • Time consuming-resident employed • Residents were hesitant • Training residents on what engagement/facilitation looks like. • Resident ongoing level of commitment • If the vision isn’t from the residents it won’t happen-example

34. Celebrating the Successes

36. We are HOT