Overview

This revised professional development manual is for facilitators (paid and unpaid), those on the front line of community engagement and management. The title Growing and learning in rural communities, reflects the source of motivation for my search to discover ways to engage across divisions created by stereo-typical myths and policies that enshrines benefits for some at the expense of communities and landscapes. The introduction to nine strategies that engage community members and decision makers in dialogue has proved to be a foundational resource for those tasked with reframing community and organisational relationships towards mutually beneficial partnerships. Each strategy is accompanied by underpinning theory followed by suggestions for implementation and examples of outcomes from community engagement programs. Participants share insights of how hearing the reality of diverse life experiences challenged, or affirmed, their own views and relationships. In regular use by universities and government departments involved in facilitating community engagement across sectors. The regional approach offers a human-scale understanding of the impact of global, national and regional policies on community relationships and the environment on which they depend. The stories record communities taking steps towards leading change, participating in planning towards mutually beneficail partnerships. The outcome is to transform relationships with agencies and organisations shifting experiences from despair to optimism.

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9780994339386

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Reviews

Helen's work on collaborative engagement is particularly powerful as it tells the on the ground histories of local communities, and the practical changes that can be created. Professor Robyn Eversole, 2022. Deborah Bird Rose, wrote in a letter following her involvement in A Regional Affair the story so far. This is social and spiritual change at its absolute best. - it really matters.. Sincerely Debbie

Author Information

Helen is a community development practitioner, researcher, educator, essayist, poet and activist. She has worked within communities, TAFE and Universities at undergraduate and post-graduate level, in local government and organisations in urban and rural communities. Most recently for local government with communities in recovery after the 2019 - 2020 bushfires in East Gippsland.Her interest in skills, knowledge and resources relevant to community engagement began in Kensington working for Save the Children fund as After School Care Co-Ordinator. A challenging time for the Kensington Women's and Childcare Co-operative to purchase a 'home' while going about the daily business of after school care without premises. Her employment includes the Nunawading Adventure Playground, coordinating Elley Park Community Centre in Blackburn, then East Gippsland Community College of TAFE as Orbost Outreach worker active in establishing the first East Gippsland Neighbourhood House. Social Researcher of coordinated care in South Gippsland and Hard to Reach communities in Moreland. Her research of Rural Women's Programs became the guiding principles and practice that informed a post-graduate course for community engagement facilitators at Monash University (2000-2007). The revised text is a resource for a new wave of community engagement facilitators. Returning to East Gippsland, Helen and her partner bought a quirky caravan park. She lives on Lake Tyers where concern for this catchment led to hosting 'Stories of Influence' (2014 - 2023). https: //ruralcommunities.com.au/stories Helen is a founding member of Centre for Rural Communities and a collaborating member of the Victorian Universities Regional Research Network, an editorial correspondent and a peer reviewer for New Community journal, and an active presenter at regional, national and international community development conferences.Publications include journal articles, book chapters, reflective essays and a professional development manual, and study circle kits on rural futures and preparation, management and recovery from disasters. https: //ruralcommunities.com.au

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