From Welfare Recipients to Residents in Control

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

 75% of households are single parents  Family accommodation-2-3 bedrooms  85% of tenants on Centrelink benefits  13% employed in any form

 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

 Advocacy  Mediation  Financial literacy  Practical Assistance  Tax Help  EAPA  Employment Programs  Referrals  Nils  Housing NSW Issues  Health Issues  Centrelink Issues  Food  DV  Parenting Concerns...

 Key issues identified by residents in a needs analysis were:  Safety  Crime  Drugs  Social Isolation  Stigma  Financial Stress  Child Abuse & Neglect  Unemployment

 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

 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

People and Communities have deficiencies & needs “Clients” Individuals and Communities have skills and talents “Citizens” or “Residents”

1. 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?

Lead PoisoningDropouts Unemployment GangsIlliteracy Truancy Broken FamiliesSlum Housing Welfare Recipients Child Abuse Crime Grafitti Mental Disability

 “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

Asset Based Community Development Implemented

 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

Residents in Control Residents As Participants Residents As Information Sources Residents As Recipients

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

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

 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

 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

 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

 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.

 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

 Gardening, Swimming, Bike Maintenance, Karaoke  Aboriginal Cultural Awareness  Jewelry Making, Dancing, T-Ball  Duck Feeding, Cooking, Bike Riding

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

Great way to use my skills

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

Teaching the children Koori skills

 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

We are HOT