 Brofenbrenner’s Ecological Map  Rose D’almada-Remedios ystems.jpg

JACK Single father family MICRO Peer group formed at school Catholic religious affiliation Private Catholic schoo l MESOEXOMACROCHRONO School Peer group Home life Catholic affiliation City/Suburb Nice city/suburb Fathers full time work Health care system Mass media Catholic Church traditions/beliefs Australian Society that values education Society’s emphasis on appearance Anglo Saxon family heritage 21 st Century Increasing level of Globalisation Digital Age Government in power (Generation Y) Increased emphasis on environmental issues Only child 15 y.o Global financial recess

The Microsystem is the immediate environment in which an individual operates within, and may consist of the individuals family, peer group, religious affiliation, school or neighborhood. The MICROSYSTEM JACK Peer group Single father family Catholic religious affiliation Private Catholic schoo l Only child Nice city/suburb Jack is a 15 year old only child who lives with his father. He has not seen his mother since he was 3, and has not had any contact with her since he was 8. In 2006, 13% of Australian one parent families with children 15 years and under were headed by fathers Jack’s peer group was formed when he entered high school at age 12. At this stage of his life his peer group consists only of people attending his school. Jack attends a private Catholic high school. Approximately one fifth of all school students were enrolled in Catholic schools in Jack was baptised a Roman Catholic. His father is Catholic, and tries to incorporate Catholic traditions and beliefs into Jack’s upbringing. In the 2001 census, 26.6% of people who answered the religious affiliation question identified as being catholic. Because of Jack’s fathers upper middle class social status, the family lives in a nice suburb in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

The Mesosystem involves the interaction of two microsystem environments. The MESOSYSTEM School Home life Catholic affiliation Peer group City/Suburb The peer group that Jack belongs to was formed at school. If Jack experiences a issue caused by his peer group, it may also effect his performance at school. On several occasions, Jack’s peer group have offered him alcohol whilst at school. In 2007, the average age of which young men aged first consumed alcohol was 15. If Jack is experiencing difficulties at school, his home life too could be effected. In the reverse, if Jack is having trouble with his home life, the standard of his school work can be affected. As a practicing Catholic, Jack’s father tries to incorporate Catholic traditions and beliefs into the families everyday life. The school that Jack attends is in his local area, and has zoning restrictions for entry in the school. As Jack’s peer group was formed at school, his peers live in the same area as Jack.

The Exosystem comprises of the environments external to the individuals experience, but nonetheless still affects the individual. The individual is not directly involved. The EXOSYSTEM Fathers full time work Health care system Mass media Catholic Church traditions/beliefs Government in power Jack’s father is a lawyer, and usually works a 60 hour week. During , 16% of fathers working full time worked 60 or more hours a week. If something happens at work that effects Jack’s father, it can in turn effect Jack, even though Jack has nothing to do with the work directly. Compared to other countries around the world, the Australian health care system ‘Medicare’ offers a good range of coverage and rebates. Nationally in , the average value of benefits paid was $533 per person. If Jack needs medical treatment, Medicare can help fund the treatment. However, if the treatment required is not covered, it can become expensive, and can affect Jack’s health. The government in power running the nation or state can affect the daily life of Jack, even though he is not directly involved with the government itself. For example, a governments choice to rise the legal age a individual may leave school could affect how long Jack stays at school. Although Jack has nothing to do with formations in the mass media, the enormity in which media surrounds daily lives means that it could shape Jack’s opinions of the world around him. Jack has nothing to do with the formation of the Catholic church’s decisions, but as a practicing Catholic, his immediate life could be affected by catholic traditions and beliefs.

This layer involves the larger cultural context, including attitudes, ideologies, values and expectations. The MACROSYSTEM Australian Anglo Saxon family heritage Society’s emphasis on appearance Society that values education Jack was born in Australia, and although he has some English heritage, he identifies himself as fully Australian. Generally speaking, Australian society values education and the acquiring of academic skills. Because of this emphasis on education, Jack is more likely to complete either to year 10, year 12 and maybe take on undergraduate education. This can be reflected through changes in the education system in recent years whereby a number of state governments have increased the minimum school leaving age. Jack lives in a society that is increasingly placing more and more emphasis on the physical appearance. As a 15 year old, Jack is at a very venerable age where personal qualms with his appearance could harm his development.

This layer explains the historical context in which the individual lives their lifetime. The CHRONOSYSTEM Increased emphasis on environmental issues 21 st Century Global financial recession Increasing level of Globalisation Digital Age With growth in scientific technologies and increased media coverage, environmental issues are now and climate change are now coming into our context. Developing technologies in communication, transportation and the growth of global economics is increasing the level of globalisation. Jack lives during a time where barriers between nations are increasingly being broken down, resulting in Jack having a high level of global knowledge. The digital age is a notable occurrence in generation Y, in which Jack belongs. (N.Bahr & D.Pendergast (2007) The world is witnessing historical drops in global finances,.

All of the statistics used in this presentation were gathered from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website: ocument?utm_id=GT Bahr, N. & Pendergast, D. (2007). The Millenial Adolescent.Victoria: Acerpress.