Community Development Services

Community development is an integral aspect of working with people from refugee background and survivors of torture and trauma to assist their recovery and resettlement in Australia.

Community development is a process that aims to strengthen a community, build social capital and enable communities to function as part of the wider community. In the case of survivors of torture and trauma, community development rebuilds resilience which may have been eroded by past experiences.

Community Development accepts that the impact of torture and state-sanctioned violence may result in distrust and conflict, and aims to build social cohesion and strength. It identifies and builds on individual and community assets. It links the community with others in collaborative partnerships, and empowers individuals and communities who are particularly disadvantaged within the resettlement country.

To meet these objectives the community development team has been formed to include a liaison worker, a community educator and a FICT worker. In addition, community development processes supporting the team have been provided by other sections of the agency including the health team, the volunteers and specialist counsellors such as the child-focused and youth-focused therapists.

Examples of CD activities:

• Information collection: including community mapping, community attitudes and culture
• Awareness raising: including educating the broader community about refugee issues, human rights, humanitarian and settlement programs, producing newsletters and information material
• Advocacy: including influencing policy-makers and passing on skills enabling people from refugee background to meet their own needs
• Service provision: including referrals, training and group work
• Networking: developing links between individuals and community, actively participating in forums, consultations and support groups
• Participation: assisting in the removal of physical, cultural, structural and other obstacles to people from refugee background to participate in decision-making and service delivery
• Resource provision: ensuring adequate funding and resources to enable people from refugee background to meet needs pertaining to social wellbeing