Community and Community Strength - Report Example

Community and Community Strength Name of Student Student Number Institution Course Code Name of Lecturer Date of Submission Community and Community Strength in Relation to Australian Aboriginal and Non-aboriginal Communities Community as a concept incorporates a great phenomenon in the human life context depicting commitment, solidarity, trust and mutuality among entities with similar interests, goals or roots (Hughes et al., 2007). On evaluating the concept, a community involves any social entity that shares cultural norms, values and attributes. Aggarwal, (2004) connotes that at times the word community is used to describe people who share common characteristics like religion, class or language. On the other hand, community strength is defined by Black and Hughes, (2001) as the level to which resources within a community contribute toward its overall maintenance and enhancement of individual and collective wellbeing. It is viewed as a way in which people within a community provide support for one another across bonds of kinship and friendship. This paper identifies aspects of community that contribute towards community strength looking at how the Australian aboriginal and non- aboriginal people maintain community strengths in a bid to obtain links with organizations, ensure access to resources and services in their respective communities. Worldwide, communities are common entities and are identified with diverse traits and beliefs pertaining to the setup, originality and lifestyles. Starr, Rogers and Hirte (2007) establish that communities are places where friendships are built and senses of identity created. Further, Starr et al. (2007) reiterate that one may belong to multiple communities ranging from work, interest, family, education, history or culture. Major categorizations of community are those of interest and place. The community of place or location is a significant aspect of our day to day lives. It refers to the local community that a given person is attached to with aboriginal groups having great affinity to this trait of communities. The individuals in these communities are directly affected by the social amenities, services and infrastructure offered. Communities of location are identified by physical boundaries separating people. In rural Australia, it is easy to identify and distinguish a local community from another since vast fields, mountains, rivers and natural bushes separate communities (Black and Hughes, 2001). Consequently, the aboriginals are known to have unique traits and ties that keep them together in their ancestral lands forming a strong knit community. Community strength is identified by the attachment observed, as well as the collaboration within a given group. On exploring the community, three diverse ways stand out and involves place, interest or communion (Kirmayer et al., 2011). The aspect of place arises with territorial or place community that can be observed with people having things in common, and the shared element has a geographical understanding. For example, the Aboriginals of Australia are found in certain territories where their ancestral lands, shrines and areas of affiliation exist (Varennes, 2012). The aspect of place can also be termed as locality, and the approach to community has brought about rich literature in the literary world. Looking at the way of interest that is also referred to as elective communities, it ascribes to the people who share common characteristic other than place. The community is connected by factors like occupation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin or sexual orientation (Hughes et al., 2007). This concept brings about examples like the Jewish community, the Japanese community, the Gay community among others. Finally, the way of communion is the weakest form and can be approached in the sense of attachment to group, idea or place. Generally, this refers to whether there is any existence of the spirit of community (Banks and Shenton, 2001). A good example would be the Christian communion of saints which indicates the existence of a spiritual union between every Christian and Christ. Generally, the three approaches to community may also overlap and thus, an individual may identify with all ways of the community. In their report on a survey conducted across South Australia, Starr, Rogers and Hirte (2007), stipulate that community strength was mostly concerned with local communities having consideration of people’s relationship with their existential habitats. Communities thrive by virtue of the positive features and characteristics that contribute towards community strength. Different levels of action-individual, organizational and community work together to achieve and improve wellbeing and health in a society (Taylor, Wilkinson and Cheers, 2008). Communities of interest, sometimes referred to as communities within communities, have its members forming affiliations by virtue of common interests or attributes way out of their control with disability as an example. These functional groups may be work, sports or religious related. Natural resources, aesthetic features and ecosystems contribute to community strength. The resources, intertwined with the ecology of the societies, as well as the language, play a vital role in ruling out the ability of the community to come together and grow toward its wellbeing. The challenge however is in the utilization of these resources for sustenance of the community’s welfare and enhancement of this natural capital (Black and Hughes 2001). Community life has to ensure that these resources are not replenished to ensure equity across generations. Australian aboriginal communities have always seen their cultures alienated when it comes to control of natural resources. State authorities fail to include these communities in decision making on issues regarding the exploitation of resources that fall under the vicinity of these societies; same way the state fails to encourage the integration of the aboriginal people’s language in state affairs (Varennes, 2012). The outcome is reduced community strength, poor communications and minimized access to social services and healthcare. Starr, Rogers and Hirte (2007), found out that different communities vary in terms of their attributes and strengths. Further, the three realized that there was a huge difference between communities living in the rural areas and those who resided in metropolitan areas. Community participation and social networking was reported to be high in rural areas not withholding the fact that the residents here were less satisfied with the social amenities in their disposal. However, people living in urban areas have more affinity to work relations forming communities of work and not of the core fabric of community strength and association (Starr, Rogers and Hirte, 2007). Community strength can also be attached or assessed by the human capital possessed with a given group. Human capital refers to the people’s contribution in a community; this capacity to contribute to community by way of skills and resources for growth is a factor enhancing community strength. It calls for motivation in an individual member of community and also the ability to contribute and adjust in a changing environment by learning new skills. (Black and Hughes, 2001) To ensure progressive community strength aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities of Australia are taking initiative to educate their future generations on the ties and strengths to build strong community entities. This ensures human capital is not depleted, thus allowing for sustainability. Further, the self-attributes and community traits associated with ensuring a credible fabric that holds the community together for overall benefits of the society is enhanced (Banks and Shenton, 2001). With the feeling of pride and self-worth strengthened in the community level, community strength is subsequently enhanced. Aboriginal communities in Australia utilize language to express their cultural pride and wellbeing (Hughes et al., 2007). Thus, language is an integral factor in creating the sense of identity and maintaining community health. In a forum held by the United Nations on the role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identities of indigenous peoples, the importance of language in enhancing community strength is highlighted by the statement that languages are fundamental markers of indigenous people’s distinctiveness and cohesiveness as peoples. (United Nations General Assembly, 2012, p8) Generally, promotion of community strength is a process involving the inclusion of majority of entities within a given communion. Community strength is promoted by people with shared positive norms, ideologies and purposes, and their desire to forward advancement of these communal ideals so as to integrate together as a society. With a sense of community, feeling of marginalization and exclusion from activities more so decision making among members of any locality are reduced (Black and Hughes, 2001). The attributes entrenched in the phenomenon of community can be applied in the national and global context to promote cohesion and growth towards achieving sustainable development goals. Further, with the positive aspects indicated by community strengths, global communities can embrace the same to overcome challenges like bad governance, climate change, and terrorism among others which have negatively impacted on the positive growth in the world (Kirmayer et al., 2011). In conclusion, the aspect of community indicates a group of individuals sharing various interests or beliefs and moving forward to realize given goals. From the essay, it is evident that different communities have different strengths, and it is the obligation of every individual member of the community to ensure equity throughout generations. To achieve this, communities have to ensure sustainability of natural resources, aesthetic feature and ecosystems. With this consideration, community strength is assured of progress towards wellbeing of both an individual and the community at large (Black and Hughes, 2001). Further, equality and equity ought to be ensured in the distribution of social, natural and financial resources for the overall benefit of all individuals in the communities. Various levels of action be it organizational or individual have to work together to achieve and improve the wellbeing of every entity in a society (Taylor, Wilkinson and Cheers, 2008). Aboriginal and non-aboriginal societies in Australia have ensured growth and sustenance of community strength by withholding inclusive attitudes like acceptance and appreciation of diversity. References Aggarwal, P. (2004). Participatory lifelong learning and information and communications technologies (UNIT 6) Understanding the community. Banks, S. and Shenton, F. (2001). Regenerating neighborhoods: A critical look at the role of community capacity building, Local Economy, 16, 286-298. Black, A. and Hughes, P. (2001). The identification and analysis of indicators of community strength and outcomes. Edith Cowan University. Hughes, P., Black, A., Kaldor, P., Bellamy, J. and Castle, K. (2007). Building stronger communities. Sydney: UNSW Press. Kirmayer, L., Dandeneau, S., Marshall, E., Phillips, M.K. and Williamson, K.J. (2011). Rethinking resilience from indigenous perspectives. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(2), 84-91. Starr, G. Rogers, N. and Hirte, C. (2007) Indicators of community strength across south Australian local government areas, Department for Families and Communities. Accessed online March 18, 2016 from . Taylor, J. Wilkinson, D. and Cheers, B. (2008). Working with communities in health and human services. Oxford: Oxford University Press. UNGA (2012). United Nations General Assembly paper, fifth session, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Study on the role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identity of indigenous peoples, p. 8. Varennes, F. (2012) “Language, rights and opportunities: The role of language in the inclusion and exclusion of indigenous languages.” Paper Submitted to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 17th February 2012. Read More

In their report on a survey conducted across South Australia, Starr, Rogers and Hirte (2007), stipulate that community strength was mostly concerned with local communities having consideration of people’s relationship with their existential habitats. Communities thrive by virtue of the positive features and characteristics that contribute towards community strength. Different levels of action-individual, organizational and community work together to achieve and improve wellbeing and health in a society (Taylor, Wilkinson and Cheers, 2008).

Communities of interest, sometimes referred to as communities within communities, have its members forming affiliations by virtue of common interests or attributes way out of their control with disability as an example. These functional groups may be work, sports or religious related. Natural resources, aesthetic features and ecosystems contribute to community strength. The resources, intertwined with the ecology of the societies, as well as the language, play a vital role in ruling out the ability of the community to come together and grow toward its wellbeing.

The challenge however is in the utilization of these resources for sustenance of the community’s welfare and enhancement of this natural capital (Black and Hughes 2001). Community life has to ensure that these resources are not replenished to ensure equity across generations. Australian aboriginal communities have always seen their cultures alienated when it comes to control of natural resources. State authorities fail to include these communities in decision making on issues regarding the exploitation of resources that fall under the vicinity of these societies; same way the state fails to encourage the integration of the aboriginal people’s language in state affairs (Varennes, 2012).

The outcome is reduced community strength, poor communications and minimized access to social services and healthcare. Starr, Rogers and Hirte (2007), found out that different communities vary in terms of their attributes and strengths. Further, the three realized that there was a huge difference between communities living in the rural areas and those who resided in metropolitan areas. Community participation and social networking was reported to be high in rural areas not withholding the fact that the residents here were less satisfied with the social amenities in their disposal.

However, people living in urban areas have more affinity to work relations forming communities of work and not of the core fabric of community strength and association (Starr, Rogers and Hirte, 2007). Community strength can also be attached or assessed by the human capital possessed with a given group. Human capital refers to the people’s contribution in a community; this capacity to contribute to community by way of skills and resources for growth is a factor enhancing community strength.

It calls for motivation in an individual member of community and also the ability to contribute and adjust in a changing environment by learning new skills. (Black and Hughes, 2001) To ensure progressive community strength aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities of Australia are taking initiative to educate their future generations on the ties and strengths to build strong community entities. This ensures human capital is not depleted, thus allowing for sustainability. Further, the self-attributes and community traits associated with ensuring a credible fabric that holds the community together for overall benefits of the society is enhanced (Banks and Shenton, 2001).

With the feeling of pride and self-worth strengthened in the community level, community strength is subsequently enhanced. Aboriginal communities in Australia utilize language to express their cultural pride and wellbeing (Hughes et al., 2007). Thus, language is an integral factor in creating the sense of identity and maintaining community health. In a forum held by the United Nations on the role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identities of indigenous peoples, the importance of language in enhancing community strength is highlighted by the statement that languages are fundamental markers of indigenous people’s distinctiveness and cohesiveness as peoples.

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