A research project from the HCRG Fay Hadley and Jacqueline Hayden Children First Ian Achlin

1. Sustainable community organisations: Identifying the components The Sustainability Self Assessment Tool. A research project from the HCRG Fay Hadley and Jacqueline Hayden Children First Ian Achlin

4. Overview of the Project PURPOSE What factors contribute to an effective community organisation How community organisations can assess and enhance their resilience, sustainability and responsiveness in light of constant change. FINDINGS The study indicated that three broad categories of activity influence the effectiveness of community organisations. These are: #1 management practices, #2 community responsiveness, and #3 facilitation of social capital. OUTCOME The Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool.

5. Main Findings 1. There is a need to research a broadened definition of community. • difficult to assess measures of community ‘support’ andother items related to levels of social capital. • largenumber of families live outside the geographical ‘community’ in which they work, shop andmake use of child care and other services. • recommend research be under taken to investigate new, broadened concepts of community and how these affect quality of life for young children and their families.

6. 2. Research involving historical and documentary reviews of organisations raises awareness about past goals, contributes to a sense of continuity and provides a foundation for assessing future directions. • Examines and build upon past strengths. • Interviews with key players from the past and review of historical documents. • Helped the organisation to envision the continuity with its past and to reflect upon its directions for the future. • Rated by participants as one of the most valuable outcomes of the study

7. 3. During times of change and/or expansion, organisations need to undertake frequent audits of all staff members to ensure that communication and decision making processes remain effective. • Expansion can lead to alienation. • Staff may lose confidence in effecting decision making. • Strategies to counteract that included 2-way communication, employee newsletter, internal professional development for staff.

8. 4. Organisations need to identify ‘key players’ in their communities who can network and mobilise support from diverse sources. • Community ownership and commitment strengthens sustainability. • Outside threats can mobilize action and secure support. • Key players who have strong community profiles and management board members who represent many sectors aided organisation resilience.

9. 5. The facilitation of social capital needs to be included as a measure of quality for diverse types of children’s services. • How different types of children’s services contribute to social capital. • How to facilitate social capital through children’s services. • In this study preschools scored highly, long day second highest and OOSH services lowest. • Deemed to relate to opportunities for families to interact and network with staff.

10. 6. Organisations can benefit from the use of The Sustainability Self-Assessment Framework. • Need to develop and assess strategies which build organisational resilience. • Action research projects in diverse agencies would be valuable to refine and qualify tool.

12. The Sustainability Self Assessment Tool. Area #1: Management Professional Conduct Leadership Relationship management Change management Area #2: Community Linkages Area #3: Social Capital Management Team Staff Team

19. For further info and to access the tools and report Healthy Childhood Research Group www.healthychildhood.org eNewsletter : h.promoting@uws.edu.au send email with subject ‘subscribe’ Children First Inc www.childrenfirst.asn.au Ian Alchin ed@childrenfirst.asn.au