Everyday life and communitty renewal in public housing neighbourhoods in suburban Sydney

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Copyright: Wannan, Alison
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Abstract
This thesis examines, from the perspectives of local people and service providers, the development and workings of three community projects for older people, people with mental health issues and Aboriginal people in two public housing neighbourhoods in Sydney. It explores the question of how participatory approaches to community renewal can contribute to improvements in the everyday life and opportunities for people living in public housing. In this thesis, I argue that participatory approaches built around people’s lived experiences, can result in important changes, while also contributing towards further community transformations. Drawing on individual and group interviews with residents and front line staff and managers of local services, the thesis reveals the importance of understanding the diversity of people’s lives. Residents wanted respect and acknowledgement of their lived experiences as well as the opportunity to determine local priorities. Through analysing interagency collaboration, the study demonstrates the ambiguities of community practice. Although most agencies were severely constrained by requirements to work on very short term targeted projects, some had discretion to work collaboratively with residents. The analysis of community initiatives, from the perspective of participants, positions the importance of everyday injustices as the key influence motivating people’s involvement in community initiatives. This thesis is informed by feminist and critical theory on social justice and care. Using the work of both Nancy Fraser on social justice and Joan Tronto on the ethics of care, I develop an interpretative framework of a ‘just neighbourhood’ to connect everyday life with community practice. Within this framework, concepts of care intersect with social justice, making visible the significance of care in everyday life, particularly for older people and families. The framework’s application of social justice and care principles has the potential to enrich community practice and research. Through the participatory approach of this action research study, developed over four years, I identify the pivotal role of people with experiential knowledge in supporting the voices of marginalised groups. This challenges powerfully the silencing of people with mental ill-health and Aboriginal people in community renewal, and proposes a ‘just practice’ model for public housing neighbourhoods.
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Author(s)
Wannan, Alison
Supervisor(s)
Baldry, Eileen
Morris, Alan
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Publication Year
2016
Resource Type
Thesis
Degree Type
PhD Doctorate
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