The Community Sector

Question 1

Community types (2):

Answer 1

Spatial: In this context, ‘community’ is used to locate a person’s sense of belonging which is place-based or geographical.
Non-spatial: In this context ‘community’ is used independent of geographical markers and used to locate a person’s sense of belonging based on their shared experiences with other people.

Question 2

Community formation (4 steps):

Answer 2

1) Individuals.
2) Individuals connect with people of shared values and purpose.
3) They come together to form a collective or community group.
4) They then add structure to their community through which they can achieve their aims.

Question 3

Characteristics of Community Organisations (4):

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Answer 3

• They provide a social purpose that serves the community they represent.
• Any surpluses earned on their activities are returned to the community organisation.
• Community organisation are governed by a board or committee comprised of representatives of their community.
• Volunteers make a significant contribution to the value and impact of community organisations.

Question 4

Community vs. Private/Public sectors

Answer 4

Private enterprises are governed and accountable to the owners of the company.
Public sector organisations are governed through the arm of government and are ultimately accountable to an elected official.
Sometimes they work collaboratively or resemble one another.

Question 5

Issues experienced by communities that CO’s address (6):

Answer 5

• Affordability and cost of living.
• Housing and homelessness.
• Inadequate welfare support.
• More people needing help than services can provide.
• Pressure on services can impact service quality.
• Ageing population.

Question 6

Challenges in managing community organisations (5):

Answer 6

• Competing for grants.
• Cycle of funding is short term.
• Budget is challenged near the end of the year, and it can threaten the position of staff.
• Tedious reporting to maintain grants can detract from manpower which can create an actual difference.
• Not having sufficient funds to properly address issues within their community.

Question 7

Advantages of community organisations (4):

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Answer 7

• Less bureaucracy = more efficent.
• Informed by the community, so problems are more efficiently addressed.
• Empowers communities.
• Enables people in unique and uncommon positions to access services (Market gap).

Question 8

Market efficiency:

Answer 8

• Efficiency is optimised when supply = demand.

Question 9

Economics and social inequality.

Answer 9

• Efficiency is optimised when supply = demand.
• Markets’ regress towards an equilibrium point, where the cost of providing access to a social program is optimal to the number of people that can be reached.
• Without CO’s, certain groups will miss out on social support and accentuate pre-existing social inequality if they have high ‘access barriers’ (e.g. socially isolated individuals).

Question 10

‘Vision’ Statements:

Answer 10

A ‘vision’ states the dream that an organisation holds that is reflective of their values.

Question 10

‘Mission’ Statements:

Answer 10

Statements of ‘purpose’. They’re action-oriented and describe how community organisations will address their goals.

Question 11

Governance in Community Organisations

Answer 11

Governance is the role of the board. It represents the community, and sets a vision, mission, and strategic objectives. Finally, they monitor performance and maintain accountability.

Question 12

Management in Community Organisations

Answer 12

Management is the role of the CEO and executive. The report to the board and appoints an executive manager. Management implement mission and strategic objectives.

Question 13

Duties/integrity of directors (4):

Answer 13

1) Care and dilligence.
2) Act in the best interest of the organisation.
3) Not improperly using position.
4) Not improperly using information.

Question 14

Challenges using volunteers in community organisations (2):

Answer 14

Directors on community boards cannot be paid for their expertise (maintain tax benefits), and community organisations have a ‘duty of care’ and legal responsibilities to volunteers.

Question 15

Nepotism in Community Organisations

Answer 15

Favouring family and friends for jobs can occur when the line between ‘community’ and ‘family/ are blurred (e.g. regional communities). It can create conflicts of interest which can harm the organisation.

Question 16

Conflict within Elected Directors

Answer 16

Conflict cause by competing interests. For example, a director favours the group within the community that elected them over the interests of the organisation.
This can produce ‘factions’.

Question 17

Importance of strategic planning and management:

Answer 17

Provides direction and enables efficent use of resources to engage with complex social work challenges.

Question 18

Essential Strategic Objectives (5):

Answer 18

1) Core operations.
2) Community and stakeholder engagement/advocacy.
3) Staffing, workforce development and training.
4) Quality assurance and risk management.
5) Financial and resourcing (sustainability).

Question 19

Funding and resourcing strategies (5):

Answer 19

1) Subscription or membership fees.
2) Income from the provision of goods and services.
3) Philanthropy: fundraising, crowd-funding, trusts.
4) Government grants and project funding.
5) Volunteer support and strategic parters of alliances.

Question 20

‘Stakeholder’ Definition:

Answer 20

A ‘stakeholder’ is any person or group of people with a vested interest in the success of an organisation.

When operating on the community sector, the range of interest groups can be diverse, encompassing people directly involved in the organisation (‘internal stakeholders’) as well as people outside the organisation (‘external stakeholders’).

Question 21

Diversity in Community Organisations

Answer 21

Community organisations are reflections of the communities that they serve, and should be equally as diverse. Variables in diversity include: gender, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, geographic region, sexual orientation, and disability status.

Question 22

Community organisations and COVID-19

Answer 22

Knowledge about their community enables quick action and effective communication. Also allows those within the community to stay connected (especially socially isolated individuals).