Growing and learning in rural communities (revised edition July 2024)

A professional development manual for facilitators on the front-line of community engagement and management. An introduction to theory, practice and evaluation of a model of collaborative engagement for transformation.

Format: Available in print (paperback) and eBook Publication Date: 29th July 2024.

Description

This revised edition is for facilitators (paid and unpaid), those on the front line of community engagement and management. The title Growing and learning in rural communities, reflects the source of motivation for my search to discover ways to engage across divisions created by stereo-typical myths and policies that enshrines benefits for some at the expense of communities and landscapes. The introduction to nine strategies that engage community members and decision makers in dialogue has proved to be a foundational resource for those tasked with reframing community and organisational relationships towards mutually beneficial partnerships.

Each strategy is accompanied by underpinning theory followed by suggestions for implementation and examples of outcomes from community engagement programs. Participants share insights of how hearing the reality of diverse life experiences challenged, or affirmed, their own views and relationships. In regular use by universities and government departments involved in facilitating community engagement across sectors.

The regional approach offers a human-scale understanding of the impact of global, national and regional policies on community relationships and the environment on which they depend. The stories record communities taking steps towards leading change, participating in planning towards mutually beneficial partnerships. The outcome is to transform relationships with agencies and organisations shifting experiences from despair to optimism.

Availability

Available online through the following to purchase or order through your own favourite book shop. Also available in some libraries.

Building community futures through co-operation – study circle kit

The Study Circle Kit is for use by community groups. Within communities, people hold different views of the world developed from their own experiences. Study circles provide a forum where these differences can be respected and learnt from to work towards a common goal. Members of a study circle become familiar with how to work in this democratically responsible manner. The kit will assist groups to:

• Establish a study circle to focus on the future of the local community.
• Learn the skills that enable a disparate group to work co-operatively.
• Focus on achievable outcomes.
• Become leaders in determining futures of communities.

“It was a very good method of each individual learning to understand how groups work and it had very sound foundations.” (Study group member, Sandy Point, 1999)

The following publications are available for sale for a printed copy ($20 plus postage) by emailing info@ruralcommunities.com.au or

Download free from the link below

Building Community Futures through cooperation study circles kit (PDF 7Mb)

Use in conjunction with Growing and learning in rural communities, revised edition, as referenced.

Stories of the Lake – poems and stories

Stories of the Lake is an annual gathering of storytellers sharing untold stories held on the Bung Yarnda (Lake Tyers) catchment in East Gippsland, Victoria.

This CD is a collection of poems and stories inspired by Bung Yardna. The text of recordings can be found, in a booklet form, here Stories of The Lake (328Kb PDF)  or via the link to individual poems found in the list of contributors in our post Stories of the Lake – recordings of words and music inspired by Bung Yardna (Lake Tyers).

To purchase a copy of the CD email info@ruralcommunities.com.au ($15 plus postage)

Published Work

The publications listed below are a sample of the knowledge that the Centre has gained and contributed to, through published works.