Levels of community organisation

Local

• A local government is known as a city council or shire council.

• Local governments are responsible for:

  • Maintaining infrastructure (such as local roads, footpaths and waste collection services)

  • Providing and maintaining recreation facilities (such as parks, sporting fields and swimming pools)

  • Managing health services (such as water and food inspections, noise control and immunisation services)

  • Providing community services (such as child care, welfare services and aged care accommodation

State

• The state government decision-making body is called the state parliament.

• The State Government is responsible for:

  • Justice (through the legal system)

  • Emergency services (police, ambulance and fire services).

  • Education (through public schools)

  • Public transport (trains, buses and ferries)

  • Other transport-related services (maintenance and upgrades of main roads and highways)

National

• Australia’s national government, also known as the federal government is run by the federal parliament.

• The national government has three powers:

  • Legislative—the power to make laws

  • Executive—the power to enforce those laws

  • Judicial—the power to interpret those laws and to judge whether they apply to individual cases.

• Through these three powers, the national government identifies the needs of the Australian community and puts in place actions to meet these needs.

• Responsibilities of the Federal Government include:

  • Education and training

  • Infrastructure- main roads

  • Law and order

  • Health and safety

Global

• The global community is made up of all the nations around the world. While each nation is responsible for issues affecting its own community, the global community must work together on a variety of issues to maintain global stability and provide the essential needs of the entire human race. The United Nations is an organisation that has been established to serve the needs of the global community. It discusses issues that affect the global community and makes decisions to effectively deal with these issues.

• Issues addressed by the United Nations include:

  • Peace and security (including peacekeeping, disarmament and counter-terrorism)

  • Development (including international trade, population management, science, technology and productivity)

  • Health and Humanity - WHO - World Health Organisation

What are the limitations of a global community organisation?

Global communities are much more difficult to define because the boundaries are not clear and their areas of responsibility may differ depending on the issue.

Values and beliefs vary greatly between different countries so it may be difficult for the world to agree on issues which affect the global community.

Reflect

The best gift anyone can give to another is to pray for him or her. We live in a sinful world where bad things happen to people and people are tempted to sin. Praying for another person not only helps that person find God in the midst of trouble, but also helps us recognize the blessings that God gives us daily!

Revision (p.16)

Classify the following areas according to the level of government that has this responsibility:

• Childcare, defence, immigration, postal services, police, education (public schools), public libraries, waste collection, transport (public), road laws, sport grounds.

• Choose one area of responsibility. Justify why it is suitable for the particular level of community organisation.

Roles groups adopt within communities

Satisfying Specific Needs:

• Perhaps the most highly prioritised role for community groups is the provision of resources required to achieve an adequate standard of living for both families and communities. For example: food, clothing and shelter.

Building Relationships:

• The effectiveness of different relationships can impact on the qualify of an individual's life. We need to look after members of the community who are experiencing hardship. The aged or people with a disability may feel isolated.

Promote Wellbeing:

• Community groups can assist during times of hardship by providing a supportive environment by developing caring relationships, promoting a sense of connection and belonging, and satisfying specific needs.

Activity p 18

You will be allocated one community group to focus on.

Complete the table on p18 for your group by explaining how the group satisfies specific needs (think SHE SEA), builds relationships and promotes wellbeing

Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.