Impact of change on families and communities

Family and Community Wellbeing

• Change can have either a positive or negative impact on families and communities. When dealing with change, planning should be a priority.

• Government and community sectors often refer to demographic data in their planning. Data (eg. census) can indicate:

  • Changes in population due to births and deaths

  • Levels of education

  • Patterns of work

• These demographic trends are important for the wellbeing of communities experiencing change if they are to:

  • Monitor changes in community needs and the extent to which existing services meet these needs

  • Advocate for additional services that will provide for growing needs

Roles individuals adopt

• The circumstances that cause change to family member roles may also determine whether the roles individuals adopt are temporary or permanent.

• In either case, a family adapting to change may have to evaluate and reallocate responsibilities associated with particular family roles.

Activity:

• Consider the birth of a baby, how might this shift the roles individuals need to adopt within the family?

Environmental

• All communities experience some amount of environmental change. Some changes occur over a short period, and are expected and cyclical; for example, seasonal variations in temperature or rainfall.

• Responses to these changes can therefore be planned in advance. For example the NSW Fire Service back burning hazard reduction process and the promotion of bushfire survival plans.

• Unexpected environmental events, such as floods and cyclones, can cause trauma, emotional shock, distress and suffering for members of a community and their families.

• Death or serious injury may result, along with damage to the natural environment, housing, business and community facilities.

• Such events can be turning points for entire communities, due to their impact on individual, family and community wellbeing.

Legislation

• Laws and regulations form a framework for protecting public health, safety and morals, and for advancing the general welfare of the population through the protection of peoples fundamental rights.

• Changes to these laws can have a significant impact on individuals and communities

Activity:

Consider the recent change to the Marriage Act (1961) which now allows for same sex marriage. What impact has this change had on individuals and communities?

Technology

During circumstances when families and communities are experiencing change, technology is often able to assist individuals to build/ maintain their wellbeing. For example:

• connecting individuals and communities

• providing services

• providing access to learning and education

1. Working in small groups, chose one of the following scenarios

   • A bushfire destroys a family home

   • A sport injury leads to knee reconstruction surgery for a parent

   • Parents celebrate the birth of twins after fertility treatment

   • A family mourns the death of a parent from a workplace accident

   • Married children return to the family home to save money

   • One partner in a couple decides to semi retire.

2. Identity and classify the change the family is facing (internal, external, planned, unplanned, temporary, permanent).

3. Develop a mind map to indicate the challenges that the family may face

4. Outline resources that the family could use to cope with the change

5. Explain changes to roles that would need to be made to ensure the satisfaction of specific needs and the maintenance of healthy relationships.

6. How could technology support the family?