Creating Positive Social Environments

Government Policy

A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions and actions.

Legislation

Is the act or process of making or enacting laws. This is a legal document. 

Community Organisations

Are formal or informal groups of people based in or around a “community” and are organised in some way, usually having some structure, rules or legal entity but sometimes being just an informal association. 

Equity

The quality of being fair and impartial. Everyone gets the what they need in order to succeed (it doesn't necessarily mean everyone gets the same)

“Laws passed in Parliament and policies that regulate, protect and promote equity in the wider society” 

Pick TWO policy documents from the above and examine their role in ensuring equity for homeless people within Australia.

Analyse the extent to which organisations within the community assist in satisfying the needs of Homeless People within the community.

Investigate a current inequity issue faced by each group and propose strategies to address the issue:

View the following website:  Homelessness is a Human Rights Issue 

Investigate ONE current inequity issue faced by Homeless People and propose strategies to address the issue. 

(Use case studies and news articles to support your answer)

• They participate in volunteer work to gain skills and show interest in work.

• Busking to entertain the public and earn money

• Sharing and selling artwork at community markets and galleries

• They can show great spirit and look after each other, sharing places to eat and sleep.

• Some homeless people escape the cycle of poverty and homelessness and in this process encourage other homeless people.

Explore ONE example of what homeless people have done to try to improve community attitudes, and assess the impact this has had on the well being of homeless people. (p.43)

There are many groups and organisations with the mission to advocate for homeless people and their needs. Such organisations may be government based, private or voluntary.

• Raising awareness within the community

• Educating the community

• Promoting the rights of the group

Advocacy: Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy 

Raising awareness within the community

Once you know what is going on in the community and city you live in, we can determine the primary needs of those who are experiencing homelessness. Raising awareness could mean contacting local government, community organisations in the area and not for profit programs to assist those in need. 

Mission Australia

"Our research, policy and advocacy is supported by the specialist resources within Mission Australia, which has 160 years’ experience in delivering community services, our efforts are evidence based and benchmarked against industry best practice so that we can stand alongside people in need and speak up on their behalf in a truly genuine and informed way."

Educating the Community

This involves knowing why people become homeless, who the majority of our homeless people are, facts about homeless people and ways in which we can help them. Homeless communities can be supported through School programs, Church programs, Australian Red Cross Door Knock Appeals, The Salvation Army Teaching Resources for Year 9 and 10 PDHPE. 

Australian Red Cross:

The 'Go Without' initiative and education program aims to shed light on the situation the people experiencing homeless face every single day. These programs educate and raise awareness for the rights of the homeless community.

Promoting the rights of the group

Rights protect individuals from injustice, help them reach their potential and contribute to their wellbeing. They also create moral and legal obligations that governments tend to make into legislation. The Universal declaration of Human rights states: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.” 

Launch Housing:

"We want to end homelessness and are passionately committed to creating lasting societal change to help those most in need in our community. In a country as wealthy as ours no one should be homeless."