Community development provides a set of principles, skills and knowledge
that can be applied to
address the most pressing issues social workers and communities face in
contemporary society.
Ecological degradation is one of the major issues facing contemporary
society and therefore is a
critical issue for social work. In a social work context, ecological
degradation intersects with social
inequality, and other social issues including colonisation, oppression
and neo liberalism.
Using the context of ecological degradation, this assignment asks you to
apply the concepts, theories
and principles of community development to a social and community issue
of your choice. Drawing
from unit readings and “green” or “eco-social work” literature, you
will:
• Critically discuss the role of community development in responding to
your chosen issue and
its interconnection with ecological degradation, social inequality,
colonisation, and/or neo
liberalism;
• discuss a plan to develop a simulated community development initiative
to address the
issue.
Your critical discussion and planning for a practice response is
designed to elicit your critical thinking
and demonstrate your application to a practice context. The questions
below focus your responses to
maximise your learning and preparation for community development
practice.