Assessment 2: Community Service Essay - Perspectives and Roles

This essay provides a comprehensive evaluation of community service, examining the roles of both government and non-government organizations in delivering these vital services. It delves into the historical perspectives, including the medical model of disability and institutionalization, and contrasts them with the contemporary 'social model of disability' and the human rights movement. The essay highlights the functions of government organizations, such as the Australian Public Service and AIHW, in providing infrastructure, funding, and policy. It also explores the contributions of non-government organizations like UNICEF Australia and the Autism Association, emphasizing their support for vulnerable groups. The analysis covers the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its impact, concluding that both government and non-government entities are essential for improving the community sector by addressing diverse needs, including the aged and disabled.

Running Head: Assessment 2: Research Essay
ASSESSMENT 2: RESEARCH ESSAY
WELCOME TO COMMUNITY SERVICE

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Historical perspective of community sector...............................................................................3
Contemporary perspective of the community sector..................................................................4
The role of government organizations within community sector..............................................5
The role of non-government organizations within community sector.......................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
Reference list..............................................................................................................................9

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
Introduction
The aim of this essay is to evaluate all of the perspectives of community service.
This research essay explores further the roles of both government and non-government
organizations in terms of offering community services. As defined by Yoon, Martin &
Murphy (2019), community services are specific services that are done by individuals and
organizations for the benefit of the community. People, who are associated with the provision
of community services, never get paid. It can be said that community services can be offered
to all groups of people who are poor and needy. However, Credo, Lanier, Matherne III & Cox
(2016) have contradicted those different kinds of community services are offered to people
from different age groups as per their needs. For example, palliative care can be offered to
older adults from poor and minority communities, who are suffering from mental illness or
disabilities, under community services. In the health care sector, community services include
physiotherapy, nursing, home support and other services associated with rehabilitation.
Historical perspective of community sector
The historical perspective can be described through models like the "medical model
of disability". This model looks at disability as a problem, which belongs to an individual
(Hogan, 2019). It is not viewed as an issue for other persons. For example, if a person in a
wheelchair is unable to enter a building of some steps then the medical model will state that
this is for the individual’s disability not for the steps. In Australia's Melbourne major
rebuilding occurred in the above-ground train system but accessibility was not considered
(Jackson, 2018). The city loop train system of Melbourne and trams also has accessibility
shortcoming for the people with disability.
Institutionalization movement is another historical perspective, which started to
reform the mental health service of Australia. This movement began in 1953, to provide a
quality life to people with intellectual disabilities. Institutionalization can be stated as deficits

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
in skills related to social life that occurs after spending a long period in prison or mental
hospitals. Generally, people were taken before to mental hospitals to treat mental illness
without proper consent. For example, the institutionalization of people was done to prevent
tendency of committing suicide and depression.
Previously it was considered that individuals with mental illness have no capacity to
take care of themselves and need to be separated from the rest of society (Health.qld.gov.au,
2018). They were institutionalized to provide psychiatric care. However, gradually the
thought changed and an increasing number of patients were discharged in the community to
provide proper support. Previously, objectification of mental patients was done and they were
treated as an object with no feelings or human rights. Treatment was applied to them without
any proper consent. This increases trauma of patients and impacts their psychological
condition. However, now consent is necessary and treatment without any consent is permitted
only under some exceptional conditions.
Contemporary perspective of the community sector
The concept of the ‘social model of disability’ contrasts the concept of the medical
model of disability. According to the ‘social model of disability’, medical conditions of a
person do not make them disable. It is the structure and attitudes of the society that make a
person disable (Woods, 2017). Through applying this model, barriers that make it harder for
disabled person to live can be removed from society. It is currently helping to ensure more
preferences, control, opportunities and independence for disabled people. Following this
model, the deinstitutionalization movement took place between 1955 and 1994. This
movement supports releasing patients from mental asylum to protect their equal rights.
A person-centered framework postulates about developing a healthy relationship
between healthcare service providers and patients by considering everyone as unique
individuals. As mentioned by Yoon, Martin & Murphy (2019), this framework is applied in

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
the community sector to respect the dignity and right of a person to self-determination. For
example, the decision of a mentally disabled person is considered until the patient has that
mental condition of making decisions.
The human rights movement started in 1960 to secure equal rights for all individuals
everywhere. In 1948, 10th December, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
was adopted to ensure equal right to live, vote, speak and belief in religion for every human
being (Humanrightshistory.umich.edu, 2020). This movement has given power to healthcare
patients to make their health-related decisions on their own. On the other hand, in Australia,
the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been developed by the government to
provide financial support to disabled people. Three pillars of this scheme include choice &
control, insurance approach and community & mainstream (Ndis.gov.au, 2020). With the
help of these pillars, NDIS is ensuring care and services for disabled people according to their
needs.
The role of government organizations within community sector
A government organization can be defined as an entity, which may be permanent or
semi-permanent and is responsible for managing and administering different functions like
community services and administration. As said by Burshnic, Douglas & Barker (2018), a
government organization is a machinery of government and it is a public body. Some
examples of government organizations are Australian rail Track Corporation limited,
aboriginal hostels limited, Australian nuclear safety agency and others.
Different government organizations play an essential role in Australia, which includes
provision of service, regulation, management of sustainability and framing policies. For
example, Australian public service is a government organization, which plays the role of
framing public policy, providing public services and ensuring public administration.

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
Government organizations provide a wide range of services in the community sector.
This includes development of infrastructure, provision of child protection, housing, and
justice (Nationalindustryinsights.aisc.net.au, 2020). For example, AIHW or Australian
institute of health and welfare provides community services like aged care support, disability
support and child care. Moreover, government organizations also provide protection to
communities like disabled. For example, Australian national disability abuse is a hotline that
is created to provide protection to disabled people from any abuse or discrimination.
Moreover, government organizations like ‘veterans’ affair’ helps to provide mental health
support services to age people.
For the betterment of the community sector, different government organizations
provide funding and other resources that motivate communities. As stated by Woods (2017),
funding acts as a huge motivator as improper resources act as an obstacle for many
communities to reach their goals. Moreover, government organizations also collect
information about the community sector to frame strategies for gaining betterment. For
example, AIHW collects and processes accessible information for supporting better policies.
This facilitates decision regarding service delivery to different parts of this sector like
disabled, children or aged.
The role of non-government organizations within community sector
Non-government Organizations (NGOs) are companies that do not rely on the
government in terms of providing community services. According to Rogers, Kelly & McCoy
(2019), NGOs are non-profit firms and they play active roles in social and humanitarian
areas. Sense Australia, Rocky Bay, Therapy Focus, VisAbility, Ability Centre and Autism
association are popular NGOs of Australia that are providing support services to disabled
people according to their needs. On the other hand, NGOs including CARE Australia,

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
Australian Doctors International, Cufa and other organizations are supporting poor people to
get equal access to all the community services.
These NGOs are playing an important role in the community sector by providing
support to people who need it. For example, UNICEF Australia is fighting for protecting and
improving the quality of lives of children across about 190 countries (Unicef.org.au, 2020).
On the other hand, approximately 29 NGOs are operating in Sydney for protecting health and
quality living of people. As mentioned by Rogers, Kelly & McCoy (2019), among these
NGOs, 7 are working for people with mental illness, 5 are working for disabled people, 5 are
working for protecting the health of women and 3 are dedicated to community services. On
the other hand, 8 NGOs of Sydney are working for people who are suffering from AIDS and
16 are working for rehabilitation of people who are drug or alcohol addicts.
Providing support to disabled people, NGOs are contributing to the betterment of the
community sector. For example, the Autism Association of Australia is providing support as
well as services to the people who are suffering from autism and their family members
(Dotwa.org.au, 2020). On the other hand, it has been found that the NGO, Sense Australia, is
providing support to people who are blind and deaf.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that community services are essential to support different people
like aged and disabled. Different government and non-government organizations work to
provide funds, support, and infrastructure to the community sector. Previously different
models like the medical model of disability were followed, which provides fewer facilities to
disabled persons. However, new models like social models help to protect the rights of
disabled people. Different government organizations in Australia are playing an important
role by providing resources and conducting planning for the community sector. On the other
hand, non-government organizations help to decrease the impact of different public issues

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
such as child protection, protection of women’s rights and others. Thus, both types of
organizations can help to improve the community sector by meeting essential needs.

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Assessment 2: Research Essay
Reference list
Burshnic, V. L., Douglas, N. F., & Barker, R. M. (2018). Employee attitudes towards
aggression in persons with dementia: Readiness for wider adoption of person‐centered
frameworks. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 25(3), 176-187.
Retrieved from: https://dl.uswr.ac.ir/bitstream/Hannan/68007/1/2018%20JoMHPN
%20Volume%2025%20Issue%203%20April%20%283%29.pdf
Credo, K. R., Lanier, P. A., Matherne III, C. F., & Cox, S. S. (2016). Narcissism and
entitlement in millennials: The mediating influence of community service self-
efficacy on engagement. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 192-195.
Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Curtis_Matherne2/publication/
303849585_Narcissism_and_Entitlement_in_Millennials_The_Mediating_Influence_
of_Community_Service_Self_Efficacy_on_Engagement/links/
5c7416d0299bf1268d259613/Narcissism-and-Entitlement-in-Millennials-The-
Mediating-Influence-of-Community-Service-Self-Efficacy-on-Engagement.pdf
Dotwa.org.au. (2020). Non-Government Organisations. Retrieved on 28th March 2020, from:
https://dotwa.org.au/find-an-ot/non-government-organisations/
Health.qld.gov.au (2018), History of mental illness, retrieved on 29th march 2020 from:
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/444583/qld-mh-history.pdf
Hogan, A. J. (2019). Social and medical models of disability and mental health: evolution and
renewal. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 191(1), E16. Retrieved
from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6312522/
Humanrightshistory.umich.edu. (2020). The Human Rights Movement – Advocacy for Policy
Change. Retrieved on 28th March 2020, from:
http://humanrightshistory.umich.edu/policy-decisions/the-human-rights-movement/

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Jackson, M. A. (2018). Models of disability and human rights: Informing the improvement of
built environment accessibility for people with disability at neighborhood scale?.
Laws, 7(1), 10.Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/7/1/10/pdf
Nationalindustryinsights.aisc.net.au (2020), Community sector services, retrieved on 29th
march 2020 from: https://nationalindustryinsights.aisc.net.au/industries/community-
services/community-sector-and-development
Ndis.gov.au. (2020). Understanding the NDIS. Retrieved on 28th March 2020, from:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/
Rogers, A., Kelly, L. M., & McCoy, A. (2019). Evaluation literacy: perspectives of internal
evaluators in non-government organizations. Canadian Journal of Program
Evaluation, 34(1). Retrieved from:
http://cdm.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjpe/article/view/42190/pdf
Unicef.org.au. (2020). About UNICEF. Retrieved on 28th March 2020, from:
https://www.unicef.org.au/
Woods, R. (2017). Exploring how the social model of disability can be re-invigorated for
autism: in response to Jonathan Levitt. Disability & Society, 32(7), 1090-1095.
Retrieved from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2017.1328157
Yoon, K., Martin, D. R., & Murphy, A. (2019). The undergraduate community service
experience: Changing perceptions of diversity. Journal of Community Engagement
and Scholarship, 4(2), 4. Retrieved from:
https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1138&context=jces

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