Essay: Historical Development of Australian Community Services

This essay explores the historical development of community services in Australia, examining its evolution and significance. It delves into the historical perspective, highlighting key developments and influences, including the rise of social justice movements and the impact of government policies like Medicare. The essay contrasts government and non-government organizations, outlining their roles in service provision, funding, and policy implementation. It analyzes the contemporary strategies employed for community development, emphasizing self-help initiatives and the social model of health. The essay also discusses the roles of both government and non-government organizations in delivering services, addressing issues such as funding arrangements, service delivery approaches, and the challenges faced by NGOs. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of community services and the efforts made by both government and non-government organizations to improve the current conditions in Australia.

Running head: Introduction to Community services 1
Introduction to Community services
Student name:
Student ID:
Author’s note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Historical perspective of community sector....................................................................................3
Contemporary perspective of community sector.............................................................................4
Role of government organization within community sector...........................................................5
Role of non-government organization within community sector....................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
Reference list...................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The aim of the essay is to understand the importance of community health service and
how it has evolved in the last few decades. The essay is based on exploring two objectives; the
first is to define and discuss the historical development of community services within Australia.
In addition to that the essay plans to compare and contrast between government and non-
government organizations through the use of relevant literature.
Community service can be termed as an integral part of education. Through the
mentioned aspect student can develop a sense of responsibility among the younger generations.
Community service needs to be well planned and organised effort that is designed voluntarily for
addressing the specific needs of a community. As stated by Javanparast, Windle, Freeman and
Baum (2018), a meaningful community service needs to address the exact problem occurring
within the society. The current assignment thus aims to understand the historical and
contemporary community service sector through use of models. The study further highlights the
role of government and even non-government organizations contributing to community services
Historical perspective of community sector
The greatest strength with community health in initial days was the intense political
nature. It successfully drew the interested people not to improve individual health but also help
in changing the world. With the rise of social justice movement in the year 1970 led to rise of
new generation of progressive and educated individuals that give rise to community health
movement. As pointed out by Cheshire, Esparcia, and Shucksmith (2015) adept at advocacy,
political campaigning worked on addressing community issues whether be it transport, urban
development or housing through the use of political activism. A short tenure of progressive

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federal government under the supervision of Labor’s Gough Whitlam (1972-1975) created
provision for boost in community health. Healthcare insurance was passed by Medicare (initially
Medibank). The policy of working with states to develop regionalised services that was
responsible for lending support to healthcare services at local level being initiated (Brief history
of community health in Australia, 2019)
Rise of community health services vs biomedical model
Initiation of social justice movement in 1970 lead to rise of community health service for
challenging the monopoly of biomedical model. As observed by O’Keeffe (2017), economic,
social and even political factors are often termed as important factors that contribute to the
wellbeing. Thus, it can be conclusively stated a community based health model can offer
responsive and integrated approach for addressing the social and even health needs of the less
privileged individuals. The community based historical approach can help in providing a holistic
provision of care.
In another terms it can be stated long term history of the community service can tell one
about the tradition and provide us with information related to conflicts. Community development
approaches such as support groups and even the groups led by patients. as pointed out by Wang
(2017), protest campaigns for protecting the services are ever occurring phenomenon within the
community service. In similar regards, community health’s ethos of being responsive to the local
conditions have been effective in providing successive services to the Australian immigrants
(Brief history of community health in Australia, 2019).

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Contemporary perspective of community sector
The contemporary strategy for ensuring rural development is developed on the notion of
self-help and bottom up community based initiatives. The community based initiatives are often
known to empower the individuals from imposing structure based on government intervention.
As observed by Cheshire, Esparcia and Shucksmith (2015), such mentioned strategies are not
new to Australia but have been not theorised and generally regarded in functionalist term as
indicative attempt to reduce public expenditure. Harnessing itself to governmentality perspective
Goering (2015), exports discourses related to rural community development in Australia. In
support of the statement mentioned above, it can be can be conclusively stated empowering the
effects related to self-help is often cited as a greater virtue. Based on the social model of health,
it can be stated the contemporary community service looks into the broader influences oh health
factors rather than injury and diseases. However, it should be considered emphasis of
governmentality perspective based on governing from distance has hardly any conclusion that
can be unexpected.
Role of government organization within community sector
Australian state and territory government are seen to have major role within community
services. The roles are mentioned on principles of basic rights coupled with acceptable standards
of living for protecting the vulnerable individuals within the society. Local government
additionally act as funders of the community services under “National Health Reform
Agreement-2011”. Thus, as per the mentioned legislature, role of government organization
within the community sectors are as follows (Naimoli et al. 2015):
 Providing services to the client directly

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 Helping the non-government community service providers financially, which in return
provides service to the clients
 Legislating and regulating non-government and even government service providers
Undertaking strategic planning and development of policies and monitoring the existing
plans
However, as argued by Wilkins et al. (2019), the roles and additional funding arrangements are
seen to vary across the service sector. Special disable services exclusive from employment
services are majorly funded by the Territory and the State government of Australia. In addition to
that it becomes important to understand the fact that economic and social changes are seen to
transform the regional and rural communities. The Australian Government has therefore sought
to respond effectively, by emphasising service delivery, through enhancement of service
opportunities and altering the existing policies. The approaches undertaken by the government
organization for undertaking the services at community level.
Citing the health system of Australia, it can be seen that the government provides a scope
of mean tested rebate for helping the citizens with the cost associated with private healthcare. In
similar regards, it can be stated that the local health care organizations are seen to play critical
role. As opined by Javanparast, S., Windle, A., Freeman and Baum (2018), local health care
systems are seen to provide a range of community based health and even home care services.
However, based on the medical model, it can be easily stated chronic health disorders are often
seen to demand flexible and person centred model for better health outcomes. In order to address
the issue, government organization within the community service is undertaking national
approach and continue to improve their ways for sharing information related to medical terms

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Role of non-government organization within community sector
The non-government organizations are often seen to carry out early intervention and even
family support funded by the state government. However, Venning et al. (2018), pointed the fact
that non-government organizations providing community services are not limited to social
advocacy or human rights. Rather it helps in understanding the importance of developing society
and improve participation at local level. Citing example of NGOs working in Australia, it can be
easily stated the non-government institutes are often seen to focus on economic programs and
have volunteer workers to help them for achieving their objectives.
However, research conducted by Mackelprang, Salsgiver and Salsgiver (2016), leads to
confusion between NGO and government based organization working towards. In similar
regards, it can be pointed out, local and even international NGOs play an important role in
providing service to the Australian citizens. In similar regards, in can be stated that the small
NGOs, working towards development of active health policies with high level of focus towards
the local needs, should be provided with encouragement. The complex development of
challenges for the NGOs often require support. The current “2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development” discusses the importance of finance that can be harnessed for better community
outcomes.
The Australian NGOs worked a lot in contributing to keep a stop on human trafficking. In
regards to the mentioned plan, several NGOs worked in amalgamation with the government
organizations to provide help to the distress individuals seeking refuge. In addition to that the
NGOs were additionally seen to providing training and assistance for employment. Thus, it can
be stated the NGOs in Australia is filling up the evident gaps left out by the governmental
organizations. however, Shyman (2016) argued the fact there exists several gaps in the assistance

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provided by the non-government organizations. For example, there remains a little scope of
services and help directed towards male individuals who are often subjected to slavery or even
trafficking. In similar regards, it can be conclusively stated that NGOs fail to provide care for
foreign citizens residing in the country
Conclusion
The discrepancy in regards to community service is evident. However, based on the analysis it
can be conclusively stated that community services have evolved and improved a lot in past few
years. The holistic approach and endeavours undertaken by both government and even non-
government organizations is highly commendable. The essay provides a clear idea about the
social structure currently prevailing in Australia. In similar regards, it can be concluded it is
important to understand the fact that community service is important and Australian government
and even the non-government organizations are seen to make strenuous endeavours for
improving the current condition in Australia

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Reference list
Brief history of community health in Australia - cohealth - Community Health Service. (2015).
Retrieved 27 July 2019, from https://www.cohealth.org.au/about/our-history/brief-
history-community-health-australia/
Cheshire, L., Esparcia, J., & Shucksmith, M. (2015). Community resilience, social capital and
territorial governance. Ager. Revista de Estudios sobre Despoblación y Desarrollo Rural,
(18), 7-38.
Goering, S. (2015). Rethinking disability: the social model of disability and chronic
disease. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 8(2), 134-138.
Javanparast, S., Windle, A., Freeman, T., & Baum, F. (2018). Community health worker
programs to improve healthcare access and equity: Are they only relevant to low-and
middle-income countries?. International journal of health policy and management, 7(10),
943.
Mackelprang, R. W., Salsgiver, R. O., & Salsgiver, R. (2016). Disability: A diversity model
approach in human service practice. Oxford University Press.
Naimoli, J. F., Perry, H. B., Townsend, J. W., Frymus, D. E., & McCaffery, J. A. (2015).
Strategic partnering to improve community health worker programming and
performance: features of a community-health system integrated approach. Human
resources for health, 13(1), 46.

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O’Keeffe, P. (2017). Creating resilience or private sector dependence? Shifting constructions of
the farmer in Australian policy discourses. Space and Polity, 21(3), 318-334.
Shyman, E. (2016). The reinforcement of ableism: Normality, the medical model of disability,
and humanism in applied behavior analysis and ASD. Intellectual and developmental
disabilities, 54(5), 366-376.
Venning, A., Herd, M., Smith, D., Lawn, S. J., Mohammadi, L., & Glover, F. (2018). Teachable
moments: how can the community capitalise on existing and future support services to
improve the mental health and wellbeing of ‘new’fathers?.
Wang, C. M. (2017). Assembling the sacred space in the Taiwanese countryside: Endogenous
development projects, temple festivals and unruly material objects. Journal of rural
studies, 54, 28-38.
Wilkins, C. H., Skinner, J. S., Boyer, A. P., Morrow-Howell, N., Smith, J. M., & Birge, S. J.
(2019). A Community-Based Collaborative Care Model to Improve Functional Health in
Underserved Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Journal of aging and health, 31(3),
379-396.