Murdoch University - COD504: The Role of Community in Policy Change

This essay examines the intricate relationship between communities, policy formulation, and social change, particularly within the Australian context. It highlights the significant role communities play in shaping social policies through their influence on elected representatives and the potential for both positive and negative impacts on policy outcomes. The essay emphasizes the importance of community engagement in governance, the potential for conflict arising from diverse community interests, and the necessity for community development to foster solidarity and equality. Ultimately, the paper concludes that communities are indispensable to the policy-making process and societal improvement, reflecting the diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds that contribute to a collective spirit essential for the welfare of society. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
Community, policy and change
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
Community practices is a concept that is related to the sphere of social work and the
main aim of the study is to bring change in the society. The area of social change is to
organize social welfare program and solve the problems that arise in the social structure. The
country of Australia has a group of social workers who form a community to offer help and
bring change in the society for the better. The aim is to liberate the people and make the
society a collective structure which will benefit all. They strive to bring social change and
formulate the policies to bring equality in the society and promote justice. The area of
community practices includes to work with groups that include social groups, families and
individuals to safeguard their interests related culture, religion and beliefs (Bell & Hindmoor,
2009). Social work is a broader perspective that includes different individuals belonging to
different cultural background who are influenced by the experiences of the present as well as
the past. Community practices involves providing counselling services and removing all the
factors that create inequality in the society.
The communities have a major influence on the society that is reflected on the
policies that are made for the welfare of the society. A wide range of areas that have a
considerable effect on the policies that are formulated by the state. To strengthen the
communities and the family structure that exist in the state is the function of the government
(Taylor, 2011). To study the neighborhood is the essential function of the policy formulators
to bring about social change in the society. This enables policy makers to understand the
areas of society and design the policies accordingly. The relationship between the state and
the society is responsible for maintaining the social order in the society. Any change that is
witnessed in the society has a direct impact on the policies of formulated by the state. The
issues that arise in the society are interrelated with the activities in the society. As
communities play an important role in the society as they are the main parts of the political
groups, trade unions and also those groups who do not possess any interest in the monetary

2COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
gains. They offer social services in the form of charitable groups and social work groups.
They are the ones who organize social movements that are the roots of the changes in the
policies formulated by the government. The institutions of military, judiciary are under the
power of the government and function in the geographical boundaries. The influence of the
communities on these organizations is considerable as those who are in the government are
the directly chosen representatives by the people (Bulmer, 2015). This formulates an
obligation on part of the elected representatives to make policies that do not cause any
conflict in the communities that exist in the society.
The impact of the community on the society is visible in the policies that are
formulated by the legislators as they fear constant retaliation from them that can lead to social
crisis. This makes it an obligation for the policy makers to design and demonstrate policies
according to the customs and traditions followed by the community. It was formulated by
Habermas and Gramsci that citizens are the building blocks of the society and any issue that
arises can only be solved by their participation (Carlucci, 2013). Public space was a concept
that is stressed in the sphere of policy making as they constitute the economic, domestic and
democratic associations. Public participation is necessary and any offence from the practices
and customs of the community leads to crisis in the society (Kellner, 2014).
However, the role of the communities in forming policies is not always positive they
have a negative influence too. The communities can be the strength of the society but also the
weakness as sometimes the majority community tries to formulate the policies that are
beneficial for them ignoring the interests of the minorities. Resistance from the minority
group is suppressed by the majority (Marchetti & Daly, 2004). The working class often tries
to influence the policy makers as they are the main force behind the working structure. The
economy of the country is important in shaping the policies thus, the influence of the working
class is significant on the economic structure. This effect shows that they can use their

3COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
influence on the policies rather than focusing on their own welfare. As the communities who
are settled well pose a threat to the new and innovative ideas that are introduced by the
communities. They can often become selfish while they influence the policies. They often
consider themselves superior to those who migrate from outside countries and want the
policies beneficial for their development. These communities are often considered as
hindrance for social change and development.
Community engagement is important while governing a state and formulating policies
that bring social change. This plays an important role as the geographical areas where the
communities strive have their own special interests and customary values (Taket, 2008). The
communities influence and formulate the policies as it is termed by many socialists. The
message of community engagement is to create a decentralization of the authority that helps
in formulating effective policies for the state. It is often regarded that communities working
with the non-governmental sphere have more progressive than those engaged in the
governing bodies. As the different existing communities can lead to the promoting their own
interests that lead to conflicts in the society (Hughes, 1985). This shows that though
community engagement is important but it has negative impacts too that can cause harm to
the society.
There should be community development that will lead to solidarity in the society
helping in the progression of the society. Just practices can lead to the bring equality in the
society that helps in better community prospects. There are progressive people in the
community who can be helpful in the development and growth of the community (Westoby,
Leunig & Lubett, 2016). They can bring change in the thinking patterns prevalent in the
society. This will lead to change in the society. The possibilities in the society can only be
attained by the engagement of the community as they are the ones responsible for the
development of the society. Unique technological developments can be attained and

4COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
incorporated in the social structure only when the community is engaged with the activities of
the society. The governmental and non-governmental organizations work together to bring
harmony in the community that affect the rate of growth in the society.
Thus, it can be concluded from the above discussion that communities play a major
role in the formulation of the policies for changes in the society. The different cultures
influence the policy makers in negative as well as positive ways that bring about social
change (Robinson, 2005). The communities are a major part of the society and their role in
the process of policy making cannot be denied. They hold an influential position in the
society that makes them able to influence all the policies that are made in the state (Shragge,
2013). The communities are comprised of individuals from different cultures and ethnicity
that proves coexistence in the society. This shows the collectivization of the spirit in the
community that is necessary for the welfare of the society. They are a major factor in
improving the society, formulating policies and bringing change in the society.

5COMMUNITY, POLICY AND CHANGE
References
Bell, S., & Hindmoor, A. (2009). Rethinking governance: The centrality of the state in
modern society. Cambridge University Press.
Bulmer, M. (2015). The social basis of community care (routledge revivals). Routledge.
Carlucci, A. (2013). Gramsci and languages: Unification, diversity, hegemony. Brill.
Hughes, L. (1985). Community work or social change?: an Australian perspective.
Routledge.
Kellner, D. (2014). Habermas, the public sphere, and democracy. In Re-imagining public
space (pp. 19-43). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Marchetti, E., & Daly, K. (2004). Indigenous courts and justice practices in Australia.
Robinson, D. (2005). The search for community cohesion: Key themes and dominant
concepts of the public policy agenda. Urban studies, 42(8), 1411-1427.
Shragge, E. (2013). Activism and social change: Lessons for community organizing.
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Taket, A. (2008). In Just policy: a journal of Australian social policy, n. 47. Just policy: a
journal of Australian social policy, (47), 3-5.
Taylor, M. (2011). Public policy in the community. Macmillan International Higher
Education.
Westoby, P., Leunig, M., & Lubett, T. (2016). Creating us: Community work with soul.
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