The Australian Community Sector

'''The Australian Community Sector'''

As the Health and Community Services Industry is being defined it is important that the Community Sector is defined.

There are many different views and debate within the Community Sector AbOUT how the sector is defined. The traditional methods of defining the Community Sector are:
* organisation type (funded or non-funded)
* legal status (unincorporated associations, incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or for profit companies);
* structure (local, regional, national)
* service provision (direct or indirect)
* service type (face to face, online or referral);

A new and important definition, is defining organisations by the function they provide in a local community. A large organisation may provide several different functions within its community with different activities and different target groups.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| || Broad community || Specific interest and needs || organisations and networks
|-
| Local Community activities
|| 1 Local activities for the broad community
Examples
* Sporting activities
* Recreation activities
* Festivals
* ProgresS Associations
* Show Societies
|| 2 Local activities for specific interest and needs
Examples
* Hobby groups
* Clubs
* Self-help groups
* Arts groups
* Historical/Cultural societies
* Neighbourhood Watch
* Environmental groups
|| 3 Local activities for organisations and networks
Examples
* Chambers of Commerce
* Service Clubs and Groups
* Community Sector Interagency meetings
* Small Business Associations
* Credit Unions
* Community Banks
* Cooperatives
|-
| Specifically Funded Activities
|| 4 Local service delivery for the broad community
Examples
* Low income services
* Family services
* Domestic violence services
* Arts and cultural services
* Neighbourhood centres
* Community centres
|| 5 Local service delivery for identified (often vulnerable) individuals
Examples
* Disability services
* Child care services
* Allied Health services
* In home services
* Employment services
* Counselling services
|| 6 Local Service Delivery through organisations and networks
Examples
* Targeted information Referral services
* Preventative health
* Referral Services
|-
| Collaborative and network activities
|| 7 Regional Activities for the broad community
Examples
* Community radio
* Unions activism
* Social activism
* Environmental activism

|| 8 Regional /National Activities for specific interest groups
Examples
* Religious Groups
* Environmental activities
* Lobby Groups
* Volunteering Groups
* Professional Bodies

|| 9 Regional /National Activities for organisations and networks
Examples
* Peak bodies
* Policy groups
* Regional development
* Sector development
* Collaborative groups
* Community development
|-

2012, PARKIN, B., A new way forward: A Community Sector Response: Establishing a relationship that is based on capacity, the building of trust, and the security in working together. [accessible online: www.communitycentral.com.au]

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[[Category:Uncategorised Australia articles]]