Policies and frameworks guide and enable effective practice at the community level
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Skilled and well-supported community workers facilitate community development and local initiatives
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Individuals and groups in communities develop strong networks of mutual support and social action and gain economic and other resources as a result
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Long term vision & commitment
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• Focus on social and economic sustainability despite demands of short term political agendas
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• Base initiatives on analysis of changing needs and developmental approaches
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• Experience long term changes with positive impacts on health and wellbeing
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• Endorse community capacity building and development as valued strategy across government
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• Develop strategies for meaningful change rather than ‘quick fix’ with superficial impact
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• People in communities are part of the solution instead of being seen as part of the problem
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• Invest in the future through planned on-going programs rather than short term ‘projectism’
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• Link small and manageable local initiatives into coherent programs through coordinated planning
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• See lasting positive changes occur through public funding
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• Explicit policy statements on health equity
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• Community people come to recognize that meaningful change can happen
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Sectors working together
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• High level endorsement of importance of collaboration
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• Pool resources to achieve better outcomes through effective and efficient collaboration
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• Services and initiatives are better able to respond to people’s daily lives with consistency and coherence
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• Integrate programs across sectors to avoid the ‘silo’ effect
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• Underpin projects and programs with long-term social & economic goals as well as short term milestones
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• Economic objectives support the achievement of equity and population health
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• All sectors committed to social& health equity
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• Reward workers for working together to generate more effective ideas and share resources
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• Provision of support services such as transport and childcare improves access to services
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• Make collaborative and cooperative ventures standard practice
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Building effective relationships
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• Provide incentives for programs and funding frameworks for community building and participatory approaches
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• Engage local people in developing positive strategies as a priority
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• Local people have good reason to become involved and stay engaged
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• Support resources and training to develop healthy and long term relationships
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• Take time and care to ensure that involvement is democratic and relationships are respectful
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• Relationships are built on trust and respect for others’ roles and contributions
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• Make workers feel supported and rewarded for taking on the complex and demanding work of community development
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• People have access to a variety of helpful support networks and social relationships (bonding, bridging & linking social capital)
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• Attract and retain experienced and skilled staff to community development projects
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Generating knowledge about what works
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• Learn about complex models of change from national and international experience
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• Design projects using what is known about models of effective practice
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• Best use of available time and resources
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• Provide support and resources for monitoring and evaluating change as it occurs
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• Ensure skills and resources are available to assist in gathering information about what works and why in the local context
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• Evaluation is directed towards learning and improving and based on an understanding of complex models of change
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• Respect different kinds of knowledge and expertise |
• Collect valuable knowledge at the local level from workers and community members and use it to improve practice |
• People feel valued and able to work as partners in developing ideas and strategies for improving health and reducing inequities |