Families and Communities

Family
• ​ efinition -​ there are many types of families that exist in our society. The “Family” is
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the basic unit within society and is made up of two or more individuals who share an
interpersonal relationship and resources and who rely on each other at some stage
during the life spam to enhance their personal wellbeing.
• ​Census definition - ​two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age,
who are related by blood marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering;
and who are usually resident in the same household. Each separately identified couple
relationship, lone parent-child relationship or other blood relationship forms the basis of
a family. Some households contain more than one family. ​——​ I agree with this
definition up to a point, since I can also say that some of my friends would also be
considered my family just as much as my home family.

Family Structures
• A​ doptive Families
• Adoption is an option whereby permanent care is provided for children who are unable
to live with their birth families
• It is a legal process where all legal rights and responsibilities are transferred from birth
parents to adoptive parents
• Childless Australian couples needed to adopt children from other countries due to
current single mothers either now having an abortion or raising the child herself,
where in the past the child would have given the child up for adoption
Blended Families
• Contains both a natural parent and a step-parent - a blended family has at least one
child who is the biological child of both parents and at least one which who is the
step-child of either parent
• Sometimes children may even have two step-parents, meaning they have four adult
members in their lives. Four caring adults each will have their own expectations.
These expectations may cause conflict, leaving the child torn between two adults, not
wishing to disappoint any of the parents.
• ​Childless families
• A couple with no children present is known as a childless family. This can because of
many reasons; temporary stage before starting a family, child may have left the home
or may have been a death of the child.
• In other cases they understand the stress and damage of parenting and have little
desire to become parents themselves
• ​Communal families
• Group of families or individuals either related or unrelated, living and sharing
resources together.
• ​De facto families
 • Is where a couple of the opposite or same sex live together in the same household but
are not married to each other; they are partners, common-law husband and wife,
lovers, boyfriends or girlfriends.
• This is popular to those who are younger and choosing to marry later in life. These are
people studying, travelling and starting their careers prior to getting married.
• Moving in with a partner become advantageous financially, emotionally and physically.
• Marriage may not also be an option ou too fear of divorce, fear of making a mistake or
unpleasant previous experiences.
• ​Extended family
• One core family and at least one relative living in the same house
• Some migrant groups teach children that they are in charge of taking care of their
elderly relative, not just parents
• Male offspring could be in charge of finances and females are responsible for their
parents and other elderly relatives
• Other members will take care of children and maintain at home
• Decisions about career needs and study opportunities ware made by the family group
and reflect the family needs
• Western culture families would usually allow for the grandparents to take care of the
children while they are out for work or adult children will take care of elderly parents
for daily care e.g. dressing, providing help with mobility and preparing food
• Growth of multiculturalism and the ageing population will allow for the extended family
structure to become more common
• ​Foster families
• A foster family results when non-biological children, needing care, are placed with
another individual or family for an unspecified length of time
• It is the responsibility for the family to provide a safe, nurturing and stable environment
for the foster child
• Foster parents have no legal rights in regard to making decisions for the children e.g.
areas of health or education
• Number of children in out-of-home care, including foster care has steadily increased
over the past decade
• Reasons for children to be placed in foster include; death in the family, family
breakdown, neglect, abandonment, drug and alcohol abuse, illness or depression, or
the inability of their families to create a safe environment with adequate care and
protection
• Children in foster can be placed in any type of family structure
• ​Nuclear families
• Commonly viewed as a heterosexual couple and their offspring
• Considered the norm and the most common family structure — statistically has the
lowest growth rate
• Declining marriage rates and fertility, rising divorce rates and other social trends
means that a reduced number of people will live in the family norm in the future
• ​Same-sex couple families
• Defined as two people of the same-sex in a sexual relationship, living with or without
children
 • Many children of same-sex couples are conceived in previous heterosexual
relationships. Male couples may also consider using a surrogate
• This family structure is continuing to increase
• ​Sole parent families
• Consists of a lone parent with at least one dependant or non-dependant child living in
the household
• Reasons include divorce, separation, death of a partner, or use of artificial
reproductive technologies
• The one adult in the household takes on all the roles expected of two parents;
financial responsibility, domestic labour, child-rearing and all other family functions
• It is more difficult for this type of family to satisfy all family functions
• Attitudes towards sole parenting are more accepting and supportive today
• In situations of divorce or separation, a sole parent may be able to access financial
support from the non-custodial parent; known as the Child support payment —
assists sole parent to provide for their children’s needs such as food, clothing and
shelter
• ​Kinship families
• Often used to describe the system of living among Indigenous Australians
• Composition will be large and ever changing, meaning adults and children will often
move between households
• Kinship influences life and is a vast saying; including relations to ancestral beings,
sites and land
• It is not restricted to one’s ‘family’ as might be expected by mainstream Australian
norms

Roles individuals spot within families

Satisfying specific needs
Safety and security
• People have a need to feel protected and safe from threat; physical, emotional and
financial aspects
• Housing provides an element of security and safety
• For adults - stable and secure employment is important, provides financial support and
in turn creates an element of security as family members know they have money to buy
food, to pay the mortgage and to pay for schooling and recreational needs — ensuring
emotional security
• Rules, limits and supervision will significantly reduce younger family members’ security
and safety risks and will aid in the development of their decision-making skills regardless
of family structure
Adoptive
• Adoptive families go through rigorous checks to ensure a safe and secure environment
is provided
Blended
• Increased number of adults in a child’s life will allow for greater supervision and
perhaps earning capacity — increasing financial stability
Childless
 • Security may come from being financially stable, with good employment or
superannuation
Communal
• Large groups living together may provide security — however roles must be delegated
to ensure that someone is responsible for security and safety
De facto
• Laws that mirror marriage laws provide financial security for de facto parents
Extended
• Extended families have more adults within the household, which may increase security
and safety for younger children e.g. having a parent at home after school
Foster
• Rigorous and regular checks of foster parents and the environment by case workers
can increase security and safety — nature of previous family situations may always
cause for children to question their safety
Nuclear
• two adults within the home can make for a safe and nurturing household. However this
will depend on the nature of the relationship between the two adults
Same-sex
- outside the home, same-sex couples with or without children may be discriminated against,
which could compromise their security and safety
Sole parent
• often face financial difficulty
• However, many are providing a safe and loving household where children are
nurtured. Relationships between custodial and non-custodial parents may impact on the
security and safety of children
Kinship
• Security is more likely to be met within this family structure as closer bonds can occur
— however living in remote places away from infrastructure (e.g. hospitals, law
enforcement) may compromise security and safety
Health
• Includes both the mental and physical condition of a person
• A families values to health will influence their choices in regard to diet and exercise
• Parents may take time for physical activity and children and teens may participate in
organised sport
• Families will have regular health and dental checks and will likely recognise any health
problems early
• Health choices will rely on financial resources
• private health care may be difficult to afford for low-income earners
Adoptive
• health of parents is scrutinised in the adoptive process — diet and exercise will depend
on the values of the adoptive parents and the Childs culture of origin
Blended
• Will relate to values and attitudes of the adults - the presence of more than two parent
figures may make decisions regarding health and physical wellbeing difficult, therefor
more discussion is required
Childless
 • Will depend on the age of childless family members. For older couples, lifestyle
diseases and other age-related problems may affect health. For younger couples,
health needs may relate to diet or exercise
• Risk-taking behaviour and alcohol consumption may be an issue
Communal
• health may be impacted by geographical distance from medical resources
De facto
• health will relate to the values and attitudes of the parents
Extended
• caring for older members of the extended family may be a priority, all family members
may be involved in things such as doctors’ visits, feeding, bathing and socialising
Foster
• decisions about a foster child’s health are made by case workers and the government,
diet and exercise decisions are made by foster parents — if foster situations are
short-term, opportunities for involvement in sport may be limited
Nuclear
• health will relate to the values and attitudes of the adults
Same-sex
• health of same-sex couples will depend on their lifestyle and attitudes. For children of
same-sex couples where one member is the child’s biological parent, the non-biological
parent will have few decision-making rights regarding the health of the child
• Same-sex couples can adopt in all states except Victoria. Adoption ensures that the
adoptive parents have equal rights when making decisions for their children regarding
health
Sole Parent
• if financial stability is an issue, private health care may be difficult to access
• It can take a long time to go through the public health care system for needs such as
braces or counselling
• Bulk billing helps support those with limited access to financial support, many single
parents work hard to provide for the health of their dependants, often at the expense of
their own health
Kinship
• living in remote areas away from hospitals and medical support may compromise the
health of those in kinship systems — food choices may be limited
Employment
• Refers to being engages in paid work
• Crucial to fulfilling any number of the other specific needs
• A persons earning power and employment opportunities are related to their skills and
abilities rather than family structure
• But family structures may influence work hours or patterns
• It is most often for adults to be involved in employment, but when they are not able to;
adolescence may gain employment to help support the family
Adoptive
• The adoptive parents would be in charge of gaining employment to provide for the
child, as well as it being stable. Process of adopting is also very expensive and they
look at a
Blended
• It would be stable if at least one parent from each set of parents to be providing for the
family
Childless
• These couples would focus on giving a stable employment and job and are able to
keep to it without the stress of a child - more freedom for employment and can devote
more time to employment
Communal
• Employment would be crucial for people so they could all somehow contribute
financially to this structure
De facto
• At least one adult in this relationship will need to have a stable employment job, same
rights and responsibilities as married couples
Extended
• Adults in this kind of family can rely on employment while also having other members
to take care of children back at home. This is important to contribute to the
moneymaking of this family structure
Foster
• At least one parent in the foster structure will need to have a stable and well paying job
to provide for themselves and the foster child.
Nuclear
• At least one parent would need stable employment to take care of the rest of the family
Same-sex
• One parent would need to keep a stable job
Sole-parent
• It would be difficult for a single parent to take care of employment and also children,
but there are options of also receiving money from the government to receive that extra
support needed
Kinship
• Different adults within the community can focus on having jobs and others can help on
taking care of children, rotating jobs and such so they could all focus on providing for
one another in the family structure. Difficulty in employment due to living in remote
countries
Education
• Refers to learning knowledge and skills
• Can be met through formal (e.g. school) or informal education (e.g. life experiences)
• Regardless of structure and financial resources, all children aged 5-17 must be in some
form of government-approved schooling
• Value of education will impact on where a child goes to school and rules and limits set
regarding school and homework
• A life experience of a child can relate to family structure as well as influences of culture,
holidays, interests and meeting different people - all contribute to informal type of
learning
Adoptive
 • Adoptive parents would need to put an adopted child into some sort of schooling
depending on the parents finances. And are in charge of enforcing and supporting their
educational journey of formal and informal experiences
Blended
• The child will still be put into some sort of schooling, different parents may have
complications about which school as they will have different opinions on which school is
best for the children. This may not be a problem if they child is older and is already
placed in a school which they had started from when they were young
Childless
• Adults would not need to place children into an educational system as they do not
have any children to place into schools
Communal
• Children can be placed into schools where they can all depend on one another for
factors like transport for schools and making different life experiences open to the
children by being with other children
De facto
• This structure can open a different experience to a child whose parents may not be
married and can have an impact on different values of education, but also achieving
education from somewhere as it is illegal to not have a child in some sort of educational
setting
Extended
• Children can depend on more members living under the same roof about learning
different experiences through stories as well as also achieving a formal education for
going to and from school by one member or another
Foster
• Parents will have checks on how a foster child will be affected by their education,
since their stay in a foster home can be short term it can affect their bailies of adjusting
to new schools if they are being moved to and from families. This is still achieving their
life experiences of education but also affecting their formal educational side
Nuclear
• A child will be regularly placed into an education, while also being able to experience
other things such as holidays
Same-sex
• If a same-sex couple has a child, they are still by law needing to put their child in a
formal education system. Sometimes the child could be stigmatised for having a
homosexual couple as parents and that can unfortunately lead to affecting their
educational experience and life experience into something negative
Sole parent
• It could be difficult for a sole parent to enrol their child into certain schools if they value
education which can affect schooling experiences for certain options, this could also
affect their experiences of not being able to afford going on holidays and such
Kinship
• Children in rural areas will not have the same access to education as a child in the city
would and therefore could have less opportunities in the future for employment options,
and their life experiences would also be very different than a child in the city, being
exposed to a different way of living and so forth
Sense of identity
• The idea of who you are
• Can be influences by family structure but is more related to relationships around you
and how they are able to be formed
• Adult family members model behaviors that children or depends adopt
• Children personalities and identities evolve due to other influences such as peer groups,
schools, media, and other significant people
• Culture is also another influence
• Customs, languages and traditions will influence friendships, hobbies, and
extra-curricular activities
• Peer-groups, schools, the media, significant others and figures do not influence family
structure, certain family structures may place different values and ideals on these factors
and influence a sense of identity
Adoptive
• Depends on the adoptive families beliefs that the adopted child has been brought
up into, might get the child involved in supporting friendships and participating in
activities
Blended
• New families could have different ways of teaching and interacting with new
step-parents and how they in return will treat the new family member in return
Childless
• Individuals without a child will focus more-so on themselves and how they can
find their own sense of identity into what they immerse themselves in
Communal
• Culture depends on how a family will rely on one another and how they will fit into
their family structure, whether they are told to have an identity in focusing on caring
of others or more on themselves and earning money
De facto
• Influences on the relationship you may have with your partner whom you may be
living with
Extended
• The identity with your relationship with the individual(s) who may be joined with
the family and how long you may get along with them. Be treatment and respect or
lack of respectable treatment can influence an individuals sense of identity
Foster
• Influence on the foster parents and how they will encourage and raise the foster
child into participation and environment they will build. Focuses on building a
relationship with each other into gaining an identity
Nuclear
• Relationship with parents and how they will pass on certain values into growth
and build relationships with each other
Same-sex
• Based on the stigma on same-sex families especially with the media , an
individual will focus on building relationships with those who have similar values
Sole parent
 • Depends on the relationship between children and adult, the parenting figure may
be finding it difficult to maintain close relationships, the media and beliefs that sole
parents in the past was much of a negative one
Kinship
• Relationship with different adults and how they will react and gain a relationship to
those within the community, values on culture, hobbies and availability of resources
to them
Adequate standard of living
• Including having shelter, food and clothing
• Families aren’t immune to financial crisis or trauma
• Stability and earning power is the responsibility of an adult family member – will
dictate a families standard of living
• Family can access government payments to ensure adequacy – charity groups are
the same but requires family members to reach out
Adoptive
• How the parents will need to have a stable job and income for the child they are
taking into care
Blended
• The increase on an income with having more than one parental figure can influence
an individuals standard of living
Childless
• Without a child, a couple is able to focus on finding job and financial security to gain
themselves a household, clothing and food. Even being able to focus on themselves
Communal
• To save on money a family will learn to have those who focus on retaining an
Income for such shelter, clothes and food whilst others will focus on taking care of
the family
De facto
• Treated as through a married couple laws and getting either earning a income and
joining it together or separately
Extended
• Stability of relying on family members to support and care for. The needs of taking
care of elderly family members in some cultures as well as living under the same
shelter to save money
Foster
• Needing to earn a stable income to be able to support an addition into your family,
to provide adequate shelter, food and clothing for this new edition. For either a short
or long period of time
Nuclear
• Being able to have enough income to keep shelter, food and clothing. Either both
parents are earning an income, or one or the other.
Same-sex
• Having enough money from work to be able to support themselves in absolute
basic needs
Sole parent
 • Sole parents are often having difficulties to provide for their children, relying on
support from the government or child support.
Kinship
• Relies on the wider community to be able to share resources and put together to be
able to meet this adequate standard of living.

Communities
Definition of a community
• ​A community is a group of people who live in the same locality and have a common
background or share similar interests or beliefs
• This definition may include school communities, indigenous communities, ethnic or
religious communities
• Most of us belong to more than one community beginning with our neighbourhood
community

Reasons for community formation

• Communities often emerge when people have identified a common interest or reason to
be together
• These reasons are often related to geography or interest, or are purposely developed to
meet specific needs
1. ​Geographic reasons​ - these communities have developed as a result of where
they are situated e.g. close to parks, the beach, the bush. They may be easy to walk
to or get around or provide access to local services and facilities e.g. schools,
transport
2. ​Interest based reasons​ - these communities have developed due to shared
interests and needs of individuals e.g. sport, recreation, music, friendship, politics
3. ​Other reasons​ - community groups can also emerge based on culture, ethnics, and
sexuality
• ​cultural/ethnic communities​ - members of these communities promote and build the
traditions and customs of specific culture and encourage participation
• ​Sexual based communities​ - refer to communities that include individuals who share
the same sexual beliefs and preferences. Individuals may be looking for a sense of
belonging and recognition for their choices.

Definition of Demographics
Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

Questionnaires as a primary research method

• Q​ uestionnaires:​ formally prepared questions that seek knowledge, beliefs, feelings,
opinions, likes or dislikes; completed by the respondent
 • S ​ urvey:​ formally prepared questions that seek knowledge, beliefs, feelings, opinions,
likes or dislikes; it is filled in by the researcher after asking the respondent questions
Closed questions
• Limited range of responses
• Easier to collate and interpret
• e.g. check box
Open ended questions
• provide the opportunity for an open response that is not guided by the researcher
• A line or space is provided on the questionnaire
Advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires
Advantages Disadvantages

• Questions can be designed to collect both • Questions may be misinterpreted and cannot
quantitive and qualitative data be explained to the respondent
• It is quick to distribute to respondents • It requires respondents to have satisfactory
• Data can be completed from a large group of literacy skills
people in a reasonable timeframe • The amount of information collected can be
• Questions are completed by respondent and limited
avoid interviewer bias • It is time consuming ti design questions and
• Respondents have time to consider their present neatly
responses at a convenient time and in private • If there are too many questions or too many
• A written record of data is easy to access details required, respondents may not
• Closed questions are easy to tally and participate or complete the questionnaire
present statistically • Missing responses to questions that the
• Quantitive data is easy to interpret respondents do not understand can create
• ​Each respondent tis given and equal bias
opportunity to respond to each question, • The researcher has to wait for responses to
providing greater reliability be returned
• There is the possibility of low-response rate
due to failure to complete and return the
questionnaire
• ​Qualitative data may be difficult to compare

Levels of Community Organization

• Different levels of organization have been established to administer, supervise and
coordinate systems and services within the community
• Sizes from micro to macro level — local, state, national

Local, state and national community organisation

Levels of community Local State National
organisation
Description of Local governments are State governments are The national
government based in a particular responsible for the state government community
organisation part of a city, town or only and have the power involves all Australians;
rural area. They have to manage and make laws and
the power to manage laws that apply only to decision-making have
and make laws applying that state an impact on the whole
to that area of Australia

Example Your council or shire New South Wales Australia

Area of responsibility • Garbage collections • ​Immunisation • gay marriage rights

• Road works programs • ​Medicare
• ​Local resources e.g.
libraries

Roles groups adopt within communities

Satisfying specific needs
• Priorities role for community groups is the provision of resources required for an
adequate standard of living
• Food may be available in forms such as fresh, pre-prepared, daily drop-in centre meals
or food parcels
• Clothing is collected from donations and redistributed through ‘opportunity’ shops
Mission Australia: Together we stand
Support Services include:
• homelessness and social housing
• Families and children services
• Youth services
• Mental wellbeing
• Disability inclusion and support
• Employment, skills and training
• Alcohol and drugs support
Building relationships
• Can take countless forms
• Effectiveness can define the quality of an individual’s life
Positive and effective relationship are often characterised by:
• Showing respect for one another
• Having trust and confidence in one another
• Sharing a purpose intention or aspiration
• Being open and honest in communication
Members of community groups may:
• Build informal relationships with people they know little about; this may require
greeting people, asking them about their interests and engaging in small talk
• Actively listening to what others say, and remembering conversations so that topics
can be carried over to future meetings
 • Exhibit empathy and sensitivity, listening with respect and not making judgements
about a person’s character, background or present circumstances
• Use words and non-verbal acts of encouragement, which will play an important role in
building and maintaining relationship bonds at all times — in both the valleys of despair
as well as the peaks of accomplishment
• Share a laugh or a funny moment
• Offer genuine support and encouragement in times of conflict and trouble; this can be
the means to humanising and personalising relationships
Promoting wellbeing
• a sense of wellbeing can be personal — community groups have a role in promoting a
positive concept through engaging with individuals and families
• In times of hardship, promoting wellbeing will emerge as part of providing a supportive
environment
To promote the wellbeing of a group you could:
• Provide education
• Support a group financially e.g. fund raising
• Stage an event to raise awareness
• Pair with media to raise their profile
• Provide services or structures within a community e.g. skate parks, youth centres

Decision-making in communities
Influences on decision making
Legislation
• Governments are in charge of developing and implementing laws — they are the
legislative processes
• Provide guidelines for local, state, and national community decision-making e.g. land
use zones, protection of the natural environment, noise pollution, child protection
Environmental factors
• Communities have resources to help carry out tasks and reach goals,
• Decisions need to be made after considering their impact on the environment — now
more common for communities to experience conflict
• NSW community is currently faced with significant issues due to demands placed on the
environment
• Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) — e.g. aboriginal culture heritage, waters
and rivers, wildlife management and native vegetation
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA) — minimizing pollution; minimizing risk to
human health e.g. pesticides and waste; improving water quality
Lobbying and community petitions
• Lobbying occurs when groups of people try to influence the decisions of local, state or
federal policymakers.
• Community petitions are a form of lobbying in which individuals sign their names in
support of an issue
• An example is Avaaz Community Petitions
Protesting
 • A declaration of disapproval
• Democracy recognizes our right to free speech and communicating our opinions

Managing change in families and communities

Nature of Change
Change can be classified according to the length of time, the cause of the change and
whether the change was expected or not

Types of Change In Families In communities

Internal change • marriage e.g. getting new neighbours as

Change that happens • Divorce an old family has moved out
within the group, often it • Birth of a child
depends on the • Adoption
decision-making of • Change of address
family members

External Change • Economic change: reduced Refer to external change in

A change in the wider economic activity can lead to families
community that has unemployment
influences the • Legal change: maternity leave
functioning of a family entitlements, Family Law Act
parenting orders
• Social Change: delayed marriage
ages, greater acceptance of gay
and lesbian relationships/marriage
• Technological change: smart
phone technology has both
enhanced and reduced
communication within families and
communities
• Demographic change: improved
public health has increased male
and female life expectancy
• Environmental change: natural
disasters, such as flood and global
warming

Planned change • retirement A demographic study that shows

A change that occurs • Marriage population growth or reduction
with prior knowledge • Adult children or aged parents can influence the diversity of
moving in services available in
• Child leaving home to attend communities (e.g. medical
university facilities, leisure centres)
• Re-partnering
Unplanned change • death of a spouse or family Natural environmental disaster
A change that is member • flood, cyclone
unexpected, so a • Illness or injury • Fire
response to the change • Homelessness • Drought
cannot be prepared in • Unplanned pregnancy Unnatural environmental
advance • Unemployment disaster
• gas explosions
• Bombings
• Air, water and food
contamination

Temporary change • treatable illness, such as • seasonal unemployment

A change that lasts for chickenpox or a broken leg • Road detours due to
an unspecified period of • A young adult moving back home to construction
time save money

Permanent Change • divorce of death of a family Growth of new industry (e.g.

A change that lasts member agricultural, mining,
forever • Parenthood manufacturing)
• A serious injury, such as paraplegia • infrastructure change,
such as a new motorway
bypass
• New service, such as a
swimming pool
• ​Drought

Impact of change on families and communities

Family and community wellbeing
• Change can impact positively and negatively on families and communities; it is a part of
life; planning should be a priority to make it easier
• Data collected from the government can help in their planning and shows:
• Changes in population as a result in birth, marriage and death
• Numbers in the population according to age, gender, marital status, family structure,
ethnicity or home location
• Levels of education
• Patterns of work, types of occupation and levels of income
• Statistics on immigration and its effect on economic conditions
• These are significant for the wellbeing of communities experiencing change if they need
to:
• Monitor changes in communities needs and the extent to which existing services meet
these needs
• Advocate for additional services that will provide growing needs
• Implement strategic planning to meet long-term goals that will benefit the whole
community
Roles individuals adopt
 • Circumstances that cause change to family member roles may determine if the roles
individuals adopt are temporary or permanent
• Responsibilities will be taken on according to individuals suitability rather than traditional
stereotypes
• Roles individuals adopt within communities during times of changes will focus on the
best outcomes to ensure satisfaction of specific needs, building relationships and
promoting wellbeing
Environmental
• Communities experience some amount of environmental change; some occur over a
short period and are expected
• Unexpected environmental events can cause trauma, emotional shock, distress and
suffering for members of a community and their families.
• Death or serious injury may result along with damage to facilities, housing and the
natural environment
• This may be a turning point for entire communities due to impact on individuals, family
and community wellbeing
Legislation
• Laws and regulations form a framework for protecting public health, safety and morals,
and for advancing the general well fair of the population through protection of
fundamental rights
• Changes in these laws could contribute to the nature of change in families or the
community
Technology
• Connect individuals and communities
• Providing services
• Enabling procedures, systems or techniques to take place
• Providing access to learning and education

Stages of the Life Span Notes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FxJmKfkEzGIRH76fmhNN_U6TtWMk02IiAMphANS3s
CA/edit

Literature review as a secondary research method

• A literature review is known as a secondary research method
• Study of published research on a particular subject area
• Commonly found at the beginning of essays and research reports and are able to ‘set
the scene’ to show what the researcher has been able to find out before beginning their
own research

Steps Involved:
1. Searching and collecting information in your given area
2. Making a summary of the information
3. Critically analysing the information and looking at areas of controversy
4. Presenting the information in a logical and organised style
Advantages and disadvantages of literature reviews
Advantages Disadvantages

• Versatile - can be conducted for almost any • Effective literature review requires high-level
topic and can provide information as either an literacy reviews to identify resources, analyse
overview or in-depth. Organised into issues or sources to identify relevant information - to
themes that relate to a research proposal write a meaningful summary
• Demonstrate the researcher has carried out • Can be demanding reading other peoples
background reading as means on becoming research and making sense of it
familiar with the topic • Limited to collecting information from the past
• Provide a historical context - show what has • Students may not have access to certain
been found previously and set a framework information
for information that can be found in new • ​Data isn’t about current actual behaviours
research
• They save time - others have carried out
primary previous research
• Provide clarity and direction for researcher
• Inexpensive and efficient - large amounts of
data are collected quickly at minimal cost -
library or online database
• ​Previous sources of data can be both
quantitive and qualitative

Activity
Secondary data Issue: Issue: Reflection
Socialization during infancy Socialization
during childhood
Source 1 • Build social skills and confidence • Become Throughout my research,
Infancy:​ Samantha • Foundation of communication functioning I have realized that our
Shepherd, • ​Encouraging healthy language members of a socialization starts from
December 23, 2016 particular as young as birth,
https://www.todaysp group experiencing sounds and
arent.com/baby/soci • Take on sights around us. The
alizing-baby/ values, childhood period of
behaviors and starting to attend school
Childhood:​ ​ Carolyn beliefs and learning more types
R. Taylor • ​Crucial period of socializing with other
http://www.earlychild people and peers,
hoodnews.com/early teaching us our values
childhood/article_vie and beliefs as we start to
w.aspx?ArticleID=55 grow older. Hence the
3 most crucial part of a life
stage in socialization.

Source 2 • Gradual exposure • Continues all I have found similar

Infancy: • Practicing principles; give, take, the way into results for these two
http://www.playgrou sharing adulthood sources in that socializing
pnsw.org.au/PlayBa • Playgroups enable transition • Shapes stages from the beginning of our
by/BabyDevelopmen • ​Learning from other children of development life can help gain crucial
t/The-Importance-of- • Interaction life experiences and
Socialisation-for-Bab helps the child development we will need
ies comfortably later on in life.
adjust to
Childhood: changing
https://mom.me/lifest environments
yle/4904-how-does-
socialization-affect-c
hild-development/
 From my understanding of this research, I have found for the development of
socialization beginning from when we are born. I believe this is important to know as
Summary: from the start we learn about the importance of gaining skills that can be developed
later in life. From how adults will act around the infants and children, letting them
interact with other children to help prevent separation anxiety when they start school,
into how we can make lifelong friends up to adulthood.

Assess how family and other groups within the community contribute to ​socialization​ during
infancy​ and ​childhood?

Influences on Socialisation
• ​What and who?
• ​Do we understand social norms in situations?
• ​Do we learn to fit in society?
- Socialisation à becoming a productive member in society + making relationships +
adopting roles = meaningful life
Relatives ​– Blood Relations
• Extended family:
o ​Share same values as immediate family
o ​Same culture
o ​Similar upbringing
o ​May live in the same household
o ​Usually first people parents rely on for child care
Peers – Same age, same interests, close proximity
• Feel acceptance and belonging à contribute to a positive self-esteem
• Learn independence and decision-making
• Learn Communication skills
• Learn to problem solve and resolve conflict through situations; e.g. peer pressure
• Learn gender roles
• Learn empathy and sympathy through others
Paid Careers – through employment to care for young​ people
• E.g. nannies, employees at day-care or preschools
o ​Setting clear/appropriate rules à establishing boundaries for behaviour
o ​Fostering learning
o ​Encouraging communication
o ​Providing opportunities for positive risk-taking
o ​Opportunities for leadership and independence
o ​Applying appropriate discipline
o ​Tolerating differences
o ​Teaching gender roles
Health Professions – studied to care for the community
• E.g. doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists, counsellors
 o ​ Checking the development of infants à making sure they reach milestones;
if not met, socialisation process may be delayed or in need of extra support
o ​Offering confidentiality and accurate information regarding sexuality, sexual
relationships and other often taboo subject
o ​Counselling à clear and practical advice
o ​Use of online networks and telephone hotlines à accurate information
Online networks – cyberspace
• E.g. social networks – Facebook, snapchat, twitter, Instagram
o ​Offers a socialisation process enabling people with similar interests to
connect regardless of physical proximity
o ​Sense of belonging achieved through online groups
o ​Fostering understanding of other people; learning about new cultures
o ​Instant gratification; positive or negative
• Anonymity à helps (often minorities) to open up to others but also allow for mindless
judgement
• Lack of supervision can lead to misuse
Media
• Allows communication to large amount of people in a short amount of time; e.g.
television, newspapers and radio
o ​Creating and reinforcing, or breaking down stereotypes
o ​Creating awareness of global issues and campaigns; e.g. recycling or skin
cancer awareness
o ​Providing role models à certain behaviour/image
o ​Understanding of others by showing different cultures and differing
socioeconomical statuses
o ​Creating or dispelling fallacies or incorrect information
o ​Establishing or breaking down gender roles
Print and digital information
• E.g. newspapers, magazines, pamphlets
o ​Current and accurate data; e.g. for new parents à learning which
behaviours are normal and what need to be checked
o ​moulding and shaping young peoples behaviour
socialisation of children – influence on the construction of​ ​gender
• what it means to be male or female
• biologically differentiated by sexual organs; socially differentiated by roles and
behaviours
o ​the colours they wear
o ​toys they are given
o ​activities they do
o ​sports they play
o ​treatment by others
o ​careers they choose
o ​roles undertaken in families
• gender stereotypes established over time and reinforced by family values, culture,
media, schools, peer groups, the workplace and popular culture