How we see ourselves can often be different from how others see us.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
How we see our community, what we believe is the make up, the financial, employment and cultural fabric of our community can be different from the reality.
The way we see our community can influence our focus, what we prioritise, where we put our collective energy and time to create and provide.
It can also influence our perception of the opportunities and experiences that are available to members of our community.
I often talk with colleagues about how we can work more collaboratively, how we can share our resources and our knowledge to better support our community and each other.
At the end of many of these conversations there is a conclusion that the reality that we work with is different from that of the preserved reality of the wider community for the issues, challenges, opportunities and abilities that exist within our shire.
I started thinking is the difference simple because of the different way in which we look at something, or is there a basis for the understanding that I and my colleagues have for our community.
The community centre supports and provides services to over 2700 people in the shire each year - over a quarter of the population.
And while DSCC provides a range of programs and supports that are aimed at the whole community - as well as providing support for those more vulnerable members of our community - the fact that our organisation provides service and support to over a quarter of our shire’s population is in contrast to the perceived level of need that exists within our community.
The most recent Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABC) data from 2016 give us an interesting insight.
In a population of 8975, 2223 people are aged under 19, while 1789 are over 65; 12.2 per cent of our population has Year 9 or below as their highest level of education; 24 per cent of two parent households have both parents not working.
While the ABS data is not the sum of our community, it does give us an insight into our community.
It gives us a chance to take a look at our community as a whole rather than from the pocket that we live and move in – and when we do, we’ll see there may be a different reality for many in our community.
