This document discusses different ways that community development is understood and defined. It is described as planning services, empowering communities, and working towards social justice by neighborhood coordinators. The document outlines three principal uses of the term: facilitating community participation and empowerment, building community capacity and infrastructure, and promoting economic development. Direct service focuses on meeting individual needs rather than community empowerment or collaboration.

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thriving
organisations
Community development
governance
planning Talking about community development
evaluation
People talk about community development in many different ways. Neighbourhood and Community
quality Centre Coordinators have described community development as:
improvement
planning services
evidence
servicing self help groups
based practice
running support and social action groups
risk management building community networks
participating in inter-agency meetings
writing policy
& organisational undertaking needs assessment
manuals increasing people's skills
resourcing the community to meet needs
questionnaires improving quality of life
data analysis defining priorities
working towards social justice
social capital empowering individuals and communities.
facilitation
Several uses of Community Development
training workshops
support People use the term community development in many different ways. Three of the principal uses are
outlined in the table. They are contrasted with direct service.
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Role of CD
about us Process Driven by Values
worker
People in
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the
Participation Facilitate
A. "Community community
Management Empowerment people in the
development" & perceived
Alternatives Pty Ltd Democracy community
ABN 23 050 334 435 community
needs
Government
Collaborating,
Community policy Coordination
Working with
Development B. Capacity Integration
other
building/infrastructure Government Efficiency
agencies
development and Whole of
Facilitating
nonprofit government
agencies
agencies
Business & Facilitating
C. Economic Return on
government business
development investment
policy development
Respect for
Direct Provision of direct Needs of Provide direct
the individual,
service services individuals service
etc.
The term community development is often used to include A. "community development", B Capacity
building/infrastructure development and C. Economic development.