Social Justice Proposal Assignment Questions | NTU

Social Justice Proposal Assignment

Word Count: 10-minute peer-to-peer presentation (1000 word equivalent) and 1000 word proposal. You are a new worker starting at an organisation that has a long and distinguished reputation for developing innovative ways to address complex social issues. The organisation has been given a grant for 3 years to develop new ways to improve social justice in the community. The funding body has deliberately left the focus for action open, and the organisation can choose to focus on one area or issue or create action across a range of issues impacting people.

The organisation is based in an urban environment close to the centre of a big city. You know that many people in the area are facing housing stress, and increasingly, you are seeing and hearing about more people becoming homeless. It is not just affordability but a range of different issues which are contributing to the increase in housing stress and homelessness – the demographic profile of the area tells you there are just not enough places available for people to move into which means housing is becoming less affordable due to demand. In addition overcrowding in available housing as more family members move in together to share costs, and other shared accommodations is now housing multiple people in one room so people can afford the rent.

Housing stress is particularly experienced by young people, older people living alone and families with young children. Waiting lists for social and community housing in the area are sitting at 10 years and increasing. As stress levels increase, more people are becoming mentally distressed, which is putting further pressure on families, communities and services.

You have also heard there is an increase in family violence in the area and that several women and their children are living in cars, both temporarily to get away from violent partners and also permanently, as there are no local refuges or housing options. The government has been reducing funding available for local support programs for young people, families and communities for several years, with funding being diverted to more crisis-oriented and individual case management approaches. You are seeing the impacts of this as people can only access any assistance at a crisis point.

You have been asked to work with others in the organisation to develop an idea to increase fairness, equity and inclusion. You have your part-time salary for 3 years, plus an extra $40,000 per year for the 3 years to get something in place that is making a positive difference.

There is a catch, however. You are not only a worker but a member of this community. Like many others, you are also experiencing housing stress and struggling to keep up with the cost of living. You are also feeling the impacts from a lack of local support, and you are starting to feel these concerning your mental health.

Where do you start?

Your proposal should use 5-7 references from the reading list backing up your approach with research evidence and theory.

• What kind of focus and approach did I decide on and why? Eg I chose to focus on one specific issue, a set of interrelated issues, or a broader and more integrated approach.
• What are some of the key structural inequities I am taking into account in my approach ( eg gender, race, sexuality, poverty, disability), and how have I included consideration of these in my thinking?
• Using complexity thinking we covered in Week 7, how have I been mindful of and taken account of the impact of negative and positive feedback loops, opportunities to support self-organising, paying attention to emerging and unexpected circumstances?
• How has an understanding of power relations and the ways these are reproduced or disrupted informed my approach and proposal?
• I have 3 years. What have you decided to do in year 1, in year 2, and in year 3 and why?
• How will I manage and utilise my own experience as a community member alongside my professional role?
• What have I learned?

Marking Criteria

• Clear proposal answering each of the guiding questions
• Effective use of 5-7 references from the reading list to support the proposal
• Clear understanding of key concepts of power, complexity and structural inequity in evidence in the proposal.
• Accurate spelling, grammar and referencing using APA 7.

Don’t write in points; use all paragraphs, no subheadings.

Use these sources only for citation purposes, do not use external sources, please cite only from the pages provide. Select the appropriate bibliography for citation.