Community Engagement
Australia, in common with the rest of the world, ‘is in the midst of a profound economic and social transformation’ requiring us to ‘re-think and re-configure our approach to social support’ (McClure 2000). It is inappropriate, nor can the country afford, for citizens to be marginalised, poor and disadvantaged.
It is critical for Australia to seek ways to connect the unconnected and marginalised citizens among us. Universities, as public sites for education and research, have a pivotal role to play in this regard.
The opportunities afforded by community engagement for enabling the learning, teaching and research activities of universities to inform public policy, need to be developed in ways which enable these institutions to be critically involved in shaping Australia’s social and economic structures so as to assist people and communities in moving beyond disadvantage.
The Mission Statement of Australian Catholic University (ACU, 1998) compels it to make a specific contribution to its local, national and international communities guided by a fundamental concern for justice and equity, for the dignity of all human beings, and a commitment to serving the common good.
Community engagement is seen as a core function of ACU National needing to be supported through appropriate policies, planning, structures and personnel to ensure effectiveness. ACU National recognises that through community engagement, we have the potential to contribute to the common good, promote engaged citizenship and enrich our learning, teaching and research endeavours.
Source: Howard, P., Gervasoni, A., & Butcher, J. (2007). Implementing a university paradigm for effective community engagement. Paper presented to the Australian Association of Research in Education, Fremantle.
Recent Papers
Insights From Community Engagement Programs (PDF, 70kb)
