Critical Examination of Social - Report Example

Critical Examination of Social Report Executive summary Tony has carried out a very informative study of poverty distribution and cohesion in the New South Wales as well as Victoria for Jesuit Social Services. It is apparent that tony work was purposed to measure various social factors, which are either causes or indicators of a low quality life and social cohesion. The report has focused on examining such issues and concepts as community safety, education, social distress among others used in informing the contemporary social policy. Besides, it has discussed the implications for the government and other non-governmental agencies. Evident in the report also is the evidence, potential problems and applicable evidence. Introduction Tony Vinson is a well-known professor due to his visionary work in community development, public education and social planning as well as social research (Flynn, pr.1). Recently, Tony talked to a group of people about his recent publication Community Adversity and Resilience by Jesuit Social Services (Flynn, pr.1). The study undertaken in 2003 examined several indicators to create a measure of the social disadvantages, which include unemployment, low birth weight, low income, child abuse, early school leaving among others (Flynn, pr.2). There was an attempt to quantify resilience by taking into consideration the participation in organized sport or recreation, the availability of informal assistance as well as volunteering patterns (Flynn, pr.1). By comparing most of these postcodes across New South Wales and Victoria, the areas that experienced social disadvantages in highest levels were identified. It is evident according to the research that only a minimal change existed between the 1999 research and the 2003 research (Flynn, pr.3). However, there was one notable exception. It is clear that the non-metropolitan New South Wales was more disadvantaged as compared to the metropolitan Sydney. Most of these towns had worsened during 1999. However, the areas got better from the strengthening of the community projects for a period of three years. It is apparent that this led to the wellbeing of the children. Prof Vinson decried the cessation of that funding and called for an investment over ten years in such places in order to overcome key social problems (Flynn, pr.3). This report focuses at critically examining the social report Community adversity and resilience by Tony Vinson with the aim of identifying the issues and concepts used in the report in light of the approaches informing contemporary social policy, the implications of the government as well as the potential problem. Issues, concepts and methods used in the report in light of the approaches informing contemporary social policy Social distress Social distress may result due to low family income. Family earning is a crucial factor in determining the general welfare of a family (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298). Low family income may result from limited skills, lack of adequate education or even health challenges and these factors go a long way in determining the accessibility of goods and services, which are important in an individual’s life. Lack of enough income often results to family problems and disorders such as mental ailments, child labour and crime (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298). Family income is intertwined with the income inequality of a given nation and the general resource capability and standards of a given region. Stress resulting from inability to acquire decent housing is another result of low income. Acquisition of a decent housing is important since it is viewed as a basic human need and lack of it symbolizes marginalization. Health The health of an individual be it physical or mental wellbeing is vital since it determines how far a person will climb in the society ladder (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298). It shapes the opportunities and the life of an individual in so many ways. It can culminate to an early death, lead to suicide and limit a person’s education, acquisition of skills and employment opportunities (Vinson and Homel, pp. 21-31). Suicide As a result of political social and economic disorders, Australia has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. Studies have shown that unemployment is the main factor leading to suicide especially among the youth(Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298).This can be linked with psychological effects and social isolation experienced by the unemployed. Unemployment precipitates mental illness and stress, which predisposes individuals to commit suicide. Apart from unemployment, there is a range of factors that also in one way or another result to suicide. Loneliness has also been identified to cause suicide especially among the female youth. Dwindling financial resources, loss of asset, loss of loved one and job are other causal factors. Structural disadvantage, which has resulted from the change in the nature of jobs available, the change from industrialization to service sectors, has dealt a blow to many who have technical skills. Many end up in crime for lack of alternative opportunities and there has a direct relationship identified between crime and suicide (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp.2277-2298). Community safety Community safety is upheld by having social order .child abuse has been identified as one of the major social problem in the world today (Bartolo, pp. 321-341). It has long term impact on the young child’s mind and life .Studies indicate that child abuse is usually clustered in different geographical regions, for example in a city like Sydney there existed great social detachment in issues relating to child’s abuse among neighbouring households. Data derived from the United States panel indicate that there is a range of social and economic factors that come into play when looking at the prevalent of child abuse (Bartolo, pp. 321-341). The most salient ones being family income level as well as the employment status. Households that were found to have low income or living below poverty line had higher levels of children maltreatment and abuse. Unemployment, which leads to a constellation of, factors that that alienates individuals from the normal social setting and consequently predisposing young one in such homes into unprecedented misery and abuse (Vinson, pp. 29). Poverty is associated with poor housing, slums, lack of adequate basic services, crime and lack of family support and cohesion. Prison admissions Imprisonment not only limits an individual’s opportunities but also subjects them into social isolation(Hirschfield and Bowers, pp. 1275-1295).Prisoners more often than not have low education opportunities and skills and many come from families that may be experiencing social and economic hardships. Crime is directly related to poverty, deprivation and economic hardship (Hirschfield and Bowers, pp. 1275-1295). Education Research indicates that formal education has positive impact on the health of individuals. Individuals with high levels of educations experience few psychological problems since they are able to manage their affairs avoid depression and stress (Vinson, pp. 26). Children who attend pre-school have their chances of completing their education and benefits of education are known to flow up to old age. Research conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics point out that, the level of a household’s income has a direct bearing on the participation of children in pre-school education. How high children fly in education is also affected by the level of parents’ education and income. the variables that cause children in Australia to drop out of school include, urban setting, juvenile delinquency, early pregnancy, indiscipline and poor social –economics status (Vinson, pp. 27). All the same, education outcome is not only evaluated and determined by the aforementioned factors alone. In fact, education has been a driver in overcoming negative influences that may exist at home or in the society (Vinson, pp. 27).Education has transformed individuals and their families to not only prosperity but also changing the society on how to approach different issue. Possible implications for governments, the emerging role of the non-government sector and the opportunity for social entrepreneurship in addressing social disadvantage It is apparent from the report study that the governments as well as the non-governmental sectors and administrations should clear and comprehensive frameworks as a basis for making policy decisions. It is at this point that the general demerit ranking evidenced by the rankings comes to the front (Vinson, pp. 76). In addition, they take into consideration the strands of deprivation. Moreover, they identify the disadvantaged localities. It is clear that based on the analyses the rankings denote a pragmatic as well as a coherent tool for administration can be used to restore endeavours, anticipate or help avoid the slide of a locality towards engrained disadvantage. Evidently, the two functions assume a continued availability of contemporary information. Moreover, it assumes the availability of an approach that allows for the collaboration of a number of the government portfolios (Vinson, pp. 76-79). These portfolios include; the education to be always involved in eliminating disadvantage, place effects, provision of adequate community support to ensure that the locals benefit from human services for instance health, employment as well as income support agencies. In conclusion, the general policing of the disadvantaged localities can be associated with the contribution of other social agencies in an attempt to provide better functioning of the community. Clearly, this is an approach that can be implemented without forfeiting the Service’s fundamental duty to protect residents’ wellbeing and property (Vinson, pp. 76-79). Evidence used in the report The contemporary project has offered a continuing evidence of the durability of social disadvantage in the absence of sustained constructive interventions (Vinson, pp. 80). Tony has used New South Wales and Victoria as the main subjects of other similar studies carried out in the past. When we consider the stability of the factor scores, Victoria’s postcode rankings correlation in 2004 as well as 2006indicated the stability of a disadvantage that is spatially distributed within the state. After taking into consideration the main expansion of the various indicators used, the ranking correlations for the years 1999 and 2006 happened to be high, 805 for New South Wales and 748 for Victoria (Vinson, pp.80). Another apparent evidence of long-term stability of disadvantage includes the New South Wales studies that were conducted over 30 years ago by the Australian Government Social Welfare Commission and the Australian Department of Social Security (Vinson, pp. 81). Clearly some of the localities identified to be disadvantaged have remained so up to date. Apparently, certain instances have provided support and wellbeing improvements. Where this is evident, in the projects in the New South Wales where data is readily available, the termination of the support program has seen a ricochet to previous levels of disadvantage (Vinson, pp. 81). Potential problems and applicable evidence A major problem identified is that the processes used slow down the speed at which the outcomes of the programme can be achieved. Besides other applicable evidence to be used includes groundwork network of trusts that has been on the ground for a long period of time (Foundation, Pp. 58). This is because trust activities have expanded to encompass new neighbourhood renewal agenda (Foundation, Pp. 58). Conclusion It is evident that the burden of the disadvantages that are experienced by the different localities is widely spread as well as highly concentrated. The report has examined such issues and concepts as community safety, education, social distress among others used in informing the contemporary social policy. Besides, it has discussed the implications for the government and other non-governmental agencies. Evident in the report also is the evidence, potential problems and applicable evidence. Works cited Atkinson, R. and Kintrea, K. Disentangling Area Effects: Evidence from Deprived and Non-deprived Neighbourhoods. Urban Studies, 38.12 (2001) 2277-2298. Bartolo, L.D., The Geography of Reported Domestic Violence in Brisbane: a social justice perspective. Australian Geographer 32.3 (2001) 321-341. Blunden, A. (2004). Tony Vinson on social cohesion. Available at http://home.mira.net/~andy/works/vinson-review.htm Flynn, C. Vinson's vision: overcoming community adversity & increasing resilience, 2004, accessed on January 12, 2012, http://www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/young/vinson.php Foundation, R., The Groundwork movement: Its role in neighbourhood renewal. New York: York Publishing Services. 2002, pp. 58 Hirschfield, A. and Bowers, K.J. The Effect of Social Cohesion on Levels of Recorded Crime in Disadvantaged Areas. Urban Studies, 34.8 (1997) 1275-1295 Vinson, T. and Homel, R., Crime and Disadvantage. The coincidence of medical and social problems in an Australian city. British Journal of Criminology, 15.1 (1975) 21-31 Vinson, T., Community Adversity and Resilience: The distribution of social disadvantage in Victoria and New South Wales and the mediating role of social cohesion. Richmond, Jesuit Social Services, 2004 Read More

Health The health of an individual be it physical or mental wellbeing is vital since it determines how far a person will climb in the society ladder (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298). It shapes the opportunities and the life of an individual in so many ways. It can culminate to an early death, lead to suicide and limit a person’s education, acquisition of skills and employment opportunities (Vinson and Homel, pp. 21-31). Suicide As a result of political social and economic disorders, Australia has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world.

Studies have shown that unemployment is the main factor leading to suicide especially among the youth(Atkinson and Kintrea, pp. 2277-2298).This can be linked with psychological effects and social isolation experienced by the unemployed. Unemployment precipitates mental illness and stress, which predisposes individuals to commit suicide. Apart from unemployment, there is a range of factors that also in one way or another result to suicide. Loneliness has also been identified to cause suicide especially among the female youth.

Dwindling financial resources, loss of asset, loss of loved one and job are other causal factors. Structural disadvantage, which has resulted from the change in the nature of jobs available, the change from industrialization to service sectors, has dealt a blow to many who have technical skills. Many end up in crime for lack of alternative opportunities and there has a direct relationship identified between crime and suicide (Atkinson and Kintrea, pp.2277-2298). Community safety Community safety is upheld by having social order .

child abuse has been identified as one of the major social problem in the world today (Bartolo, pp. 321-341). It has long term impact on the young child’s mind and life .Studies indicate that child abuse is usually clustered in different geographical regions, for example in a city like Sydney there existed great social detachment in issues relating to child’s abuse among neighbouring households. Data derived from the United States panel indicate that there is a range of social and economic factors that come into play when looking at the prevalent of child abuse (Bartolo, pp. 321-341). The most salient ones being family income level as well as the employment status.

Households that were found to have low income or living below poverty line had higher levels of children maltreatment and abuse. Unemployment, which leads to a constellation of, factors that that alienates individuals from the normal social setting and consequently predisposing young one in such homes into unprecedented misery and abuse (Vinson, pp. 29). Poverty is associated with poor housing, slums, lack of adequate basic services, crime and lack of family support and cohesion. Prison admissions Imprisonment not only limits an individual’s opportunities but also subjects them into social isolation(Hirschfield and Bowers, pp.

1275-1295).Prisoners more often than not have low education opportunities and skills and many come from families that may be experiencing social and economic hardships. Crime is directly related to poverty, deprivation and economic hardship (Hirschfield and Bowers, pp. 1275-1295). Education Research indicates that formal education has positive impact on the health of individuals. Individuals with high levels of educations experience few psychological problems since they are able to manage their affairs avoid depression and stress (Vinson, pp. 26). Children who attend pre-school have their chances of completing their education and benefits of education are known to flow up to old age.

Research conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics point out that, the level of a household’s income has a direct bearing on the participation of children in pre-school education. How high children fly in education is also affected by the level of parents’ education and income. the variables that cause children in Australia to drop out of school include, urban setting, juvenile delinquency, early pregnancy, indiscipline and poor social –economics status (Vinson, pp. 27).

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