TY - JOUR
T1 - Aunties and uncles co-operative family project : the experiences of children, volunteers and parents
AU - Beale, B.
AU - Wilkes, L.
AU - Power, B.
AU - Beale, R.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Background: This paper reports on the experiences of the children (nieces and nephews), volunteers (aunts and uncles) and parents involved in the Aunties and Uncles Co-operative Family Project in Sydney, Australia. The project has run for 30 years as an extended family network of community volunteers and has never been evaluated. Methods: A survey comprising open-ended and closed questions relating to the service was administered to all stakeholders. Demographic data were collected on all respondents. The text from answers to open-ended questions on the survey was coded for similarities and differences and was categorized. From the categories, the experiences of children, volunteers and parents were written with exemplars from the respondents' text. Results: Three major categories emerged from the text: enjoyment/ satisfaction of the experience for volunteers, children and parents; family relationships; and the difference it has made to me (children, parents and volunteers). Conclusions: The long-term benefits of a supportive 'extended family type' relationship were recognized by all participants. Although the children were the primary focus of the project, parents and volunteers also described the rewards they experienced. The volunteer element was integral to providing the wide-ranging, ongoing supports which would not be possible from a paid staff basis.
AB - Background: This paper reports on the experiences of the children (nieces and nephews), volunteers (aunts and uncles) and parents involved in the Aunties and Uncles Co-operative Family Project in Sydney, Australia. The project has run for 30 years as an extended family network of community volunteers and has never been evaluated. Methods: A survey comprising open-ended and closed questions relating to the service was administered to all stakeholders. Demographic data were collected on all respondents. The text from answers to open-ended questions on the survey was coded for similarities and differences and was categorized. From the categories, the experiences of children, volunteers and parents were written with exemplars from the respondents' text. Results: Three major categories emerged from the text: enjoyment/ satisfaction of the experience for volunteers, children and parents; family relationships; and the difference it has made to me (children, parents and volunteers). Conclusions: The long-term benefits of a supportive 'extended family type' relationship were recognized by all participants. Although the children were the primary focus of the project, parents and volunteers also described the rewards they experienced. The volunteer element was integral to providing the wide-ranging, ongoing supports which would not be possible from a paid staff basis.
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/553627
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00773.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00773.x
M3 - Article
SN - 0305-1862
VL - 34
SP - 173
EP - 179
JO - Child: Care, Health and Development
JF - Child: Care, Health and Development
IS - 2
ER -