Stories from a community worker on the shifting sands of modernity

Abstract

This thesis presents post modern, feminist narratives written from the author's experiences as a community development worker over a period of twenty years. The contexts are largely based in Sydney and the housing developments in western Sydney. The author writes from within the post modern tensions between subjectivity and objectivity, consciously choosing to represent her own experiences, thoughts, beliefs and actions as case studies. She names and explores her changing ideologies as a community worker through cameos of critical incidents throughout her career. Different styles of narratives are presented of a community development engagement in Fairfield, NSW in 1990-1991. It is argued that community development has a role in the sustainability of civil society, to foster a peaceful oppositional force so necessary as part of a vigorous democracy which values and respects difference.

Date of Award	1996
Original language	English