Working and learning together with social housing communities.

A partnership between tenants, University of New South Wales, Housing NSW, local government and local agencies.

Objectives

Encourage community participation
Respond to community needs and priorities
Identify projects, resources and assist in their coordination
Encourage collaboration with other communities and organisations
Provide learning opportunities for students and all other stakeholders

Calender

September

The UNSW Community Development Project (UNSW CDP) is a unique community development project based on strong relationships between the University, public housing tenants, and the NSW Department of Housing.

Since its inception in 1995 the project has provided resources and support designed to build the capacity of the local community, with the over arching aim of neighbourhood improvement/community renewal. Project initiatives are underpinned by community development principals which aim to empower and build the capacity of community members. The Project's work has been underpinned by recognition of the importance of highlighting and celebrating the strengths of the Waterloo and Redfern communities whilst at the same time recognising the chronic and cumulative levels of disadvantage that the communities face. Since the CDP's inception, a range of projects and programs have been undertaken. These include community gardens, after school programs, art groups, and employment assistance schemes, cooking classes and enterprise and a range of research initiatives as well as attendance at tenant meetings. The CDP is staffed by a Project Coordinator, up to three social work and welfare students per semester, and is supported by a management committee composed of academic staff from both the Schools of Social work and Built Environment along with representatives from the Department of Housing, stakeholder organisations and tenants.

UNSW Community Development Project Outline: working paper