Page 1 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

With a focus on Case Study 2, your task is to relate how you will engage with

your client so that she will consider joining a parenting support group that you

plan to co-facilitate with a colleague.

In all the helping professions engaging with the client is the first stage of establishing

rapport. Social workers also focus on engaging with their clients in ways that ensure

appropriate therapeutic means will be carried out positively. This essay will focus on

engaging Ms Nguyen, as a client of a social worker working at the Migrant Resource

Centre. The role of the social worker here involves casework and helping migrants

and refugees settling in Australia. I plan to co-facilitate a parenting group with a

Vietnamese-Australian social worker at the Migrant Resource Centre. We would

energise the group into achieving a good outcome to reduce the client’s level of

anxiety. This will also assist the group member settle into the group and develop clear

grounds, culture and rules for the group. We would then also plan activities that will

make the group feel involved (Maidment and Egan 2004, p. 210).

I would seek to involve Ms Nguyen in the parenting group because the group offers

some fundamental benefits to the issues facing Ms Nguyen, including parenting

difficulty and isolation. For example, the group experience provides the opportunity

for Ms Nguyen to listen to the other group members discussing their parenting

experiences. This will enable Ms Nguyen to actively participate in the group. Ms

Nguyen will be given the opportunity to talk about her own experience within the

group. Hartford (1976) states that when a client joins a group, they should feel they

are being heard in the group, and that the group itself should encourage the client to

feel recognised instead of isolated. Furthermore, the group will provide the

opportunity for the client to feel ‘attachment’ that they might otherwise lack (Hartford
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1976. p.46). In addition, the group will create a social network for Ms Nguyen,

including people of similar cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, the experience Ms

Nguyen gains as a member of the group will help her adjust to a parenting role. This

is reinforced by Hartford (1976), who claims that most individuals who need new or

social relationship, or who need help in becoming more skilled in relating to others,

may find motivation in the group setting.

To start engaging Ms Nguyen to join group I assess the needs of her. According to

Garvin (1985) when agencies wants to expand its service to individual, the individual

need assessment has to be done in order to identify the needs of the individual.

Therefore, to engage Ms Nguyen into the group I will conduct need assessment. The

assessment will help to target the need of her.

Furthermore, in engaging with Ms Nguyen I would concentrate in communication

techniques, using techniques such as attending, paraphrasing and empathic

responding, as this offers the best opportunity to establish a positive, helping

relationship with the client (O’Conner, Wilson & Setterlund, 2003). In addition, to

encourage Ms Nguyen to consider joining the parenting group I would also take the

approach of normalising and use of power balance to communicate to her. The

normalising experience involves explaining to Ms Nguyen that she is not the only

person experiencing such difficulties in the parenting role. If Ms Nguyen joins a

parenting group, she would be able to share her experience, and meet with women

who are having similar experiences. I would also explain the benefits of joining the

group and the type of the group Ms Nguyen will be joining. O’Conner et al (2003)

stated that explaining the core value and the purpose of the group to the client will

encourage the client to join a group. Moreover the group dynamic that comprises
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migrant women, in particular women from culturally diverse backgrounds is an

opportunity to engage the client. For instance, the group will provide social skill

development in a supportive setting, for isolated mothers from culturally diverse

migrant and refugee backgrounds. In addition, most group members are from

Australian Vietnamese descent. According to Brown (1992), individuals are mostly

comfortable when there are in groups of similar racial or cultural background (Brown

1992 cited in McDermott, 2002, p.132). In this context Ms Nguyen will be able to

engage comfortably, as the group is largely made up of people from her cultural

background. Further with help of my colleague, we will set cultural appropriate plan

for engaging Ms Nguyen. This will also encourage Ms Nguyen to join the group.

The group activities seek to build mutual support and help members work together on

implicit needs. The program helps to engage parents from culturally and linguistically

diverse (CALD) backgrounds and provide a setting for them to get together and

socialize. The group will meet every Monday and Friday at the Migrant Resource

Centre to share their stories about parenting. Guest speakers will be invited to talk to

the group about parenting.

To make clients feel comfortable and safe I will explain the purpose of the group in

the first group meeting. Further I will give group members the opportunity to

introduce themselves. By providing the opportunity for parents to share their views,

we will demonstrate our acknowledgement of the diversity of the group. Included in

these introductions is the chance to engage Ms Nguyen to engage into the group

setting.

In the first meeting, with my colleague we will guide the group in setting the rules and

the goals of the group. We will seek the group’s view about what they would like to
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do and achieve. Usually, the group members and the facilitators come to the first

meeting with some ideas, though it is the role of the facilitator to make sure that the

group work together in identifying what it is the group wants (Briscoe cited in

McCaughan, 1978.p.183). In addition, the group interaction will clarify the needs, the

concerns and the strengths of each member. This will help the group facilitators to

plan realistic goals for individuals and for the group. In this first meeting, the

facilitators and the participants will focus on relationship building (O’Connor 2003).

In the first session the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) will provide food for the

group. Briscoe (1978) claims that while working with a group, workers offering food

or participating in activities show caring to the group, and provides a model for group

members in learning to support each other. This type of structure helps group

members to engage in a group setting environment easily. In many social work

groups, most clients have had negative or difficult experiences and that is why this

first session is set as an engaging and interactive (McCaughan, 1978).

The choice of the venue is based on its accessibility to the most group members. For

example, a public bus station is just across from the venue. In the first meeting, the

group will be given opportunity to come with some ideas of the meeting setting and

the activities that interest them. The venue has good resources for the group to use,

and is centrally located so that clients will be able to get to the venue without

difficulty.

The group will meet every Monday and Friday from 10am to 12pm. The group’s

meeting time is suitable for parents with school age children. The venue also offers

free childcare during these times, in order to meet the needs of the parents who do not
Page 5 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

have childcare. The Migrant Resource Centre will provide tea and coffee in every

meeting.

In preparation for the first group meeting, it is important to consider some of the

issues that could arise in the meeting; for instance, possible answers to the frequently

asked questions and what will be the best strategy to engage with clients in the group,

the need for the membership of the group, including gender, age, ethnicity and

cultural aspects (O’Connor et al 2003, p.134). I will need to identify these needs to

arrange support and resources within the agency. O’Conner et al (2003, p.129) stated

that, it is important for social workers to consider the range of outcomes the

participants can accomplish.

Before the first group meeting I would meet with Ms Nguyen to check that she will

attend the group meeting. In addition, I might need to organise for transport for Ms

Nguyen as the family has only one car which the husband uses to go to work.

McDermott (2002) claimed pre-assessing of the client needed before the client joints

a group as this gives chance to the client to know the purpose of the group and what to

change.

To initially introduce Ms Nguyen into the group, I would begin with the name of the

client. I would tell the group who the client is, and where she is from. This is

especially important also as this is a culturally diverse group. I would be sure to tell

the group that Ms Nguyen has come to join the group. I would then ask my client if

she has something to say. According to McCaughan (1978) most clients do not get to

integrate or do not feel free at their first meeting with people in a group. Therefore, in

this first group meeting Ms Nguyen may not feel safe and comfortable to talk about

her personal situation.

Page 6 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

In summary, I would show interest and good communication in engaging Ms Nguyen

in joining the parenting group at migrant Resource Centre. Though the group is not a

therapeutic session, explaining the purpose and the benefit of the group would help

Ms Nguyen understand that the group is cultural appropriate to her. It is also

important to communicate my intentions to my colleague. In this way, we can work

together to achieve the appropriate outcomes.

Page 7 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

References

Garvin, C.D. (1985). Work with Disadvantaged and Oppressed Groups in Sundel, M.,

Glasser, P., Sarri, R., & Vinter, R. (1985). Individual Change Through Small Group, (

2nd ed ), New York: Free Press, A Division of Mcmillan, pp.203-225.

Hartford, M. (1996). Group methods and generic practice in Roberts,R.W & Northen,

H. (1976 ).Theories of Social Work with Groups (ed), New York: Columbia University

Press, pp.45-74

Maidment, J., & Egan, R. (Ed.). (2004). Practice skills in social work and welfare:

More than just common sense, Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin,.

McCaughan, N. (ed ). (1978). Group work: learning and practice. London: Allen &

Unwin.

McDermott, F. (2002). Inside Group work: A guide to reflective practice, Crows Nest:

Allen & Unwin.

O’Conner, I., Wilson, J., & Setterlund. (Ed). (2003). Social Work and Welfare

Practice ( 4th ed.). New South Wales: Pearson Education Australia.

Zastrow, C. (2007). The practice of social work: A comprehensive worktext, ( 8th ed ),

Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Page 8 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

Second, again with a focus on Case Study 2, write a plan for engaging the

relevant cultural community in a project to address the issue of women's

isolation. You will need to say how you intend to make the issue of women's

isolation a community issue, and how you will engage with women and others in

the community to address the need.

There are many definitions of community. However, there are two general recognised

contexts in which community is understood. ‘These are geographic or locality-based

understanding and relational concept of community. Community as a locality refers to

the territorial or geographic notion of community, for example, the neighbourhood,

town or city. The relational concept of community refers to qualities of human

interaction and social ties that draw people together’ (Heller, 1989, p.3 cited in Taylor

& Cheers 2008, p.22).

This paper discusses the plan for engaging community through community

recreational activities and projects to address the issue of isolation of women of

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

I work as a Community Worker at Western Sydney Migrant Resources. As the issue of

women’s isolation has been identified as a community issue, I will coordinate

community building projects, working with the migrants and the culturally diverse

group to adjust within Australian community. This is an issue because for most

migrant women isolation is caused when transitioning into a new country,

experiencing cultural shock and how long it takes to adjust to it.

Page 9 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

The community recreation system will address the issue of CALD women’s isolation

by engaging the women in the broader community. This will create human interaction

and social ties within the local community. The project will draw all the women in the

neighbourhood and the western suburbs of the city. This includes the neighbourhood

of Ms Nguyen. This is an opportunity to network with women from a variety of

backgrounds. The social networking skills that CALD participants will develop will

build their confidence to become active members of the community. This project

explores the issue of women’s isolation and attracting women to participate in the

economic restructuring and bring intellectual resource into the community and the

economy (Chang fung, 2005).

The Western site suburb is predominantly made up of migrant families. This includes

people who come from Vietnam, Africa, Lebanon and other regions. In this

community, many of the women do not have contact among the neighbourhood due to

some cultural differences and also language barriers. In this community only a few

women participate in recreation activities and community events.

I would embark on organising community forums, presenting the issue of women’s

isolation on media such as posters, flyers and letterbox drops, and involving some

community members in the promotion of the issue in the wider community context.

The project will empower the women from the CALD background to participate in

community evens and also encourage integration among other Australian

communities.

The schedule of activities I would undertake to get the project started include first

forming a women’s group forum and identifying the stakeholders and getting the

stakeholder’s or the women’s needs. In addition to this is establishing a steering

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committee. The steering committee will be set at the first phase of the project. The

steering committee will involve women from the migrants, other Australian women

and local community members. The committee will oversee the progress of the

project. A monthly meeting will be organised with the committee. As the social

worker, I would coordinate the project. I would also undertake community

consultation regarding the issues that have been identified. Secondly, I would make a

list of the items or resources the project will need. This will help to meet the goals of

the project. Thirdly, the group will organise a list of tasks, who will carry out these

tasks and the amounts of time needed. This will cover the lists of items identified in

the second activities. Finally, the next activity is to identify supporting plans; for

instance, a communication plan or human resources plan.

Given that the project will be mostly for encouraging the women from culturally

diverse backgrounds, cultural misunderstanding can be predicted. In some cultures

women are not allowed to participate in public activities. For example, the case study

two stated in Vietnamese culture that for women, driving is not something that is

important. Therefore, such cultural differences will likely be encountered during the

project. Another issue that may be encountered during the project is that some

community members may consider the project or the issue is not relevant to them

(Kenny, 2007, p.243).

To engage the community into this project a women’s group forum will be formed. I

would facilitate the women’s group discussions and identify with the women some of

the factors causing their isolation. Kenny (2007, p.244) states that ‘willingness to

work with the community leaders because of their skills of the local or cultural issues

offers opportunity for the worker to engage into addressing community issues in

cultural and sensitive manners.’ I would therefore need to meet with the community
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leaders and local agencies, and the local council to raise the issue of the women’s

isolation.

In order to make the issue of CALD and newly arrived women’s relevant to the

community I would also need to orientate the nature of the issue into the wider

community (Rothman, 2001, p.36), and outline to them to need for this project, and

make them aware of the project’s purpose and goals. When community is orientated

and made aware of the purpose and the goal of a project, the project will then more

easily become an issue for the community. Moreover, the project will become the

community’s own project as the community will know that solving the issue is their

goal. Kenny (2007, p.243) states that according to community perspective, people

become involved in community issue of project only when they believe that they can

collectively change things.

To make the issue of women’s isolation a community issue I would keep the aim and

objective clear when presenting the issue to the community. If the aim and objective

of the project or issue is clear, the issue will be understood and the community will be

more readily engaged (Kenny, 2007). Kenny (2007) also argues that making

connection with immediate community, friends or family members or key people in

the community provides an opportunity for the Community Development worker to

engage more easily with the community. For instance, community members would be

more likely to become involved if a prominent member of their community takes up

the cause as a ‘champion’, or if their own friends of family were involved.

It is also important the community be made aware of the factors or problems

associated with women’s isolation and what impact it has within the community.

Issues such as depression and lack of contribution to community will impact on the

wider community if the issues of women’s isolation are not addressed. If the
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individuals in a community can be made to see that this issue will affect them both

personally and as a community, they will be much more likely to become involved.

Community awareness is facilitated through discussions and communication among a

wide range of different individuals, groups and functions (Rothman 2001). The issue

can also be raised at the community level by telling to the community, “Let‘s all get

together and talk this over,” (Rothman 2001, p. 37). This approach is useful in making

the community understand the involved needs and enable them to come together and

solve their own problems. The community will understand that the issue of women’s

isolation is not just something that affects the migrants and the CALD people, it also

affects the community as a whole. Rothman (2001, p.36) states that the community’s

growing capacity to become integrated and to engage in cooperative problem solving

is of central value. He also states that ‘local initiative and shared decision making are

key to the local issue solving’ (Rothman 2001).

The success of the project will be measured through the quality of the relationship

between the communities (O’Conner et al 2003, p.142). If the community indicates

that the project belongs to them and good participation is shown, then the project can

be viewed as being successful. The project will be evaluated by contacting the

women’s groups and stakeholders and obtaining their thoughts and opinions. The data

collected from these evaluation surveys will indicate the success of the project. The

success of the project can be measured against the initial plan. If the project moved

according to the plan worked, this would also be a good indication of the success of

the project.

In summary, the paper has outlined a clear method and approaches I would take in

engaging the community, women and others in addressing the issues of women’s
Page 13 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

isolation. This includes contacting forums and meetings with the community members

and the women themselves, and engaging key stakeholders within the community.

The paper also outlined the timetable of activities to make the project run without

getting more risk, and a method to measure the program’s success.

Page 14 of 14 Group & Community work essay Student ID: 11392327

Reference

Chag Fung YI, P. ( 2005 ). Quilting the human Connection, in New Community

Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.17-22.

Kenny,S. ( 2007 ). Developing Communities for the future, ( 3rd ed ), South

Melbourne: Thomson

Maidment, J & Egan, R. (2004). Practice skills in social work and welfare: More than

just common sense, Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.

O’Conner, I., Wilson, J., & Setterlund. (Ed). (2003). Social Work and Welfare

Practice ( 4th ed.). New South Wales: Pearson Education Australia.

Rothman, J. (2001 ) Approaches to community Intervention, in Rothman, J., Erlich, J.

& Tropman, J.eds. Strategies of community intervention, ( 6th ed ), Belmont: Thomson

Brooks/Cole, pp.27-64.

Taylor, J., Wilkinson, D. & Cheers, B. (2008).’What is community?’, in Working with

communities in health and human services. Melbourne: Oxford University Press,

pp.21-42.