From subjects to authors – reconnecting community organisations to their core practice

ABSTRACT

The widely observed erosion of the policy capacity of governments and their public services is mirrored by decay in the practice and program capacity of community organisations. This capacity once depended on the practical expertise of a values-driven workforce employed in organisations focused on a social purpose. Governments relied upon this core competency to inform their approach to investment, program design and the delivery of community services, but this has changed. Social purpose in community service organisations have been frustrated by a preoccupation with funding models, procurement approaches and contract details at the expense of the delivery of outcomes. It has resulted in community organisations becoming subjects of service delivery rather than authors of it. The paper frames these dilemmas and provides a theoretical framework for community organisations to reposition from subjects to authors in the system. The paper takes the form of a reflective assessment from a practice perspective.

政府政策能力以及政府公共服务的削弱已广为人见，它也表现为社会组织实践及项目能力的式微。这能力曾仰仗由价值驱动的工作者的实际专业能力，而他们受雇的组织也强调社会目标。政府曾经依赖这个核心竞争力来指导投资、项目设计以及社区服务的发放。但已经时移事易了。社区服务组织的社会目标受挫于只顾融资模式、获取手段、契约细节却不顾发放结果。这样，社区组织就成为服务发放的主体而不是作者。本文从实践的角度做反思性评估，列数了这些困境，同时为社区组织从体系中的主体变身为作者提出了一个理论框架。

KEYWORDS:

• Community organisations
• new public management
• craft
• isomorphism
• authorship

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Belinda Drew is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Services Industry Alliance and has more than 25 years experience across community services, policy development and social impact investment. During this time Belinda has developed a deep interest in the business of community service delivery and the relationship that community organisations have with funding and financing. Belinda is committed to exploring ways of inspiring new approaches to bringing to life the purpose of community organisations and to exploring the nature of the relationship with government and other investors required to achieve this.

ORCID

Belinda Drew http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7395-6607