In October 2007, the Research Division of the Faculty of Education and Social Work organised and coordinated a four-day ResearchFest. This was part of an innovative action plan and the purpose was to highlight the achievements of Faculty members, to engage productively with colleagues from the fields of social work, policy studies and education, and to enable the Faculty Research Networks to host events focusing on their designated areas. The title ‘Communities and Change’ was chosen as a means of further facilitating and enhancing community and industry relationships and extending shared research and capacity building agendas.
This publication, edited by Dorothy Bottrell and Gabrielle Meagher, focuses on key themes which emerged from the series of events which comprised the ResearchFest. These themes include how change can be both promoted and sustained with regard to disadvantaged communities and children in communities, how professionals can be supported in bringing about community change and how research and evaluative research collaboration can make a difference. These papers not only draw attention to the lively discussion generated, but also emphasise the importance of working together initiatives and inclusive engagement in the arenas of social work, policy studies and education.
The success of the ResearchFest and the production of this publication reflect the hard work of a large number of people. All are deserving of thanks, but the contribution of Patrick Brownlee, the Faculty Research Manager, Raen Fraser, the Administrative Officer and the Directors of the Social Policy Research Network, the TESOL Research Network, the Development and Learning in Children and Youth Network, the Arts, English and Literacy Research Network and the Policy and Professional Practice Research Network, deserve particular mention. Thanks need also to be given to our external collaborators who ensured that the events were productive and that the gains extended far beyond the ResearchFest timescale. It is notable that all the Research Networks continue to build on the achievements of this four day period. xiv
Finally, I would like to thank the contributors to this publication for their enthusiasm and commitment. Some are based in the Faculty, others come from a range of settings. All have developed the discussion in constructive and innovative ways and all have made a major contribution to the broad, yet dynamic arena of ‘communities and change’.
Barbara Fawcett
Professor of Social Work and Policy Studies