Defined Terms and Documents      'Aboriginal Teenager Life Skills' RTV Social Inclusion Early Intervention Programme 

Sense Of Community or Sense of Community Spirit means -

  • “the perception of similarity to others, an acknowledged interdependence with others, a willingness to maintain this interdependence by giving to or doing for others what one expects from them, and the feeling that one is part of a larger dependable and stable structure” (1974, p. 157) -  Seymour B. Sarason.

  • “a feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members’ needs will be met through their commitment to be together " - McMillan & Chavis (1986)

Fundamental to a Sense Of Community is oneself believing that -

*          the cost of going out of one's way to assist others, particularly those who have not been as fortunate as oneself (ie Disabled and Socially Disadvantaged);

*          is exceeded by the benefit to -

            i)           those one assists to feel more secure, wanted, useful, empowered, and able to grow; and

            ii)          one's Self-esteem and sense of worth for helping humanity.

 

Australian Unity Wellbeing Index