Currently studying Community Development. I am constantly questioning my actions within practice. Found this video really helpful and to the point. Thanks Peter
Great video. I’ve just started a job as a Community Engagement Support Worker for a not-for-profit organisation here in Australia. Knowing what services are out there in which people can access to help with their situation is one aspect of my role. We also have peer facilitators that aim to bring people together and talk about their issues (who are generally in a similar boat). We are hoping that people will also, as Dr Peter said in this video, form those connections outside of the organised workshops so they don’t have to continually rely on us to provide that social connection. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Our destiny is tied directly to and starts with our thoughts.
Time: 11:56am Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time Day and date: Friday 15 November 2019 Number of comments prior to this one: none. Some interesting thoughts here. A highlight (as I see it of course) is the connection made between poverty and a lack of options (feeling stuck). All too often we equate poverty with situations which can be observed physically e.g. starvation or homelessness... That, of course, is valid however it sidelines - even dismisses - psychological poverty. For example, there are workers in Bangladesh who work, quickly eat, quickly excrete and sleep - and that is it. They are housed but they will never achieve home ownership. To round out the picture: there are workers here in Australia who, yes, work hard but will have that place to call theirs after 'x number of years'. Now, the issue of having a system private property rights dominate is a large topic beyond the scope of this comment. The point remains: those workers in Bangladesh are fed and housed but, at least as I see it, also suffer a very real yet invisible poverty. Among other things, it puts a lie to the claim that economic growth raises people out of poverty. Even if one puts aside the flaws present in taking Gross Domestic Product as a measure of human well-being, it is the working poor who - virtually by definition - contribute most to economic growth; yet, it is those same people who are...yes...stuck in this poverty. The current paradigm prioritises ownership over labour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the interests of transparency: I worked, very successfully according to my managers, in the financial "services" sector for over a decade. My eight months experience at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (November 2003 to July 2004) showed me that those who work the best - even by the bank's sacrosanct statistics - were not remunerated the most. I know this because, by sheer coincidence, a coworker, Ben, started and ended his employment on the same days I did. Our manager's instructions that we must not talk to one other at our farewell drinks - and our subsequent talking to one another - vividly illustrated the bank's policy on remuneration. Briefly, Ben had come from another job whereas I had been unemployed when we started. His starting salary was 10% higher than mine. Each day, the team's statistics from the previous day were displayed. I was always one of the top two performers (along with another employee). Ben, by his own admission, was most uncomfortable in the job and he freely agreed that it was shown in the statistics. After a couple of months, I was a go-to person for most team members, including Ben. Six to seven months in, I requested a 10% pay rise (not knowing what anyone else was making) but was refused. I then sought and found another job and, at *that* time was offered the 10% raise. I refused it as my next job (at MLC), paid 25% more - among other things. "Put your head down, work hard - and you will be rewarded" is a deeply held belief yet, it is also propagandistic. That, fellow TH-camrs, is the reality check which is sorely needed at this time in our history. We do not live in a meritocracy. Life is clumpy and, again by personal experience, we do not know how much time we have in this world. As a post-script, employees in some far flung corner of MLC broke with compliance procedures and cost MLC millions of dollars. Result: everyone else around the company - including staff far more experienced than myself - were denied a bonus which had been issued every other year. As much as it pains me to say (and indeed repeat) it, we do not live in a meritocracy. Yes, I have heard many similar stories but, for me, it is a lived experience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I end by taking a step back. Foregone income early in one's life is particularly important. Reason: across society, a vast amount of money is spent on buying a home and we live in a world of interest bearing loans. The latter was not always the case and, in fact, one of the inner circles of hell was reserved for usurers ("users") in Canon Law and Sharia Law. I am not a religious person but I dare say that, on this one, early religious scholars had a point. The higher your home deposit, the less you need to borrow and, therefore, the less interest you will pay on the life of the loan. Early foregone income is more important than, say, income foregone in your last year of employment (hopefully none). Mr Westoby, should you ever read this, I appreciate the efforts and wisdom shared in this video. Fellow TH-camr, thank-you for your time and attention. I welcome any and every response that I receive. Regards, Tom Livanos. tom.369@hotmail.com Sydney, Australia. Friday 15 November 2019.
Currently studying Community Development. I am constantly questioning my actions within practice. Found this video really helpful and to the point. Thanks Peter
Great video. I’ve just started a job as a Community Engagement Support Worker for a not-for-profit organisation here in Australia. Knowing what services are out there in which people can access to help with their situation is one aspect of my role. We also have peer facilitators that aim to bring people together and talk about their issues (who are generally in a similar boat). We are hoping that people will also, as Dr Peter said in this video, form those connections outside of the organised workshops so they don’t have to continually rely on us to provide that social connection. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Our destiny is tied directly to and starts with our thoughts.
Thank you for the insights on CD
Top bloke
What is the role of Community Development worker ? Where it starts and where is finishing the involvement of the CD worker?
Time: 11:56am Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time
Day and date: Friday 15 November 2019
Number of comments prior to this one: none.
Some interesting thoughts here. A highlight (as I see it of course) is the connection made between poverty and a lack of options (feeling stuck). All too often we equate poverty with situations which can be observed physically e.g. starvation or homelessness... That, of course, is valid however it sidelines - even dismisses - psychological poverty. For example, there are workers in Bangladesh who work, quickly eat, quickly excrete and sleep - and that is it. They are housed but they will never achieve home ownership. To round out the picture: there are workers here in Australia who, yes, work hard but will have that place to call theirs after 'x number of years'. Now, the issue of having a system private property rights dominate is a large topic beyond the scope of this comment.
The point remains: those workers in Bangladesh are fed and housed but, at least as I see it, also suffer a very real yet invisible poverty. Among other things, it puts a lie to the claim that economic growth raises people out of poverty. Even if one puts aside the flaws present in taking Gross Domestic Product as a measure of human well-being, it is the working poor who - virtually by definition - contribute most to economic growth; yet, it is those same people who are...yes...stuck in this poverty. The current paradigm prioritises ownership over labour.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the interests of transparency: I worked, very successfully according to my managers, in the financial "services" sector for over a decade. My eight months experience at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (November 2003 to July 2004) showed me that those who work the best - even by the bank's sacrosanct statistics - were not remunerated the most. I know this because, by sheer coincidence, a coworker, Ben, started and ended his employment on the same days I did. Our manager's instructions that we must not talk to one other at our farewell drinks - and our subsequent talking to one another - vividly illustrated the bank's policy on remuneration.
Briefly, Ben had come from another job whereas I had been unemployed when we started. His starting salary was 10% higher than mine. Each day, the team's statistics from the previous day were displayed. I was always one of the top two performers (along with another employee). Ben, by his own admission, was most uncomfortable in the job and he freely agreed that it was shown in the statistics. After a couple of months, I was a go-to person for most team members, including Ben.
Six to seven months in, I requested a 10% pay rise (not knowing what anyone else was making) but was refused. I then sought and found another job and, at *that* time was offered the 10% raise. I refused it as my next job (at MLC), paid 25% more - among other things. "Put your head down, work hard - and you will be rewarded" is a deeply held belief yet, it is also propagandistic. That, fellow TH-camrs, is the reality check which is sorely needed at this time in our history. We do not live in a meritocracy. Life is clumpy and, again by personal experience, we do not know how much time we have in this world.
As a post-script, employees in some far flung corner of MLC broke with compliance procedures and cost MLC millions of dollars. Result: everyone else around the company - including staff far more experienced than myself - were denied a bonus which had been issued every other year. As much as it pains me to say (and indeed repeat) it, we do not live in a meritocracy. Yes, I have heard many similar stories but, for me, it is a lived experience.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I end by taking a step back. Foregone income early in one's life is particularly important. Reason: across society, a vast amount of money is spent on buying a home and we live in a world of interest bearing loans. The latter was not always the case and, in fact, one of the inner circles of hell was reserved for usurers ("users") in Canon Law and Sharia Law. I am not a religious person but I dare say that, on this one, early religious scholars had a point. The higher your home deposit, the less you need to borrow and, therefore, the less interest you will pay on the life of the loan. Early foregone income is more important than, say, income foregone in your last year of employment (hopefully none).
Mr Westoby, should you ever read this, I appreciate the efforts and wisdom shared in this video.
Fellow TH-camr, thank-you for your time and attention. I welcome any and every response that I receive.
Regards,
Tom Livanos.
tom.369@hotmail.com
Sydney, Australia.
Friday 15 November 2019.
Who can I contact you please