Research Focus
Social Inclusion and Exclusion
The concepts ‘social inclusion’ and ‘social exclusion’ have become influential in framing government policy both overseas and more recently in Australia with the Federal Social Inclusion Agenda. As an organisation working with people who are severely disadvantaged, Melbourne Citymission is particularly concerned with how far these policy frameworks will address their exclusion.
Our approach is based on our belief that all people have value. Redistribution to ensure more equal rights to opportunities, and recognition — valuing and respecting people with different needs, abilities and lifestyles — are both crucial for a good society.
Disadvantage is addressed through ‘locality focused’ initiatives as well as people focused social and economic policies. Melbourne Citymission has significant experience as a partner and leader of such place-based initiatives in communities of entrenched or emerging disadvantage in Victoria. Melbourne Citymission will continue to explore how the effectiveness of these initiatives and how they connect with broader people focused policies.
Sustainable Housing and Homelessness
Homelessness and housing stress are key factors associated with social disadvantage and marginalisation. On average, 14% of Melbourne Citymission clients are homeless and over one-third are likely to move home within the next 12 months.
Melbourne Citymission believes that:
- Affordable, safe and sustainable housing is a fundamental right and necessity for all people in a civil society.
- Housing should offer security of tenure to maximise community participation and social inclusion.
- Housing should be available and accessible to people of all abilities to maximise their independence within their community.
- Housing should be close to work opportunities, public transport, community assets and other essential services to enable full social and economic participation.
Melbourne Citymission will advocate strongly for the development of policies and models that ensure there is sufficient housing and support available to meet the needs of Victorians experiencing disadvantage. Our advocacy will be based on defensible evidence and practice wisdom to promote realistic social policy solutions.
Employment Education and Training
Participation in employment, education and training opportunities are critical to maintaining or facilitating social and economic participation in society more broadly. Individual, familial and structural barriers that discourage or preclude people from participating in these areas can compound other forms of disadvantage and dislocation.
The RSPU seeks to support and inform the range of employment, education and training services offered through Melbourne Citymission. These services focus largely on young people who are homeless, at risk of homeless, vulnerable to exclusion or who are already isolated from support networks such as families, schools or community groups.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to the current global financial crisis and its resultant decline in employment opportunities. Creating accessible opportunities and pathways for people, particularly those who already face multiple barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment or access to education and training is critical to preventing a large increase in the numbers of long term unemployed as well as to maintaining engagement and participation in society more broadly. As such, providing advocacy for young people and investigating the development of youth transitions and employment education and training pathways for disenfranchised youth is a core focus of the RSPU’s work.
MORF
The Measuring Outcomes and Results Framework (MORF) is a framework that promotes a disciplined way of thinking about the work we do with a focus on measuring outcomes for our clients and ourselves. In addition to measuring the number of people engaged in our programs, it enables us to demonstrate and articulate whether these programs are achieving their desired outcomes and whether Melbourne Citymission’s work is making a difference in the lives of the individuals and communities with whom we work. As such, the MORF will effectively strengthen our knowledge of the work we do and enable us to identify what is being done well, how improvements can be made and where more innovative practices can be implemented. It will also provide us with an evidence base to inform our social policy and advocacy work.
The MORF is being rolled out over 4 years across all of Melbourne Citymission’s programs and services, commencing in July 2009.
Melbourne Citymission
For 155 years, Melbourne Citymission has worked with disadvantaged people across Melbourne and Victoria. Every week we help thousands of people build a clear pathway out of disadvantage, economic exclusion and social isolation.
Our services support:
- people to find a pathway out of homelessness
- disabled people to get the resources and support they need to live the life they want
- people to break the cycle of poverty and abuse
- people to find jobs, or enter into education and training.
