Delivering mainstreet.au.com functionality through 'local' community portals
- Authors: Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2002 Information technology in Regional Areas Conference, Rockhampton, Australia : 27th - 29th August, 2002
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000240
Community building via online communities and regional web-portals
- Authors: Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on IT in Regional Areas, Rockhampton, Australia : 15th - 17th December, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite a rise of interest in information communications technology (ICT) and in community informatics (CI) initiatives, these are not ‘magic bullets’ or ‘quick-fix solutions’ for SMEs or even larger organisations, communities, or industries (McGrath and More 2002). There is growing recognition of the need to go beyond anecdotal evidence and to assess more effectively the change brought about by providing access to and utilisation of ICT in communities. Denison et al. (2002) have presented a taxonomy which differentiates between various types of ICT and community networking initiatives. The application of this schema to a cluster of community informatics originating from the Central Highlands region of Victoria proves to be useful. A case study is then presented which reviews the evolution of one of the online communities within that cluster. The diverse factors which are involved in establishing sustainable online services are examined. Access to a comprehensive toolset specifically designed to meet the skills and infrastructure gaps which often exist in regional areas has been important. The active involvement of community members in designing, implementing and sustaining web-based services has also been important. By generating debate and discussion and by sharing the critical learning from specific cases it is hoped that others can be better informed about the major characteristics and the diverse factors which impact on the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of CI initiatives in a regional and rural context.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000569
- Authors: Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on IT in Regional Areas, Rockhampton, Australia : 15th - 17th December, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite a rise of interest in information communications technology (ICT) and in community informatics (CI) initiatives, these are not ‘magic bullets’ or ‘quick-fix solutions’ for SMEs or even larger organisations, communities, or industries (McGrath and More 2002). There is growing recognition of the need to go beyond anecdotal evidence and to assess more effectively the change brought about by providing access to and utilisation of ICT in communities. Denison et al. (2002) have presented a taxonomy which differentiates between various types of ICT and community networking initiatives. The application of this schema to a cluster of community informatics originating from the Central Highlands region of Victoria proves to be useful. A case study is then presented which reviews the evolution of one of the online communities within that cluster. The diverse factors which are involved in establishing sustainable online services are examined. Access to a comprehensive toolset specifically designed to meet the skills and infrastructure gaps which often exist in regional areas has been important. The active involvement of community members in designing, implementing and sustaining web-based services has also been important. By generating debate and discussion and by sharing the critical learning from specific cases it is hoped that others can be better informed about the major characteristics and the diverse factors which impact on the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of CI initiatives in a regional and rural context.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000569
Connecting communities : Connectivity is not enough
- Authors: Knox, Ian , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the International Academy of E-Business 3rd Annual Conference, Nacogdoches, Texas USA : 3rd January, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Initiatives to expand the uptake of ICT and electronic commerce in regional and rural regions have been a matter of considerable profile. This paper explores how some businesses and groups are making effective use of a web-based presence and/or online services. Several factors appear to underlie success. These include a high degree of ownership; the ability for multiple users to contribute, to publish and maintain the web-based information and finally the degree to which web-based applications have been tailored to meet the particular business or community purpose.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000570
- Authors: Knox, Ian , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the International Academy of E-Business 3rd Annual Conference, Nacogdoches, Texas USA : 3rd January, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Initiatives to expand the uptake of ICT and electronic commerce in regional and rural regions have been a matter of considerable profile. This paper explores how some businesses and groups are making effective use of a web-based presence and/or online services. Several factors appear to underlie success. These include a high degree of ownership; the ability for multiple users to contribute, to publish and maintain the web-based information and finally the degree to which web-based applications have been tailored to meet the particular business or community purpose.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000570
The agenda for change among female rural general practitioners
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative study examining the agenda for change being pursued by key influential women in Australia to address male-centred rural general practitioner (GP) workforce policies. Many current recruitment and retention programs do not reflect the needs of female GPs as they are based on the traditional notions of a country GP — that is a full-time, on call doctor with a supporting spouse. As women become the majority in medicine, key women influentials in the rural general practice field are advocating for the restructuring of medicine so that women GPs can be part of the solution to rural health care issues. Previous empirical research and theoretical analyses have suggested that medicine and rural communities are patriarchal. To date data collection for this explorative study consists of 5 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of key women activists across the spectrum of organised medicine. Preliminary results show how women are pressuring for change but also the sources of resistance they encounter from the dominant medical culture. Key women players use particular collective and individual strategies to advocate for female GP issues. These results reflect some research findings on women leaders and female rural GPs. In conclusion, it is important that women are given equal access to decision-making positions to enable their input into the structure and culture of rural general practice. The recommendation put forward is to build inclusive recruitment and retention rural workforce strategies for female rural GPs.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000514
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative study examining the agenda for change being pursued by key influential women in Australia to address male-centred rural general practitioner (GP) workforce policies. Many current recruitment and retention programs do not reflect the needs of female GPs as they are based on the traditional notions of a country GP — that is a full-time, on call doctor with a supporting spouse. As women become the majority in medicine, key women influentials in the rural general practice field are advocating for the restructuring of medicine so that women GPs can be part of the solution to rural health care issues. Previous empirical research and theoretical analyses have suggested that medicine and rural communities are patriarchal. To date data collection for this explorative study consists of 5 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of key women activists across the spectrum of organised medicine. Preliminary results show how women are pressuring for change but also the sources of resistance they encounter from the dominant medical culture. Key women players use particular collective and individual strategies to advocate for female GP issues. These results reflect some research findings on women leaders and female rural GPs. In conclusion, it is important that women are given equal access to decision-making positions to enable their input into the structure and culture of rural general practice. The recommendation put forward is to build inclusive recruitment and retention rural workforce strategies for female rural GPs.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000514
Who's doing the hunting and gathering? : An exploration of gender segmentation in adult learning in small and remote Australian communities
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2003 AVETRA Conference, Sydney : 10th -11th April, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000498
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2003 AVETRA Conference, Sydney : 10th -11th April, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000498
Clinical health practice in a remote setting : The impact of local community relationships
- Murphy, Angela, McDonald, John
- Authors: Murphy, Angela , McDonald, John
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2004 Annual Conference of TASA, Beechworth, Australia : 7th - 8th December, 2004
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper reports on an empirical research about the way in which local community relationships influence clinical health decision-making in a health service in a remote town in Victoria, Australia. Evidence-based practice is now widely promoted as the most effective and efficient basis for making clinical health decisions. However, little is known about its use in rural and remote settings. To date, researchers have assumed that the uptake of evidence-base practice among health care practitioners is primarily a function of the levels of training, resources and support provided to them. Drawing upon qualitative data from individual and group interviews with health care practitioners and managers, this research revealed that strong community relationships profoundly influence clinical decision-making. Community influence was evidenced through the blurring of health practitioner professional and private roles, the extent of community ownership and control of the health services, and the politicisation of health service delivery. The results show how local community relationships can influence clinical practice in a remote town. This advances our understanding of the determinants of the uptake of evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice may be usefully viewed as a site of political contestation. Introduction
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001298
Unwrapping packages : An exploration of the implementation of community care policy in rural Victoria
- Authors: Brown, Katrina
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 3rd National Conference for emerging researchers in Ageing, Brisbane, Australia : 2nd December, 2004 p. 80-83
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper will discuss research being conducted into the implementation of community care for the aged in rural Victoria, by focusing on one program – Community Aged Care Packages (CACP). This program has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years to provide case management and service brokerage as a community based alternative to low level residential care. The research is being undertaken as part of a PhD thesis and utilises a multi-method qualitative design of semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and case study analysis. This paper will focus on a discussion of the preliminary results of the study, utilising data from an initial series of exploratory semi-structured interviews. The data from these interviews suggests that although the program is delivering highly valued services, program implementation choices have had unintended consequences and do not take account of rural issues in service provision. This data has implications for the development of policy and delivery in the aged care area, however it also illustrates the way in which policy implementation choices can impact on the quality of life of those who need support services.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000945
- Authors: Brown, Katrina
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 3rd National Conference for emerging researchers in Ageing, Brisbane, Australia : 2nd December, 2004 p. 80-83
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper will discuss research being conducted into the implementation of community care for the aged in rural Victoria, by focusing on one program – Community Aged Care Packages (CACP). This program has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years to provide case management and service brokerage as a community based alternative to low level residential care. The research is being undertaken as part of a PhD thesis and utilises a multi-method qualitative design of semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and case study analysis. This paper will focus on a discussion of the preliminary results of the study, utilising data from an initial series of exploratory semi-structured interviews. The data from these interviews suggests that although the program is delivering highly valued services, program implementation choices have had unintended consequences and do not take account of rural issues in service provision. This data has implications for the development of policy and delivery in the aged care area, however it also illustrates the way in which policy implementation choices can impact on the quality of life of those who need support services.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000945
Fostering community engagement and participation through local skills audits
- Authors: Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Small Towns Conference 2005, Bendigo, Australia : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Community strengthening approaches which emphasise local solutions to local economic, social and environmental challenges now receive significant support through Federal and State Government policies and programmes. This paper examines the theoretical basis which underpins community building and place based development. The focus then shifts to examining how information and communications technology (ICT) can be used creatively in a community strengthening context. The potential role of regional universities supporting adoption, diffusion and effective use of ICT is then considered. The case of the Wendouree West Community Skills Survey then draws all the elements of the paper together. During 2002 the Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communications (CECC) was engaged by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to support the Wendouree West Community in conducting local skills surveys as part of its Neighbourhood Renewal project. The aim was not just to actively involve residents in the collection of information on the skills and learning aspirations of residents but also to make sure the results would be both useful and used. This paper explores the process involved and outcomes generated through the implementation and ongoing development of the Wendouree West Skills Survey. It is found that the creative use of ICT can generate broad community benefits which extend specific initiative outcomes.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001122
- Authors: Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Small Towns Conference 2005, Bendigo, Australia : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Community strengthening approaches which emphasise local solutions to local economic, social and environmental challenges now receive significant support through Federal and State Government policies and programmes. This paper examines the theoretical basis which underpins community building and place based development. The focus then shifts to examining how information and communications technology (ICT) can be used creatively in a community strengthening context. The potential role of regional universities supporting adoption, diffusion and effective use of ICT is then considered. The case of the Wendouree West Community Skills Survey then draws all the elements of the paper together. During 2002 the Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communications (CECC) was engaged by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to support the Wendouree West Community in conducting local skills surveys as part of its Neighbourhood Renewal project. The aim was not just to actively involve residents in the collection of information on the skills and learning aspirations of residents but also to make sure the results would be both useful and used. This paper explores the process involved and outcomes generated through the implementation and ongoing development of the Wendouree West Skills Survey. It is found that the creative use of ICT can generate broad community benefits which extend specific initiative outcomes.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001122
Hidden treasure : Unearthing aspirations and mobilising skills in a neighbourhood renewal context
- Thompson, Helen, McEachern, Steven
- Authors: Thompson, Helen , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at International Conference on Engaging Communties, Brisbane :
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001125
Managing community relationships, reputation and sustaining competitive advantage : The case of mining towns
- Tuck, Jacqueline, Lowe, Julian, McRae-Williams, Pamela
- Authors: Tuck, Jacqueline , Lowe, Julian , McRae-Williams, Pamela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Australia : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: An important issue currently facing the mining industry in Australia is the management and cost to the industry and other stakeholders of entry into and exit from towns and their communities. These costs can be environmental, social, economic, political or reputational. The ability of companies to engage the trust of communities, governments and investors is critical, and corporate reputation plays a significant role in this. For the industry to secure a long-term and sustainable future, it must have the technical, business and reputation assets to proceed in a cost-effective, environmentally acceptable and socially supportive way. The paper introduces the concepts of sustainability both at the corporate level and the regional town and community level. For the companies, there are important impacts on costs and efficiencies, an organisations ‘license to operate’, shareholder value and the trade off between dealing with environmental and social issues through prevention or retrofit and corrective measures. However, for the mining industry, possibly the most important aspect of this study is the ability of companies to get access to new sites at competitive cost. For mining companies sustainability has moved from mineral and environmental resources, to a greater emphasis on economic sustainability and community capacity building.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001139
- Authors: Tuck, Jacqueline , Lowe, Julian , McRae-Williams, Pamela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Australia : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: An important issue currently facing the mining industry in Australia is the management and cost to the industry and other stakeholders of entry into and exit from towns and their communities. These costs can be environmental, social, economic, political or reputational. The ability of companies to engage the trust of communities, governments and investors is critical, and corporate reputation plays a significant role in this. For the industry to secure a long-term and sustainable future, it must have the technical, business and reputation assets to proceed in a cost-effective, environmentally acceptable and socially supportive way. The paper introduces the concepts of sustainability both at the corporate level and the regional town and community level. For the companies, there are important impacts on costs and efficiencies, an organisations ‘license to operate’, shareholder value and the trade off between dealing with environmental and social issues through prevention or retrofit and corrective measures. However, for the mining industry, possibly the most important aspect of this study is the ability of companies to get access to new sites at competitive cost. For mining companies sustainability has moved from mineral and environmental resources, to a greater emphasis on economic sustainability and community capacity building.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001139
Stories from the back paddock : Community building in the Pyrenees shire
- Harman, Jessie, Clark, David
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Clark, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001459
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Clark, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001459
- Harman, Jessie, Lowe, Julian, Campbell, Dianne
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Lowe, Julian , Campbell, Dianne
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2005 ARNOVA Conference, Washington DC, USA : 17th November, 2005
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001460
Winning ways : Online regional communities that click
- Authors: Knox, Ian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC) 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th July, 2006
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Significant resources have been allocated to regional and rural communities in Australia to provide information technology and connectivity infrastructure. A sense of community was traditionally provided by the local primary school, church, or tennis club. As many of these facilities are no longer available, the Internet is seen as an opportunity to foster community activities, interests and events. Although significant funding has been provided to support the establishment of online communities, websites and regional web portals, many projects fail or stall once the initial funding has been expended. In terms of ongoing sustainability, it is rare to find examples of life after funding as most initiatives fail to develop sufficient revenue streams or systems that can support the project staff, content maintenance, and infrastructure beyond the seed-funded period. This paper examines factors which contribute to the success of Australian community web sites. It seems the level of seed funding provided to establish sites is not as important as other less tangible features such as the degree of community ownership, the ability for multiple users to contribute, local relevance, and levels of interactivity. The study confirms that technology can play a useful role in bringing communities closer together, but ultimately it is the people that make up a community, not the technology.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001309
- Authors: Knox, Ian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities (CSRC) 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th July, 2006
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Significant resources have been allocated to regional and rural communities in Australia to provide information technology and connectivity infrastructure. A sense of community was traditionally provided by the local primary school, church, or tennis club. As many of these facilities are no longer available, the Internet is seen as an opportunity to foster community activities, interests and events. Although significant funding has been provided to support the establishment of online communities, websites and regional web portals, many projects fail or stall once the initial funding has been expended. In terms of ongoing sustainability, it is rare to find examples of life after funding as most initiatives fail to develop sufficient revenue streams or systems that can support the project staff, content maintenance, and infrastructure beyond the seed-funded period. This paper examines factors which contribute to the success of Australian community web sites. It seems the level of seed funding provided to establish sites is not as important as other less tangible features such as the degree of community ownership, the ability for multiple users to contribute, local relevance, and levels of interactivity. The study confirms that technology can play a useful role in bringing communities closer together, but ultimately it is the people that make up a community, not the technology.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001309
Managing community relationships and corporate reputation - A stakeholder perspective
- Tuck, Jacqueline, Lowe, Julian, McEachern, Steven
- Authors: Tuck, Jacqueline , Lowe, Julian , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at International Mine Management 2006, Carlton, Victoria : 16th October, 2006 p. 305-313
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper reports on an ongoing research program to evaluate the impact a mining company's reputation(s), with its various stakeholder groups, has on a company's ability to sustain competitive advantage. Integral to this study is to develop an understanding of the relationships between mining companies and their stakeholders, and the importance of corporate citizenship policies to reputation and hence to corporate sustainability.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001814
Older class people - First class experience : Stories of ageing well in rural communities of Victoria
- Authors: Blume, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Diversity in Ageing Conference 2006, Sydney : 23rd November, 2006 p. 52-60
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003002143
- Authors: Blume, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Diversity in Ageing Conference 2006, Sydney : 23rd November, 2006 p. 52-60
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003002143
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