Supporting residents of caravan parks

 

Click the image or here for the full report

Caravan parks play an important role in Australian housing, particular for those who have few or no other options. Marginalised residents of caravan parks often face significant disadvantage and it is therefore important that a range of health and welfare services work closely with park residents. This publication explores principles of promising practice. It is based on discussion at a national forum on supporting residents of caravan parks.

 

Supporting Caravan Park Residents—A national best practice forum aimed to improve service delivery to marginalised residents of caravan parks by:

• Promoting best practice when working with marginalised residents of caravan parks
• Developing and disseminating a guide to best practice based on the forum’s outcomes
• Fostering greater connections, collaboration and partnerships between services working with caravan park residents nationally
• Promoting awareness of issues affecting marginalised residents of caravan parks.

While the focus of the forum was the marginalised residents of caravan parks it was also relevant to other communities with similarities to caravan parks such as manufactured home villages, long-grass communities (e.g. people living in campsites around rural towns) and some public housing estates.

The forum, held over two days in October 2006, attracted 60 people from the ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. It focused on sharing stories and experiences, identifying successful strategies and developing principles of best practice.

The nine principles developed are:

1. Services will make building strong relationships with residents a high priority
2. Services will be flexible and creative
3. Services will work with park management
4. Services will build on the strengths of park communities
5. Services will go to caravan parks
6. Services will build strong partnerships and networks
7. Services will advocate on behalf of residents
8. Services will pay particular attention to the needs of children
9. Services will have well-supported, skilled staff

The full report is available from here.

Reference
Stuart, G. (2007). Supporting residents of caravan parks: Principles of promising practice. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

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4. An introduction to strengths-based practice (a video lecture)
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6. https://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2016/08/03/engaging-aboriginal-fathers/

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