In a neo-liberal context, funding to community organisations has become tighter and governed by increased demands for specific outcomes and outputs. Funding is essentially ‘packaged’ into neat boxes of service delivery for specific target groups and delivered in narrow areas. Within this context community organisations are often not able to undertake innovative practice, programs and projects as they are too busy applying for, implementing and reporting on their prescribed packets of service delivery. This has led to a general decline in community development and other areas of macro practice

Universities and students sit outside the realms of funding, and are powerful agents for working ‘outside the box’ to implement innovative projects and programs which would otherwise not happen. Can students make a real difference to social work practice on the ground?

This workshop will examine two case studies where students on placement have been able to “give legs” to innovative community development projects in new settings. Both projects are in their infancy – one involves eight students working on a project to connect and support international students; the second involves 14 students working alongside Outside Hours School Care programs in 8 locations to increase service delivery capacity.