Hi, I’m Maree, I’m a sister, mother, grandmother and wife and a community worker.
I have worked in the community sector for more than 25 years. I have three different tertiary qualifications and I’m working my way through a masters.
I am a community development worker. So what does that mean?
We know that we live in a society which sets up structures which can either include or exclude us. It’s my job to work in that space assisting excluded people to be included and working to make our structures more inclusive. But, that’s a bit complicated and abstract – the reality of the job is very hands-on.
I work in a Neighbourhood Centre. A Neighbourhood Centre is a place where all are welcome – it’s an inclusive space. My Neighbourhood Centre is in the outer suburbs of a big city. The people that live in my community – who come to our centre – are often ‘on the outer’. They come to us for all kinds of reasons and from all walks of life.
One of the programs that I run is for grandparents who have become the custodians of their grandchildren and are taking on the parenting role all over again. Many of the kids have had a rough time. Many of the grandparents have not had it easy either. We all work together to make things a little better for all. Our program does many things. It definitely keeps these kids out of government systems which, among other things, saves them money.
Most of the people we work with are on a shoe-string budget. We do our work on a shoe-string budget. The organisations that employ us pay us from their shoe-string budget and we, community workers, live on a shoe string budget.
But, the doors are always open at our Neighbourhood Centre – and that means you never know who might come through and what situations might arrive, and you’ve got to respond to everything. On any given day, on top of my planned groups and activities, I deal with people who have been evicted; people who are in crisis; people who are afraid, hurt, and alone… and I help them to make things a little bit better.
Often the people I work with say they never knew about us, until they needed us. I work to make people less invisible – their issues less ignored. Funny then, in many ways, and by many people, I am invisible and I am ignored. I am on the outer.
There are Neighbourhood and Community Centre all over Australia full of people just like me – Community Centres with open doors full of Community Workers with open arms.
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Comments ( 7 )
Hi, this issue is so important. I really hope the women affected by this get the outcome they are seeking and so clearly deserve. I can’t forward your “blow a kiss” campaign on to any of my friends though Im sorry, its too embarassing that your union has chosen to sexualise women to promote this serious and important issue. Surely the union women dont feel the need to sexualise themselves to get a pay rise? It must have been some bad advice there somewhere. good luck though. I’ll participate and work hard on anything else you do to promote this important issue, i just cant help you out on the kiss stuff. The website looks like you are promoting a red light district. Yuck
Jennifer added these pithy words on
Mar 12 10 at
6:46 pm
Hi Jennifer, I didn’t get that impression at all. I think the website looks colourful and engaging and fun. Actually I thought the sending a kiss idea and the slogan ‘No more lipservice to equal pay’ was quite clever. Ultimately the message is more important and its about the end result of achieving equal pay for women.
Justine added these pithy words on
Mar 16 10 at
1:02 pm
I also reckon it looks fantastic! I have been in meetings all day with one of our wonderful organisers and everyone seems to love the postcards and the idea behind it. So come on everyone send those kisses to Julia MWAH!!!
Sue Moss added these pithy words on
Apr 21 10 at
9:48 pm
As a young male working in the Disability Sector i have to watch all of my friends who have gone into a trade then a few years later they start earning twice my wage per year or start their own businesses. I chose this profession because so many people are so much worse off than i am and i feel obligated to help in any way i can, its about time that Carers were cared for. I am glad that someone has finally stood up for the most noble and underappreciated professions in this age. I will be getting everyone i can to send a Kiss to Miss Gillard, keep up the good work!
Reece added these pithy words on
May 14 10 at
6:21 pm
Jennifer, the kiss may be a reference to the gendered ideas people have about community workers and how we are all doing ‘feminine’ work. So the ‘blow a kiss – lip service’ tag line could be viewed as using humour/word play to make a comment on that?
As for your comment about red light districts, well sex work is a valid form of employment. Sex workers have their struggles for workplace rights as well, so we should express solidarity towards them instead of flinging disparaging comments.
I think this campaign is great!
MWAH!!!
Steph
Steph added these pithy words on
Jun 02 10 at
5:37 pm
Hi, this issue is so important. I really hope the women affected by this get the outcome they are seeking and so clearly deserve. I can’t forward your “blow a kiss” campaign on to any of my friends though Im sorry, its too embarassing that your union has chosen to sexualise women to promote this serious and important issue. Surely the union women dont feel the need to sexualise themselves to get a pay rise? It must have been some bad advice there somewhere. good luck though. I’ll participate and work hard on anything else you do to promote this important issue, i just cant help you out on the kiss stuff. The website looks like you are promoting a red light district. Yuck
Sharron Clemons added these pithy words on
Dec 22 10 at
8:04 am
