Vulnerable Groups in Brisbane City

Question- Discuss any shortcomings in the provision of services and explain how local, state, and federal government agencies work with non-governmental organizations to address the needs of the vulnerable groups you have selected.

It is impossible to overstate how important it is for government and non-government organizations to successfully integrate their cooperative efforts to fulfill the growing demand for community services in Greater Brisbane City (Bajracharya & Khan 2020). To successfully address the difficulties faced by two vulnerable groups, the homeless population and refugees as well as other migrants having integration issues, we examine the complex web of cooperation between various levels of government and non-governmental organizations.

According to recent figures, the number of homeless people in Brisbane has increased by an astounding 15% in just the previous two years, underscoring the need for immediate action to address this issue (Simpson Reeves et al 2022). For assistance with assignments, the city is rich in cultural diversity and welcomes immigrants and refugees, yet it faces challenges with assimilation. The study looks at how joint initiatives at various levels of government are addressing these issues and meeting the welfare and health requirements of Brisbane’s socially disadvantaged populations.

Vulnerable Groups in Brisbane City

Homeless People and Families: Brisbane City’s homelessness rate is rising quickly, impacting individuals and their families from all walks of life. Community service is a key component of many social issues that arise from unstable housing (Coates & Molony 2022). It is concerning that Brisbane’s homelessness rates have increased by 15% in less than two years, and this must be addressed right now.

Integration Issues for Refugees and Migrants: Brisbane is a multicultural city that welcomes refugees and migrants (Colic-Peisker, Khawaja & Hebbani 2020). There are challenges specific to the integration process, including language barriers, cultural adjustment, and the availability of requirements for immigrants. NGOs say that a new flow of refugees from conflict areas has increased demand for psychological and job help, as well as language services.

Community-Led Local Development

The Brisbane City Council has been in the forefront of forming strategic alliances with local non-governmental or not-for-profit organizations to meet the increasing need for community service. The “Homelessness Ac tion Plan,” a significant initiative that meticulously works with local NGOs to provide both short-term (like shelters and counselling) and long-term (like employment help programs) aid, is a perfect illustration of this collaboration (Bajracharya & Khan 2020).The collaborative efforts extend beyond temporary relief. Brisbane City Council’s financial support facilitates the establishment and upkeep of regional cultural hubs for non-governmental organizations. These centres are essential for aiding with integration since they provide language training, cross-cultural programs, and help finding employment (Hebbani, Colic-Peisker & Mackinnon 2018). The noticeable decline in street homelessness in certain areas is proof of the successful outcomes brought about by local collaboration.

Furthermore, the mutually beneficial collaboration between the council and NGOs fosters an environment that is adaptable and creative. Through regular forums and feedback mechanisms, this cooperation ensures that community services continue to be responsive to the evolving needs of vulnerable individuals in different neighbourhoods. A layer of responsiveness is added by this localized strategy, which adapts interventions to the distinct socioeconomic dynamics of various Brisbane City neighbourhoods.

State Level Collaboration

The Queensland state government is primarily in charge of organizing the events needed to complete community service requirements in Brisbane City. Initiatives such as the “Queensland Housing Strategy” allocate cash for social projects, psychological treatments, and homeless shelters in order to address the issue of homelessness. Despite these efforts, challenges persist, especially in rural areas where access to services is limited (Kraatz 2018). NGOs’ collaborations with state governments also focus on helping immigrants and refugees learn languages and prepare for the workforce. Through funding and collaborative initiatives, NGOs receive support to enhance their capacity to provide these vulnerable populations with essential services (Bajracharya & Hastings 2018). However, the reality that the demand for services sometimes outpaces the supply of resources leads to waiting lists and delays in service delivery.

Federal Level Collaboration

Through a few initiatives, the federal government helps Brisbane City meet its community service requirements. Queensland is one of the states that receive financing under the “National Homelessness Agreement” to combat homelessness. This results in more funding available in Brisbane for long-term housing solutions, mental health services, and emergency housing (Pawson et al., 2018). Homelessness persists because of the city’s ongoing struggles with a lack of affordable homes, even with government assistance. NGOs in Brisbane City are supported by government programs such as the “Settlement Services Program” for refugees and migrants. In order to promote successful integration, this program assists in the delivery of language services, job assistance, and community participation initiatives (Chen et al 2019). To fulfill the rising demands of a burgeoning migrant and refugee population, however, more federal financing is required.

Collaborative Edge

Brisbane City’s request for community service is fulfilled by the federal government in a number of ways. Queensland is one of the states that will receive cash under the “National Homelessness Agreement” to lower the number of unemployed and homeless persons. This is associated with increased funding for crisis accommodations, mental health services, and long-term housing options in Brisbane (d’Abrera 2018). The city continues to struggle with a lack of affordable housing, even with government support, which makes homelessness a more serious problem. Federal initiatives like the “Settlement Services Programme” support non-governmental organizations in Brisbane that assist refugees and migrants. This program supports language services, employment assistance, and community engagement programs to promote successful integration (Wilding & Nunn 2018). More government funding is required to meet the growing demands of a growing migrant and refugee population.

Service Delivery Drawbacks

Nonetheless, there are several obstacles facing the service delivery system. Inequitable resource distribution in certain Brisbane City neighbourhoods, where homelessness is more prevalent and support services are scarcer than in other Brisbane neighbourhoods, is a serious problem. This suggests that customized interventions are required to overcome regional disparities in vulnerability (Coates & Molony 2022). Inequality in service delivery exacerbates socioeconomic inequities and impedes the city’s progress toward comprehensive community coverage. Lastly, bureaucracy presents issues that hinder program implementation at all governmental levels. Service delivery to beneficiaries on time is hampered by fund allocation delays and a lack of appropriate cooperation between governmental entities and NGOS. In this situation, obtaining finances and other resources is time-consuming and frequently results in a discrepancy between the goals of the policy and what really happens.

Opportunities for Development

To address these issues, more efficient coordination processes across the several governmental levels are needed. To ensure a unified and successful approach to community service obligations, this calls for regular communication channels, accelerated finance processes, and cooperative planning meetings (Jiaxuan et al 2021). Local governments should do thorough needs assessments to identify specific problems in different neighbourhoods, allowing for an even more individualized and equitable distribution of funding. This plan ensures that households and vulnerable individuals receive enough assistance, no matter where they are in Brisbane City. Additionally, NGOs must have their administrative burden lessened and bureaucratic procedures simplified. This could entail the establishment of a standardized reporting system and a shared site for funding requests (Esmaeilpoorarabi et al 2020). When these adjustments are put into place, resources will be provided more quickly, accountability will be encouraged, and transparency will be guaranteed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, collaborating with non-governmental organizations significantly helps Brisbane City accomplish its community service needs. Nevertheless, there are still several areas where the system may be improved. However, for Brisbane to be a city that provides care for vulnerable populations, the measures should resolve shortcomings and put recommendations into practice.

References

• Bajracharya, B., & Hastings, P. (2018). A regional, strategic growth-management approach to urban and peri-urban development in south east Queensland, Australia. Journal of Regional and City Planning, 29(3), 210-233. https://research.bond.edu.au/files/28898799/7226_27481_1_PB.pdf
• Bajracharya, B., & Khan, S. (2028). Urban governance in Australia: a case study of Brisbane City. New urban agenda in Asia-Pacific: governance for sustainable and inclusive cities, 225-250. https://www.academia.edu/download/78648428/978-981-13-6709-0_8.pdf
• Chen, W., Wu, S., Ling, L., & Renzaho, A. M. (2019). Impacts of social integration and loneliness on mental health of humanitarian migrants in Australia: Evidence from a longitudinal study. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 43(1), 46-55. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023001644
• Coates, B., & Molony, J. (2022). The national housing and homelessness agreement needs urgent repair. https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Grattan- Institute-Submission-to-the-PC-review-of-the-NHHA.pdf
• Colic-Peisker, V., Khawaja, N., & Hebbani, A. (2020). Parent-child engagement and dissonance in refugee families resettling in Brisbane, Australia. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 28(3), 44-58. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197339/1/39394536.pdf
• d’Abrera, C. (2018). Dying with their rights on: the myths and realities of ending homelessness in Australia. https://www.cis.org.au/wp- content/uploads/2018/12/rr38.pdf
• Esmaeilpoorarabi, N., Yigitcanlar, T., Kamruzzaman, M., & Guaralda, M. (2020). How can an enhanced community engagement with innovation districts be established? Evidence from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Cities, 96, 102430. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/132119/2/132119.pdf
• Hebbani, A., Colic-Peisker, V., & Mackinnon, M. (2018). Know thy neighbour: Residential integration and social bridging among refugee settlers in Greater Brisbane. Journal of Refugee Studies, 31(1), 82-103. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1btzy4rraIs2j3eCxnhotHG1beDb-AUc-/view
• Jiaxuan, E., Xia, B., Buys, E. L., & Yigitcanlar, T. (2021). Sustainable urban development for older australians: Understanding the formation of naturally occurring retirement communities in the greater brisbane region. Sustainability, 13(17), 1-12. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/9e079f538cf2b7d9ee0c471022fd449019d3339bcd7e6f955932236600ab3e95/1431127/Buys_2021_Sustainable_urban_development_for_older_
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• Kraatz, J. A. (2018). Innovative approaches to building housing system resilience: A focus on the Australian social and affordable housing system. Australian Planner, 55(3-4), 174-185. https://sbenrc.com.au/app/uploads/2019/07/JKraatz-APlanner-July-2019.pdf
• Pawson, H., Parsell, C., Saunders, P., Hill, T., & Liu, E. (2018). Australian homelessness monitor 2018. https://www.academia.edu/download/56567072/FINAL_for_print_AHM_full_report.pdf