Communities present with various needs. Everything done in communities requires a closer look at the people, the issues spanning them, and their history. Nowadays, people face various social problems that call for governmental and non-governmental interventions. From the perspective of Pearson et al. (2020), the government of Australia has partnered with NGOs to address community service needs. The service provision increases the capacity and enriches citizens so that there is an improvement in the quality of life. The two continue working in tandem as NGOs need governmental interventions in scaling fields like education and healthcare. The government sets funding and national policies in offering sustainability and scaling. The governments can also leverage these organizations’ support in innovations and enhancing accountability. The descriptive paper discusses the collaboration in addressing the needs of the disabled, the aged, and emergency relief workers in the local government area in Australia as it points to the gaps in the provision of services.
The local government has worked well with a non-governmental organization in providing services to people living with disabilities as a marginalized group. A particular group in focus is people living with Down syndrome. Such a group of individuals experiences cognitive delays indicated by non-verbal problem-solving skills, long-term memory, and cognition. Most children presenting with Down Syndrome do have problematic behavior that affects their educational and social inclusion (Fisher et al., 2021). The condition causes family stress as the patients have barriers to caring for themselves and community involvement. The services offered by the local government and non-governmental organization in this setting helps the people living with disabilities to assume responsibility for their well-being. They are dedicated to assisting them to live a longer life expectancy with wellness and dignity intact. There is an association here that champions at a local level for the rights of people with Downs Syndrome (Bigby & Frawley, 2018). The provincial government has been essential in ensuring that there are bills to advocate for equity and that these people with such disabilities are not secluded from mainstream activities. Several financial activities are offered through grants, tax reliefs, and exemptions, including an exemption on medical treatment bills. Bigby & Frawley (2018) noted that legislation required institutions to offer a supportive environment for all. The organizations have predominantly given resources through their contribution of services to people living with Downs Syndrome. The partnership has been successful as individuals with inadequate learning and developmental aspects have been empowered to acquire communication skills and basic knowledge.
There has been a state government linking with non-governmental organizations in my state to reach out to the aged as a vulnerable group. There is a provision of linking in offering curative health services to senior people. The senior population with unmet support needs and care has substantially increased due to the challenges of informal and formal care systems. Addressing the needs has increased urgency in public health priorities. The government and non-governmental organizations are developing practical solutions to address the needs of older people. The review of the area finds that older people live with chronic conditions which bring unmet care to their psychological and physical health. Their social lives are altered as they experience neglect and isolation. The organizations have developed support and care models based on the individual needs of older people. The environment in which they live needs to be attended to suit them. O’Sullivan & Walker (2018) noted that the community needs of this category have been researched and found that senior Australian Citizens want to be attended to independently during their retirement age. To those who cannot be efficiently reached at their own homes, there are aged care facilities that support the vulnerable groups in shopping, cleaning, cooking, and attending their medical appointments. The support has been necessary as more aged people whose families have departed them have found solace as the facilities offer support to the older citizens. They have tried to sensitize the Australian community in awareness about the aged care system in the country in fixing significant problems. There are home care packages and aged care assessment programs that they have put in place. It is likely to increase in the future as the absolute number of adults with higher dependency is projected to increase. Partnerships between organizations and governments are further needed in meeting the support and care of the elderly in our region.
Another area in which the national government and non-governmental organizations have intersected is their provision of services in emergency relief. The chosen group is reached through the mobilization of humanity in bringing communities and people together in times of adversity. Organizations like Red Cross Australia are on the ground when disasters strike. They are on the ground with their phones helping people to find support, shelter, and their loved ones. The organization and the governmental provision of funds walk respectfully towards an equitable people with the First Nations People. In times when people seek safety, the organization through the policies of the government that help people to make ends meet and helps them settle into their communities or reconnect with their loved ones when they have gone missing. The collaboration helps promote the rules of law and protect humanity in a time of war, thus preventing the misuse of symbols in saving lives during an armed conflict (Silvestri, 2019). They are pivotal when life turns unjust for many people across my locality and the nation. The organizations are generally organized in a nonprofit model. The federal government helps exempt them from taxes as they are charitable organizations given charters to operate in the region. The relationship between the non-governmental organization and the federal government is in harmony as they provide services. The government has proved influential by creating a positive public policy environment.
As governmental authorities work with non-governmental organizations, some gaps have been pointed out as they try to address the needs of vulnerable groups. The two are different as they have various mandates, goals, and constraints. The significant gap lies in funding and public support as the organizations rely on well-wishers or emergency aid from governments. The flow could be more consistent, and this stacks some operations from ongoing. There are also corrupt officials in the government who delay the authorization of operations or put up bureaucratic ways to keep the provision moving (Mols et al., 2020). Lastly, when the government comes to the operation of the activities of the non-governmental organization, there has been a gap in overspending that leads to misuse of funds. To better the partnership, transparency is needed, and the decision-making process not be prolonged with low political interferences will make the process effective.
In summary, we are living in a world of uncertainties. When there is a strategic partnership between governments and non-governmental organizations, vulnerable communities and populations get a better provision of services. The descriptive essay expresses the strategic collaboration in reaching the disabled, elderly citizens, and people in aid of emergency relief. Some gaps exist in the provision, and it needs a clear policy framework to attain effectiveness in service delivery capabilities.
References
Bigby, C., & Frawley, P. (2018). Social work practice
Fisher, M., Newton, C., & Sainsbury, E. (2021). Mental health social work observed. Routledge.
Mols, F., Bell, J., & Head, B. (2020). Bridging the research-policy gap: the importance of effective identity leadership and shared commitment. Evidence & Policy, 16(1), 145–163.
O’Sullivan, S., & Walker, C. (2018). From the interpersonal to the internet: Social service digitization and the implications for vulnerable individuals and communities. Australian Journal of Political Science, 53(4), 490–507.
Pearson, O., Schwartzkopff, K., Dawson, A., Hagger, C., Karagi, A., Davy, C. … & Braunack-Mayer, A. (2020). Aboriginal community-controlled health organizations address health equity through action on the social determinants of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-13.
Silvestri, A. (2019). Direct participation in hostilities: Between a rock and a hard place. Perth ILJ, 4, 13.
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