1. VCE Sociology Unit 3 Outcome 1 Community and society
‘The role of government agencies in promoting or eroding community’

2. Government Government agencies can impact on communities in many ways
Legislation, policy and funding can promote communities and also erode communities
There are three levels of government in Australia: Parliament of Australia, State Parliament, and Local Councils

3. Government Federal: Parliament of Australia x 1
Makes laws relating to matters of national interest such as: trade and commerce; postal, telephonic and like services; foreign relations; taxation; quarantine; fisheries; currency; copyright; marriage; immigration; defence, etc.
State Parliament x 6 (+ territories x 2)
Makes laws relating to matters of state interest such as: schools and hospitals, roads and railways, utilities such as electricity and water supply, mining and agriculture.
Local Council x 650
Make by-laws relating to matters of local interest such as: local roads, parks and playgrounds, rubbish collection, library services, sporting fields, street signage and domestic animal regulation.

4. How government can impact
Legislation
Laws which serve to legally prohibit certain actions and ensure others are carried out
If you break the law you will be punished
Policy
Strategies or plans put into place which make sure legislation is complied with
Set of standards to comply with legislation
The NTER involved a range of policies to support laws
Funding
Providing funding (or not)

5. Type of government impact
Promoting (positive impact)
New law or policy that supports or protects a community, or makes funds available to encourage the community to continue
e.g. maintain or strengthen sense of community
Eroding (negative impact)
New law or policy that prohibits the typical behaviours of a community or the cancellation of funding required to keep the community active
e.g. weaken sense of community
May have a positive effect on the community by bringing them together to “right a wrong”
Some activist groups do not want governmental approval

6. Government
Read the articles ‘Meet the Nanny Spider’ and ‘Police hire spies to patrol internet’
Use the 4 C’ing graphic organiser to answer, “How can government agencies promote or erode community?”
Make sure your “consequences” include evidence/examples
Read the articles relating to e-Gate and the Docklands
Explain how different government actions have resulted in the significantly different sense of community at the two locations
You may want to draw on SITS or PEETS

7. VCE Sociology
Unit 3 Outcome 1
Community and society
‘The place of community in the development of government policies affecting people of non- English speaking backgrounds or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
Addressed in Unit 3 Outcome 2 ‘Australian Cultural Communities’ and Unit 4 Outcome 1 ‘Citizenship’

8. TO DO Write definitions of the following terms in your glossary:
Eroding community
Government funding
Government legislation
Government policy
Promoting community