Restoring community cohesion through positive education: applying a community resilience model. Issue 5 (2nd November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Auckland, Stuart; Kilpatrick, Sue
• Is Part Of: International journal of lifelong education. Volume 40:Issue 5/6(2021)
• Page Start: 561
• Page End: 575
• Publication Date: 2021-11-02
• Subjects: Positive education -- resilience -- social and economic change -- adaptive capacity; Continuing education -- Periodicals; Adult education -- Periodicals; 374.005
• DOI: 10.1080/02601370.2021.2009584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-1370

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The benefits of positive education initiatives are well understood in educational settings but less is known about how positive education can support remote communities to embrace change and become more resilient. This paper draws on the findings from an evaluative study of the Foundations to Flourish (F2F), a positive education programme, delivered on the remote setting of King Island, a sparsely populated Island in Bass Strait off Tasmania's north west coast. In interpreting its findings, the study draws on community resilience models to understand the influence of the F2F programme on adaptive capacity, self-organisation and connectivity during a period of social and economic change. The paper concludes that positive education initiatives such as F2F play an important role in enhancing social connectedness and providing resources known to enhance resilience: positivity, learning experiences, respectful local leadership, effective service infrastructure and interactions that cut across normal close social circles creating a shared sense of purpose or direction.