Structuration, ICTs, and Community Work

This paper reports on a project which was undertaken with a network of Neighbourhood Houses (community-based organisations) in the Western Region of Melbourne, Australia. The region is an area of high social-economic need, and at the same time, contains a major growth corridor. A decline in investments in communitylevel ICT systems is producing technical and informational gaps impacting the work of Neighbourhood Houses, and illustrating how funding cuts impact sustainability. The researchers employed a community-based research process, drawing on the perspective of structuration theory, to identify and diagnose the sustainability issues. Through a survey, interviews and focus groups, we identified six areas of ICT of concern from sustainability perspective: computer troubleshooting, quality technology support, resource directories, web page development, communication costs, and relationships with local councils. We are now working with Neighbourhood House coordinators on the action phase of the project to fill those identified needs.