Sustainability - Homelessness In Australia - Essay Writing Assessment Answer

Sustainability Assignment

Case Scenario

Systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges.

To what extent do you agree with this statement, and why? Draw on one of the following wicked problems to illustrate your answer:

• Homelessness in Australia
• Highways vs. train lines

Assignment Task

Make sure that you consider those questions

• System thinking is?
• Sustainability is?
• What is relationship between system thinking and sustainability challenges?

Introduction

The term “sustainability” has caught much attention in almost any sector and is used widespread. Sustainability can be defined as the capability to precisely maintain the qualities of resources that hold much value in a physical environment. (Moldan, Janoušková and Hák, 2012)In other words, Sustainability or Environmental Sustainability (ES) can be defined as the process of maintaining the natural capital. (Goodland, 1995)At the University of Michigan, two Professors of Sustainable Enterprise, namely, Max Mc Graw and Tom Gladwin clearly stated that, the critical state of our social, economic and environmental system is greatly reinforced by various important factors such as increasing uncertainty, velocity and complexity. Despite understanding the situation and also the future consequences appropriate steps are not implemented to enhance the global sustainable development. One way to manage these inter – connected and highly complex challenges associated with sustainability in a practical approach is by using the concept of “Systems Thinking”. (Kim, 2012) Basically “Systems Thinking” can be defined as an analysis approach which focuses on the approach that a system’s integrated and constituent parts interrelate and the way the system will work over time considering the context of larger systems. (Midgley, 2003) Systems Thinking can also be defined as a framework that is meant to focus on various inter – relationships rather than things, in order to see the patterns of change in a system. Thus, a problem formation or framing by a system thinker involves behaviour pattern over time instead of giving focus on a specific event or events. (Kim, 2012)

Just like any other new problem – solving methods, the systems thinking method has its own limitation, which is the approach, is too fundamentalist and is highly dependent on models for solution execution. General approach t any problem solving involves: (1) problem diagnosis in order to analyze the approach to fix it and (2) solution implementation with known outputs. Considering these aspects, according to me, systems thinking is very important to implement the sustainability challenges. In order to illustrate this concept, a wicked problem titled “Homelessness in Australia” is chosen. The main aim of the essay is to consider the illustration of homelessness in Australia and prove the point that system thinking approach is very important to solve challenges related to sustainability. Essay has been organized in a structured format that begins with an appropriate Introduction section that covers the background of study, problem analysis section that focuses on the chosen illustration problem and analyse it using the concept of system thinking and sustainability and lastly the essay will have a Conclusion part in which the final essay conclusion will be covered.

2.Analysis of the Problem defined

Secure and safe housing is an integral part of being a part of certain community and also to maintain good health. Factors such as high rents, shortage of affordable housing clearly depict the increasing vulnerability of homelessness on people with comparatively less income. According to the Australian statistics, more than 1, 00, 000 residents in Australia are homeless every night of which nearly 56 percent are males and 44 percent are females. (Homelessnessaustralia.org.au, 2016) Consequences of homelessness in Australia are so worse that the people are forced to find temporary alternate solutions to find shelter such as hotels, parks, relatives or friends and even cars. (Couch, 2011) Significant reasons for Australians becoming homeless are – issues related to mental health, unemployment, issues related with drugs or gambling or alcohol, financial issues etc. Homelessness badly affects a person’s mental health and hence they tend to isolate themselves from the society or community and also stay out of work. (Mission Australia, 2016)

In order to analyse the problem in – depth, it is important to understand the exact definition or meaning of homelessness. Thus, homelessness can be defined as a condition in which an individual has no regular access to accommodation of conventional mode. It is very important to understand the concept of homelessness in order to analyse the problem as people living in prisons etc may or may not be homeless. Thus, the approach in which homelessness is defined; there is a drastic and notable change in the composition and size of the population and which in turn affects the focus and design of the problem analysis. (Chamberlain, Johnson and Robinson, n.d.)

Mapping the illustration of “Homelessness in Australia” with the concept of “Significance of Systems Thinking in developing solutions for Sustainability issues”, it is quite clear that, the sustainability issue addressed in the illustration problem (wicked problem) above is the – “Homelessness in Australia”. Various measures such as developing policies and procedures, introducing NGOs for social help to homeless people etc. These policies, procedures, NGOs as a part of solution to minimize the issue of homelessness in Australia are not developed without carrying out an in – depth research. This research involves making use or reference of various statistics, fact sheets, government rules and regulations etc. (Parsell, Jones and Head, 2012) Thus, the in - depth research, analysis and the steps (policies and procedures) carried out in this regard forms the “Systems Thinking”. Hence, it is very clear that in order to get solutions for any kind of sustainability issue, systems thinking is very essential in the entire process.

One of the solutions for homelessness in Australia includes the help provided by a NGO named “Mission Australia”. Under this NGO, “Mission Australia Housing” is implemented, which is a progressive and an established Community Housing provider in Australia that provide affordable housing to the homeless people and hence, leverage the support and strength of Mission Australia. (Mission Australia, 2016) Another significant step or solution towards the eradication of homelessness in Australia includes CYHA research study, where CYHA stands for Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia. The CHYA research study is the first and foremost national study on youth homelessness in Australia. The aim of CYHA study is to understand the impacts and experience of youth homelessness that is defined in terms of costs (economic) to the Australian community. The CYHA research study (systems thinking) has clearly come up with the facts that homelessness affect people in various ways such as health, mental illness, social isolation and financial disturbances etc. To sum up, homelessness has a wide range of social and personal issues. CYHA focuses more to understand the impacts and experiences of homeless youth in Australia and critically analyse the cost – effectiveness and effectiveness of various homelessness programs implemented in Australia. The CYHA research study contribute to eradicating the sustainability issue of homelessness in Australia by forming as an evidence base on these issues and provide feedback to both the agencies and as well as policy makers about their effectiveness. (MacKenzie, Flatau, Steen, & Thielking, 2015)

In spite of the fact that there is an expanding appreciation of the need to partner housing responses with other approach zones such as wellbeing, welfare and the equity framework, already disconnected approach zones, for example, Indigenous administration, education, local and urban arranging and local title can likewise be noteworthy in tending to the full range of necessities introduced by destitute Indigenous Australians. (Hwang et al., 2012)

The term reaction types alludes to an expansive scope of activities including methods of insight, arrangements, programs, administrations, procedures, techniques, enactments and exercises that are gone for tending to the necessities of Indigenous individuals who are destitute what's more, or dwelling out in the open spots. Four rehearse reaction classes that have developed as having socially particular implications in connection to Indigenous individuals are portrayed in brief. (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

(1) Legislative Approaches

The peace approach utilizes responsive policing, bolstered by different structures of enactment, keeping in mind the end goal to mightily evacuate Indigenous individuals from open spots. Involvement in various urban focuses exhibits that such peace methodologies may just be incompletely effective also, even absolutely unsuccessful in wiping out Indigenous open spot staying. These methodologies are prone to bring about impermanent or nearby uprooting, whilst general cycles of imprisonment, liquor misuse and open spot staying proceed, furthermore hazard breaking against segregation enactment. (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

Constrained physical expulsion to far off remote settlements is additionally similarly hostile and an infringement of common freedoms. As a general standard, any development of Indigenous individuals from people in general spaces they involve because of clashing open needs should be helped out through a procedure of arrangement regardless of how extended, and upheld by an arranged arrangement of interchange settlement and overhauling alternatives worthy to all gatherings. (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

(2) Patrols and Outreach Services

In the mid-1980s a Central Australian Indigenous people group created the Night Watch, where a gathering of capable volunteer group individuals drove around their city interceding in liquor fuelled circumstances and looking after at-danger individuals. The idea rapidly spread over the landmass and today there are a scope of Night Patrols, Wardens and Outreach Workers working, in spite of the fact that the exact nature of their administrations shifts. The elements of Aboriginal Night Patrols have included intercession in circumstances of substance misuse (particularly liquor) and viciousness, intervention and debate determination between individuals in strife, and the expulsion of problematic or possibly savage people from open or private social situations. The administration intends to keep at-danger, inebriated people out of the watch-house (where they might be helpless to suicide). (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

(3) Addressing Anti-social

Conduct Nearby Indigenous conventional proprietors may take special case to the counter social conduct of certain open spot tenants (inebriation, asking, viciousness, and so forth); considering it to be "disgracing" their own kin and additionally their law and custom, and they might be unyielding about attesting their power with an end goal to anticipate it. In the few spots where this has been attempted, a powerful approach has risen including the foundation of models of suitable versus hostile to social conduct to be held fast to by open spot inhabitants, and in addition regional principles concerning where specific people or gatherings ought to camp. (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

(4) Regional Strategies

Local techniques must be established in an comprehension of the social coalitions made up of various dialect or tribal gatherings applicable to the groups being referred to, and should look at Indigenous relocation and private portability designs keeping in mind the end goal to expect why individuals leave their home groups and what keeps them from returning. Provincial methodologies require a typical set of qualities being set up for the territorial focus' administration suppliers and in addition the groups of the external parts of the district, to encourage shared basic leadership in tending to customer's needs. This thus might be joined by a local training program concerning urban ways of life and values, and what may be expected of Indigenous individuals when going by expansive urban areas, both as far as standard furthermore, Aboriginal laws and behavioural qualities. The movement of Indigenous individuals to urban focuses creates genuine political questions concerning the personal satisfaction in remote and country Aboriginal people group, and in addition the circulation and permitting of liquor outlets all through such an area. (Memmott and Chambers, 2010)

3.Conclusion of the Essay

Comprehensive ways to deal with homelessness enable Aboriginal individuals with powerful self improvement methodologies and critical thinking aptitudes. A key segment of any methodology then again procedure must be to advance a superior style of drinking, if not finish restraint, as liquor utilization is a predictable variable in the counter social conduct of open place dwelling Indigenous individuals. Such undertakings additionally should include the advancement of standards and standards concerning favoured conduct and styles of involving habitations, managed training amongst town and bramble groups about such suitable practices and ways of life, advancement of administration and backing inside groups, and, the fortifying of the bonds between parts of the more distant family to serve as a instrument to authorize such standards. Thus, it can be concluded that Systems thinking is highly significant in arriving solution to any kind of sustainability issue or problem.