Stakeholder Perspectives on Community Transport: A Collaborative Action Research (CAR) Approach

Abstract

This thesis argues that there is an urgent need for social policy to reconsider how volunteers in the community are engaged in supporting non-government organisations to address transport disadvantage in rural New South Wales. This CAR has been designed with regard to the literature relating to volunteerism, social capital policy and community sector knowledge. By undertaking this research I developed as a practitioner-researcher and acquired the quality of 'reflexive practice' (Schon, 1983). This was achieved by maintaining a research diary and participating in action research courses whilst facilitating the fieldwork. I developed my understanding of the conceptualisation and, more importantly, the processes of action research - think, plan and act in a reinforcing cyclic or "iterative process of reflexive practice" (Kemmis and McTaggart,1989) and application.