How can change be promoted and sustained in disadvantaged communities and for children in communities? How can professionals be supported to bring about positive change in communities? How can collaborative research and evaluation make a difference?

Contributors Preface Introduction Gabrielle Meagher and Dorothy Bottrell Supporting change for disadvantaged communities 1. The reality of locational social disadvantage: what could help to reduce its ill-effects? Tony Vinson 2. From authoritarian to democratic schooling: schooling that empowers young people Ebeny Wood 3. Change and resistance to change: community development in a rural caste community in South India Frank Tesoriero 4. Preliminary findings from the National Youth Cultures of Eating Study: gender, social class and ethnic differences in childhood obesity Jennifer O'Dea Supporting change for children in communities 5. Max and the knight: how a therapeutic story provided a connection point for child, family, school, human service agencies and community Leigh Burrows 6. Examining the range of strategies mothers use to cope when caring for a child with an intellectual disability David Evans and Iva Strnadovà Supporting professionals for community change 7. Communities@work: engaging Gen Y in community work studies through blended distributed delivery Kerry Russo 8. 'The theories make you pay more attention to how things happen': the impact of theory on the practice of pre-service teachers in their role as student mentors Lesley Scanlon 9. 'Caution children crossing ahead': child protection education with pre-service teachers using a strengths approach Angela Fenton 10. Examining teacher responses to a professional learning program addressing learning disabilities Kay Munyard, Lyndall Sullivan, Jason Skues and Everarda Cunningham Research collaboration for change 11. Making interpretive knowledge focal: developing an interdisciplinary dialogue on research into integrated early childhood services Sue Nichols and Lana Zannettino 12. Beyond the sandstone: research partnerships between the community welfare sector and universities Margot Rawsthorne 13. Research for practice in small human service organisations: doing and disseminating small-scale research Suzanne Egan