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Identifying Community Social Issues

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Identifying Community Social Issues

Read the fictional case study and study the evidence board. Identify patterns, consider who is affected, and suggest fair ways to learn more. The information is fictional; avoid assuming that one person or group is responsible for a complex issue.

Case file: Harbourview

Harbourview is a fictional Australian community. Its council is reviewing how residents can access work, food, safe places and support. A youth group has noticed that some young people are missing activities and asked council to investigate. The information below is a small snapshot, not proof of the cause of any problem.

Clue

What the snapshot says

Why it may matter

Work

A youth service reports that some local young people are seeking work but cannot find suitable paid hours.

Income and access to training or experience may be affected.

Food

A community pantry says demand for grocery parcels has risen this term.

Some households may not have reliable access to enough nutritious food.

Getting around

Residents say the last bus from the outer neighbourhood leaves before some evening shifts end.

Transport access may limit work, study and community participation.

Having a say

At a council forum, only 2 of 20 speakers were aged under 25.

Young people’s views may be under-represented in local decisions.

Sort and interpret the evidence

1.Which clue most directly suggests a possible issue of food insecurity in Harbourview?

Rising demand for grocery parcels at the community pantry
The number of speakers at the council forum
The time the last bus leaves
Young people seeking paid hours

2.Choose two connected community issues that could affect a young person seeking evening work. Explain the connection using a clue from the evidence board.

3.The forum had 2 speakers under 25 out of 20 speakers. What fraction of the speakers were under 25? Give the fraction in simplest form, then state one reason this clue alone cannot prove that young people are excluded from council decisions.

4.Which statement is the most careful conclusion from the case file?

The clues suggest possible issues worth investigating, but more evidence is needed to understand their causes and scale.
Every young person in Harbourview is unemployed and cannot get home.
The pantry proves that all households in Harbourview are food insecure.
The council caused every issue listed in the snapshot.

5.Identify one group that may be especially affected by the bus timetable clue. Give a reason, while recognising that other residents may also be affected.

Investigate fairly

6.A student says, “Young people just don’t want to work.” Write one respectful question you could ask young people to test this claim, and name one other source of evidence you would check.

7.Match each community clue to the issue it most directly points towards.

Rising requests for grocery parcels
Suitable paid hours are hard to find
Last bus leaves before shifts finish
Few under-25 speakers at one forum

Youth unemployment or underemployment
Food insecurity
Transport access
Possible under-representation

8.Suppose council can investigate one issue first. Recommend either transport access or youth employment. Use one piece of evidence, identify who could be affected, and suggest one practical next step council could take to gather views.

9.True or false: A community social issue is automatically solved once its name has been identified. Explain your choice in one sentence.