ASSESSMENT TASK 1 WIKI POSTINGS

WEEK 1
I will be undertaking my placement at the Christ Church Meals Program in Geelong, which is a
program that runs 7-days a week to provide breakfast and other meals for all members of
community, however is aimed towards serving the more disadvantaged members of the community.
All people are welcomed to this program, regardless of their current or past circumstances - this
includes the homeless, the unemployed, street kids and simply those in need of company as much as
a substantial meal. My initial impressions of the setting and role I will be undertaking (which includes
cleaning/set up of the area, serving meals and actively communicating and engaging with members
of the program) are both excited to be actively participating in making a true difference to the area I
have grown up and lived in my entire life, but also I am preparing myself mentally to see a side of
the community that is often disregarded or overlooked. I have never actively engaged or applied my
own skills to assist the more disadvantaged members of the community, which this will be a great
opportunity to not only provide food for the people that partake in this program, but more
importantly an opportunity to be someone these people can communicate and socialise among. This
may seem like something so small and insignificant because these are things I do and most people
do on a daily basis, however to most of the participants of the Christ Church Meals Program, it
makes all the difference in their life to simply have someone that is there to talk to and takes an
interest in their life.

After reading Clancy's posting, I too am hoping to establish relationships and reach out to
those members of the community that may be disadvantaged or simply wanting a form of
socialising. I hope this experience increases both my awareness of these issues within my
own community as well as my confidence to do more and be more of an active participant
within program even after the required community engagement hours.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)
WEEK 2

I am really enjoying my time at the Christ Church Breakfast Club. It is definitely an eyeopening experience to how many people are affected by poverty, unemployment or
homelessness that attend this program. It's such a rewarding experience to give back to these
people through both serving food but more so simply talking and connecting with these
people. From a teaching perspective, this program has not only assisted me in making
connections with the local primary schools of the area that also assist in the program, but it
has certainly made me recognise the different backgrounds each of these students bring with
them to the classroom. Seeing students as young as a Grade 3 Level attend the program just
goes to show the diversity of backgrounds between students as well as the hard times these
families must be going through.
Courtney, I completely agree that it is crucial to develop a solid rapport with students as it not
only increases the student's confidence around yourself as a teaching figure, but more so it
creates a relationship built on mutual respect. It sounds like your placement is a highly
engaging experience, and like my own, is built on the foundations of developing a mutual
respect for those around you.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)

WEEK 3

Placement continues to be a highly beneficial learning experience. The other volunteers that
assist running the program are more than welcoming and have been easily approachable to
talk about any issues or queries I have in regard to the program. It can be difficult at times:
the different range of people that attend the program sometimes do not get along well
together and difficulties arise, to even simply having a rough night previously and become
aggravated at the smallest of things regarding their meal. However, as a volunteer, it is
important to remember that most of these people are having a "rough night", every night. The
breakfast club is somewhere they can feel welcomed and comforted. All of the people that
run the program are volunteers, taking time out of their lives to assist these people in need
and will do anything within their means to ensure everyone feels safe, supported and
provided with a decent meal. All people that attend this program acknowledge this and
mostly are deeply appreciative for the help and support they receive. Overall, despite it's
challenges, placement so far has been nothing short of a rewarding experience for both my
learning journey to becoming a teacher, but more so for my own personal learning and selfawareness.
Julia - Your community engagement seems like a highly beneficial learning experience and
I'm sure working with students from a different background will greatly improve your ability
to adapt to all the different situations that the classroom environment throws at you in your
future teaching.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)
WEEK 4

This image is one of the stained glass windows at the breakfast program. The Lamb of God
represents the same values that are reflected within the practices of the program such as
sacrifice for others and acceptance. All of the great people that make this program possible
are volunteers, giving up their own time to ensure those less fortunate can have a decent meal
and more so be treated as an equal in society.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)
WEEK 5

Having attended several days at the breakfast club, I am beginning to notice the realities and
hardships that most of the people attending the program endure. Each time I have been at the
program there have been many of the same common faces as well as new people coming in

every day. These people are beginning to open up and share their stories with me, which is
just, if more important than simply getting a decent meal at the program. The people that
attend the program, including the homeless, lesser fortunate families and children, and the
unemployed, all value the worth of having someone they can talk to and assist in any possible
way. From a teaching perspective, this engagement has been a hugely rewarding experience.
It has made me realise not only the family hardships that students may be enduring within
their home environments, but also how this may affect their participation and punctuation in
class. Participation in the breakfast club has also made me more aware of how dependent
these programs are on the volunteers. These people are more than welcoming to anyone that
attends the program, without question or judgement of their past history, and dedicate time
out of their day to assist those in need in every way possible.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)
WEEK 6

Having almost completed my individual community engagement and homework club is

coming to an end, I cannot begin to fathom how rewarding this experience has been. Through
interacting with those that participate in the community meals program, I have learnt a lot
about myself personally, as well as myself becoming a teacher. From the beginning of my
individual community placement, I assumed my predominant role of the meals program
would be simply serving food to the less fortunate, however I can honestly say I am glad I
was wrong. The people that attend the program may be less fortunate and/or dealing with
interpersonal external issues, the meal program is a safe environment where these people can
somewhat escape the hardship realities of their lives through interacting with others and
being treated as equals. This is a principle that has been embedded into the program; that
everyone will be treated as equals regardless of their past. In my experience at the program, I
continue to see the positive effects that a simple conversation with those that attend the
program can have on their attitudes. Also through talking and listening to these people, I have
began to conceptualise the diversity of each individual's background that has led them to
where they are today. From a teaching perspective, this is an important factor in the
classroom environment. Teachers must be aware and understanding of the different out-ofschool environments and family situations each student is dealing with once they are leaving
the school premises. This, as seen throughout my community engagement, could be a major
factor in their participation, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Like Georgia, I too have experienced similar difficulties throughout my engagement as there
have been several people with disabilities or English as a second language attend the
breakfast program. This has been a good learning opportunity to improve my communication
skills in putting my words into different ways that these people can interpret the information I
am trying to convey.
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812).

WEEK 7

My experience throughout community engagement has been nothing short of amazing and
one of the best hands-on learning experiences I have had this year. At the beginning I was
originally nervous about completing the set hours of community engagement, however
despite having completed my hours, I am planning to continue volunteering once a week at
the meals program. One of the biggest highlights of my time throughout my at the meal
program was simply the reactions from the people that I was helping. These people, although
mostly are enduring serious personal issues and hardships, never cease to thank-you before
leaving and have a positive reaction from the smallest of deeds. The relationships I have built
with all of the people that attend and make the program possible have definitely been another
major positive in my community engagement experience. Overall I have had such a
rewarding experience throughout my time at the community meals program and I have learnt
a lot about the implications for my future teaching
(Keegan Doherty, S00153812)

LETTER OF THANKS (SCREENSHOT)

EDFX 207/277 Community Engagement

Assessment Task 2: Reflecting on the Experience
Name of Pre-Service Teacher: Keegan Doherty

Student ID:

S00153812

Community Engagement Placement(s): Christ Church Community Meals Program

Final Due date: 23rd October 2015
Submission: To be posted onto the LEO unit
This task requires you to reflect on your Community Engagement Placement (CEP) and its impact on:
1. Your understanding of engaging with community
2. Your development as a teacher.
In completing your Reflecting on the Experience you should draw on your approved proposal for Community Engagement
Placement both Attachments 1 & 2 together with your wiki postings
1. Your understanding of engaging with community
Complete the chart below by rating each statement taken from the unit outlines description and learning outcomes. The rating is
from 1 5 with 1 representing strong agreement and 5 representing strong disagreement. You must add an explanatory comment
(this is not optional). You may wish to give an example here too.

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To what extent has your placement (s)

Explanatory comment

assisted you to understand and value diversity

in its many forms therefore enabling you to
cater for diversity more effectively

The Community Meals Program served people

from all different socio-economic backgrounds
including: homeless people, school children, the
unemployed and/or stranded families. From my
time within the program, I was able to interact
and converse with many individuals, each with
their own stories and knowledge to share.

enhanced the development of your

understanding of the contextual factors that
impact on the way in which people live their
lives

Personally, the one principle of the Community

Meals Program that I loved was that all people
that attended the program are warmly
welcomed regardless of their past
circumstances. In this way, not only were these
people able to feel more comforted during the
program, but more so they were willing to share
their past in their own time and only if they
wished to do so. Many of these people long for
company just as much if more than getting a
decent meal. Through my interactions I was able
to gain a good insight to the contextual factors
that have impacted on these individuals lives.

enhanced your critical examination, promoted

reflective practices and challenged established
beliefs

Looking over my time at placement, I can see

somewhat a change in my personal beliefs that
has occurred due to my interactions with
particular individuals, and improvement of my
reflective practices (such as using the online wiki
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postings to record my thoughts). I have noticed I

have less of a fixed mindset than prior to my
community engagement through examples such
as rather than seeing someone for what they
might look like or act like in public, instead I have
learnt to somewhat empathise with these
people and recognise that they have most likely
had past difficulties and contextual factors that
have greatly impacted on their lives. I have
learnt through this program that sometimes we
need to understand someone before we can
help them.
encouraged open and flexible thinking, and
responsiveness to change

The means and foundations of this community

engagement are built on a growth, open
mindset. All of the members that assist in the
running of the meals program are volunteers and
they all acknowledge that people bring with
them a diverse range of social and interpersonal
histories. Although sometimes there are
difficulties with individuals, everyone in the
program does their best to reach out to these
people and try to understand their issues rather
than simply push them away. The program has
assisted me to recognise the importance of
feeling a sense of belongingness, as I believe
this was just, if more, important than getting a
decent meal.
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enabled you to listen to the voices of

marginalised people and, through reflection,
allow such experiences to impact on your
personal and professional lives as engaged
citizens

This meal program has widely broadened my

connections within the local community and I
definitely feel as if I am an active participant in
contributing to improving the lives of the people
that attend the program. People from all
different social upbringings such as the
homeless, unemployed and even school children,
have attended the program in the time I have
been there. All of which I have shared stories,
conversed, laughed, and empathised among. I
cannot begin to fathom some of the injustices
and difficulties these people endure every day,
which was a real eye-opening experience. This
however has contributed to own sense of
belonging to continue with this program after
my required community service hours, in a
means to better the lives of others even in the
smallest ways possible.

provided opportunities for you to contribute

to the life of the community through the
sharing of personal expertise and time

As mentioned, I am continuing this program

having already completed the necessary
community engagement hours as not only did I
enjoy the interactions between different
members of the community, but more so
because this program has made me realize that
even through the smallest amount of time from
my day, can change the whole day/week of
anothers. The people that attend this program
feel somewhat of an outcast amongst the
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community, however the great people that run

this program put all differences aside and
recognise these people for who they are rather
than what they may seem. Through this program
I have developed many connections with other
volunteers that have led me to participate in
other community related events such as assisting
in another food-base support program for the
less fortunate and a community based
fundraising fete that contributes to support the
running of these programs.

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2. Your development as a teacher

In the following chart identify two changes in your views about learning or your intentions for teaching because of your participation
in your Community Engagement Placement(s). Summarise using the data from your wiki postings. Feel free to add copies of any
creative entries which you may have previously posted.
My views about
(identify the
issue or aspect
of teaching and
learning)

Before my
involvement in this
Community
Engagement
Placement I thought

1. Fixed-mindset
regarding the
type of people
that attend the
Community
Meal Program.

I assumed that the

only people that
attended this program
were homeless people
simply in need of a
decent meal.

After my involvement
I think

Give evidence and

indicate from which
source (e.g. wiki
posting, reflective
journal entry)

Significance of
outcome/achievement for
you

I recognised that the

people that attended
this program were of
all different
backgrounds, each
with their own story
to tell. Although there
were many homeless
people that did
attend the program,
others included the
unemployed,
stranded travelers,
the less fortunate,
school children, and
simply families in
need of support.

As noted in my third
wiki post, I was
amazed to see the
large diversity of the
people attending the
program. School
students as young as
a Grade 3 level
attending the
program to the
elderly that simply
come for the
company and
someone to talk to. I
also took note of how
these peoples
backgrounds and

This not only made me

realise how lucky I am to be
raised in a loving and
supporting family, but also
made me consider what if I
wasnt so lucky? It gave me
a new appreciation for the
people that attend this
program, as most of them
have suffered loss, grief,
abuse, or other related
problems within their past
that has led them to where
they are today. The way the
organization is set up in this
program, everyone is
treated as equals, which for
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2. The teaching
implications that
I have gained
from my
experience.

Prior to the
commencement of my
community
engagement, I did not
consider the vast
range of teaching
implications and
learnings that I would
gain from this
experience, besides
the communicational
skills.

I have gained a wide

range of insights that
I can use from my
participation in this
program to better my
overall teaching
practices and
pedagogy.

social upbringing are

often the reason they
are going through a
hard time or have
endured many
difficulties in their
past.

most of the people that

attend, this is all they wish.
It not only made me
recognise the hard work the
volunteers put towards
caring for each and every
individual that attends the
program, but also the
positive impact one person
(another volunteer or
myself) can have on those
around them. It

As mentioned in my
sixth wiki posting, as I
became more known
to the people
attending the
program, I began to
conceptualise the
hardships that these
people have faced in
their past and
continue to endure.
Upon seeing lessfortunate and
struggling families
attend the program, I
began to consider the

This was a one of the

biggest developments in my
learning throughout my
time at the meals program;
as both a teacher and my
own personal learning. My
experience throughout the
meals program made me
recognise and feel empathy
for the hardships some
students are facing outside
of the school environment.
Although acknowledged in
many of our learnings
throughout university, the
realities of how the many
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large diversity of
student context I may
be teaching at school
in the nearby future.
Although I have
always acknowledged
the different socioeconomic and
ecological impacts
that a childs
environment has on
their learning, only
when I talked to the
families of such
students could I begin
to conceptualise
simply how hard life
outside of the school
environment can be
for some students.

factors in a students
personal life (such as family,
community and
neighbourhood) affect their
schooling performance only
truly became evident to me
having seen and heard their
stories firsthand.

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Summing up the experience:

Looking back to your first wiki posting about anticipating the Community Engagement Placement(s) experience, how would you
describe your experience overall? What were the highlights and challenges? What advice would you offer others undertaking
Community Engagement Placement(s) in the future?
Having re-read my first wiki posting, I can honestly say that I dont know what I was ever nervous about because my time
participating in the Christ Church Community Meals Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of this year. However
also looking back at my first wiki posting, I can assert my original finding in that it is incredible how only a few hours out of my
day/week helping others can have such a positive and mutually rewarding effect. The Christ Church Community Meals Program
assisted me to open my somewhat fixed mindset to the differing contextual factors that impact the people within my local
community. It has increased my own self-awareness as to how serious and evident are matters of the disadvantaged people within
my area, as well as what I can do to make a difference in others lives. The program is so much more than providing under-privileged
members of the community with a decent meal. This program supports these people by making them feel safe, giving a sense of
belonging, having members that are more than willing to but want to listen to what these people have to say, as well as
developing mutually respectful relationships amongst a range of people with extremely diverse context. Although at times it was
somewhat difficult to connect with some individuals that attended the program, it assisted me to realise that there are many
different issues impacting on these peoples lives and although they may not want to talk or open-up to you, simply being there for
them is a reward in itself. Overall, my engagement at the Christ Church Community Meals Program was nothing short of an amazing
experience and the organisation directly correlates the community engagement values set out by ACU; that is, to both better the
dignity and well-being of all members of the community, as well as reaching out to those that are disadvantaged.
My advice for others undertaking Community Engagement Placement(s) in the future would be to participate in any and every
activity that your engagement has to offer. Through doing this in my engagement I have made many important connections
between the people that attended the program, those responsible for managing the program, other volunteers and people within
local primary schools that also assist in the running of the program.

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