Parental Participation in Schools
Last Updated:
2008
Update Frequency:
every 3 years from 2008 Indicator Rationale
The broader associational and community networks established around a common interest or involvement in specific settings, such as a school, provide the same benefits to individuals as networks of close personal ties (but from a wider pool), and can also generate additional benefits for communities. School-based volunteering is a measure of community engagement and social connectedness. As well as the economic value of the services volunteers provide, volunteering builds social networks and other community benefits. "Benefits include positive social attitudes such as tolerance of diversity, positive norms that decrease anti-social behaviour, and involvement in the decision-making that can improve community life" (Pope, 2006).
Data Source
Indicators of Community Strength data were collected in telephone surveys conducted in 2008 and involved 450 individuals over the age of 18 in each of the 79 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Victoria. These data were collected as part of the Victorian Population Health Survey which was conducted at the LGA level for the first time during September to December 2008.
The Indicators of Community Strength data were previously collected in 2006 and 2004 by the then Department of Victorian Communities. However, the Indicators of Community Strength and Victorian Population Health Surveys were combined in 2008 to reduce the burden of surveying on Victorian communities and to give the indicators an institutional home into the future. The Victorian Population Health Survey has a substantially better survey methodology that includes a larger sample, the use of primary approach letters, interpreters and a different method of calculation. This means the 2008 Indicators of Community Strength data are not comparable with the previous 2004 and 2006 data. Therefore, the earlier data have been removed from Community Indicators Victoria at the request of the Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development.
Measure
Parents Involved in Activities at Their Children's School: expressed as a percentage of parents with school-aged children
Survey Questions
Do you have school aged children? Yes; No
Are you actively involved with activities in their school? Yes; No
References
Perkins, Brown & Taylor, 1996, The Ecology of Empowerment: predicting participation in Community Organisations, Journal of Social Issues, 52 (1): 85-110.
Wollebaek & Selle, 2002, Does Participation in Voluntary Associations Contribute to Social Capital? The Impact of Intensity, Scope and Type. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 31 (1):32-61.