Melbourne Graduate School of Education - Theses

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    Cultural preservation : the Estonian experience in Australia 1947-1987
    Redenbach, Merike ( 1987)
    This study is based on an historical perspective which traces the origins and development of Estonian organisations which are viewed as representing the 'conscious' attempts to preserve Estonian culture in Australia. The organisational problems and strategies to preserve the culture are examined in terms of the relationship between strategies used by the Estonian community and those used simultaneously by the wider community in response to changes in social relationships and emerging government policies. A major source for research material has been through oral history sources in interviews and contacts with several ethnic Estonians(primarily immigrants),who have been actively involved with organised Estonian cultural life : extensive interviews were conducted in Melbourne,Sydney, Thirlmere,Adelaide and Canberra; the writer has also spent almost twelve months being actively involved in some of the Estonian organisations including the Melbourne Ladies' Choir, Festivals and concerts. Other important sources of information include the Eesti Paevad Albums(Estonian Festival Albums, 1954-1986),historical writings about Estonia and Estonian people,contemporary publications, research and other projects, an original questionnaire for second generation Estonians,and the writer's participation in the National Research Conference on Ethnicity and Multiculturalism at the University of Melbourne (May 14 - 16) in 1986. Part 1 introduces the underlying concepts of 'culture', 'community' and 'ethnicity',with a section on the relevant historical and geographical background of Estonia and Estonian immigrants. Aspects of the Estonian culture within the Australian context are examined using an adaptation of Raymond Williams' interpretation of culture this study stresses the importance of creating a balanced interpretation of Estonian culture at three levels,that is,the 'living community','recorded' culture and 'selective tradition' in the argument for developing strategies for preserving the Estonian culture through the process of mainstream education. Part 11 follows on from the foundations laid by the 'Old Estonians'(pre-World War ll),and outlines the changing role of major Estonian organisations such as the Festivals,Choirs, Estonian school,the press,and to a lesser extent the Church,in preserving the Estonian culture according to emerging trends within the Estonian community and the surrounding culture. Part 111 highlights the nature of the 'ageing' and diminishing Estonian community in Australia,with - the emergence of the younger generation of ethnic Estonians in Australia as the vehicle for the creation and transmission of Estonian culture. The intercultural context and the nature of contemporary social relationships provide evidence of the change from the ethnic exclusiveness of the earlier period,to the widening framework for Estonian ethnicity and interest in preserving the Estonian culture. Many of the current developments from within the Estonian community and its wider context are presented as evidence of trends which are moving towards the realization of crucial strategies which are needed to preserve the Estonian culture in Australia through the process of education.
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    Interpreter services for Australian migrant communities and problems related to the provision and training of interpreters
    Kerstjens, Charles ( 1986)
    A documentation of the development and implementation of support services for migrants must consider two types of support: 1. Assisting migrants to acquire English language skills in order to be able to function as members of the community, and an appreciation, by the community, especially by professionals and service agencies, of the difficulties resulting from incomplete or insufficient language competence and from cultural differences. 2. The availability of interpreter services for non-English speaking individuals and for those professionals or agencies servicing the needs of non- or minimal English sneaking individuals or groups. Though the need for interpreter services was initially thought to be a short-term need, based on the assumption that non- English speaking settlers would quickly acquire sufficient English language skills to be able to function as members of the Australian community, evidence, presented within this thesis, substantiates the claim that the need for interpreter services will be a long-term one in the Australian context. This thesis attempts to bring together information relating to policies developed and efforts made in the period of 1945 to the present day, in order to provide an overview of what has been achieved, the impact on the community and evaluation which has taken place. Documentation provided clearly demonstrates that the provisions made do not provide adequate interpreter services as support services to any but a small (if growing) percentage of those within the community who are linguistically disadvantaged, particularly as the services are largely based within government departments and not community based.
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    Information technology in social education: a study of the factors influencing social education database development
    Bunnett, Adair Brice ( 1995)
    This study of the creation of Development, Boom and Bust investigates the reasons for the use of information technology in social education, examines the issues involved in preparing and publishing projects of this type, and suggests reasons for the dearth of recent published material of this nature. Development, Boom and Bust comprises data from the rate records of the City of South Melbourne. Two areas, representative of working class and middle class ownership, were selected for entry over the years 1855 to 1899. Along with descriptions and value of each property, occupations of both occupier and owner were recorded, and student activities were developed to accompany the data disk.