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1.

Introduction
Communityisasimpleconceptofbelongingintosomething,bothinthecontextof
communityasageographicalareaandcommunity(Homan2011)asacharacteristic
of common and shared interests. The concept of community, though, has widely
varyingmeaningsanddeterminingtheaspectsthatcometogetherinacommunityisa
rathertediousprocess.Thisreportaimstoinvestigatetheaspectsofcommunityinthe
chosencommunitygroup YourBodyResolutionFunFitKids, identifiesanissue
within the organization that it is facing, researches on the current rationale
implementedbytheorganizationandlooksatthewholeissueingeneral.

2.OrganizationBackground
TheorganisationselectedisYourBodyResolution.Itprovidesserviceswhichinclude
butarenotlimitedtopersonaltraining,massagetherapy,exercisetherapy,postural
alignmentandgroupfitness.ThedirectorofYourBodyResolution,KarinaHannan,
hasover20yearsofexperienceinthedanceandfitnessindustry.Thepartofthis
organizationourteamthe FantasticFourI willfocusonis YourBodyResolution
FunFitKids.FunFitKidsbuildsitscommunityaroundtheobjectofteachingdance
tochildrenbetweentheagesof3to12.Thisdanceandfitnessclassisdesignedfor
kidstohavefunanddeveloptheirnaturalcreativityinasafeandfunenvironment.
FunFitKidscurrentlycaterstotheneedsofmorethanthirtytwocentres,bothpre
school and primary schools like Greek Orthodox, Just Little Kids, Bright Stars
Montesorri,ToysandTots,WigglesandGiggles,LittleReiofSunshine,OysterBay
PreSchool, Jumpstart Childcare, Karimbla Early Learning Centre, Gymea Bay
BabiesattheBay,etcintheEasternSuburbs,InnerWestandSydneyCBDareas.The
combinationofdressingup,propsandroleplaysnotonlyguaranteethefitnessofthe
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childreninvolvedbutalsohelpsthemovercometheirshyness,becomemoreinvolved
withotherpeersoftheirownageandsocialize.

3.OverviewoftheIssue
One of the issues identified after speaking with the founder Karina Hannan is
regarding the potential employees of the organisation. Finding, training and
maintaining dance instructors to teach the Fun Fit Kids programme has been
problematic for the organisation. Instructors that represent and embody the core
valuesoftheorganisationarefundamentaltomaintainingthebroadercommunity
withwhichtheorganisationengageswithandtomaintainagoodrelationshipwiththe
childcarecentres,schools,parentsandthechildren.Maintainingastrongcommunity
withintheorganisationisnecessaryforcommunityengagementelsewhere.
Because FunFitKids currentlycaterstotheneedsofmorethanthirtytwocentres,
bothpreschoolandprimaryschools,timemanagementisapredominantfactor.Due
to the number of schools and the distance between them, which is travelled by
individualinstructors,andvolumeofchoreographythatinstructorsmustlearnfrom
Hannaninordertofacilitateclasses,thereisnotagreatdealoftimeleftovertobuild
bondswithintheorganisation,letalonetopotentialinstructorswhoaresorelyneeded
tomaintainthehighdemandfromcentres.AccordingtoSumerville(2011,p.12),itis
notsosimpletoputapininthetermcommunityandknowthatcommunityiswhat
youhave,itisafluideterm.Therefore,whenitisusedinthisreport,itisdonesoin
ordertodistinguishagroupofpeoplefromanyothergroup,ofwhichtherearemany.
Theorganisation FunFitKids engageswithmanycommunitiesdaytodaysuchas
schools,familiesandcentres.Itmaybethatduetosuchanimmersionofengagement
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with other communities without reaffirming engagement with the organisation,


createsasenseofdisconnection,leavinginstructorstofeellikeindividualdancers
insteadofmembersofagreaterunit.
ThecommunitybelongingtoFunFitKidsismadeuptheinstructorswhoteachthe
programme.Currentlytherearethreeinstructors notcountingthefounder,Karina
Hannan, who also instructs classes. Community members are given support from
Hannanintheformofdanceandchoreographytraining,equipmentsuchasspeakers,
music,lightsandothermaterialssuchascostumesandprops.Hannanpointsoutthata
difficultyfacedbyherinstructorsincludesthefinancialburdenofpetrol,wearand
tear on instructors cars and time, due to the distance and volume of centres
distributedbetweensuchsmallcommunities.

4.PotentialOpportunities
Your Body Resolution is not as widely publicized as it ought to be. Its current
locations are widely limited to Sydney CBD and the Eastern Suburbs. The
organizationisexpandingitsservices,including FunFitKids, toothersurrounding
suburbs.Acommunicationcampaignwouldnotonlyincreasetheinterestofchildcare
centres wishing to deploy dancing classes but also inspire instructors to join this
organization.IfFunFitKidscangainandretainmoreinstructorswhobelieveinits
corevalues,itcanaddonmoreschoolstoitslistandeachinstructorcouldworkless
hours.
Thiscanbeeasilyachievedbyapublicitycampaigninbothpaidmedia(newspaper,
magazineandtelevision)aswellasunpaidmedia(throughtheinternetblogsand
socialnetworkingsites).Thiswouldcreateawarenessabouttheorganization,rouse
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interest of the target groups, improve the community aspect and enhance the
relationshipwiththeorganizationsshareholders.

5.CurrentApproachandRationale
AfterhavingemailedHannan,ourteam,theFantasticFourteamhasreadthroughthe
proposedcontractsthatthepotentialdanceinstructorswillbeaskedtoagreeto.As
YourBodyResolutionismostlynonprofit(FunFitKidsclassesareprovidedate$10
perclass),andtheinstructorsdonotgetpaidasmuchastheywouldhaveinother
jobs,mostoftheinstructorsmerelytreatFunFitKidsaplatformtogettrainedand
takethefirstexitintoacorporatecareer.Toavoidshorttermemploymentsassuch,as
perthenewcontract,thepotentialinstructorsjoiningFunFitKidswillberequiredto
stay on for at least the next six months. To increase the instructors sense of
communitytheywillbegivenincentivesintheformoffreemealsandpetrolcosts
will be covered. As a further approach to increase the sense of belonging in a
communityandfortheirconvenience,theinstructorswilllookafterareasthatare
closerandmoreaccessibletothem.YourBodyResolutionputsalotoftimeandeffort
intochoosingitsinstructors,theyneednotonlyhavethedancingtalentandskills
suitabletoachildrensteacher,butalsothepositiveattituderequiredinsomebodyto
beapartofawidercommunityandacceptitashisown.

6.ContextoftheIssue
Ourteamalsotalkedtothecurrentinstructorsabouttheirroleintheorganisationto
better understand their sense of community, what they think about their
responsibilitiesandiftheyfeellike FunFitKids offersasenseofcommunityto
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instructors.Mostanswerscentredonthefunctionoftheindividualclasseswhileone
instructorspokeonlyofwhatshefindschallengingandrewardingwithinthejob.She
(JaneDoe)states:Iwouldsaythehardestelementwouldbewhenachildisgenuinelynot
interestedinsomepartsoftheclassorwhentheysuddenlybecomeunhappyduringclassand
tryingtoaccommodateforthatchildandtryingtoencouragethem,whiletryingtocontrolthe
restoftheclass. Theeasiestisthetotalopposite,whenthechildandespeciallymajorityof
the class are just happy to be there, it carries the class and helps the class to run more
smoothly,regardlessofsmallmishapsthatcanariseduringclass.
Itwouldappearthatthephysicaldaytodayworkoftheorganisationprovideschallenging
andrewardingelementsforitsmembers.Thiswasatheme,thoughlessovertlystatedinother

instructorscomments.Perhapsanelementofengagementwhencreatingmaterialsfor
the organisation could be focused aroundappealing to those who are inspired by
challengingsituationsandthengratifiedbycomingtotheotherendofthatchallenge.
Itmaybethatthereisawaytoillustratethechallengeandaccomplishmentinsucha
waythattheinstructorfeelsasenseofcomraderywiththeirfellowinstructorsas
opposedtothewayJaneDoestatesherexperienceassingularorindividual.Thereis
nomentioninheranswerofsharingthatsenseofaccomplishmentwithherpeers.
Unfortunately,ourteamwasnotabletoinquireintoeachindividualinstructorsabout
theirperceptionoftheengagementsissues,buteachinstructorexpressedasenseof
satisfactionfortheworktheyperformandappeartorespectandadmireHannan,most
statingthattheyallseehowmuchshehasonherplate.

7.CommunityStakeholders
Theprimarystakeholders ofthisissuearetheinstructorsthemselves.Thelackof
communitysenseamongthestakeholderscouldclearlybeseenafterthisresearch.
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This mightbeoneofthemajorreasonsastowhy FunFitKids hasahardtime


successfullykeepingitsinstructorsforalongperiodoftime.Theinstructorshere
workalonewiththeirindividualdancegroupsandthereislittleornointeraction
betweentheteammembers.Mostoftheinstructorsmaydevelopabondandsenseof
community with the dance group they instruct but clearly not with the other
instructors.If FunFitKids canchangetheorganizationalculturebyimprovingthe
waytheinstructorsinteractwitheachother,thegroupcouldbebettermanagedanda
senseofbelongingcouldbedeveloped.Thiscouldbeachievedbyregularmeetings
andinteractionprogramsamongtheinstructorswheretheycouldcometogetherand
share their ideas, experiences or work on projects together. The experience in a
similar role of one instructor could help solve the problem being faced by his
colleague.Ithasbeenfoundfromresearchthatengagingindialoguesorconversation
withexperiencedpeopleormoreimportantlywithcolleaguesisalargepartofthe
professionallearningmodelsforteachers(Penlington2008).Inthelongterm,regular
interactionandengagementbetweentheinstructorscoulddeepentheirrelationship
creatingacommunityinitstruesense.

8.SignificanceoftheIssue
Oneofthemostimportantaspectsofworkingwithkidsistodevelopapositivebond
withthem.Notallkidsarefriendlyanditmightbeaproblemgettingthemtotrustthe
instructorsandfollowtheirdirections.Also,askidsreacttochangesmoreharshly
thanadultsdo,itisimportantthattheygettoworkwiththeinstructorstheyhavebeen
usedto.Forthisreason,astableinstructorisoneofthebiggestrequirementsandalso
oneofthebiggestchallengesfororganizationsworkingwithchildrenhastoface.
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Thedevelopmentofasenseofcommunityisimportantnotonlywithintheworkplace
but also with the children one is instructing. Developing trust, especially with
children,takesacertainamountoftimeandeffort,bothonthepartoftheteacherand
thelearner.Toimprovethequalityofeducationandtoachievebetterresultsforall
the parties involved, it is essential to create a stable learning environment. This
createsasenseofprofessionaldevelopmentfortheteacherbyachievingtherequired
goals(Thomas2012)andiseasieronthestudents.Trainingwithfamiliarinstructor
thushelpsthestudentsimproveandtheinstructorscanpaycloseattentionoftheir
studentsandidentifytheirstrengthsandweaknesses.

Conclusion
FunFitKidsisafunandinteractiveplatformforchildrentolearndancewithother
peers of their ages. Though it has been involved with 32 schools and child care
centresinSydneyandsurroundingsuburbs,ithasstillnotlivedtoitsfullestpotential.
Thefirstandforemostissuesthatneedstobesolvedisitscapabilityofretaining
instructorsforaprolongedperiodoftime.Doingsowouldhelptoprovideastable
learningenvironmentforkidssuchthatboththeorganizationandthekidscouldtake
onfullbenefitsofthisprogram.Furthermore,fixedinstructorswouldbeeasierto
manageandtheorganizationcouldtakeonmoreclients.Itisessentialtodevelopa
senseofcommunityamongtheinstructorstoachievethisandthemethodsofdoingso
requiregoodcommunication,bothamongtheinstructorsandcommunicationwiththe
interestedinstructorswhowouldliketobeapartoftheFunFitKidscommunity.

References:
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1. Hoffman, A, Wallach, J, & Sanchez, E 2010, 'Rediscovering Community',


Gateways: International Journal Of Community Research & Engagement, 3,
pp. 171-184, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 May 2015.
2. Homan, M. 2011. Promoting Community Change: Making It Happen in the
Real World, Cengage Learning.
3. Penlington, C. 2008. Dialogue as a catalyst for teacher change: A
conceptual analysis. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24, 1304-1316.
4. Somerville, P. 2011. Understanding Community: Politics, Policy and
Practice, Policy Press.
5. Thomas, CM 2012, 'The integrated curriculum project: Teacher change and
student outcomes within a university-school professional development
collaboration', Psychology In The Schools, 49, 5, pp. 444-464, Psychology
and Behavioral Sciences Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 May 2015.

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