Struan 1962 - Adm.monash.edu.au

SOCIAL SERVICEWhat is Social Service? It is theact of doing someth ing for someperson or group of people lessfort unate than we are. Th ere is ineac h of us an inner urge to helpothers . In giving exp ression to thisurge, than ks are not expected norrequired. If the deed measures upto the wish which prompted it, thenthe feeling of per sonal satisfactionat having done somet hing wor thwhilefor oth ers is all that is needed.Th ere is no doubt that Collegestudents have a deep sympa thy fo rpeople who are needing help. Th eywould also like to he lp these people.When atte mpts are made to giveexpression to wishes thro ugh SocialService, two major problemsemerge. The first is: Which groupof peop le should we help? Usuallythe problem of selection is simplifledwhen there is general agreernentamong the particular Collegegroup as to which type of charitythey are interested in.(i) Children: Included in thiscategory are orphanages forbabies, toddlers, childrenand adolescen ts; children'shospitals; aid for the mentallyhandicapped (e.g.special schools, St. John ofGod training centre, daycentres for ment ally retardedchildren, Kew Cot­(ii) Adults: Aged pensionersliving at home; homes andhospit als for the aged;widows ; Brotherh ood of St.Laurence.(iii) Organizations: Legacy, RedCross; hospit als; churchhome s. etc.Not only is it sometimes difficultto choose a particular organ ization,but even when the choice has beenmade, it is sometimes dishearteningto find that apparentl y no helpis needed.It could well be that help isneeded, but the institution , ininitially decl ining offers of helpdoes so because many well intentioned peop le have offered similarhelp, but for vario us reasons havefailed to carry it out.Thi s introd uces the seco nd problem.How do you get people to dowhat they say they will do? It iseasy to agree to help someone, butit beco mes a different matter whenthe "a cid test" is applied - "Whocan turn up to a working bee at9 a.m. next Sunday?" Of coursewhat rea lly matters is - how manyactually turned up and did tbe job !In offering help it is thereforeessential that the aim be mode stand realistic. It is far better topromise little and do more tha n totages, etc.; neIp or tli~e""""""~ p~ro ~= ll1 ise to ao sometfiing a n(J~o"" n ""t-_._-­soc ially und erpriveleged do it. A n even more serious omi s­(e.g. aborigines); homes for sia n is to promise to take a person aldelinquent s (e.g. Tally Ho interest in people, and then to dis-Boys' Village). appoint them .Page S~venly.Two STRUAN. 1962