About

Introduction

Amanda has over 20 years experience working with young people, families and communities in a range of settings in Sydney and on the Central Coast. Her experience includes work in youth health, local government and for the last five years working as a consultant focused on community development, community education and change and evaluation in human services organisations. Amanda has just completed her PhD at Sydney Uni where her research explored themes of language, practice and power in community development. Working with a group of local community development practitioners she tracked the emergence of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) on the Central Coast. Amanda has just recently joined the Social Work teach team at Newcastle  University.
Her research interests include measurement, evaluation and meaning in community development,  cooperative inquiry, strengths based approaches, using narrative in research, language and framing in social work and social policy.

Qualifications

1988 Bachelor of Arts (Hons.)Sydney University
1991 Bachelor of Social Work Sydney University
2010 PhD Sydney University (pending final emendations)
Thesis topic – Language, Practice and Power: The emergence of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) on the Central Coast

Research

Research Interests

Conference Papers

ABCD Asia Pacific Conference (2008)

• Language Practice and Power – Reflections from my PhD thesis on the emergence of ABCD on the Central Coast
• Bringing Up Kids. It’s the Little Things that Matter – Using Community Development perspectives with families with children 0-5 years.

Strength in Unity Australian Association of Social Workers Conference (2008)

• Dress Up, Book Clubs and Celebrity Chefs – Parenting education from a different using an Asset Based Community Development
  perspective when working with families with young children.

International Association of Community Development Hong Kong Conference (2007)

• Presentation of  preliminary Paper on my PhD research exploring language and meaning ABCD practice on the Central Coast of NSW

Families NSW Metro West Conference, 'The Glass if Half Full'. (2007)

• Keynote and 2 ABCD workshops

Planning by the People for the People Conference, Melbourne (2006)

• Workshop presentation 'The Central Coast Experience or working with Strengths and Assets

Central Coast Community Congress (2006, 2008)

• Community Organising in Australia.
  ABCD Further Along the Road

Getting to the Heart of Community Development Conference (2006)

• Keynote address and workshop: Practicing
  ABCD in local communities.
  

Other

Community Involvement

2005 - present NSW Community Development Network
2009 - present ABCD Asia Pacific Network
2001 - present Central Coast Community Congress Working Party
2007 - 2009 Regional Advisory Committee Hunter Area Assistance Scheme
1997 - 1998 Social Planner’s representative on the NSW Local Government Community Services Association Executive.
1999 - 2000 Vice President, NSW Local Government Community Services Association.

Research and Evaluation Reports

2010   Howard, A and Frazer, K .Bridges Evaluation Report
2009   Howard, A. and Frazer, K. Glebe Community Development Project  Evaluation Report prepared for the   Faculty of Education and Social Work,  University of Sydney.
2007 Howard, A. and Frazer, K. Bringing Up Kids. It's the Little Things that Matter Consultation Report for Southern Lakes Communities For Children, The Benevolent Society.
2006 Howard, A. Topical Paper for ARACY on What Constitutes a Child Friendly Community and How Do We Build Child Friendly Communities?
           Howard, A and Frazer, K. Report on the Impact of the NSW Department of Community Services Funding Policy on Small Non- Government  Organisations
           Howard, A. Evaluation Report into the Effectiveness of Collaboration within  the Warnervale Wadalba Community Support and Human Services Strategy
           Howard, A. Community Building and Health Project Report: Lessons from Two Communities on the Central Coast for the Central Coast Primary Health Care Network and The Benevolent Society Central Coast
          Howard, A. Eves, H. Castles, M. and Forrest, K. (2005), Central Coast Community Congress Asset Based Community Development Toolkit