ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the main elements of community work and the role it plays in building community action. It begins by discussing community work, its purpose, roles and functions. It then moves on to the principles of community work within a health context and describes in detail the com munity work process. The chapter describes the 'collective action cycle', one of the basic models developed through community work. This model explores the process through which the experience of individuals (in this case related to health and well-being) is brought together and then shared, collectivised, reflected upon and analysed so that the resultant action on health taken by communities is rooted in their day-to-day lived experi ences. The use of this model is key in ensuring that community action on health is sustainable, because it is based on community ownership of their experiences, and brings about their commitment to taking thoughtful ac tion to implement change in their health and well-being. In this way the 'collective action cycle' is a fundamental building block and process in developing community action on health.
