ABSTRACT
The promotion of social inclusion is not restricted to the domain of politicians, policy makers and social, health or welfare professionals. Australian government policy emphasises the importance of a multi-sectoral approach, engaging not just government and business but also community organisations and citizens in order to build community capacity to generate and maintain socially inclusive communities (Australian Government 2010). In this chapter we examine the practice of social inclusion as enacted by community members rather than health professionals or policy makers. We present a case study of how community members themselves can initiate, enact and sustain social inclusion practice. We draw on a programme of participatory research carried out with members of a community-generated, not-for-profit multicultural women's friendship group operating in outer east Melbourne, Australia.
