ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on empirical research and examines the work of state-employed community development officers (CDOs) engaged in a response to natural disasters within the state of Queensland, Australia. It examines state-led community development practice through the lens of "practice dilemmas", a concept that is particularly helpful in illuminating the practice-policy interface challenges. The chapter considers as a result of those dilemmas the possibility of reimagining community development practice within the frame of organic or ecological practice. It explains the context of the research, and locating it within a body of literature. The chapter discusses the research methodology and CDO roles, three main findings are considered through the lens of the dilemmatic space. It also focuses on community development within disaster contexts, which is used as a way to mobilise local resources in the phases of community prevention, preparation, response and recovery.
