Emotional Labour and Developing Schools as Community Hubs

Abstract

The benefits of schools as community hubs for students, teachers, families, and the wider community have been documented in Australia and internationally. Indeed, connecting with community is now a key performance indicator for many Australian school principals. Nevertheless, planning, designing, and sustaining community-facing schools can be time-consuming and demanding for the professionals tasked with their delivery. Successful hub projects rely on the creation of trusting partnerships and establishing and communicating shared visions, as well as deft management of entrenched attitudes, resistance to change, and at times conflict. This chapter examines the experiences of professionals inv..