A regional town’s volunteer surf lifesaving club, Harbour Surf Life Saving (HSLS), has operated for over 60 years and is widely described by long-term members as a “second family”. In the past five years, the coastline has experienced more frequent severe storms and beach erosion, leading the state government to introduce new safety regulations that require additional training hours, incident reporting, and upgraded rescue equipment. At the same time, the town’s economy has shifted toward seasonal tourism: short-term rentals have increased, many local service workers commute from other areas, and membership now includes more fly-in/fly-out university students who can only volunteer during peak holiday periods.
To recruit and coordinate members, HSLS introduced a private social media group, an online rostering app, and a digital badge system that tracks training and patrol hours. Some members report the new systems make participation easier and more inclusive; others argue the club feels less personal and that newer members are “collecting badges” rather than building relationships. The club committee is considering replacing most in-person meetings with online briefings to reduce time burdens and meet compliance requirements.
c. Using Tönnies and/or Maffesoli, evaluate the committee’s proposal to replace most in-person meetings with online briefings. In your answer, recommend whether HSLS should proceed and justify your recommendation with reference to the stimulus.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Sociology practice question worth 8 marks, testing your understanding of Influences on selected community. It falls under Community in Unit 4: Community, social movements and social change. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In this unit, students explore the ways sociologists have thought about the idea of community and how various types of community are experienced. They examine the relationship between social movements and social change, including the nature, purpose, power, and outcomes of social movements.
Students examine the changing definitions and experiences of community, including the theories of Ferdinand Tonnies and Michel Maffesoli. They analyse factors influencing belonging, the impact of technology, economic, social, political, and geographical factors, and evaluate a specific community experience, considering ethical research methodology.
influences on the experience of the selected community and the interplay between these influences:
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