CQU’s Social Work academic Dr Daniel Teghe recently played host to Victoria University’s Professor Michael Muetzelfeldt when he conducted a ‘network’ seminar in Rockhampton.

One of the topical areas which the visitor's seminar addressed was the relationship between non-government networks of service delivery and government departments.

Drawing on current research and conceptual work, Professor Muetzelfeldt discussed the usefulness of viewing this relationship as a dynamic one, which is also influenced by the networks that exist within government departments.

Dr Teghe said the topic was highly relevant in the current climate of funding arrangements, in which there is an increased dependence on public resources by community agencies for the delivery of social and human services.

“It is helpful to agencies to understand the importance of networks within government departments in order to better pitch funding submissions and to have a better working relationship with government departments and agencies,” Dr Teghe explained.

Professor Muetzelfeldt's seminar was well attended by practitioners and managers from the region’s human services sector.

As an organisational sociologist, Professor Muetzelfeldt has for many years researched the changing structure of the public sector, new modes of public management and policy making, and the impact this has on accountability, and on stakeholders and clients, and has written extensively in this area.

Photo: Professor Michael Muetzelfeldt (right) and Dr Daniel Teghe.