The Local Area Coordination Network are delighted to celebrate the publication of ‘Rebuilding local support systems – person by person, place by place: international advances in Local Area Coordination’ by Eddie Bartnik, Ralph Broad, Nick Sinclair, and Dr. Sandhya Duggal, now available in the journal Disability & Society.

At its heart, Local Area Coordination has always been about relationships; this publication is a timely reminder of the value of staying connected as a global movement too. When we share practice, stories, evidence, and learning across borders, we strengthen not only our individual programmes, but the collective foundation of Local Area Coordination itself.

As the article highlights, the core principles and features of Local Area Coordination’s design and practice (supporting people to build on their strengths, nurturing natural connections, reducing service dependency, and strengthening inclusive local communities) remain as relevant now as they were when the approach first emerged in 1980s Western Australia.

These principles have withstood decades of policy shifts, funding pressures, and systemic change. Their longevity is not accidental; they reflect the deep alignment with what matters to people and what works, i.e. that of human relationships.

Have a read.

Nick Sinclair,
Local Area Coordination Network Programme Director