Angela Bennett
High Distinction
Gosford High School
Giving Up: Who will give when God is gone?

I began this PIP as an individual genuinely fraught with concern about what the future holds for the culture of giving in Australia. After witnessing the extreme generosity of my church congregation’s greying givers, I believed that without their valuable contribution, our society would be detrimentally affected. I worried that giving would significantly deteriorate in our 21st century society, thus devastating those in need and fuelling a culture of selfishness. After all, historical research indicated to me that giving has always been supported by an omnipresent religious influence.

Yet, by employing a trans-generational cross-cultural comparison; I have been enlightened and thoroughly encouraged by the views of a diverse demographic of Australians: I was fascinated by the religious devotion of members of the Silent Generation, who reflected on their own lifetimes of benevolent dedication to Christian charitable organisations. I was reassured by the Baby Boomers, who discussed their generous contributions to a seemingly limitless spectrum of organisations, made possible by the influence of both religious and non-religious community involvement. And, I was encouraged by my Generation Y peers who demonstrated a genuine sense of social responsibility for their 21st century world. Their value of humanity has been enabled by a secular socialisation process, which pragmatically places power in humankind, as opposed to a religious deity. As such, they are embracing the opportunity to give to any number of the 700000 Australian charitable organisations in operation today.

Thankfully, secularisation has by no means declined the socialisation experiences of young Australians. Today, of all the world’s nations, Australian individuals give the fourth highest percentage of their gross domestic product to charity 1. Social change has dictated that families who once attended Church on a Sunday morning are today just as likely to be found in their local community. These different socialisation experiences cannot simply be labelled ‘positive’ or ‘negative’; they are just different ways of responding to the surrounding social context. Thus, as our society continues to diversify throughout the century, increasing numbers of organisations will be formed to cater to the individual needs and passions of Australian citizens. Hence, I have ascertained that benevolent values in secularising Australia are indeed determined by the influence of community involvement during the individual’s socialisation.

Ultimately, I needn’t have worried at all. Rather, I should have emulated my Generation Y peers in placing my faith in the power of humankind. However, what I have gained through completion of this Personal Interest Project is an irreplaceable understanding of the dynamics of contemporary giving in Australia.

The socialisation process of generations past was dominated by religiously-influenced community involvement, which encouraged pro-social values, hence leading people to give. Comparatively, today, the socialisation process is composed of a spectrum of community influences – educational, recreational, charitable and environmental – which similarly encourage the development of pro-social values. The only difference is that our young are being socialised to embrace pro-social values relating to a broader spectrum of causes. Ultimately, this social change is preparing them to live lives of compassion in 21st century society. I have been able to apply such micro-level conclusions to truly understand the contemporary macro-world occurrences of the Global Financial Crisis and Black Saturday Bushfires, as an informed and active citizen.
It is as natural a value for a human to give, as it is for a human to love. And, ultimately; they are both one and the same. I have learnt that socialisation in 21st century Australia means that whilst charity still begins at home, it by no means ends there.

ENDNOTES:

1. Note: 0.69% The Good Giving Guide