Australian Rural Pathways Advisors: Narratives of Place and Practice

This thesis explored the links between rurality and the work of Australian rural pathways advisors. Participant narratives described how each community’s rural social space and its issues of distributive, recognitional, and associational justice shaped the work of the advisors. The main conclusions of this research are: that there is a need for greater recognition of the work of rural pathways advisors; the advisors need strong local knowledge; the advisors hold a powerful position in their communities; and there is a need for a well-resourced local professional network with active members in order to improve practice and recognition.