Case Study Writing Guidelines

communitybuilders.nsw has developed a guide which you may find helpful when writing your case study.

You can use this guide as a template or you can use your own format.

1. Title - What? (no more than 3 lines):
   The title describes the project or the focus of the case study. Use a headline style to catch people's attention.
   
   
2. Aims/Objectives - Why, Where? (approx 200 words):
   Why was this project developed? Give some background on reasons for the project.
   Where it is located and whether it is rural or urban.
   What group is the focus of the project (youth, elderly, families. general community etc).
   
   
3. The Project - How, Who, When? (approx 350 words):
   Funding - who provided funds and other resources?
   Stakeholders - who ran the project, who else was involved and how did they contribute?
   Community participation - how did you involve the community and stakeholders in the project
   Implementation -what were the steps in carrying out the project?
   Time frame - what was the time frame for the project and the short-term and long-term developments?
   
   
4. Results/Evaluation (approx. 200 words):
   How did you monitor/evaluate the project?
   
   • What changes/benefits happened for the target group from the project? (short-term and long-term)
     
   • Did the project achieve its aims/objectives?
     
   • Were there any unexpected outcomes? What are they?
     
     
5. Sustainability (approx. 150 words):
   
   • How will the project and its benefits continue into the future?
     
   • Can the project be replicated with other groups and in other areas?
     
     
6. Lessons Learnt (approx. 200 words):
   
   • What did you and other stakeholders learn from the project?
     
   • What were the main challenges in implementing the project? How did you meet these challenges or difficulties?
     
   • Did anything unexpected happen? How did you handle this?
     
   • What would you do the same/differently if you implement such a project again?
     
   • Any advice for others implementing a similar project?
     
     
7. Contacts/Links/Resources:
   Please list any contacts, links or resources that you found particularly useful in carrying out the project and which could be helpful to others.

Other information to include

Consent
Make sure you have the consent of the commissioning organisation or key stakeholders before submitting your case study.

Quotes and Photos
Quotes and photographs of the participants really add to the story. Please send 1-2 photographs if possible.
Photos/graphics should be gif or jpg files.

Make sure you have permission from the people involved to use their quotes/photos.

Contact details
Please provide a contact name and details that can be published on the site and where we can contact you if we need to.

Some examples of different styles of case studies

The Pipeline Project in Remote NSW
A public participation case study involving a small community under threat of having its water supply pipeline replaced with water tanks - written by Max Hardy.
http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/builder/participation/pipeline.html

Citizen's Jury Process - Wollondilly Shire Council
A public participation case study based on the Wollondilly Shire Council Social Planning Community Panel (Citizen's Jury) Process
–written by Max Hardy,Twyford Consulting and Sandra Ruecroft,Wollondilly Shire Council.
http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/builder/participation/cit_jury.html

For further information

Contact	:	Melissa Stewart
Address	:	Project Officer, Communities Division, NSW Department of Community Services
Phone	:	(02) 9716 2846
Email	:	webkeeper@communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au