Australia, with its diverse cultural groups, presents a unique landscape for the emergence of pluralistic societies. This rich diversity has shaped the shift in social welfare provision under neoliberalism, characterised by a significant reliance on community-based organisations to develop private Vocational Education and Training (VET) social welfare programs, a distinct development. This shift has linked Human Service practice to neoliberalism and elevated community volunteers to the forefront of social welfare provision, a phenomenon specific to Australia's context.

Critical realism, as an emergent phenomenon, is recognised as the 'offspring' of a system, which itself may be complex. In our study, it serves as a reflective position, providing a theoretical framework to understand the complex dynamics of social welfare provision and the role of VET programs in Australia. Thus, Governments' mutual obligations to develop private social welfare programs allow eligible non-profit organisations to create private Vocational Education and Training social welfare programs. Therefore, mutual obligations aim to promote 'responsible citizenship' by encouraging volunteers to develop skills in VET and join the workforce. The role of governments in financially supporting these programs through volunteers is crucial and underscores the potential benefits of VET programs for immigrants, a key finding of our research. I have experienced the seminal work of Northwestern Local Area Health's Breastfeeding Promotion Committee (2010 - 2024) with a special invitation after colleagues declined. The research initiative we embarked upon, a collaborative effort, can enrich our understanding, particularly in the context of small groups. This cooperative effort has been mutually beneficial, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives. In breastfeeding organisational research, applying critical realism theory has proven valuable, offering significant insights and underscoring its relevance in this study. 

Susan A Smith completed her PhD (2010) from the University of Technology, Sydney. She has 43 years as a volunteer member of the ABA. In preparation, she completed a counselling course and further studied (2002) a B. Edu (Hons) in Adult Education, University of Technology, Sydney, including Communication Development Studies.