Title: New pathways to a shared future Ms Jan Ferguson Managing Director Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
1New pathways to a shared futureMs Jan
FergusonManaging Director Desert Knowledge
Cooperative Research Centre
- United Nations Association of Australia
- 28 August 2009
- Brisbane
2Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
(DKCRC)
- Vision
- The DKCRC is committed to
- creating economic opportunities for desert
people and - making a demonstrable difference for remote
Aboriginal communities, and settlements - through the application of participatory research
and training.
3Desert Knowledge CRC
- Australias largest regionally based social,
economic, and environmental research
collaboration. - Approximately 250 researchers across 28 partner
agencies working toward developing sustainable
livelihoods for people. - Working with 70 remote communities
4The situation for Aboriginal Australians
(Productivity Commission 2009)
- Life expectancy
- Gap 12 years for males and 10 years for females
- Young child mortality
- Gap improved slightly, but remain 3 times below
non-Aboriginal Australians - Reading, writing and numeracy
- Gap widens over time, and as the degree of
remoteness increases. - Year 12 attainment
- Gap of 50 below non-Indigenous 19 year olds
- Employment
- Participation rate lower, and the unemployment
rate higher
5Aboriginal people in the NT
- July 2007 Federal Government
- NT Emergency Response (NTER)
- the Intervention
- October 2006 July 2008 NT Government
- Introduction of 8 new Shires
- July 2007 Local Government
- Alcohol Laws restricting public drinking in NT
- dry towns
6Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER)
October 2007
- NTER was carried out in prescribed areas in the
Northern Territory - encompasses more than 500 Aboriginal communities
73 of the larger settlements were targeted for
intense application of NTER measures. - Over 70 per cent of Aboriginal people in the NT
live within prescribed areas. - NTER measures directly affect approximately
45,500 Aboriginal men, women and children.
7Imagine You are an Aboriginal grandmother living
in a prescribed remote community in the Northern
Territory
- You have grandchildren
- Some go to school
- You were a health worker before you retired
- You live in and pay rent for an overcrowded house
that is not properly maintained - You have only one public phone box in the
community and it is often broken - Where you shop what you want to buy is
controlled
8As an Aboriginal woman
- You have grown up learning about your land, the
law and your culture - You teach your grandchildren about their family,
ancestors and country - You are strong in your traditional language
- You are a strong member of your family
9The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER)
- Impact
- Half your money is quarantined into an Income
Management system - Your movements are managed
- Your grandchildrens school lunch is compulsory
- Where you shop is restricted
- You are given a BasicsCard
10BasicsCard
- Reality
- You do not have more choice as not all stores
where you want to spend are approved or are in
your home location - You can only buy food, clothing, medicine, basic
household items - You cannot spend at a second hand store and save
money - You cannot use your BasicsCard for cash out,
lay-by or book-up - You cannot spend more than 800 per day
-
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12The challenge of Closing the Gaps
- Requires a shift in community attitudes from a
deficit model to a model supportive of - good communication,
- choice and informed consent
- open negotiation of the best way forward
- understanding that this will take time
13Aboriginal Knowledge and Intellectual Protocol
Community Guide http//www.desertknowledgecrc.com.
au/socialscience/socialscience.html
Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi
14Good research checklist
- Its OK for me to work on this research.
- This research is OK with the community.
- I am working with the visiting researcher.
- I am getting paid.
- I know the research will be useful.
- I know the research will make a difference.
- I know that I will get copies of the research.
- I am being listened to.
- I am being respected.
- We have made a research agreement.
15Elements of successful initiatives
- Attitude
- Influenced by the goals, motivation and personal
commitment of the Aboriginal people - Resources
- Availability and access to resources
- Time to plan, build genuine relationships,
reflect and learn -
- Process
- Development of local capacity where ever
possible, and support providers knowing when to
move on from dependence to independence
16New pathways to a shared future
- Genuine engagement with Aboriginal people
- On-the-ground programs that will fast-track
economic participation - Effective two way communication of to targeted
stakeholders and end-users
17Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
- www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au