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Working with Aboriginal People and Communities

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Working with Aboriginal People and Communities Produced by Aboriginal Services Branch in consultation with the Aboriginal Reference Group NSW Department of Community Services 4-6 Cavill Avenue Ashfield NSW 2131 Phone (02) 9716 2222 February 2009 ISBN 1 74190 097 2 www.community.nsw.gov.au A number of NSW Department of As Aboriginal people are the Community Service (Community original inhabitants of NSW; and Services) regions as well as several as the NSW Government only has other government agencies have a specific charter of service to the created their own practice guides people of NSW, this document for working with Aboriginal people refers only to Aboriginal people. and communities. In developing References to Torres Strait Islander this practice resource, we have people will be specifically stated combined the best elements of where relevant. It is important existing practices to develop to remember that Aboriginal and a resource that provides a Torres Strait Islander cultures are consistent approach to working very different, with their own with Aboriginal people and unique histories, beliefs and values. communities.1 It is respectful to recognise their separate identities. Community The information and practice tips Services recognise that Torres contained in this document are Strait Islander people are among generalisations and do not reflect the First Nations of Australia the opinions of all Aboriginal and represent a part of our client people and communities in NSW. and staff base. The Department’s There may be exceptions to the Aboriginal programs and services information provided. are available, without question, to Torres Strait Islander people. CONTENTS SECTION ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION What is the practice resource and why do we need it? 2 Historical overview 3 History of mistrust of welfare based agencies 3 State and national apologies 3 Over-representation of Aboriginal people 5 Sensitive issues 5 Grief and loss (Sorry Business) 6 Use of the terms ‘Indigenous’, ‘Aboriginal’ and ‘Torres Strait Islander’ 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags 9 Aboriginal language group names and nations 10 Aboriginal concept of family and community 13 Acknowledgement of land and original custodians and Welcome to Country 14 Men’s and Women’s Business 16 Communication 18 Respect and sensitivity 18 Use of appropriate language 21 Communication techniques 25 Building rapport 26 Cultural bias 27 Participation 28 SECTION TWO: ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Effective consultation with Aboriginal organisations and communities 30 Working with Aboriginal organisations 32 Understanding community structures 33 SECTION THREE: RESOURCES Calendar of significant cultural events 36 Important things to remember 40 References 42 1 What is the practice resource and why do we need it? This practice resource — Working exist within Aboriginal families a greater understanding of this with Aboriginal people and and communities. It suggests some background, puts us in a better communities is a guide for all engagement and communication position to appreciate both the Community Services and relevant strategies that will improve the current impacts these factors have non-government organisation way we work with and relate to on communities and how we can (NGO) staff, particularly field staff. Aboriginal people. work with Aboriginal people in the It has been developed to improve future. Staff in Community Services and service delivery to Aboriginal NGOs may find it difficult to build Aboriginal culture and people by providing staff with key open and trusting relationships communities are diverse and there facts, and information relevant with Aboriginal people and vice are many different nations, tribes to working with Aboriginal versa. This can often be attributed and groups living in NSW. In view communities in NSW. This resource to a lack of cultural understanding of this a ‘one size fits all’ approach will help us become more culturally or a lack of awareness of effective will not work and we need to aware and responsive to the practice techniques. This resource tailor our ways of working and needs of Aboriginal people and will help staff to break down these communicating to meet the needs communities. barriers by offering practical advice of the individuals and communities Working with Aboriginal people and and solutions. concerned. communities provides important Many cultural and historical information to improve our factors need to be acknowledged knowledge and understanding of by anyone who works closely the diverse cultural dynamics that with Aboriginal people. Having 2 Historical overview History of mistrust of the issue of mistrust such as power Opportunity Commission welfare based agencies differences, lack of representative (HREOC). The Inquiry report, Historically the words protection structures and a lack of Aboriginal Bringing them home, was tabled in and intervention have not been people in influential positions in the Commonwealth Parliament on associated with positive outcomes government. 26 May 1997. for Aboriginal people, even Having said this, NSW Government On 18 June 1997, former NSW where the actions of individuals organisations and NGOs are Premier the Hon. Bob Carr, offering these services may have putting policies and programs issued a formal apology in been well intended. There is an in place that are committed to response to Bringing them home. understandable mistrust of people acknowledging and attempting Premier Carr moved that NSW who offer services based on these to change these perceptions. ‘apologises unreservedly to the concepts. However, this is something that is Aboriginal people of Australia Some reasons for this mistrust going to take time. Government for the systematic separation of stem from European colonisation and non-government agencies are generations of Aboriginal children and the subsequent forced removal moving towards working in more from their parents, families and of Aboriginal children from coordinated and collaborative ways communities’ and ‘acknowledges their families and communities, with Aboriginal organisations and and regrets Parliament’s role resulting in the Stolen Generation. communities to develop a range of in enacting laws and endorsing Removing children from their strategies, programs and initiatives policies of successive governments families was official government that better meet their needs. whereby profound grief and policy in Australia until 1969. loss have been inflicted upon 2 Taking children from their families State and national Aboriginal Australians’. was one of the most devastating apologies On 13 February 2008, history was practices of white settlement and In 1995, the Commonwealth made when newly elected Prime for many Aboriginal people the Attorney General established Minister Kevin Rudd issued a impact of this practice is still felt a National Inquiry into the formal apology to all Aboriginal today. Separation of Aboriginal and and Torres Strait Islander peoples There are a number of other Torres Strait Islander Children from on behalf of current and successive underlying social issues faced by their Families, to be conducted Commonwealth Government/s: Aboriginal families that impact on by the Human Rights and Equal 3 KEVIN RUDD’S APOLOGY TO THE STOLEN GENERATIONS “ We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry. To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry. And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry. We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.”3 4 Historical overview (CONT’D) Over-representation of Aboriginal people continue to be Various government legislation and Aboriginal people over-represented in the following policies have contributed to: Aboriginal children and young areas: • dispossession of land people make up around 4 per • welfare systems • family fragmentation cent of all children and young • child protection systems people in NSW, yet they represent • mental health issues more than 29% of all children • homelessness • social and emotional wellbeing and young people in out-of-home • health systems issues care (OOHC).4 To address this • juvenile and criminal justice • grief and loss issues issue the NSW Government is systems • poverty investing significant resources into • unemployment. • racism prevention and early intervention strategies for Aboriginal families. • unemployment Sensitive issues Strategies such as Brighter Futures • poor health outcomes It is acknowledged that past and the Aboriginal Maternal and • poor housing standards government legislation and Infant Health Strategy focus on practices enforced on Aboriginal • below standard literacy and providing early assistance for people (e.g. assimilation policies) numeracy rates Aboriginal families and young have contributed to Aboriginal • alcohol and substance abuse/ mothers in an effort to prevent people being one of the most misuse adverse contact with the child disadvantaged socio-economic
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