Building the Bridge: Making partnerships real between Aboriginal and mainstream

services

Muriel Bamblett - CEO

the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

Investing in the future – embedding culture and rights as

best practice• a rights-based, culturally respectful strategy of

social investment which acknowledges the impact of the past can form the basis of reviving local Aboriginal communities

• embedding culture in our services and being holistic and strengths-based in our approach creates the best outcomes

• partnerships not mainstreaming – to re-create local communities of care that empower Aboriginal peoples

Towards cultural competence

• Recognise the importance of Aboriginal self-determination

• Recognise that culture and connection to community is in the best interests of the Aboriginal people

• Being a culturally safe organisation• Respect and understanding of culture• Understanding the impacts of our racist

history• Addressing your ‘inner racist’

EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY-LEVEL INDICATORS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO A

HEALTH OUTCOME –

Suicide rates by number of factors present in the community (1987–1992). (Taken from Chandler M and Proulx T. Changing selves in changing worlds: youth suicide on the fault lines of colliding cultures. Archives of Suicide Research 2006: 10: 125-140. 2006).

An index of ‘‘cultural continuity’’ comprised of six marker variables: degree to which each of B.C.’s individual bands have already secured 1) some measure of self government; some control over the delivery of 2) health, 3) education, 4) policing services, and 5) cultural resources; and 6) are otherwise at work litigating for Aboriginal title to traditional lands.

Rat

e o

f yo

uth

suic

ide

Cultural Competence Continuum

CulturalDestructivene

ss

CulturalIncapacity

CulturalBlindness

Characterised by

Intentional attitudespolicies & practicesthat are destructive

to cultures and consequently to

individuals within the Culture

Characterised by:

Lack of capacity to help minority clients or Communities dueto extremely biased

beliefs and a paternal attitude

toward thosenot of a mainstream

culture

Characterised by:

The belief that serviceor helping approachestraditionally used by the dominant culture

are universally applicable regardless of race or culture.

These services ignore cultural strengths and encourage assimilation

Characterised by:

The desire to deliverquality services

and a commitment to diversity

indicated by hiringminority staff,

initiating training and recruiting minority members for agency

leadership, but lacking information

on how to maximise these capacities.

This level of competence can lead to tokenism

Characterised by:

Acceptance and respect for difference

continuing self assessment, careful

attention to thedynamics of

difference, continuousexpansion of knowledge

and resources, and adaptation of services tobetter meet the needs of

diverse populations

Characterised by:

Holding culture in high esteem: seeking to

add to the knowledgebase of culturally

competent practiceby conducting

research, influencingapproaches to care,

and improving relations between

culturesPromotes self determination

CulturalPre

competence

CulturalCompetence

CulturalProficienc

y

Towards cultural competence

• Cultural Awareness – Knowledge with Understanding

• Commitment to Aboriginal Self-determination and Respectful Partnerships– the Ground Rules

• Cultural Respect - Attitude and Values

• Cultural Responsiveness – Ability and Skills

• Cultural Safety – Environment and Client Experience

Rules of engagement – an Aboriginal Client Placement

principle

• Aboriginal agencies first• Where the Aboriginal agency cannot deliver a service

– Generalist agency who has a partnership agreement with an Aboriginal Agency

• Therefore is committed to helping capacity build that agency

• Therefore has Aboriginal workers who are appropriately mentored and supported

• Therefore has undergone a cultural competency audit

Balancing expectations• To have Aboriginal Services engaged in

meaningful partnerships will require services to:– Acknowledge and accept the Aboriginal communities

role to self determine and participate in all aspects of decision making

– Show high levels of respect in all aspects of engagement

– Be premised on equity and careful consideration – Acknowledge that Aboriginal Services do not enter

into partnerships with the same finance and resource capacity

– Undertake a community development approach to the partnership

Building the bridge:Creating communities of

embrace

• Processes of accountability

• Focus on empowering Aboriginal communities and services

• Building on strengths and culture

• Working together to restore the circles of care