Cultural Competency in Disability Conference

Doing It Right – Engagement Beyond a One Night Stand

• New ideas

• Customised solutions

• Behavioural change

• Funding opportunities

Benefits of Community Engagement

• Conflict prevention

• Positive environment

• Access to information

• Builds relationships

Benefits of Community Engagement

“ the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected”

Relationship

“a sexual relationship lasting only one night”

“a single performance of a play or show in a particular place”

One Night Stand

• Long term view• Stay faithful• Make them feel loved and wanted• Respect your partner• Have time for each other

5 Rules of A Relationship

• U• N• I• T• E

UNITE Model

Engagement Spectrum

Minimal external input, others are informed of decisions

INFORM

External views sought and taken into account

CONSULTATION

Collaboration with others for shared decision making

PARTNER

Support for community lead decision making

EMPOWER

Importance of Story

• Story• Knowledge• Understanding• Values and beliefs• Rules• Obligations and responsibilities• Consequences

Importance of Story

“ When we leave this world, all we leave behind is our story. So make it the best story possible.”

(iridescence)

For over 60,000 years Aboriginal people throughout Australia lived a good story

Importance of Story

Aboriginal Non Aboriginal• Life Expectancy 66.2 84.7• Average Income $530 $801• Employment 45.0% 69.9%• Participation 54.3% 74.2%• Home Ownership 33% 66%• Social Housing 33% 6%• Incarceration 2492/100,000 154/100,000

Current Story

• Hepatitis A 11.7X• Hepatitis B 5.4X• Meningococcal 7.8X• Salmonellosis 4.3X• Chlamydia 7.9X• Tuberculosis 1.6X• Otitis Media 3.0X• Cardiovascular 2.0X• Very high stress 2.2X• Self harm 2.9X

Current Story

• Suicide 3.0X• Infant mortality >• Years of life lost >• Circulatory system disease >• Neoplasms including cancer >• Endocrine >• Nutritional >• Metabolic >• Diabetes >• Respiratory >• Digestive >

Current Story

The group in a society whose members wield more power than other groups. They control language, religion, values, rituals and social customs.

Dominant Culture

• Focus on staff deficits• Everything is urgent• Power dominates• Things measured more highly valued• Worship of the written word• Only one right way

Dominant Culture in Organisations

• Paternalism from those with power• Power hoarding• Either/or thinking• Fear of open conflict• Individualism• Progress or perish

Dominant Culture in Organisations

• Disease• Land taken• Starvation• Massacres• Government policies

Contemporary Story

• Could order Aborigines to live on reserves• Tribal customs and native language forbidden• Permission needed to enter or leave reserve• White people not allowed to associate• Sale of alcohol prohibited• Aborigines not entitled to social security

Aborigines Protection Act

• 1915 Protection Board given control of Aboriginal children (domestic servants and farm hands)

• 1918 Dispersal policy (<half caste expelled)• 1934–1939 Assimilation Policy• 1940 Welfare Board (neglected or uncontrollable

children) Whole communities shifted from one reserve

to another • 1943 Exemption Certificate• 1972 Self Determination• 1983 NSW Land Rights Act

Contemporary Story

• Disadvantage, trauma, misery

• Lateral violence

• Resignation and lack of hope

• Compliance behaviour

• Acculturation

Dominant Culture

• A process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviours of another group

• Dominant culture rewards compliance and punishes non-compliance eg. Adam Goodes

Acculturation

• Aboriginal population will increase by 66% in next 15 years

• 50% of the current population is under 19• Epidemic of ‘ice’ usage• Epidemic of depression• Triage• Preventative

The Future Story

• Understand needs and problems faced by individuals and communities

• Understand the barriers to these needs and problems being addressed

• Build trust through walking the talk ie. Doing what you say you are going to do

Community Engagement

• Build a relationship

• Build respect, credibility and reputation

• Develop a marketing plan

• Be aware of dominant culture

Community Engagement

• Having all the answers• Watching the clock• Listening to the wrong people• Blow in blow out• Gammon• Not understanding Aboriginal culture• Wrong people with wrong skills

Community Engagement Pitfalls

• Negative experiences

• Anxiety

• Anger

• Disappointment

• Confusing

Perceptions of Institutions

• Impersonal

• Large and complex

• Racist

• Culturally insensitive

Perceptions of Institutions

iridescence FINDING YOUR COLOURS AND LIVING YOUR STORY

www.paulcallaghan.com.au