It is a core principle of co-design that the outcomes of the project offer tangible and sustainable benefits that are valued by the community.
Each step of the co-design process involves collective decision making and agreement with co-design partners and governance, that is informed by broad consultation with relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. Through consultation, community stakeholders set the agenda for the project and determine if and how the process and outcomes are relevant and valued to them.
Co-design tips
- You must be able to demonstrate how community members were engaged early in the planning process to identify what their current priorities are, whether and when they will have time to work with you, and how their input will be used in decision making.
- Seek advice from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community-controlled organisations to identify the correct people/groups to consult and their preferred ways to engage.
- Consultation is a two-way process. Be transparent about what all parties stand to gain from the work, including non-Indigenous participants. This includes financial, academic, managerial, capability and reputational benefits.
- It is unreasonable to expect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to provide time and knowledge without being fairly compensated.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities own the data and the knowledge resulting from the project. Feeding back findings is essential.
To ensure your project serves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-defined priorities at a high level, demonstrate your alignment with establsihed frameworks and strategies that have been co-designed. These include local and state/territory plans and national strategies including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2019-2029, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031, the Australian Cancer Plan, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan.
The Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer (PDF 3.09 MB) also provides guidance about effective community engagement and communication approaches in the delivery of cancer care.
“...they keep coming back to that First Nations group and saying, you know, we are consulting, we’re consulting about X, Y and Z with them . . . we keep going back to the same people and wanting more advice and more partnership, more direction, for what value for [community]? . . . It’s not mutual benefit.”
Focus group participant - Anderson K et al. Development of Key Principles and Best Practices for Co-Design in Health with First Nations Australians. IJERPH 2022; 20(1):147.
