The process of working through co-design supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination. Community leadership means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and community representatives have control over determining acceptable governance structures and who needs to be involved.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership needs to begin during the conception stages of the project and extend beyond the completion of the project.
- Leadership may be enacted through structures such as governance groups, advisory groups, working groups, steering groups, cultural reference groups and people embedded into the project team.
- In most cases, governance structures should facilitate broad engagement from stakeholders with a range of perspectives, backgrounds and circumstances relevant to the topic area, including people with lived experience.
- Engage with and through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and self-determination structures that already exist, such as community-elected boards governing community-controlled health care.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders themselves will identify and advocate for appropriate leaders and representatives and must agree the governance structure meets their needs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people you view as an expert or advisor, such as academics or staff from within your health service, may not be seen as a leader from a community perspective.
Things to consider when establishing leadership of a co-design project
- Governance structures are determined by the community and reflect community interests. Communities determine who holds the appropriate cultural and community connections and knowledge to reflect their interests.
- Ask people to introduce you to relevant and respected contacts in the community. If you are looking to partner with an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, the main entry point for engagement is through the CEO.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities determine the time and knowledge they will contribute, and the processes for how their input will be gathered and decisions will be made. Ask co-design partners about the time they can contribute, work within their availability and acknowledge their contribution.
- Accept ‘no’ as an answer. Respect that people have many additional demands and responsibilities. A ‘no’ response, or disengagement during the process, may indicate that the co-design process is not working well. You may not have established a clear and shared vision, have not sufficiently engaged the community or the right individuals, or have not created respectful and trusting relationships
“We tend to maybe go in and will do a good job of explaining our particular project and what’s going to happen. And we make this assumption that you know, Aboriginal, the people understand research, the processes, etc. and actually people don’t. And so then they’re working behind the eight ball already expecting to provide this leadership.”
Last updated 6 December 2024
