| Project Objectives / Summary
The Division was funded to develop an Aboriginal consumer reference group and to assist Aboriginal people develop consumer skills. Once funded, the Division approached a number of Aboriginal organisations to gauge their interest in participating in the project. There was little interest from the organisations in participating in the original project concept as these organisations perceived the Division to be a 'doctor' organisation and not to be a player in Aboriginal health, there was no specific issue for the consumer group to tackle, lack of a specific issue would result in the consumer group, and, Aboriginal consumer input was already provided in Aboriginal community controlled organisations and the Division setting up its own denied recognition of these processes. In addition, the project assumed a level of homogeneity in the Aboriginal population that was not realistic.
As a result the project was reframed to facilitate input from existing Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. The project outcomes became:
- The Division will have a set of protocols for working with and getting input from the three major Aboriginal organisations in Central Australia.
- Successful interaction with the above Aboriginal Organisations will make it possible for the Division to access broad consumer feedback and input.
Development of Protocols
Three consultants were engaged to develop protocols for the four organisations. The protocols were to be sufficiently flexible so that they could be provided to any organisation rather than specifically define the relationship between the Division and that organisation. The protocols were endorsed by each organisation's governing body.
The protocols include:
- A history of the organisation;
- Organisation philosophy;
- An organisational structure for both staff and for the elected representatives;
- The core business of the organisation, the services it provides and its client groups;
- The decision making process, the types of information required to assist decision making and the time that has to be allowed for this to occur within the framework of the organisation;
- How projects should be negotiated with the organisation;
- Where responsibility lies at various points of negotiations;
- Where the final decision lies and points of veto;
- Policies that the organisation supports that are different to that of the Division and therefore are likely to cause tensions; and
- Processes that could be put in place to overcome any barriers.
The protocols were not intended to be prescriptive but rather a guide allowing flexibility with organisational structures and recognising that there will be occasions when circumstances may require a different approach.
Protocols have been developed for:
- Waltja Tjuntangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Association
- Tangentyere Aboriginal Council.
- Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
In addition, the Division developed its own protocol that has now been distributed to a number of organisations that it works with. The Division protocol is updated and has become part of the Governing Committee's orientation kit.
Collaboration
- Waltja Tjuntangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Association
- Tangentyere Aboriginal Council
- Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
Project Outcomes
The development of the protocols provided contact with the organisation through a consultant who was chosen by the organisation. This provided additional insights into the organisation with the consultant providing an interpretation for decisions made by the organisation. In addition it provided immediate entry into the organisation.
The result has been closer working relationships with the organisations. This includes:
- A joint project with Waltja Tjuntangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Association. This organisation is now running a Carelink Centre;
- One organisation was successful in a national tender because it could demonstrate a close working relationship with the Division;
- The consumer reference group (CRG) of the Division now has two Aboriginal representatives who nominated for positions on the CRG. These representatives are from organisations involved in this project;
The Governing Committee of the Division now has GP representation from one of the participating organisations;
- A project officer from the Division is now working actively with staff from one of the organisations to clean immunisation data;
- The Division has been invited to a committee attended by community controlled organisations; and
- Although unsuccessful, the Division collaborated with one organisation to develop a proposal for funding under innovations funding.
Although a major user of the health system in the NT, Aboriginal people have had little opportunity to provide input into health service delivery .The exceptions have been community controlled health services that are run by Boards consisting of community members. The Division is unable to take a population health approach on issues without some understanding of its role in Aboriginal health. This has been difficult because of perceptions that the Division is a GP organisation with little responsibility in Aboriginal health. The Division is yet to clarify its role in Aboriginal health but this will require consensus from Aboriginal organisations already undertaking that work. The development of protocols has assisted the Division to have better information about the philosophy, core business and decision making processes in Aboriginal organisations. Equally, Aboriginal organisations also have access to information about the Division, its role and how they can work with the Division.
The next step is to develop a shared view of Aboriginal health in Alice Springs with key organisations including the Division. This would then lead to discussions about various roles and responsibilities and an agreed position about where the Division fits into this picture. At all stages it has been important to allow Aboriginal organisations enough time to activate their decision making processes and to respect ownership and their point of view. The process itself has therefore been key to the relationship building.
Recommendations
Although the protocols themselves are unlikely to be widely useful because they are organisation specific, the process has relevance for any other Division that has a substantial Aboriginal population or an active Medical Service or other Aboriginal controlled organisations that has been identified as a key stakeholder.
Divisions and organisations need to understand that there must be flexibility to allow Aboriginal organisations to go through their decision making processes. The timeframe for decision making in Aboriginal community organisations is considerably longer and cannot be rushed.
Dissemination
Website:
The final report has been made available on the Division website.
Lessons / Assessment
As a result of the early research the project was redesigned. Information from each of the organisations was collated into a protocol that belonged to each of the organisations and could be distributed to key stakeholders to assist these organisations to work within the operating confines of the Aboriginal organisations. In addition to these protocols for the Aboriginal organisations, protocols were developed by the Division for distribution to key stakeholders to assist them in their negotiations and to better understand the nature of the Division.
The initial contract with ADGP called for intellectual property to remain with ADGP and with the Commonwealth. Given the need for the Division to work with Aboriginal people and the sensitivities of intellectual property based on past abuses, the Division successfully renegotiated that provision with the contract. Intellectual property of material that has been developed in conjunction with an Aboriginal organisation now requires the Commonwealth and the ADGP to seek the approval of the funded party to reproduce that material. In addition, the funded party agrees not to unreasonably withhold its agreement. This provision in the contract ensures that Aboriginal organisations are consulted on the use their material. This has now become a standard provision for the ADGP in their contracts on Aboriginal matters. |
