Do You See What I See? An Exploration of the Delivery of Child Protection, Child Health and Primary Educational Services to Aboriginal People in the Perth Metropolitan and Geraldton Regions Glenn Pearson Telethon Institute for Child Health Research CDRCN National Conference Fredericton 2012
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Do You See What I See? An Exploration of the Delivery of Child Protection, Child Health and Primary
Educational Services to Aboriginal People in the Perth Metropolitan and Geraldton Regions
Glenn Pearson Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
CDRCN National Conference Fredericton 2012
Acknowledgement of Country
Perth
Geraldton
Western Australian State Government Aboriginal Affairs Policies
(1829- 2012)
CULTURALABSORPTION
1940s
EXCLUSION, PROTECTION
AND SEGREGATIO
NPRE 1905 INTEGRATION
1960s
SELF CONTROLDETERMINATION
1970s
SELF MANAGEMENT
1980-90s
ASSIMILATIONAND CONTROL
1905
SELF RESPONSIBILITY *
2004
* Current Australian Government Policy
Wadjella Aboriginal
State
Education, Health, Child Protection
National
Local
Perceptions - experiences,
attitudes, values
Research Focus
Steering Group
Critical Thinkers Group
State Government Interagency Group
Community Research Partners
Rockingham
Fremantle Midland
Joondalup
Geraldton
20
12 12
10
20
Research Governance
Study One Findings
Themes that have been identified.
Aboriginal Responses Wadjella Responses
Living in a dominate culture
Life experiences of growing up outside the mainstream, feeling different and being treated differently, generational change, there are common experiences but there are distinctly individual experiences that have shaped the person.
Life experiences of growing up within the mainstream, predominately unaware of own culture as a distinct entity but living under the values of this culture e.g. work ethic, getting on with it, limited experience with and of knowledge of Aboriginal people and history,
Perceptions of self
AttitudesBeliefsValuesExperiences - InfluencesVery much an us and them framing of these, strong commonality on a range of issues
AttitudesBeliefsValuesExperiences - InfluencesDiverse set of responses with some commonality, especially as government workers
Perceptions of Other (Othering)
Appear to be very aware of the other, is compelled to engage on a daily basis to get needs met, treat them as Aboriginal’s not people, racist, controlling,
Appear to be aware of the other but not confident of this, don’t understand why infighting and feuding, violence, poor choices, scared about being called a racist/racism,
Factors that Affect Service Delivery/Provision
Broad range of issues: inappropriate service models, disconnected from Aboriginal community, not the right type of staff, feel they dehumanise them, communication is problematic,
Broad range of issues; service models, time, pressure, managing risk, limited resources, staff turnover, policies that don’t work, programs that don’t work, issues that affect Aboriginal families, outside their role/function or too big for them.
Factors that Affect Service Receiving
Broad range of issues: not knowing about what was available, history with government,
Broad range of issues: capacity of client, complexity of issues that present in these families,
Solutions to Increase Service Delivery/Receiving Capacity
Education, training, employment of Aboriginal people, Education in schools, training in University and on the job, employment of Aboriginal people,
Study One Findings
Self
RoleWorkplace
GovernmentDepartment
Community
Wadjella Worldview
Self
Family
Aboriginal Community
Broader Community
Aboriginal Worldview
Study Two Findings
Themes that have been identified.
Aboriginal Responses Wadjella Responses
Relationships
Types of Relationships/Characteristics of relationshipsProcess for establishing relationships with Aboriginal clientsClient Related Factors that influenced establishing and maintaining relationships
Types of Relationships/Characteristics of relationshipsProcess for establishing relationships with Aboriginal clientsWorker Related Factors that influenced establishing and maintaining relationships
Knowledge of Aboriginal history and culture
Level of knowledge and experience of Aboriginal history and cultureUnderstanding of culture and its functions in societyUnderstanding of Australian Culture
Level of Knowledge and experience of Aboriginal history and cultureUnderstanding of culture and its functions in societyUnderstanding of Australian Culture
Personal Experience, Attitudes and Values
Personal opinions and philosophies clearly influence client behaviourBroad reaction to the provision of targeted or specific services or programs for Aboriginal peopleFamily has been significant in influencing participant attitudes towards Aboriginal people
Personal opinions and philosophies clearly influence worker practiceBroad reaction to the provision of targeted or specific services or programs for Aboriginal peopleFamily has been significant in influencing participant attitudes towards Aboriginal people
Perception of the other – responses to a person’s Aboriginality
Highly contested space Process of identifying or confirming if someone is AboriginalAwareness of images and stereotypes of Aboriginal peopleLanguage used to describe Aboriginal peopleKnowing that the other person was Aboriginal influenced the way that they interacted with that personSome felt that too much was made of a person’s Aboriginality.
Highly contested space Process of identifying or confirming if someone is AboriginalImages and stereotypes of Aboriginal peopleLanguage used to describe Aboriginal peopleMost stated that it did not influence or change the way that they interacted with Aboriginal people – but clearly it does.Some felt that too much was made of a person’s Aboriginality.
Study Two Findings
Themes that have been identified.
Aboriginal Responses Wadjella Responses
Perceptions of the other – Being a Government worker
Aboriginal Principle – Treat Everybody As You Want To Be Treated
Public Servant Principle – Treating Everybody the Same
Perceptions of the other - Fear of being called a racist - Racism
There wasn’t a clear definition of what racism or being racist is across the responses givenRacism is an everyday part of Aboriginal life commencing early in their lives
There wasn’t a clear definition of what racism or being racist is across the responses givenImpact of being racially abused by clientFeelings of white guiltBroad reaction to two sets of rules
Factors that Affect Service Delivery/Provision and Service Receiving
Worker capacity and willingness (compliance and resistance) Client capacity and willingness (compliance and resistance)
Worker capacity and willingness (compliance and resistance) Client capacity and willingness (compliance and resistance)Self protective behaviour of worker
Successful examples Responses were varied with few clear examplesService Features – employing the right person for the job, outreach services, Aboriginal staff are able to work blackfella way, programs that provide practical skills to families, culturally safe services, capacity of worker to respond to clients needsExamples of specific programs or approaches – sport, music, consumer advocacy, two laws approach to justice
Responses were varied with few clear examplesService Features – Characteristics of Worker - Cross cultural training - Examples of specific programs or approaches – Sport, Art , Signs of Safety
Study Two Findings
The Five Big Ticket Items (Findings)
The colonising project to assimilate Aboriginal people into the mainstream Australian culture is still ongoing,
Aboriginal people lives are evidence of and Workers are witnesses to the effect of current and past government policies relating to Aboriginal people,
As Aboriginal people are bound within a dominate culture Workers are also bound within the government systems that require both to be compliant,
The space of engagement between Aboriginal and Wadjellas is highly contested, highly political and is made more complex with a limited understanding the meaning of culture and racism and prejudice and, The individuals personal philosophies and opinions drive their practice as a Worker and behaviour as a Client.
Five Major Findings
Acknowledgements
Mr Glenn PearsonChief Investigator – Centre of Research Excellence into Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing