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

Web: http://aboriginal.childhealthresearch.org.au/centre-for-research-excellence-(cre).aspx

Email: glennp@ichr.uwa.edu.au

Contact Details