1. In order to work in partnerships, the indigenous people of Australia require participation in the issues that affect them along with consultation and the involvement in the process of decision making. At the community level, the participation in the decision making process should focus on self-determination that would emphasize on the delivery of the service programs (Parker & Milroy, 2014). It is required to identify the decision-makers are and understand how the consultation occurs among the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. There is a general requirement to recognise the community obligations of the Aboriginals and their kinship relationships. The involvements should be quite meaningful. There is need to develop trust and credibility in order to allow time for the process of decision-making.
The identification of the evidences involved in the partnership based development shows that the strategies employed lead to the increase in the participation. For the effective delivery of the services to the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait islanders, the fundamental focus should be on the negotiation and consultation. An important of this negotiation process in its initial phases involves establishment of a high level of involvement of the relevant indigenous people (Stephens et al., 2014). Evidences can be identified especially from the service planning programs. It is perceived that any decision that is made related to the future planning of a particular service related to health or reviewing of such plans or programs, it is the members of the relevant indigenous groups who are involved in the process. The health workers belong to such communities also work alongside the leaders of the community in such matters. It is the duty of the leaders to provide an insight to the working of the community in the context of their culture (Stephens et al., 2014).
Communication is beneficial in this context has proper communication helps to increase the livelihood by increasing the mutual relationship between the indigenous people and the other partners, thus benefitting the cultural safety aspect. Communication also elevates the confidence level along with promoting self-empowerment in the Aboriginal population. It also helps to reduce the rate of misunderstandings related to the development of partnerships. Effective communication also increases the inter-professional and the personal skills of individuals. Communication increases the reputation and mutual respect between the Aboriginal population and the partners (Parker & Milroy, 2014).
The strategies used to encourage communication involves consultation with the community representatives. The consultation with the elders of the community is important for the development of the strategies while working with the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait islander people. The communication strategies includes implementation of personal space and tiles while communication. They need to be provided with choices or options while communicating. Jargons needs to be avoided along with confusion. There is a need to provide clear instructions and methods. Other considerations should be regarding the feedbacks, protocols and promises made to the community (Young et al., 2013).
2. For establishing community and partnership control perspectives, it is required to maintain relationships and curtail misunderstandings between the indigenous and the non-indigenous institutions, which has developed through the course of history of Indigenous Australian dispossession. In order to control the partnerships the services providers should implement certain steps (Ware, 2013). These includes fostering of an understanding of the relationships that are spiritual in nature. They providers must be aware of the family relationships this population possesses along with the kingships and the position of the elders who act as the decision makers (Hunt, 2013). The service provider also needs to be flexible enough to support the values and beliefs in the context of the cultures of the indigenous people. They must also have a holistic approach towards the service they provide thus recognising the important aspects of the indigenous Australian person’s life. There is a need for provision of care and education that is culturally appropriate. There is a need to maintain networks that are effective in ensuring referrals that are significant.
For effective evaluation, certain questions can be asked in terms of cultural safety like whether the environment is friendly and welcoming or not. Whether the family is welcome or not along with questioning the safety of the place, whether it is safe to talk or not. Next questions can be asked related to the needs of support or whether the support values the indigenous or not. Questions can also asked on the information available on the events of the Indigenous Australians that are takes place in the community (Parker & Milroy, 2014).
References
Hunt, J. (2013). Engaging with Indigenous Australia-exploring the conditions for effective relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Parker, R., & Milroy, H. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health: an overview. Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice. 2nd ed. Canberra: Department of The Prime Minister and Cabinet, 25-38.
Stephens, A., Cullen, J., Massey, L., & Bohanna, I. (2014). Will the National Disability Insurance Scheme improve the lives of those most in need? Effective service delivery for people with acquired brain injury and other disabilities in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 73(2), 260-270.
Ware, V. (2013). Improving the accessibility of health services in urban and regional settings for Indigenous people (Vol. 27). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Young, S., Zubrzycki, J., Green, S., Jones, V., Stratton, K., & Bessarab, D. (2013). “Getting It Right: Creating Partnerships for Change”: Developing a Framework for Integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges in Australian Social Work Education. Journal of Ethnic And Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 22(3-4), 179-197.
