Further Recommendations
The NTER has resulted in a great loss of power and fragmentation of services to community people. Unless some of this power is returned to people, there will be little incentive to make life changes. Asset-based community development is a way of identifying and mobilizing community assets for change (Boyd, Hayes, Wilson, Bearsley-Smith). Viewing communities as collections of needs, problems and deficiencies as many outside agencies do, does not recognize inherent strengths and existing resources.
Sustainability of services and projects requires a well qualified and equipped extension agent. In third world countries the role of the long term advisor is pivotal to sustainability. I believe that such long term advisors are required in remote communities and that they should initially be recruited from existing long term staff in many communities, who are known and trusted by the community.
Long term advisors need
- to be solidly grounded in their technical discipline and be able to transfer their knowledge in ways that fit local circumstances
- they should be able to transfer skills to counterparts by assessing learning needs, obtaining agreement on the need for changes and setting up, implementing and evaluating a learning strategy
- they should enjoy the opportunity to work in a multi-cultural situation and be able to make cultural differences a positive factor or a nonfactor in everyday work situations
- they must be committed to development and the concept that the end goal is community empowerment and the creation of conditions to carry on after the technical assistance is ended
- need to be able and willing to take the time to build and maintain collegial relationships with a range of people and organizations (W.A.S.H.).
Many communities will already have people doing these tasks mostly unacknowledged. They may require mentoring to fully round out the position of long term advisors but those who have been accepted by their communities are in a much stronger position to act as advisors than more newcomers. Such advisors would maintain links with all agencies and services in communities whether NTER staff or not. I have observed that in this community Indigenous members have asked the CEO to come to meetings various bodies had with community members. The community did not want the CEO to play a part in the actual meeting. His role was to be present and understand what was presented. When the Indigenous community members wanted something clarified, sometimes many days after the meeting, his role was to explain the “white fellow” proposal to them in a way they could understand. They trusted him to relay the proposal to them with out influencing them one way or another, and in a way they could conceptualize. I feel there is a great need for such a role in communities and not aligned with a particular.
government or non-government agency. With the establishment of Shires in the NT, community councils have lost much of their power and income to independently employ someone in this role. Maybe it is a suitable time for the Federal government, over arching, to look at such a role. I envisage in some communities the role may be taken on by Indigenous people whilst other communities may prefer a trusted non-Indigenous person.
It is crucial that appropriate consultation occur in communities as changes are initiated. Different communities will have different strengths and needs. To date many well intentioned Territory and Federal government agencies as well as Non-government organizations are working in communities with no apparent resources put into cross- institutional dialogue and collaboration. As communities have continually changing services and projects due to differing priorities, needs, availability of funds and outsiders perceptions of things that could be done, a long term advisor who would maintain these links and dialogue is a crucial resource. Such a person could promote collaboration of resources to avoid unnecessary duplication which is both expensive in monetary terms and tedious to the people on the ground. Collaboration between services offers more consistency and sustainability than several short term independent projects. It provides a central resource person who could provide services for both the local Indigenous population, the many non-Indigenous organizations in communities and liaise for both residents and visitors.
The quality of services to remote communities very much personnel dependant. A prime example is our local store which has proven it could provide a range of fresh and dry goods at an equitable price. However since losing the long term manager who was committed and enthusiastic to providing the community with a quality service, in 6 to 8 weeks it has deteriorated to the extent that goods are simply not available. I would strongly recommend that media attention be focused upon staff providing services prior to the NTER, in all areas of community life, and ensure that they feel valued and respected. I would also recommend that appropriate acknowledgement and validation be given to community members who have been working within many communities to improve the lot of their children and families. These people also feel powerless in the advance of government officials and without validation and acknowledgment people who feel powerless can end up requiring more government services rather than less.
Returning power to communities by focusing upon the inherent strengths and resources will improve community safety. Access to health services will improve with adequate on the ground resources including infrastructure rather than further short term visiting services. Better education and employment outcomes requires incentive in the individual and families to use the services available and supposes that meaningful employment is available in the setting people choose to live in. Responsibility for the care, education and development of children is accepted by the families living in this community. However there is much misunderstanding about the different perspectives families have regarding care, education and development of children. Much more work needs to be done by both non-Indigenous and Indigenous people to understand different methods of child care and to develop the strengths of both systems and ensure the weaknesses of either system of child rearing are not the major influences in a child’s life.