Best practice models for effective consultation towards improving built environment outcomes for remote Indigenous communities
Summary
Standardised housing and planning solutions fail in remote Indigenous communities by using poor consultation techniques and by not acknowledging the multi-dimensional and interrelated issues of the built environments of remote Indigenous communities. Outcomes can be improved by developing a national database of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary consultation regarding built environment programs to serve the mutual interests of clients and service providers by reducing the need for repeated and often invasive consultation.
Project Number: 40184
Research Theme: Indigenous Housing
Project Leader: Lee, Gini
Funding Year: 2002
Research Centre: Southern
Research & Policy Bulletin
Issue 060: Best practice models for effective consultation towards improving built environment outcomes for remote Indigenous communities
Consultation in remote Indigenous communities that seek to improve 'housing' outcomes fail due to a disregard for cultural and domestic issues, a lack of coordination between service providers, and the absence of uniform national, state and local government guidelines. Protocols for cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary consultation, project management for coordination and a database to provide common information are required.
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65 KB PDF Document
Description
The project involved research and comparative analysis into community consultation methods used in remote indigenous communities. It aimed to focus on consultation methods used for project definition and delivery in various areas of the built environment. In particular, the research concentrated on the provision of improved housing type and location aspirations and preferences of Indigenous peoples, informed by architecture and design research and practice methodologies.
A holistic approach to the provision of appropriate housing requires developing knowledge of community aspirations and practices in a number of areas including town planning and infrastructure; community facilities; landscaping; housing planning and typologies, yards and external areas; building infrastructure, services and hardware and building fitout. The project focused on community consultation practices and experiences drawn from the Ngaanyatjarra and Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Through working closely with the remote community at Patjarr we received detailed feedback from representatives of these communities who have the view that existing methods for consultation with Indigenous communities need challenging and new practical methodologies developed. A clear, if anecdotal, message has been received from the communities, that the most effective form of consultation is in 'on the ground' dialogue in association with implementation programs.
The project reviewed existing consultation methods aiming to evaluate these practices in relation to their success for correctly interpreting and adequately fulfilling community needs. Methods were surveyed using a combination of research into published literature, detailed interviews with practitioners working in selected remote communities, and representatives of those same communities. Comparative analysis allows successful consultation methods to be described, and their implications for best practice to be drawn.
The project aimed to produce a document outlining a range of proven and sustainable best practice methods for community consultation, applicable to a wide range of community needs in the built environment and with a particular focus on housing. This document provides the essential, first stage consultation methodology, for a subsequent broader research project into the architectural and environmental elements informing housing policy guidelines, which will be aimed at improving built environment outcomes for remote indigenous communities.
More Information
Positioning Paper: No. 072: Best practice models for effective consultation towards improving built environment outcomes for remote indigenous communities
1.5 MB PDF Document
Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 060: Best practice models for effective consultation towards improving built environment outcomes for remote Indigenous communities
65 KB PDF Document
Final Report: No. 076: Best practice models for effective consultation towards improving built environment outcomes for remote Indigenous communities
1.11 MB PDF Document
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