John Lawler, Queensland University of Technology
Development of culturally and socially appropriate processes for the delivery of housing to the remote Indigenous community of Palm Island
The proposed research proceeds from the understanding that many Indigenous Australians, particularly those living in remote and rural communities are faced with disadvantage which is seen to stem from poorly met housing needs.
The literature indicates that the introduction of European housing to Indigenous Australians has produced numerous negative effects, physical, psychological and cultural, that are far reaching. However, there are ways to ensure that housing need not necessarily be detrimental to Aboriginal people. There are a number of publications and research findings that provide practical methods for providing housing that will promote wellbeing. However, the literature indicates there is more involved than the physical parameters of a house. The processes of consultation, design and are instrumental in generating positive outcomes for Aboriginal people who occupy European style dwellings. In particular, ongoing consultation with, and involvement of, the end-user is considered to be crucial in producing such outcomes. The absence of adequate consultation in the delivery process in light of the need for appropriate technology transfer is problematic. The literature indicates engaging a 'bottom up' approach will provide the best outcomes. This requires consulting with the people and allowing them to act as the primary agents for the development and implementation of their own housing.
This research will explore the ‘bottom up’ approach and the possibility that incorporating Aboriginal people as the primary agents in the physical processes of designing and delivering their housing will engender greater levels of mental, psychological and cultural ownership of the process and product. The research proceeds from the premise that such an outcome might reduce the level of disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people in relation to their housing. To this end, it will incorporate members of the Palm Island Aboriginal community in both the conceptual and physical processes involved in the designing and the building of a house.
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