Stage 2 - Preparing to involve Aboriginal children and young people

This stage requires you to engage with the community you intend to target to check your previous assessment and inform the development of your internal/draft project scope. This ensures that you act on an informed basis in moving to Stage 3.

Stage 2 has two steps:

Step 1: Build relationships

Step 2: Review your processes

“They have some mentors but they never have male mentors. My grandson needs a male mentor who’s ongoing, who’s in there for the long run. I’m old, I struggle to walk to the front gate. I can’t go and kick a footy in the park with him. He needs someone who will stick with him. Not just like with JJT [Juvenile Justice Team] where there’s someone for four months and then that’s it, you’re on your own.” Grandmother

Remember the importance of starting the relationship properly. Before commencing work in the community, the community must invite you in and request your involvement in addressing the issues being targeted by your organisation or agency. Together, your organisation/agency and the relevant community leadership and stakeholders will need to decide the best way to approach the issues being targeted by your organisation or agency.

Taking time to build relationships provides opportunities to foster mutual respect, trust and reciprocal exchange; all of which are critical elements to working effectively with Aboriginal communities and which will require a significant period of investment from your organisation/agency to develop. These networks can enhance the process of involving Aboriginal children and young people in your organisation or agency and the outcomes of your project or initiative for the community. These relationships will also help you to manage any issues that arise during the consultation, such as whether it is appropriate to run planned activities following a disruption or loss in the community.

Consulting with the community

“I help these kids out, like talk to them and sometimes we even cook dinner for them. I also help with the kids programs on the weekends. There are things like girls and boy’s fishing trips. Girls and boys aren’t allowed to socialise together up here. It’s just how it is. I don’t mind, we still have fun.” 17 year-old young person, Kununurra

This is your opportunity to introduce yourself, your organisation/agency and the work you are planning to undertake in the community.

Having identified local leaders and stakeholders as part of your community mapping, now is the time to have preliminary discussions about:

• the concept you have come up with and what the community thinks about it
• the community’s level of interest in what you are proposing
• the community’s expectations on how you will recruit children and young people to participate and how you will implement the program
• the community’s expectations on their involvement and feedback they will receive.

If the community is not responding well to your draft concept, you will need to develop a new concept with the community that meets the needs of your organisation/agency and the community. Remember, even after you have agreed a concept and plan with the community, you must remain flexible in order to be responsive to community needs.

In addition to exploring and reflecting on your own cultural beliefs and learning about cultural differences (see the Understanding Aboriginal cultural contexts section of this toolkit), there are many things you can do to help build rapport with Aboriginal children and young people and their community. A few examples are:

• seek guidance about local community protocols
• always be open, honest and respectful
• use clear and plain language, uncomplicated by jargon (see Understanding Aboriginal cultural contexts)
• avoid speaking in a manner that is condescending or paternalistic
• do not make promises that you may not be able to deliver
• be prepared to admit mistakes and/or lack of knowledge and seek guidance from young people and community members
• avoid acting as though you are the ‘expert’ – demonstrate that you want to listen and learn from Aboriginal children and young people and their community because you value their views and ideas
• agree next steps for progress or feedback during the engagement and ensure they are delivered upon.

Consulting with other service providers and stakeholders

Organisations or agencies already ‘on the ground’ in the community will have insight into what does and does not work in that community and are a valuable resource to your organisation/agency.

Taking the time to introduce yourself, your organisation/aency and your proposed work is also an opportunity to bring other stakeholders on board who have established relationships and communication with your target audience.

These early conversations will help to prevent service overlap, create valuable partnerships and respect the existing systems and services in place in the community.

Go to top

“Adults have to start listening more to us kids, instead of just telling us what to do all the time.” 16 year-old young person, Great Southern

Once you have agreed on an approach with the community and stakeholders, it is time to revisit and update your draft project scope and finalise a project plan, including a communication plan. 

Once you have a project plan, host a session for all staff and volunteers working with the Aboriginal children and young people on the project and cover:

• the plan for the activity/participation
• the applicable processes and protocols as agreed with the community, including on obtaining consent
• the information sharing/communication plan and materials
• revisit your duty of care requirements and processes
• contact numbers of responsible staff for any queries, concerns or issues on the day
• any questions staff or volunteers may have.

Go to Stage 3 - Doing it - involving Aboriginal children and young people