We have landed! Research report launch with the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP

We have officially launched our Action Research Project, Good governance practice leads to good relationships. 

This is a proud and important moment for the 11 strong First Nation Communities, and Community First Development, who partnered together on this project. This official launch is a key steppingstone for our journey of continuous learning, dreaming, and supporting First Nations’ communities to thrive. 

The official launch of the Action Research Project took place via webinar. The panel consisted of the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, Karen Milward, Chair of Community First Development, Stephanie Harvey, CEO of Community First Development, and Ian Hamm, a director on the Community First Development board. Ian facilitated the panel discussion.  

The panel discussed the findings of the research, and the experiences related to First Nations’ governance systems and First Nations’ leadership. It was agreed that the research findings showed that there is a clear pathway and space for ‘Right Way’ governance in the intersecting space where First Nations’ Governance and Western Governance often meet. This creates an exciting space to be in. The panel highlighted and acknowledged the contemporary disadvantage of colonisation and that its ongoing presence impacts ‘Right Way’ relationship building. 

The panel also discussed and agreed that one of the underpinning reasons to undertake this research was to advance partnerships, and that the research has the potential to inform the development of partnerships. There is also the capacity to use the research to inform the co-design of programmes and policy. With this in mind, the findings will now be shared widely. 

The research required a flexible design to be successful and to carry depth and relevance to the 11 First Nation communities. Community First Development, as part of the research process, explored and adapted different ‘Right Way’ research methods. It was imperative that the voices of the 11 communities were heard and understood. In simple terms the ‘Right Way’ is a values system that helps sustain relationships, including the distinct relationship that First Nations’ communities have with their Country.

The panel agreed that the third, intersecting space shows the movement back and forth of interdependence. Mutual respect is the conduit in this space for the rebalance of power and honourable engagement that enables an expression of independent power and integrity. This is an important point of difference and enables First Nations’ communities to remain distinctive and intact. The panel agreed that it is timely to start framing and exploring this third space and the engagement possibilities with Western Governance and how Western Governance bodies can also be an active partner in this space to ensure that First Nations’ communities remain sustainable within their own governance systems.

The panel could see within the research, that working with First Nations’ communities in the governance space requires time for relationships to be built, and that yarning makes a tangible difference. Yarning is a critical component for working through and finding practical solutions with First Nations’ communities.  

The panel agreed that this research could be used as a toolkit and a process that could be utilised to build relationships with First Nations’ peoples and communities. The panel discussed the importance and the role of First Nations’ leadership in the third space and other active participants. The way forward is to bring people together, as more work needs to be done where key influencers and decision makers can then yarn right across this spectrum.  

This Action Research Project has opened the door for more First Nations’ led research and yarning on ‘Right Way’ governance practices and relationship building. Today is a good day to begin. 

If you would like to learn more about the research, or have some feedback you would like to share, please get in touch by emailing us at communications@communityfirstdevelopment.org.au 

You can download your copy of the report here.

You can watch a recording of the webinar below.