Download Report: Opening Doors through Partnerships: Practical approaches to developing genuine partnerships that address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community needs.
In the context of a current nation-wide policy focus on service delivery partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, and mainstream service providers, this paper addresses important questions in unpacking partnership rhetoric to identify elements of genuine partnership development:
- What do genuine partnerships require at different stages of partnership development, operation and management?
- What resources and practical support are required to enable genuine partnerships?
- What are practical approaches that contribute to successful partnerships?
The report profiles the experience of nine different partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, and mainstream non-government and government service providers. It draws on the knowledge, experience and wisdom of service partnership leaders to detail the principles underpinning successful partnerships and the practices that are supporting genuine partnership development in children and family services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The report contains valuable learning tools, including detailed case studies that enable learning from practice, and a matrix that aligns important partnership principles with practical approaches. It includes practical information that will be useful for the following stakeholders:
Child and family service providers:
The report details practical approaches to partnership development, operation and management that provide ideas for the development of genuine and respectful service delivery partnerships. It addresses important aspects of cultural competence necessary for partnership development in service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. This information will be useful for mainstream non-government and government service providers, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled service providers.
Policy makers and government:
The report provides ideas and recommendations for service system design and resourcing that supports and enables genuine partnership development. In particular, it addresses innovative approaches that show potential for broader sector and national application to building Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and mainstream capacity for service delivery that responds to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. It identifies genuine partnership approaches that can support implementation of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020.
Researchers and academics:
The report provides valuable case study-based evidence of the important aspects of partnership development, operation and management in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family service provision. It identifies innovative and good practice approaches, suggesting research priorities for monitoring and broader application of promising partnership approaches.
SNAICC continues to advocate for genuine and respectful partnership approaches that include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities in designing and delivering responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community needs. We welcome input on how this research can be shared and used to promote these goals.
