Developing Capacity Through Partnerships

A promising model for capacity building partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and non-Indigenous services

Published January 2013

Introduction and Purpose

A ground-breaking new approach to building capacity for Aboriginal child and family service delivery is emerging in New South Wales (NSW). A partnership model is supporting two-way learning between mainstream non-government organisations (NGOs) and Aboriginal communities. This model has a strong capacity-building focus. It is opening up new space for the empowerment of Aboriginal communities to effect unique and quality service responses to the significant challenges facing their children and families.

The partnership model has been designed and spearheaded by the Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care Secretariat (AbSec), the peak body for Aboriginal child welfare services in NSW. Working in partnership with mainstream peak body, the Association of Child Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and the State Government Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS), AbSec is supporting partnerships between mainstream non-government organisations and Aboriginal communities.

The goal of this initiative is to build strong and accredited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) delivering out-of-home care (OOHC) services state-wide. Ultimately, the goal that has been agreed between government and the NGO sector is that all Aboriginal children in out-of-home care in NSW will be supported by Aboriginal agencies. The initiative parallels the transition of all out-of-home care service delivery to the NGO sector in NSW and seeks to capture the opportunity to build capacity for Aboriginal communities to deliver the transitioned services.

The evidence is clear that stronger outcomes in community-wellbeing can be achieved where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are empowered to respond to the challenges they face. Culturally tailored services are also needed to ensure that they are appropriate for and used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The development of strong ACCOs has significant potential to promote both these objectives while serving broader goals of community development and economic empowerment, building social capital for some of NSW’s most disadvantaged communities.

Genuine partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and mainstream agencies present opportunities to increase quality service delivery while promoting community-led and managed solutions to child and family needs. They can provide space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to benefit from governance and service capacity within large mainstream NGOs. Genuine partnerships can enable mainstream NGOs to benefit from the cultural knowledge, strength and community connections of ACCOs. They also create real opportunities for mainstream NGOs to fulfill important commitments to walking alongside and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that are commonly made in their Reconciliation Action Plans.

Despite this potential, there has been limited attention to the processes, time, resources and support required to make genuine partnerships between ACCOs and non-Indigenous agencies a reality. The NSW capacity building approach is designed with strong consideration of what is required in this space, comprehensive state-wide coverage, and Aboriginal participation and leadership throughout model design and implementation.

Capacity-building partnerships are not the silver bullet to meet the needs of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Australia. A key aspect of the NSW transition is valuing the existing strengths of Aboriginal organisations, recognising that formal service partnerships are not always necessary for capacity growth. Direct capacity building support provided by AbSec to existing ACCOs has already contributed to an increase from approximately 350 to 600 placements in the first 12 months of the transition. However, well-documented service capacity gaps for communities in many regions indicate that genuine partnerships could bring enormous benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service delivery across Australia.

This brief provides insight into the NSW partnership-based capacity building model; its drivers, elements and early successes. It describes the model design and processes undertaken or planned in each phase of partnership development. The significant promise evident in early implementation indicates an opportunity for cross-jurisdiction and cross-sector learning about what is required to support and enable genuine partnerships that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead positive change for their children and families.