Creating lasting and fulfilling careers for Indigenous Australians

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 489
Author(s):  
Llewellyn Williams
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
Awareness Training ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Indigenous Development ◽  
Advisory Boards ◽  
Indigenous Participation

Recruiting Indigenous Australians is part of the oil and gas industry’s social responsibility. Indigenous recruits need to be ensured that they have lasting and fulfilling careers. In Transfield Services’ experience, retention is often the greatest challenge and significant time and resources is spent to identify strategies to help Indigenous employees progress their careers positively. The first and, arguably, the most important element is to engage early with Indigenous communities to identify key local Indigenous stakeholders and establish strong and trusting relationships. This provides a contextual platform and understanding that guides not only the recruitment process and role fit, but also the support required for individuals through their employment. Indigenous employees then are assigned a mentor to assist in developing their occupational skills. Mentors can be volunteers from across the company but they must work closely with Indigenous development managers to ensure full cultural awareness. Cultural awareness training should also be carried out extensively across an organisation and be backed up by day-to-day application of human resource polices that accommodate cultural elements specific to Indigenous Australians. Critically, organisations must also hold themselves accountable. Publicly available Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) must set transparent targets for recruitment and retention, and progress must be continually monitored by informed and independent advisory boards. In 2007, Transfield Services launched its first Indigenous participation strategy. It then became the first service provider to implement a RAP in 2009. Since then, it has launched an updated RAP, which earlier this year was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia—one of only a handful in the country to have this accreditation.

scholarly journals Supporting cancer control for Indigenous Australians: initiatives and challenges for cancer councils

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaouli Shahid ◽  
Kerri R Beckmann ◽  
Sandra C Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Cancer Statistics ◽  
Local Partnerships

As in other developed countries, the Australian population is ageing, and cancer rates increase with age. Despite their substantially lower life expectancy, Indigenous Australians are also experiencing concerning cancer statistics, characterised by increasing rates, later diagnosis, higher mortality, and lower participation in screening than the non-Indigenous population. Eighteen months after the first national Indigenous Cancer Control Forum, this environmental scan within the statebased Cancer Councils was undertaken to map activities in service provision in Indigenous cancer control with a view to sharing the lessons learned. The findings show that although most of the organisations had tried to work with Indigenous communities on cancer issues, there have been difficulties in building and sustaining relationships with Indigenous organisations. Lack of having Indigenous staff internally, few Indigenous-specific resources, and few planned, long-term commitments were some of the major impediments. Some of these limitations can easily be overcome by building and improving regional or local partnerships, providing cultural awareness training to internal staff, and by building the capacity of Indigenous organisations. Health promotion projects of the Cancer Councils directed at Indigenous people could be more effectively implemented with such considerations.

scholarly journals ‘Which way? Talking culture, talking race’

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn Fredericks ◽  
Debbie Bargallie
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Competency ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Awareness Training ◽  
Competency Training ◽  
Cultural Competency Training ◽  
Torres Strait

In Australia, organisations identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cross-cultural awareness training or Indigenous cultural competency training as a means to address the service needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to address the gap in disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This training is also one of the strategies utilised in working towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This paper presents the findings from an institutional study based on the development and implementation of an Indigenous Cultural Competency Course within an Australian university and the tensions that exist within the teaching and delivery of such a course.

Non-Fatal Deliberate Self-Harm in Three Remote Indigenous Communities in Far North Queensland, Australia

Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Rouen ◽  
Alan R. Clough ◽  
Caryn West
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Deliberate Self Harm ◽  
Health Care Center ◽  
Far North ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract. Background: Indigenous Australians experience a suicide rate over twice that of the general population. With nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) being the single most important risk factor for suicide, characterizing the incidence and repetition of DSH in this population is essential. Aims: To investigate the incidence and repetition of DSH in three remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, Australia. Method: DSH presentation data at a primary health-care center in each community were analyzed over a 6-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011. Results: A DSH presentation rate of 1,638 per 100,000 population was found within the communities. Rates were higher in age groups 15–24 and 25–34, varied between communities, and were not significantly different between genders; 60% of DSH repetitions occurred within 6 months of an earlier episode. Of the 227 DSH presentations, 32% involved hanging. Limitations: This study was based on a subset of a larger dataset not specifically designed for DSH data collection and assesses the subset of the communities that presented to the primary health-care centers. Conclusion: A dedicated DSH monitoring study is required to provide a better understanding of DSH in these communities and to inform early intervention strategies.

Indigenous climate change adaptation: New directions for emerging scholarship

2021 ◽  
pp. 251484862110224
Author(s):  
Danielle Emma Johnson ◽  
Meg Parsons ◽  
Karen Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Cultural Continuity ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Indigenous Development

Although Indigenous peoples’ perspectives and concerns have not always been accommodated in climate change adaptation research and practice, a burgeoning literature is helping to reframe and decolonise climate adaptation in line with Indigenous peoples’ lived experiences. In this review, we bring together climate adaptation, decolonising and intersectional scholarship to chart the progress that has been made in better analysing and responding to climate change in Indigenous contexts. We identify a wealth of literature helping to decolonise climate adaptation scholarship and praxis by attending to colonial and neo-colonial injustices implicated in Indigenous peoples’ climate vulnerability, taking seriously Indigenous peoples’ relational ontologies, and promoting adaptation that draws on Indigenous capacities and aspirations for self-determination and cultural continuity. Despite calls to interrogate heterogenous experiences of climate change within Indigenous communities, the decolonising climate and adaptation scholarship has made limited advances in this area. We examine the small body of research that takes an intersectional approach to climate adaptation and explores how the multiple subjectivities and identities that Indigenous peoples occupy produce unique vulnerabilities, capacities and encounters with adaptation policy. We suggest the field might be expanded by drawing on related studies from Indigenous development, natural resource management, conservation, feminism, health and food sovereignty. Greater engagement with intersectionality works to drive innovation in decolonising climate adaptation scholarship and practice. It can mitigate the risk of maladaptation, avoid entrenchment of inequitable power dynamics, and ensures that even the most marginal groups within Indigenous communities benefit from adaptation policies and programmes.

scholarly journals Mediatisation, Marginalisation and Disruption in Australian Indigenous Affairs

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 30-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry McCallum ◽  
Lisa Waller ◽  
Tanja Dreher
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Indigenous Media ◽  
Indigenous Participation ◽  
The Media

This article considers how changing media practices of minority groups and political and media elites impact on democratic participation in national debates. Taking as its case study the state-sponsored campaign to formally recognise Indigenous people in the Australian constitution, the article examines the interrelationships between political media and Indigenous participatory media—both of which we argue are undergoing seismic transformation. Discussion of constitutional reform has tended to focus on debates occurring in forums of influence such as party politics and news media that privilege the voices of only a few high-profile Indigenous media ‘stars’. Debate has progressed on the assumption that constitutional change needs to be settled by political elites and then explained and ‘sold’ to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Our research on the mediatisation of policymaking has found that in an increasingly media-saturated environment, political leaders and their policy bureaucrats attend to a narrow range of highly publicised voices. But the rapidly changing media environment has disrupted the media-driven <em>Recognise</em> campaign. Vigorous public discussion is increasingly taking place outside the mainstream institutions of media and politics, while social media campaigns emerge in rapid response to government decisions. Drawing on a long tradition in citizens’ media scholarship we argue that the vibrant, diverse and growing Indigenous media sphere in Australia has increased the accessibility of Indigenous voices challenging the scope and substance of the recognition debate. The article concludes on a cautionary note by considering some tensions in the promise of the changing media for Indigenous participation in the national policy conversation.

scholarly journals Highlighting the potential of peer-led workshops in training early career researchers for conducting research with Indigenous communities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwyneth A. MacMillan ◽  
Marianne Falardeau ◽  
Catherine Girard ◽  
Sophie Dufour-Beauséjour ◽  
Justine Lacombe-Bergeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Early Career Researchers ◽  
Indigenous Representation ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Community Collaborative

For decades, Indigenous voices have called for research practices that are more collaborative and inclusive. At the same time, researchers are becoming aware of the importance of community-collaborative research. However, in Canada, many researchers receive little formal training on how to collaboratively conduct research with Indigenous communities. This is particularly problematic for early-career researchers (ECRs) whose fieldwork often involves interacting with communities. To address this lack of training, two peer-led workshops for Canadian ECRs were organized in 2016 and 2017 with the following objectives: (a) to cultivate awareness about Indigenous cultures, histories and languages; (b) to promote sharing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing; and (c) to foster approaches and explore tools for conducting community collaborative research. Here we present these peer-led Intercultural Indigenous Workshops and discuss workshop outcomes according to five themes: scope and interdisciplinarity, Indigenous representation, workshop environment, skillful moderation and workshop outcomes. We show that peer-led workshops are an effective way for ECRs to cultivate cultural awareness, learn about diverse ways of knowing, and share collaborative research tools and approaches. Developing this skill set is important for ECRs aiming to conduct community-collaborative research, however broader efforts are needed to shift toward more inclusive research paradigms in Canada.

Challenges of Developing Marginal Fields in the Current Climate of Oil and Gas Industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina Danmadami ◽  
Ibiye Iyalla ◽  
Gbenga Oluyemi ◽  
Jesse Andrawus
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Quality Technology ◽  
Indigenous Participation ◽  
Marginal Field

Abstract Marginal field development has gained relevance in oil producing countries because of the huge potential economic benefits it offers. The Federal Government of Nigeria commenced a Marginal Fields program in 2001 as part of her policy to improve the nation’s strategic oil and gas reserves and promote indigenous participation in the upstream sector. Twenty years after the award of marginal fields to indigenous companies to develop, 50% have developed and in production, 13% have made some progress with their acquisition while 37% remain undeveloped. The poor performance of the marginal field operators is due to certain challenges which have impeded their progress. A review of challenges of developing marginal fields in the current industry climate was conducted on marginal fields in Nigeria to identify keys issues. These were identified as: funding, technical, and public policy. Considering the complex, competitive and dynamic environment in which these oil and gas companies operate, with competition from renewables, pressure to reduce carbon footprint, low oil price and investors expectation of a good return, companies must maintain tight financial plan, minimize emissions from their operations and focus on efficiency through innovation. The study identifies the need for a decision-making approach that takes into consideration multi criteria such as cost, regulation, quality, technology, security, stakeholders, safety and environment, as important criteria based on which to evaluate the selection of appropriate development option for marginal fields.

The Politics of Free, Prior and Informed Consent: Indigenous Rights and Resource Governance in Ecuador and Yukon, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-356
Author(s):  
Roberta Rice
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Indigenous Rights ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Mineral Rights ◽  
Natural Resource Development ◽  
The Right ◽  
Surface Mineral ◽  
Hybrid Regime

What are the institutional arrangements required to implement a genuine process of free, prior and informed consent (fpic)? This article provides a comparative perspective on the politics of consent in the context of relations between Indigenous peoples, states and extractive industries in Canada and Latin America. The case of Ecuador is presented as an emblematic example of a hybrid regime in which Indigenous communities have the right to free, prior and informed consultation, not consent, concerning planned measures affecting them, such as mineral, oil and gas exploitation. In the case of Yukon, Canada, the settlement of a comprehensive land claim with sub-surface mineral rights has provided the institutional basis for the implementation of a genuine fpic process, one that includes participatory decision-making power over natural resource development projects. The article concludes with a discussion on the necessary conditions for moving governments from a consultation to a consent regime.

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