Service Delivery Projects - Recent Project
The FaHCSIA Strengthening Community Research projects
at Amata, Mimili, Ntaria and Yuendumu
The Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCHSIA) commissioned Ninti One to conduct Strengthening Community Research on Remote Service Delivery project in the communities of Ntaria, Yuendumu, Amata and Mimili.
The project works with members of each community on a particular research topic, chosen by them, in order to learn how to do research and to contribute through the research program to the implementation of Local Implementation Plans (LIPs).
The Strengthening Community Research Project uses the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method. The participatory action research model Ninti One uses relies on cycles of inquiry being built upon each other, the first being reviewed in order to inform the second, which results in information that is useful in review and implementation of service provision on the community by a broad selection of stakeholders.
Through the projects, remote community research teams are providing a means of evaluating service provision arrangements under the LIP. They are also assisting with community engagement in other Remote Service Delivery initiatives and developing work-ready specialist teams of researchers to respond to other research and evaluation opportunities. The outcomes include:
- Training activities taking place
- Full-time employment and part-time employment
- Skills development in communication, monitoring and reporting, researching and understanding and presenting data
- Increased governance and leadership roles for researchers
- Growth in confidence of participants
- Recognition of skills by members of community leading to work
- Providing a mechanism for local people to utilise their newfound skills in the LIP process
- Providing and up-to-date and relevant picture of the community's aspirations and viewpoint
- Providing community members a mechanism with which to moderate divergent community aspirations and identify key community development issues
- Providing a model for attempting to manage and repair entrenched community conflict, disaffection and/or disengagement
- Providing a platform to develop a governance framework for Local Reference Groups.