Join academics from UNSW who have been involved in working in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) over the past decade as they share lessons and resources that may be useful for others seeking to work in impactful, ethical, community-led ways.

This workshop will have a particular focus on the multidisciplinary Yuwaya Ngarra-li Partnership between UNSW and the Dharriwaa Elders Group in Walgett, NSW, which grew from research collaboration from 2011-2015, after which the Dharriwaa Elders Group invited UNSW to work with them longer-term around the Elders’ vision for change in their community.

Through this long-term partnership, UNSW has contributed to community-led efforts to reduce Aboriginal young people’s contact with the criminal justice system, improve food and water security, reduce fine debt, and build Aboriginal community capabilities and control. Yuwaya Ngarra-li has collected evidence of contribution to more than 400 outcomes at individual, community, place and systems levels over the past four years.

This workshop explores the protocols, principles and practices that have been developed and refined over many years of working in partnership, and what has been learnt about what it takes for universities to work ethically with ACCOs.

The workshop involves delving deeper into the tools, resources and skills that have been developed through working in partnership over the last decade, with a specific focus on two case studies: the Yuwaya Ngarra-li Cultural and Community Inductions run for all university staff and students involved in the partnership and the Research Protocol that guides all research projects, publications and presentations associated with Yuwaya Ngarra-li.

Workshop participants will also hear insights from community and university collaborators about their experience of being part of the Yuwaya Ngarra-li Partnership and what others can apply to their own community-engaged practice and research. There will be an opportunity for participants to work in small groups to reflect upon and develop their own practices for working ethically and sustainably over the long-term with ACCOs.

Speaker bios

Peta MacGillivray

Peta Ivy MacGillivray is a Kalkutungu and South Sea Islander lawyer and researcher, and the Yuwaya Ngarra-li Senior Research Fellow focused on legal and justice issues based at UNSW. Peta has worked as a researcher on a range of criminology, legal services and community development projects in NSW and across Australia. Peta was a Field Researcher and Project Manager for the Indigenous Australians with Mental Health Disorders and Cognitive Disability in the Criminal Justice System (IAMHDCD) Project, which first introduced her to the Dharriwaa Elders Group. Peta’s former area of legal practice was the legal needs of children and young people, particularly those experiencing social and economic disadvantage. Peta is passionate about Indigenous children and young people’s participation in community development work.

Ruth McCausland

Dr Ruth McCausland is Associate Professor in the Division of Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement and Director of Yuwaya Ngarra-li at UNSW. Ruth was a researcher on the original project that involved collaboration with the Dharriwaa Elders Group, and has been involved in building the Yuwaya Ngarra-li partnership at the UNSW end since then. Her work focuses on the social determinants of justice, and enabling systemic and community-led solutions to incarceration and disadvantage. Ruth has worked for more than 25 years in the fields of criminology, evaluation, human rights, and community development. Ruth has a PhD in criminology and evaluation, and a Masters in International Social Development. She is on the Board of the Community Restorative Centre, the NSW Committee of the Australian Evaluation Society, is an Associate of the Disability Innovation Institute and Australian Human Rights Institute, and a member of the Academy of Community Engaged Scholarship. 

Agenda

Community-led ACCO-university partnerships

Development of the Yuwaya Ngarra-li Partnership and protocols, principles and practices

Case study of Yuwaya Ngarra-li Cultural and Community Inductions

Case study of Yuwaya Ngarra-li Research Protocol

Reflections and insights from community and university collaborators

Tools and resources for working ethically and sustainably long-term with ACCOs

Please access the following links to know more about our work:

Yuwaya Ngarra-li website

Yuwaya Ngarra-li 2020-2023 Evaluation and Learning Report

Research, Learning and Evaluation in the Yuwaya Ngarra-li Partnership: How UNSW is Enabling Elders’ Vision for Change

‘CommUNIty-Led development: A partnership to realize Aboriginal Elders’ vision for change’

This session is run as part of the Carnegie Community Engagement Network offerings. If you work, study, or partner with a member institution of the network you can access this session with a discount. Please get in touch with your Carnegie representative at your university or email carnegie@engagementaustralia.org.au for more information.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the session or the Carnegie Community Engagement Network, please contact carnegie@engagementaustralia.org.au

* Please note that the workshop will not be recorded.

Contact the host of ‘Working at the speed of trust’: University Partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Workshop

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