Cultural Respect

This page describes the Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training Framework that AGEN and the I-SE RCMG have developed.  You can download the Plan by clicking on the link below.


Purpose of this Framework

The purpose of this framework is to assist NSW Government Agencies to ensure all government employees have the knowledge, skills and positive motivation to effectively work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.


Background and History

I-SE Regional Coordination Management Group

The Illawarra – South East Regional Coordination Management Group (I-SE RCMG) brings together the Regional Managers of about 30 NSW Government Agencies who have a presence in the Illawarra and South East Regions.

The area covered extends from Wollongong, along the South Coast to the NSW/Victorian border and west to Bombala, Queanbeyan, Young, Yass and Goulburn.

The Regional Managers meet three times a year to identify and manage initiatives that require multi-agency responses, develop and manage regional strategic initiatives, evaluate and monitor project outcomes and enhance interagency networks and exchange.

The I-SE RCMG has developed two cluster groups, which bring together different agencies with similar focus. There are the human services cluster group, and a combined natural resources and economic development cluster group.

At the I-SE RCMG meeting in Thredbo, November 2005, it was agreed that the I-SE RCMG and Aboriginal Government Employees Network (AGEN) would form a joint working party to develop an I¬SE Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training Framework.

This document is the outcome of the working group.


Aboriginal Government Employees Network

The AGEN was initiated in 2004 by the I-SE RCMG as part of it’s cross-agency commitment to improve service delivery and community outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

The purpose of AGEN is to increase support, networking and opportunities for collaboration for Aboriginal workers in NSW Government Agencies. It brings together Aboriginal employees of the NSW Government in the Illawarra and South East Regions. The first major Gathering of Aboriginal workers was held at Murramarang on the 30th November and 1st December 2004. This Gathering developed a framework for the establishment of AGEN as an annual event, supported by a working group to operate in between the annual Gatherings. Members of the working group, known as the Cross Agency Working Party (CAWP) are appointed each year at the AGEN Gathering.

The second Gathering (and first AGEN Gathering) of Aboriginal workers was held in September 2005. This Gathering built on the work already undertaken in 2004 and resulted in the formation of three working parties to progress the development of an Illawarra-South East Regional Aboriginal Employment Strategy, an AGEN Website and Contact Database and the Illawarra – South East Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training Framework.


A Common Starting Point

Aboriginal workers in the Illawarra – South East Region unanimously agree that provision of Cultural Respect Training to non-Indigenous workers is vitally important to improve service delivery and service outcomes for Aboriginal people. Many Agencies already focus considerable effort and resources on some form of Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training. There is unanimous agreement between Regional Managers and Aboriginal workers about the importance of this matter.

Agencies currently deliver Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training through a number of means. Some Agencies outsource training to external training providers while others deliver their training internally through their existing Aboriginal workforce.

During the 2004 and 2005 AGEN Gatherings, workers discussed the strengths and weaknesses of both methods of delivery, and agreed that regardless of how an Agency delivers its training, there are certain principles that should underpin all Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training.

This Framework articulates those principles, and provides Agencies with an easy tool to assist with designing, assessing or outsourcing Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training for their workforce.

The initiative to have an I-SE RCMG Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training Framework was first proposed by the 2005 Gathering of AGEN.

This proposal was presented to the RCMG in November 2005 and the RCMG agreed to support the development of the Framework. The I-SE RCMG agreed in principle that Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training should be made mandatory for all employees.

A Working Group was established by AGEN to develop the Framework. The Working Group consisted of Iris White, Marilyn Brown, June Lowe, Graeme Moore and Simone Dilkara.

The Framework was circulated to AGEN Members and RCMG members in August 2006. It was presented at the September 2006 Gathering, and then the November 2006 RCMG for consideration.

 

Download the Draft Framework Here (Click on Download) – DOWNLOAD