YAPA's NSW Youth Services Census showed that 25% of all young people who use youth services in rural NSW are Aboriginal. This figure varies from project to project, with about half of all rural projects reporting that more than 25% of their clients are Aboriginal. Around 14% of all rural youth workers are Aboriginal. (YAPA Youth Services Census 2003)
Aboriginal people are the most disadvantaged group in Australia, in relation to a wide range of socio-economic indicators such as income, education, employment and housing conditions. (NSW Dept of Aboriginal Affairs 2004 and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2005)
Not surprisingly then, Aboriginal people are more likely to face an alcohol or other drug issue. For example:
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Aboriginal people aged 18 years and older are more than twice as likely to be current smokers (51%) compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts (24%). (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2003).
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Aboriginal people are less likely than non-Aboriginal people to consume alcohol, however those that do are one and a half times more likely to drink at risky or high risk levels (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005).
Aboriginal people aged 14 years and older are one and half times more likely than non-Aboriginal people to have tried illicit substances and almost twice as likely to have used them in the past 12 months. Marijuana was the most commonly reported illicit drug (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2003).
To work effectively with Aboriginal young people, their families and their communities you need to understand:
- The impact of non-Aboriginal people on the lives of Aboriginal people
- The continuing disadvantage facing Aboriginal young people
- A holistic view of health and wellbeing
- The importance of self determination and working in partnership with Aboriginal communities
- How to make your service culturally appropriate for Aboriginal people.
An overview of these issues is presented below.
1. Impact of non-Aboriginal people on lives of Aboriginal people
The past two centuries have witnessed the devastating impact of non-Aboriginal people and institutions on the lives of Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal people were massacred for their land on a widespread scale up until the 1920s and thousands of children were taken away from their families, purely on the basis of their Aboriginality, up until 1969. It is estimated that 38% of Aboriginal people aged 15 years and older were removed as a child and/or had relatives who had been removed as a child. Young people you work with may have had a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent removed under this policy. Many Aboriginal people still suffer social and emotional loss from having their children taken or from being taken.
Non-Aboriginal institutions had a great deal of control over the life of Aboriginal people. It was not until the 1960s that all Aboriginal people were able to vote, be counted in the Census and have access to many public places and facilities.
Aboriginal people have faced racist practices and discrimination from many non-Aboriginal people in authority such as welfare workers, teachers, government departments, the health system, the justice system and the police. This experience impacts on the way Aboriginal people feel about and use mainstream services such as youth services.
It is important to remember this history when working with Aboriginal communities. Many Aboriginal people may, understandably, have caution, suspicion or mistrust of non-Aboriginal people who want to do things for them or control them.
Self-determination is an important principle. Self determination means Aboriginal people being able to do things for themselves, rather than having other people decide what is in their best interests.
This means you need to work with Aboriginal communities, and support their efforts for self-determination, rather than setting up a program where you do things for them.
For most people our understanding of Aboriginal history and issues comes from non-Aboriginal experts such as politicians, the media, teachers, our family and friends. It is important to remember that many of our assumptions are based on non-Aboriginal opinions and experiences and can be inaccurate or even racist. We need to take time to hear the views of Aboriginal people.
2. Continuing disadvantage facing Aboriginal youth
Aboriginal young people continue to face many disadvantages such as poverty, lower education and employment outcomes, school suspension, and lack of culturally appropriate service provision.
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Aboriginal people have a low rate of school retention (staying at school to complete their HSC). The percentage of Year 7 students who continue to the end to the end of Year 12 in NSW government schools is 65% overall but less than 30% for Aboriginal students. (NSW Department of Education and Training, Excellence and Innovation: A consultation with the community of NSW on public education and training, 2004)
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Only 45% of Aboriginal teenagers are still at school, compared to 70% of non-Aboriginal teenagers. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services, How Young Indigenous People are Faring, 2003, www.dsf.org.au/papers/108.htm)
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Aboriginal young people are 3 to 4 times more likely to be suspended from school (Department of Education and Training, Review of Aboriginal Education, Growing and Learning: The Life Course 2004)
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Aboriginal young people have a lower than average school attendance rate (74%) than non-Aboriginal students (93%). (Department of Education and Training and Training, Aboriginal Education Review 2004)
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35% of Aboriginal teenagers are unemployed or not participating in the labour force, compared to 10% of non-Aboriginal teenagers. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services, How Young Indigenous People are Faring, 2003 www.dsf.org.au/papers/108.htm)
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The life expectancy of Aboriginal people is 20 years less than non-Aboriginal people. (Report of the NSW Chief Health Officer 2004)
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Aboriginal people are 20 times more likely to be homeless. (Australian Government Footprints in time - The longitudinal study of Indigenous children)
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Despite comprising only 3% of the general youth population, Aboriginal young people make up 44% of young people in detention. (Department of Juvenile Justice Annual Report 2003-2004)
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Aboriginal young people are also significantly over-represented as victims of crime. Aboriginal young people are three times more likely to be victims of sexual assault and five times more likely to be victims of domestic violence or assault causing grievous bodily harm.
- Aboriginal young people whose parent or carer was forcibly removed as a child are about twice as likely to use alcohol or other drugs than other Aboriginal people (Zubrick et al 2005).
Aboriginal people also face a range of other disadvantages such as racism and discrimination on a daily basis.
3. Holistic view of young people's health & wellbeing
It is important to adopt a holistic view of health and wellbeing when working with Aboriginal communities. This viewpoint recognises that there are a wide range of factors contributing to wellbeing and a wide range of opportunities to improve health outcomes.
In this model, youth services can reduce some of the disadvantages faced by Aboriginal people (including risky AOD use) by helping young people stay connected (or be re-connected) to education and employment, by providing practical assistance and support and by addressing racism and discrimination in the broader community.
Even if your service is already accessed by Aboriginal young people you can still take practical steps to make sure that your service is appropriate and that it meets their needs.
4. Importance of self determination & working in partnership with Aboriginal communities
The first thing to consider in working with Aboriginal communities is your motivation.
Do you want to do things for Aboriginal people or do you want to work with them? Remember self-determination is important.
Best practice involves improving the way your service is accessed by Aboriginal people and supporting Aboriginal organisations in running their own programs for young people.
We should support Aboriginal organisations because they know about the issues facing their young people.
Don't approach the Aboriginal community with your own agenda or beliefs about what programs would help their young people and expect them to rubberstamp your ideas.
The best way to make contact with the local Aboriginal community is to be introduced by someone they know. When meeting someone for the first time you would probably prefer this too!
Each community will have their own protocol. A protocol is the appropriate way of behaving, communicating and showing respect to the Aboriginal community.
It is important to make contact with someone who can help you understand the best way to work with your local Aboriginal community.
You should be aware of the Aboriginal Lands Council area your service is located in. You can find this out by:
- contacting the NSW Aboriginal Land Council at www.alc.org.au
- purchasing the Aboriginal Australia Map from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) which shows the Aboriginal nations www.aiatsis.gov.au/asp/map.html.
There are Aboriginal people who are employed to liaise with the Aboriginal community and they can provide you with guidance and support about local protocols. People who may be able to help you:
- Aboriginal Medical Centres
- Aboriginal Health Unit at your Area Health Service
- Aboriginal Officer at your local council
- Aboriginal Community Project Officer at your local DoCS office
- Aboriginal Liaison Officers at local branches of government departments such as Centrelink
- Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) or Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLOs) at your local school
- Aboriginal units within TAFEs
- Aboriginal Land Councils
- Aboriginal corporations
- Aboriginal legal centres
- Your local CDEP - Community Development Employment Program.
The most effective way of making contact is to talk face to face, rather than sending a letter or a fax.
You can improve your communication and consultation with the Aboriginal people by remembering the following points.
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Talk to the wider Aboriginal community before you start speaking with young people.
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Consult directly and specifically with Aboriginal young people.
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Take time to get to know the community and develop trust and rapport.
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Provide food, such as a BBQ, when running groups or consultations.
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Spend time simply talking and getting to know more about their community and their experiences. Remember the saying "we have two ears and one mouth - spend twice as much time listening as you do talking".
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Don't rush the community. Decision making in the Aboriginal community is collective and inclusive, and not as individualistic as the non-Aboriginal community. This means that the consultation could take longer than you expected. Allow the community to set the pace of consultation.
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Understand that the community may talk about a wide range of issues, and not just the issue you are interested in. This is a cultural practice of story telling and is to be respected. Develop a partnership with the community and be willing to listen and share information about a range of issues.
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Silence is often used as a time for reflection. Don't interrupt but show respect for silence and think about what is being discussed.
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Different individuals and communities have different values and beliefs, so consult with a variety of people.
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Ask the broader community and young people about how you can work together to deliver the program or initiative.
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Don't promise more than you can deliver. Be realistic about what you can offer. Always try to deliver what you have promised.
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Regularly report back on how the program is going. Don't just come in and "pick their brains" and leave.
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Be prepared for a long term commitment to the Aboriginal community.
The Aboriginal community is probably the most over-consulted group in our society. They are continually being asked to have their say about issues, often with very few results being delivered. Often they have been asking for the same thing from people in authority for twenty or thirty years without anything being delivered. As a result some Aboriginal people may be sceptical about your level of commitment.
5. Make your service culturally appropriate for Aboriginal people
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Find out about the Aboriginal-specific services in your community. Your council may produce a directory of these services. Not all Aboriginal young people will know about these services and many may prefer to go to an Aboriginal-specific service for particular issues, eg. an Aboriginal medical or legal service. But remember, you still have a responsibility to access Aboriginal young people and be culturally appropriate.
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Get yourself known by Aboriginal services so they can refer people to you.
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Display material in your centre or on your noticeboard that is welcoming and appropriate to the Aboriginal community such as Aboriginal posters or artwork, the Aboriginal flag, brochures about Aboriginal services, and articles written by Aboriginal people.
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In promotional material include a photo with contact names for your staff. Use graphics that Aboriginal young people provide or like. Don't use Aboriginal art work without permission. The Aboriginal flag can be displayed at your service but you must gain copyright permission to display the flag in artwork or brochures.
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Instead of applying for funding for Aboriginal youth programs talk to Aboriginal organisations about how you could support them to get funding.
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Organise some cultural awareness training for your staff, volunteers and management committee members.
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Understand that not all Aboriginal people and communities are the same. There are factions in some Aboriginal communities. Don't get involved in faction fighting and always consult a wide range of people.
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Challenge racist comments at your service. Reinforce group rules such as "this is a safe place" or "we don't discriminate" or "no put downs or hassling". Provide workers with information that refutes common myths about Aboriginal people.
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Help educate other young people at your service about Aboriginal history and issues. There are many movies you can show, such as Rabbit Proof Fence that can provide an opportunity for education and discussion.
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Include Aboriginal people in decision making about your service such as the management committee or less time-consuming participation strategies like planning days and consultations.
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Recognise the cultural differences of Aboriginal people in the way that you provide a service to young people. For example, many Aboriginal people do not relate to a formal counselling approach where they sit alone in a room and are questioned by a stranger. Finding a quiet space or having a chat at other times, eg. while giving them a lift home, may be more appropriate.
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Because family is important to many Aboriginal people, young people may feel more comfortable in attending your program with friends, siblings or other family members. You need to be sensitive to this.
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Build trust with Aboriginal people and spend time listening and talking. Allow them to share information at their own pace and in their own way. This process may take longer than with other young people.
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Try and provide practical support to young people. Once you have built trust and rapport they may ask you to help with other issues. Deal with the issues that are important to them.
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Aboriginal young people may not like attention being drawn to them so keep this in mind while running your programs and provide other ways of talking and learning together.
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Working with Aboriginal communities and people is a learning experience. Sometimes you will make mistakes, but it is important to keep trying and learning.
More information
Working with Aboriginal young people – YAPA fact sheet has additional information:
www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/facts/aboriginalyoungpeople.pdf
Our Place is a comprehensive guidebook on working with Aboriginal young people - available from South Sydney Youth Services on (02) 9557 2848.
