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Doing multi-disciplinary participatory action research with Aboriginal communities

A School of Education seminar presented on June 26th, 2019 by Associate Professor Bob Boughton

The research project which is the focus of this paper is a three-year ARC-funded longitudinal study of the impact of a mass adult literacy campaign on health and wellbeing in the participating Aboriginal communities. The project, due for completion end in October 2019, has been undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team from the University of New England (UNE), the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and two Aboriginal-controlled partner organisations, the Literacy for Life Foundation (LFLF), and the Lowitja Institute. The paper outlines the processes which the research team have had to follow to meet the often-contradictory demands of institutionalised research in our different disciplines and institutions, while still maintaining high levels of community participation and control.

Presentation

The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.