Summary of Year Two Research Findings: Indigenous Community Governance Project
Summary of Year Two Research Findings: Indigenous Community Governance Project Report
- Author(s): Hunt, J, Smith, D
- Published: 2007
- Publisher: Reconciliation Australia, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
Abstract: The Indigenous Community Governance Project (ICGP) is exploring the nature of Indigenous community governance in Australia to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and why. This is a summary of the findings of the second research report by the ICGP including policy considerations. The second report, Indigenous Community Governance Project: Year Two Research Findings, strongly reinforces the conclusions and relevance of the key issues raised in the project’s preliminary research report, Building Indigenous Community Governance in Australia: Preliminary Research Findings. Findings and policy considerations relate to the complexity of Indigenous community governance, leaders and leadership, Indigenous principles of governance, cultural match and legitimacy, capacity development and institution building and the need for governments to improve their own governance. These findings are based on detailed evidence from over a dozen different case studies of Indigenous community governance in action. The ICGP case studies are based on research sites drawn from a diverse range of community, geographical, cultural and political settings across Australia For background and more detailed information on the ICGP findings please refer to the report at http://www.anu.edu.au/caepr/ICGP_home.php The findings reported here draw on a comparative analysis of detailed research evidence provided over 2006 in Project researchers’ Field Reports, case study reports and published papers from the following: • Anmatjere Community Government Council (ACGC), NT—Will Sanders and Sarah Holcombe • Bunuba Inc. and Kurungal Inc., West Kimberley, WA—Kathryn Thorburn • Laynhapuy Homelands Association, Yirrkala, NT—Frances Morphy • Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation and homelands, Maningrida, NT—Jon Altman • NT Government Regional Authorities policy frameworks, and the West Central Arnhem Land Regional Authority Interim Council, NT —Diane Smith • Thamarrurr Regional Council, Wadeye, NT —Bill Ivory • Wiluna governance environment, WA—Christina Lange • Noongar regional governance, WA—Manu Barcham • Yarnteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, Newcastle, NSW—Diane Smith • The Australian Government Secretaries’ Group on Indigenous Affairs, Canberra—Bill Gray and Will Sanders • International and national frameworks for capacity and community development—Janet Hunt