Research collaborations between women’s specialist services, Aboriginal women and researchers

Abstract

When experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV) in Australia, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women seek help for diverse needs. In response, women's specialist DFV services provide a range of programs. Given this diversity and program range, evaluating impact and outcome is challenging. A deeper challenge rests on who decides what to measure and how. This article describes a multi-site research collaboration between women's specialist services and researchers. Part of the project aimed to identify the perspectives and priorities of Aboriginal women users of three specialist services: one each in an urban, regional and remote location. In a series of iterative steps, Aboriginal women, service workers and researchers explored what was valued in interactions with crisis programs. Each collaboration then moved to identify ways to measures the items, and to determine when and how other service users might be asked to respond. Aboriginal women participated primarily as service users but in overlapping capacities as victims of DFV, as community members, as local researchers and service workers. The underlying principle that guided the research was to respect and acknowledge Aboriginal women as knowledge-holders, producers and translators. However, clear limits to ideas of 'co-research' are identified.

A Comprehensive Review of Optimal Approaches to Co-Design in Health with First Nations Australians

“…Some examples include interpretation of data [ 43 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]; dissemination and co-authorship [ 46 , 57 ]; and resource design and branding [ 58 ]. As well as engagement throughout the entire process, it is essential that First Nations Australians are engaged in a variety of roles in the co-design project including as research team members, participants, consumers, advocates, community leaders, reference group members, clinicians, community researchers, employees, interpreters, cultural advisors/liaisons [ 31 , 33 , 35 , 38 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 53 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. This facilitates community control over the entire process, as well as inclusion of expertise associated with lived experience and knowledge of community issues is guiding all aspects of the co-design approach.…”

“…There may be multiple local-level [ 81 , 101 ] or overarching groups to guide the entire project, and projects may also utilise previously established governance structures [ 62 , 63 , 74 ]. Multiple sub-groups may also be needed to ensure that the voices of affected sub-groups are heard (e.g., youth committee [ 61 ]) or that specific functions are fulfilled [ 68 ].…”

“…Power imbalances are pervasive due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation [ 45 , 55 , 61 , 63 , 70 , 74 ]. The use of co-design needs to include ways to tip the scales of inequity, in order to develop strong equal partnerships in the co-design project [ 63 , 70 , 74 ].…”

“…Power imbalances are pervasive due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation [ 45 , 55 , 61 , 63 , 70 , 74 ]. The use of co-design needs to include ways to tip the scales of inequity, in order to develop strong equal partnerships in the co-design project [ 63 , 70 , 74 ]. Non-Indigenous project team members need to engage in culturally reflexive practice, whereby they consider their own internal bias and how that may impact on the co-design project [ 45 , 46 , 61 , 73 , 82 , 89 ].…”

“…The use of decolonising methodologies in co-design signifies active participation of members of First Nations Australians communities. This is a critical component of addressing power imbalances and to ensure that diverse First Nations Australians voices are heard and prioritised throughout a project [ 29 , 33 , 46 , 52 , 63 , 82 , 95 ]. Inclusion of the views of marginalised groups (e.g., those in prison or youth groups) within First Nations Australians communities, which rarely inform policy and practice decision making, should also be a priority [ 29 , 32 , 56 , 75 , 119 ].…”