Research

    Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation (TCAC) has a strong commitment to Aboriginal community research processes and has since inception used research to inform policy, strategic and operational decisions.
    In 2003-04, it established the Tangentyere Research Hub to support the promotion and enhancement of Aboriginal researchers to develop, implement and lead research on key organisational and community priorities. This team initially worked on research concerning changes to Alcohol policy and restrictions (Foster, Williams, Campbell, Davis, & Pepperill, 2006) (Tangentyere Council, National Drug Research Institute, & Centre for Remote Health, 2003). This research ensured that Aboriginal perspectives informed the evaluation of the 2002 Liquor Commission liquor restriction trial.
    Following on from this, Tangentyere Council (through the Research Hub) successfully secured funding for the Town Camp Population and Mobility in Alice Springs project, which provided a unique methodology and timely account of population figures on the Town Camps (Foster, Mitchell, Ulrik, & Williams, 2005). The Tangentyere Research Hub works independently and collaboratively with research partners, to progress priorities for Town Camp residents and more broadly, Aboriginal people of central Australia. To read more on our previous research visit our Communication and Publications page. 

    Our approach to research
    For ethical research to be conducted with the Central Australian Aboriginal population, it must involve and be determined by Aboriginal people, perspectives, and ways of working. Aboriginal researchers from communities can ensure that research and external researchers are informed and advised on culturally safe methods and approaches. 
    The research must work to strengthen the community in which it takes place (Campbell, Foster, & Davis, 2014). Our research practice considers that Aboriginal knowledge, local cultural expertise, and involvement of local Aboriginal researchers is key in delivering quality research outcomes. The core principles for our way of working are described below and shown in Figure 1. We define these principles in the Tables below.


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    Figure 1. Tangentyere Council’s research principlesNew Paragraph

    Principle 1: Aboriginal Research in Aboriginal Hands

    Research needs to ask meaningful research questions based on community priorities. Our research work is reflective of priorities of TCAC and supports the programs being delivered by the organisation.

    Research “direction, accountability, participation and ownership” rests in the hands of Aboriginal people and organisations. It is important that there is employment and wages for Aboriginal research staff.

    Our research approach is ‘right person, right place, right time’. That means when undertaking data collection, we consider the match of research and participant/s, and appropriate language. We also consider the location and timing of the research activity. We talk to people in places and at times which are convenient and safe for them. We always watch for non-verbal cues.

    Informed consent from community and from individuals is essential before data collection commences.

    Principle 2: No Survey Without Service

    Research should provide immediate benefits for the research participants and consider how the research will have long lasting and sustainable changes of Aboriginal families and communities.

    Research should build capacity of Aboriginal Researchers and staff.

    Research should provide evidence for what is working and build on strength-based opportunities.

    The research team take note, record and follow-up on concerns expressed by residents and Town Campers: maintenance and repairs issues; questions about services; help people with lifts/transport.

    Principle 3: Making a Difference to Aboriginal Lives and Wellness

    Protect Aboriginal people’s rights in relation to research.

    Enhance current evidence to inform government, policy makers and others of what is working. 

    Improve our and external programs and services through evaluation and evidence.

    Promote research methodologies and methods that are based on sound approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their governance structures.

    Partnering with us in research

    TCAC has a long history of partnering with outside researchers, university, and other research institutions in the conduct of research. Interested partners should plan to talk with the Research Hub about their ideas. The Research Hub will work with outside organisations/researchers to ensure that research is culturally safe and aligns with Aboriginal community priorities. 

    TCAC requests that organisations and individual researchers that want to undertake formal research on Town Camps, seek the written approval for conduct of research from TCAC. This is a staged process and researchers are advised to work in partnership with the Research Hub in the planning and design of their research. Figure 3 outlines this process. In addition to providing the proposal, key questions that our partners need to answer when considering a partnership with TCAC and the Research Hub include:

    • Has TCAC identified the research as a priority? Is the research needed by the community?
    • Have the researchers talked with and planned the research with the Research Hub and/or programs/divisions?
    • How does the research support and build local Aboriginal research capacity and capabilities?
    • Does the research have or need ethics approval?
    • What outputs and outcomes will the research have for Aboriginal people and their organisations

    The final decisions on TCAC involvement in research projects is at the discretion of Board of Directors (see Figure 3 below). TCAC Board of Directors asserts that all partnerships should involve the co-authorship or (as a minimum) the acknowledgement of work undertaken by the Research Hub.

    If you are interested in partnering with us on a research project, please send us an email to research.hub@tangentyere.org.au with details on the project.

    Figure 3: Flow chart on the steps/procedures involved in partnering with the TCAC and the Research Hub.New Paragraph