3.1 1 community at a time - National Disability Services · 1. Individual Practices – working with people from CALD backgrounds with disability 1.1 Empathy – a practice to connect

Workbook3.1PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

1Community@atime–culturallyresponsivecommunityengagementprinciplesandelementsJuly2016

futures UPFRONT

ThisworkbookhasbeendevelopedforNationalDisabilityServicesby:BarbelWinter,ManagingDirector,futuresUpfrontandMariaKatrivesis,ConsultantandTrainerFirstpublished(July2016)©futuresUpfrontFormoreinformationandforpermissiontoreproducepleasecontact:futuresUpfrontemail:[email protected]:www.futuresupfront.com.au ProducedbyNDSNSWLevel18,1CastlereaghStSydney,NSW2000FundedbyNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices.©ThispublicationiscopyrightAllrightsreserved.ExceptasprovidedintheCopyrightAct1968(Commonwealth),nouseofthiswork,whichiswithintheexclusiverightofthecopyrightowners,maybemade.ContactNDS0292563100ndsnsw@nds.org.auwww.nds.org.auAboutNationalDisabilityServicesNationalDisabilityServicesisthepeakbodyfornon-governmentdisabilityservices.Itspurposeistopromotequalityserviceprovisionandlifeopportunitiesforpeoplewithdisability.NDS’sAustralia-widemembershipincludesmorethan1000non-governmentorganisations,whichsupportpeoplewithallformsofdisability.NDSprovidesinformationandnetworkingopportunitiestoitsmembersandpolicyadvicetostate,territoryandfederalgovernments.

Table of Contents

1. Preface 21.1 Howtousethisworkbook? 21.2 Whatisthisworkbookabout? 31.3 Outcomes 31.4 Whoisthisworkbookfor? 31.5 Howlongwillittaketocomplete? 3

2. The Workbook 42.1 Introduction 42.2 WhatisCommunityEngagement? 4

2.2.1 Somedefinitions 42.2.2 TheCommunityEngagementContinuum 5

2.3 Communityengagementacrosscultures 72.4 CommunityEngagementPrinciples 9

2.4.1 HumanRightsframework 92.4.2 Strengthbasedapproachestobuildsocialcapital 102.4.3 Clarityofpurpose 10

2.5 Keyelementsforculturallyresponsivecommunityengagement 112.5.1 Buildingtrust 112.5.2 Findingsharedmeaning 122.5.3 SupportSelfDetermination 132.5.4 MakingLinks 13

3. Conclusion 15

Workbook3.1:1Community@atime

©futuresUpfront|2016|PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

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1. Preface

ThisworkbookispartofaseriesofresourcesforthedisabilityservicessectordesignedbyfuturesUpfrontforNDSwithfundingprovidedbytheNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices;Ageing,DisabilityandHomeCare.

Theworkbooksinthisseriesare:

1.IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability

1.1Empathy–apracticetoconnectacrosscultures

1.2Activelistening–unconditionalpositiveregardacrosscultures

1.3Choicemaking–cross-culturaldifferencesandwhatcanwelearnfromthem

1.4ReflectivePractice–whydifferentpointsofviewmatter

1.5Workingeffectivelywithinterpreters

2.OrganisationalPractices–buildingaculturallyresponsiveorganisation

2.1Terminologyanddata–aguidetounderstandingculturaldiversityanddisability

2.2Makingthebusinesscase–whydiversityisgoodforbusiness

2.3Aculturallyresponsivepersoncentredorganisation–keyelements

2.4Leadingtowardsculturalresponsiveness–apracticalguideformanagers,teamleadersandcoaches

2.5Buildingadiverseworkforce–practicalstrategies

2.6Valuingbilingualworkers–strategiestorecruit,trainandretain

3.CommunityEngagement–workingalongsidediversecommunities

3.11Community@atime–culturallyresponsivecommunityengagementprinciplesandelements

3.2MakingLinks–networkingwithCALDCommunities

3.3Cross-culturalstory-basedmarketing–1story@atime

Thisworkbookispartof‘CommunityEngagement-workingalongsidediversecommunities’.

1.1 How to use this workbook? Thisworkbookcanbeusedinmanydifferentways,including:

´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogrambyanindividual



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´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogramforagroup

´ Aspartofformaltrainingorganisedbyanorganisation

´ Aspartofcoachingandmentoring.

Thisworkbookincludesexercisesandopportunitiesforreflections(whenworkingbyyourself)ordiscussions(whenworkingwithothers).

Thereisplentyofroominyourworkbooktotakenotesandmakecomments.

1.2 What is this workbook about? ThisworkbookishelpingyouunderstandthekeyprinciplesandelementsofengagingwithCALDcommunities

WerecommendyouusethisasthefoundationforWorkbook3.2MakingLinks.

1.3 Outcomes Attheendoftheworkbookyouwill:

´ BeabletothinkmoredeeplyaboutengagingwithCALDcommunities

´ ApplysomekeyprinciplestoyourCALDcommunityengagementstrategies

´ Identifyarangeofkeyculturallyresponsivecommunityengagementelements.

1.4 Who is this workbook for? ´ PeopleinterestedinengagingwithCALDcommunities

´ Peoplewhowanttodeepentheirunderstandingofhowtorespectfullyandmeaningfullyconnectwithdifferentcommunities.

1.5 How long will it take to complete? Thisworkbookshouldtakeabout45minutestoworkthrough.



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2. The Workbook

2.1 Introduction Thisworkbookfocusesonsomeofthekeyprinciplesandelementswhenworkingwithoneofthe200orsodifferentethniccommunitiesinAustralia.Westronglyrecommendthatyoureadthisworkbookbeforemovingonto“Workbook3.2MakingLinks”,thenextworkbookinthisseries.

Whilethisworkbookfocusesspecificallyonworkingwithethniccommunities,theprinciplesandelementscanalsobeappliedtoworkingwithanycommunity.

Reflections

Doyoubelongtoacommunity(local,faithbased,interestbased,ethnicitybasedorlanguagebased)orformalisedcommunitygroup(LocalResidentActiongroup,aLandcaregroup,achoir,afaithbasedcommunity,apaintersgroup,aninterestbasedfacebookgroup)?Canyoulistsomeofthecommunitiesyoubelongto?

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2.2 What is Community Engagement?

2.2.1 Somedefinitions

“Communityengagementisaplannedprocesswiththespecificpurposeofworkingwithidentifiedgroupsofpeople,whetherthey



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areconnectedbygeographiclocation,specialinterest,oraffiliationoridentifytoaddressissuesaffectingtheirwell-being”1

Otherdefinitionsrefertocommunityengagementas,specifically,theengagementofgovernmentswiththeircitizens.2

Thedefinitionwewanttoworkwith,however,specificallytalksaboutthecollaborativenatureoftheengagementwiththecommunity:

“CommunityEngagementistheprocessofworkingcollaborativelywithandthroughgroupsofpeopleaffiliatedbygeographicproximity,specialinterest,orsimilarsituationstoaddressissuesaffectingthewell-beingofthosepeople”3

Weareinterestedhereinfocusingparticularlyoncollaborativecommunityengagementpracticeswithandthroughgroupsofpeoplethataffiliateonthebasesofethnicityand/orlanguage.

2.2.2 TheCommunityEngagementContinuum

ThefollowingcontinuumisbasedonthePublicParticipationSpectrumdevelopedbytheInternationalAssoc.forPublicParticipation4andshowstheeffectivenessofcollaborationascommunityengagementstrategyinachievingconnections,higherlevelsoftrustandultimatelymoreimpactthansomeotherstrategies.

1QueenslandDepartmentofEmergencyServices(2001)Charterforcommunityengagement,CommunityEngagementUnit,StrategicandExecutiveServices,QueenslandDepartmentofEmergencyServices2Cavaye,Dr.J(2001)'Communityengagementframeworkproject:scopingandreviewpaper',CavayeCommunityDevelopment/CEOCommitteeonLandResources,Queensland,citingOECD(2001)'EngagingCitizensinpolicy-making:information,consultationandpublicparticipation',PUMAPolicybriefNo10,July2001,OrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment3NationalInstituteofHealth(US)(2011):PrinciplesofCommunityEngagement4www.iap2.org.au



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Thiscontinuumclearlyhighlightsthatdifferentengagementstrategiesachievesimilaroutcomesbutdifferentlevelsofintensity.

Belowwearguethatirrespectiveofwhichoneofthestrategiesyouemploytoengagewithacommunity,yourengagementmustbebasedonclearprinciplesandcontainsomekeyelements.

Reflections

Thinkingaboutthecommunitiesandcommunitygroupsyoulistedabove,haveotherorganisationsormaybeyourcouncilevertriedtoconnectwithyourcommunity?Thinkingaboutthoseengagements,whereonthecontinuumabovewouldyouplacethoseengagementsandwhy?Ifyouneverhadsuchanexperience,canyouhaveathinkaboutwhichkindofengagementyouprefer(maybeadifferenttimes/situations)andwhy?

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2.3 Community engagement across cultures

Reflections

Pleasethinkabouttwoofthecommunities/groupsyoubelongtothatyouidentifiedabove.Maybethinkabouttwoverydifferentones.Maybeoneisnotstructuredatallandoneisverystructured;maybeoneisfocusedonataskorspecificpurposeandoneexistsbecauseofexternalreasons(forexample,thestreetyoulivein).Whatarethedifferentwordsyouwouldusetodescribethedifferentcommunities?Howaretheydifferent?Dotheyhavedifferentwaysoforganising,doingthings,communicatingwitheachother,etc.?

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Fromyourexamplesaboveandfromourexperiences,weknowthatnotwocommunitiesarethesame.Inaddition,communitiesarealsonothomogeneouswithinthemselvesastheyaremadeofindividualswithdiversevalues,historiesanddifferentwaysofseeingtheworld.

Giventhatthisisaseriesofworkbooksonpersoncentredpracticeacrosscultures,thefollowingdefinitionofculturemightbeuseful:

Cultureis“acomplexintegratedsystemofthoughtandbehavioursharedbymembersofagroup–asystemwhosewholepattern



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allowsustounderstandthemeaningsthatpeopleattachtospecificfactsandobservations”5

Tocollaborateandtobuildrelationshipsthataremeaningfulandimpactfulforthebenefitofall,weneedtolearnandunderstandaboutthemeaningsacommunityattachestocertainthings..

Thetitleofthisworkbook‘1community@atime’referstotheideaofpersoncentredapproaches,basedonourunderstandingthateachpersonisanindividualandthattheirdisability,aswellastheirethnicity,formspartbutnotallofwhotheyare.Similarlywhenengagingwithacommunity,wearealwaysworkingwithagroupmadeupofindividuals,whocomewiththeirownvalues,meanings,historiesandexperiencesofethnicityandlanguagethatcontinuallyshapeandre-shapethatcommunity.

Reflections

Haveanotherlookatyourreflectionsabovein2.3.Canyouthinkabitmoreaboutthedifferentwordsyouused?Thedifferentwaysthatthosecommunitiescommunicateororganise?Forexample,canyouthinkabitmoreaboutwhensomeonesaysitwillstartat8pm,doesthatmeanthesameinbothgroups?Whenthetaskistobringaplate,aretheresimilarexpectations?Areyoumorerelaxedinoneofthecommunitiesandmoreformalintheother?Doyoudressdifferently?

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Allofthosethingsyoulistedabovearewhatmakesthecultureofacommunity.

ThinkaboutthecultureofToastmasters,aninternationalorganisationwhichoperateslocally.Itisrunbylocalpeople,peoplecomefromallwalksoflife

5Kiefer,C.(2007):DoingHealthAnthropology



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andyetallfollowthesamerules.Thinkaboutanysport.It’splayedlocallybuttherulesofthegamemightbethesamearoundtheworld.Theseareexamplesofcommunitiesthatinsomewaysarehighlyregulated.

Comparethatwithagroupofpeoplethatwanttoworktogethertomaketheirlocalcommunitymoreinclusive;oragroupofpeoplewhohaveincommonthattheywereallborninthesamecountry.Thosegroupsaremostlynotexternallyregulatedandpeople,whilesharingapurposeorreasonforthegroup,havetoworkouthowtobetogetherandorganisethemselvesasacommunity.

TheselattercommunitiesaremorelikelythekindsofcommunitiesyouwillbeengagingwithinyourworkwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability.Intheabsenceofexternalrulesandstructuresthatyoucanlearnaboutpriortoengaging,youwillneedtobuildyourcommunityengagementonsomeprinciplesthatcanassistandguideyou.

2.4 Community Engagement Principles Communityengagement–1community@atimeisnotaboutfollowingaprescriptivesetoftoolsandprocesses,butbuildsonyourlearningandunderstanding,yourempathyandyourabilitytoworkalongsidepeople.Intheabsenceofsuchprescriptiveprocessesprinciples,orfundamentalvalues,arecriticalinguidingourengagement.

Thefollowingthreeprinciplesarecriticalasabasisforyourculturallyresponsivecommunityengagementinitiatives:

2.4.1 Humanrightsframework

Theinternationalhumanrightsframeworkwithitsmechanismsandtreatiesprovidesanimportantframeworkthatcanassistusinourengagementwithcommunities.Allourengagementsmustenhance,notdiminish,thehumanrightsofallthepeopleweengagewith.

Criticalinourcontextisthataperceptionofdifferencesofhumanrightsmustnotbetradedagainsteachother.Forexample,theUNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilitiesisofequalstandingtotheInternationalConventionontheProtectionofallMigrantworkersandmembersoftheirfamilies.BothconventionshaveequalstandingtotheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild.

Alsoimportantinourworkwithcommunitiesisthatwhentherearetensionsbetweenthedifferenthumanrightstreatiesandconventions,weworkalongsidecommunitiestoeitherresolvethosedifferencesoracknowledgethetensionsandthenworksothatallmembersofacommunityhavetheirhumanrights.Inourworkwithanycommunitywe



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mustupholdthathumanrightsarenotculturallyrelative,butthattheyareuniversal.

2.4.2 Strengthbasedapproachestobuildsocialcapital

Similarlytoourworkwithindividuals,westartourworkwithcommunitiesfromafocusonthegiftsandthepossibilitieseachcommunitybringsratherthanfocusingontheproblemsanddeficits.Theaimofourworkwithcommunitiesmustbethatwebringtogethertheknowledgeandskillswithinacommunitytocollaboratetogethertocreatebetteroutcomesandachievewhateverthecommunityisaimingfor.Aswedoinourworkwithindividuals,wemovefromproblemtopossibility.

Weworkwiththeconnectednesswithinacommunitytobuildmoresocialcapital.Socialcapitalisatermmuchusedindisabilityandcommunityservicessectors.Ifyouarethinkinginclusionforpeoplewithdisability,socialcapital,notindividualisedfundingpackages,iswhatwillmakecommunitieswelcoming.

2.4.3 Clarityofpurpose

Oneofthemostimportantprincipleswewouldurgeyoutothinkthroughbeforeengagingwithanycommunityistogetclearonyourpurposeandarticulatethispurposetothecommunityyouarecollaboratingwith.

Ifyouwanttoprovideinformationwiththepurposeofpromotingyourservicestoacommunity,donotpretendyouwanttoworkinpartnershipwithacommunitytoachieveagoaltheyhaveidentified.Ifyouwanttoleadtheengagement,ifyouwantmorecustomersfromthiscommunity;whateveryourpurpose,beclearaboutit.

Reflections

Doyouhaveacommunityinmindthatyourorganisationwantstoengagewith?Whydoyouwanttoengagewiththiscommunity?Whatisyourpurpose?Rightfromthebeginningcanyouthinkaboutthestrengthsofthecommunityandlistthemhere?Finally,whatdoyouthinkarethekeyhumanrightsissuesforthecommunityandwhatdoesthatmeanforyourworkwiththecommunity?

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2.5 Key elements for culturally responsive community engagement Finally,threekeycommunityengagementelementsthatareusefulwhencollaboratingwithCALDcommunities:

2.5.1 Buildingtrust

Theimportanceoftrustasacriticalelementinengagingwithcommunitiescannotbeoverestimated.Trustisthegluethatholdscommunitiestogetherandifwe,andourorganisation,wanttomeaningfullyengagewithacommunity,weneedtounderstandhowtobuildtrust,ofteninthefaceofdisappointment.Manycommunitieshavebeenfailedoverandoveragain;byoutsiders,byexperts,bypeoplewhopromisedandfailedtodeliverquicksolutionsandeasyfixestotheissuesandconcernsofthecommunity.

Belowisalistofwhatworkswhenitcomestobuildingtrust:

´ Weareaccountable–“Accountabilityprecedesthedevelopmentoftrust”6–Beforeanythingelsecomesaccountability.Beinganswerabletothecommunityforwhatwesaid,whatwedoandwhoweare.Beingone’swordandhavingintegrityofwordandactionarecriticalcomponentsofthis.Wedowhatwesaidwewouldandwereportbacktothecommunity.

´ Weareopen–Weare(actively)listeningtoothersandwearesharingourselvesandourlearningasacontributiontoothers.Weshareinformation,knowledge,networksandresourcesfreely.

´ Wesharesuccesses(aswellasfailures)

6Knack,S.,&Zak,P.(2005).Buildingtrust:Publicpolicy,interpersonaltrust,andeconomicdevelopment.SupremeCourtEconomicReview



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´ Wedon’thaveanyhiddenagenda–wearehonestandclearaboutourpurpose.

´ Wetaketime–weunderstandthatittakesthetimeittakes.Wedonothaveanagendaaboutwhenthingsneedtobedoneby.Weknowittakestimetobuildtrustandweknoweverycommunityisdifferent.

´ Weshowrespect–throughourwordsandouractions.Ourrespectcanbemeasuredinhowwerelatetoallmembersofthecommunity,fromthemostpowerfulmembertotheleastpowerfulmemberinthecommunity.

´ Welearnwhattrustlookslike–Weworkwiththecommunitytounderstandwhattrustlookslikeforthecommunity.Weaskquestionsaboutexperiencesoftrustaswellasexperienceswhentrustwasbetrayed.Welearnfromthecommunityaboutwhatbehavioursandattributesareseenasdemonstratingtrustandweshowthoseinourdealingswithpeople.

2.5.2 Findingsharedmeaning

Aboveweidentifiedthat

Cultureis“acomplexintegratedsystemofthoughtandbehavioursharedbymembersofagroup–asystemwhosewholepatternallowsustounderstandthemeaningsthatpeopleattachtospecificfactsandobservations”7

Welearntounderstandhowcultureshapesthemeaningsofhowthecommunityunderstandsitself,suchas

´ howindividualsandgroupsrelatetoeachother;

´ howpowerandresistancearedetermined;

´ howpartnerships,trustandreciprocityareenactedandnegotiated;

´ howdisability,help-seekingandrightsareunderstood;

Thenourunderstandingandpracticeofcommunityengagementwithaparticularcommunityoughttochangeinlinewiththosemeanings.

‘Sharedmeaningmaking’isatheoryandastrategythatassistsustorecognisethat

“peoplehavedifferentpersonalities,upbringings,culturesandexperiences,whichinfluencetheywayweinterpretandunderstandmessages.”8

7Kiefer,C.(2007):DoingHealthAnthropology8Barnett&O’Rourke(2011):Communication:OrganisationandInnovation



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Focusingonthemeaningsthatagroupofindividualsshare,ratherthansomepredeterminedstereotypicalassumptionswemakeaboutacommunity,willleadnotonlytoamuchricherandmoreaccurateunderstandingoftheindividualsandthecommunity,butalso

“helprevealhowcommunityconditionsaredeterminedbysocialeconomicandpoliticalforcesthatsimplybyindividualchoices.”9

Sharedmeaningmakingasastrategyemergesbecauseperceptions,ornewwaysofperceivingtheworld,ourenvironment,themeaningofanideaoraconceptoverlap10.Thestrategyisthusstrivingtounderstandeachotherspointofviewsandlookingfortheoverlapinourperceptions.(PleasenotethatsharedmeaningmakingisalsooneofthecoreelementsunderpinningWorkbook3.3Cross-culturalstory-basedmarketing)

2.5.3 SupportSelfDetermination

“Allpeoplehavetherighttoselfdetermination.Byvirtueofthatrighttheyfreelydeterminetheirpoliticalstatusandfreelypursuetheireconomic,socialandculturaldevelopment”11

Intermsofourstrategiesforengagingwithcommunitiesthismeansthatwetaketheleadfromthepeopleweworkwithandweuseourknowledge,skillsandconnectionstofurtherthepurposeidentifiedbythecommunity.

Wethenbecomealliesinthejourneytowardsself-determination,notleadersbutfollowers.Weacknowledgethatwhilewemighthaveskill,knowledgeandconnectionsthatareusefulandhelpfultotheself-determinationofthecommunity,wearenottheexperts.We,likethecommunitywearecollaboratingwith,havegifts;wecancreatepossibilities;wecanaskquestions,whichareoftenmuchmoreusefulthan(simplistic)answers.Ifanswerscometheyemergefromwithinthecommunityandarebasedontheinsights,strengthsandmeaningsharedbythecommunity.Sometimesthosenew,sharedmeaningsmay,atleastinpart,haveevolvedfromtheengagementwithyouandyourorganisation.

2.5.4 MakingLinks

Finally,ourlaststrategyistoencourageyoutonowmoveontothenextworkbookinthisseries.Workbook3.2MakingLinks,givesyouloadsofpractical,hands-onstrategiesincluding:

´ Whodoweknow?

9NationalInstituteofHealth(US)(2011):PrinciplesofCommunityEngagement10PleasenotethatthoseandrelatedconceptsarediscussedingreaterdetailintheEmpathyandReflectivePracticeworkbooksinthisseries.11InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),Article1



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´ Whatareourcurrentnetworkingpractices?

´ IdentifyingandtargetingCALDcommunity?



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3. Conclusion

Thisworkbookaimedtoassistyouinunderstandingsomeofthekeyprinciplesandunderlyingelementsofengagingwithcommunities.

Thisworkbooklaysthetheoreticalandvaluesfoundationsforthemore,hands-on,practice-basedWorkbook3.2MakingLinksofthesameseries.

Reflections

Whataresomeofthetakeawaymessagesfromthisworkbook?Aretherethingsyoudisagreewith?Wastheresomethingthatsurprisedyou?

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Documents

3.1 1 community at a time - National Disability Services · 1. Individual Practices – working with people from CALD backgrounds with disability 1.1 Empathy – a practice to connect