The project, Improving cross-cultural engagement: developing
a staff development package for non Indigenous, natural and
cultural management agency staff is progressing well and we
expect to compete the project as planned.
The consultative and information gathering phase of the project
has been completed. The project objectives to improve
cross-cultural engagement practice have been widely supported
during this phase of the project. The need for a robust and
comprehensive staff development package beyond the briefer cross
cultural awareness courses that are widely run by NCRM agencies was
acknowledged.
The feedback we have received on the structure and content of
our proposed package suggests strongly that our package will be of
interest across Australia. Accordingly we have shaped the course
and the resources to suit NCRM professionals working in any
Indigenous settings across Australia.
The staff development package will have two components: Part 1
is an online interactive study requiring a minimum of 30 hours over
six weeks. This is approaching completion. The second is a five day
workshop at CDU, jointly facilitated by CDU/TS-CRC staff and the
Larrakia Nation. The package will be trialled between May 23 and
July 8 2005.
The draft online package can be viewed through the link at the
bottom of the page.
Linked to the staff development package is a third component for
those who wish to complete a 10 credit point higher education unit.
This will involve an on the job action research project. Arranging
this articulation is in progress.
In line with the information we gathered during the consultation
and data gathering phase of the project, we have modified a little
the papers the project will produce. We have combined into one
longer discussion paper examples, ideas and principles about best
practice, and propose a second production which would provide a
guide for further reading about concepts and themes that encourage
rethinking the nature and practice of NCRM.
We expect to submit the final report on this project to the
TS-CRC by March/April 2006
