Final Report: Strengthening Community Research in ... - Ninti One

draft reports and is asked for comment. Research topics were also drafted and presented to Wurla Nyinta beforethey were applied in the community.While the long-term outcomes that have been achieved through the work of local community researchers are yet tobe established, the applied PAR project at Ntaria in 2011 has clearly demonstrated a strengthening of the LRG andasset base through local researcher knowledge and input into local decision making and governance based onrigorous and strong local research results. The results have been viewed positively by the local community andhave attention of FaHCSIA staff at regional and federal levels.The process of PAR has contributed to better communication and some partnership activity between severalservice agencies and the wider community through stronger local police engagement on the Safe Driving project,and engagement of the Ninti One Ntaria researchers on additional research contracts from FaHCSIA. The programhas also increased the confidence of individuals, which in turn has strengthened leadership.As a result of Research Cycles 1.1 and 1.2 in the Safe driving at Ntaria research topic, Ninti One Ntaria ResearchTeam recommends that:1. Wurla Nyinta asks the government to engage people in the community to participate in developing aviability study and business plan for a garage at Ntaria or Tjuwanpa, as a first step to establishing a safechoice for repairs and maintenance of vehicles within the community.The outcome might be linked with LIP actions that support adult training outcomes, employment, localbusiness development, youth diversion and community service orders, men’s programs, Job ServiceProviders services and support, driver’s licence training, tourism, and preventative driver trainingprograms for young people.2. The social, economic, governance and health needs of the community are considered in the viabilityand business planThe community should be engaged in all aspects of the process of investigating and developing a strategicplan for a local garage.As a result of the second research topic, Wurla Nyinta Community Perception Survey, Ninti One Ntaria ResearchTeam recommends that:1. Wurla Nyinta identifies opportunities for local people to engage in strong community governancethrough the RSD NPA and the LIP process.Some agreement about roles and responsibilities relating to the work of Ntaria residents who are WurlaNyinta representatives and other key local people such as Pmerekwerteye (traditional owner or manager)and Kwertengerle (cultural custodian or manager) should be discussed with the goal of ensuring there isfair sharing of the jobs required for the group to continue to be effective. This is a governance issue and isalso affected by no resources being available to commit to developing a working representative governancestructure.As a result of this project other organisations have begun utilising this Arrarnta research capacity at Ntaria, eitherthrough Ninti One or directly. We have identified significant flow-on benefits occurring through local employmentopportunities and Arrarnta engagement with research affecting Ntaria. There is potential benefit for furtherdevelopment of local research capacity at Ntaria and, indeed, other remote communities.viiiFinal Report: Strengthening Community Research in Remote Service Delivery at Ntaria