The Gudaga Research Program: A Case Study in Undertaking Research with an Urban Aboriginal Community

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the Gudaga Research Program as a case study describing the practice principles used to implement a successful research partnership with an urban Aboriginal community in south-western Sydney. This is one of few papers that address research issues unique to working with urban Aboriginal communities, in which the Aboriginal culture of the community is not homogenous. The authors argue that the relationships between the researchers and key community members and research participants underpin the research success. Throughout, the authors show that ongoing processes to nurture and reaffirm these relationships are important and require ongoing investment. A proposed practice framework demonstrates the relationship between knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history and culture, the underpinning values including trust, respect, and reciprocity, and shared skills and communication. Examples of how these were built into the research are provided. These are important skills that have application beyond the research process.

古达加研究项目属个案研究，它讲述了在与西南悉尼城市原住民进行共同研究的过程中所采用的实践原则。有数篇文章涉及与文化上并非同质的城市原住民社区共同研究的独特经验，本文即其中之一。作者认为，研究者与社区重要成员及研究参与者之间的关系决定了研究的成败。培育并加强这些关系至关重要，需要不断的投入。作者提出的实践框架显示了了解原住民历史及文化，其背后的包括信任、尊重、互助等价值观，以及共同的技艺与通讯等等之间的关系。作者举例说明了这些是如何被纳入研究的。这些重要的技巧不仅仅应用于研究过程中。

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous Research Methods
• Urban Aboriginal Communities
• Children
• Community Work
• Longitudinal Studies

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the members of the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Board and staff for their ongoing support, insight, and guidance on all facets of the Gudaga Research Program. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the participating Gudaga families whose commitment is, of course, at the essence of the success of each of the Gudaga Studies. The support of South Western Sydney Local Health District, the University of New South Wales, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the NSW Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council is also acknowledged.

The current Gudaga Research Team comprises a multidisciplinary team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal academics and health service providers including Associate Professor Elizabeth Comino, Associate Professor Elizabeth Harris, Professor Lynn Kemp, Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver*, Professor Mark Harris, Professor Bob Perry, Professor Sue Dockett, Associate Professor Melissa Hasswell, Professor Bin Jalaludin, Mr Nathan Jones*, Dr Jenny McDonald, Ms Sharon Nicholson*, Mr Darryl Wright*; Dr Jennifer Knight, Professor Kelvin Kong*, Dr Rebekah Grace, project staff including Dr Jenny Knight, Cathy Kaplan and Sheryl Sharkie, and Aboriginal Project Officers, Jane Anderson* and Natasha West* (*Aboriginal). We acknowledge their participation.

Conflicts of Interest

There are no financial and personal relationships with organisations or people that could in appropriately influence our work. No conflicts of interest exist.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant Number 1023666.