The Possibilities of Indigenous Inquiry and Third Space Youth Development Work – Towards Decolonising Praxis

ABSTRACT

Despite theorisation and consistent Pracademic (academics who are also practitioners) contributions to the concepts of truth-telling and decolonising epistemologies in the fields of activist research, there remains ongoing need for articulating the everyday praxis and positionality of empirical work. This paper considers the practice of two intercultural Australian-based practitioners’ examination of the ethical practices towards decolonising praxis as a contributor to third-space youth development which considers the space between participants. First Nations terminology is drawn on to explore the empirical nature of third space theory (Bhabha) acknowledging the social construct of hybrid identities within individuals and communities’ personhood. Through exploring Indigenous inquiry as a contributor to third-space youth development, this paper argues that co-creation of knowledge amongst young people and practitioners considers a third space which can allow for deeper understandings of intercultural work and power dynamics. This article provides the opportunity to further explore a critical analysis of the challenges and possibilities of practitioners/pracademics working towards a decolonising journey which has implications for the ethics of youth work practice globally.

KEYWORDS:

• Third space youth development work
• decoloniality
• youth work ethics; antiracist practice
• Indigenous knowledges

Acknowledgements

Co-authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Jen Couch’s theoretical consultation on this journal article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams is a Lecturer, Early Career Development Fellow, Social Work and Human Services, School of Global, Urban & Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Williams has worked as an Intercultural Community Development Practitioner for over a decade. Williams’s PhD research methodology involved Action Research investigating creative sites for social change regarding racial social justice issues. Her interest in arts-based development projects is driven by the question of how ‘being born to stand out’ manifests. Williams is a Co-founder of Footprint Enterprises Inc. an organisation which focuses on creating spaces to bring about social change through the creative arts. Sarah has previously served on a number of boards, peak multicultural committees.

Seuta'afili Gregg Morris

Gregg Morris is a Senior Educator at Mānava. Māhana delivers evidence-based culturally responsive professional learning to teachers, youth workers, health and wellbeing teams, senior management and executive leadership teams as well as government personnel in the education, child protection, justice and out-of-home care sectors. Gregg oversees a neighbourhood hub at Dwell in Ascot Vale for local groups and initiatives whose focus is sustainability, connection and the sharing economy.