Humility, inquisitiveness, and openness: key attributes for meaningful engagement with Nyoongar people

ABSTRACT

Objective: Mental health clinicians have struggled to recognise the need to understand an Aboriginal worldview and how human interactions are shaped by social relationships in kin-based societies. This paper considers the findings of Looking Forward Project, a participatory action research study aimed at investigating the serious disconnection between mental health and drug and alcohol service providers and Aboriginal families living in Perth, Western Australia.

Method: Our research methods and knowledge exchange were premised on the shared storytelling between Aboriginal Elders, researchers, senior management and clinicians. Study participants included eighteen local Elders and approximately seventy staff across eleven mental health and drug and alcohol organisations, over four years. Elders have been the primary drivers of the research design. This paper is shaped by the storying process.

Results: The study revealed the lack of trust between service providers and Aboriginal families is predominantly due to the lack of understanding by service providers of the critical difference in social relationships. The lack of trust creates a barrier to accessing services and compromises the quality of response by services. Humility, inquisitiveness and openness are essential qualities for meaningful engagement and sustainable relationships.

Discussion: The rebuilding of trust requires the development of meaningful relationships in order to break down the barriers so as to increase access and develop culturally secure responses by services. When clinicians adopt these essential qualities they will develop a reflective practice that enables them to be more adaptable in their work with Aboriginal clients and their families.

KEYWORDS:

• Aboriginal
• engagement
• relationships
• Aboriginal Elders
• mental health
• drug and alcohol

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Extract from T. S. Eliot, The Rock, 1934.

2. The word Nyoongar has been used in this document to describe the Aboriginal people living in the Perth area for the majority of Aboriginal people living in the Perth region identify as Nyoongar. Nyoongar peoples are the First Nations people represented by 14 clan groups located across the south-west region of Western Australia. The author/s acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may identify with their local clans or group name and he means no disrespect in using the term Nyoongar.

3. The term Aboriginal has been used in this article to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. The author acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may identify with their local clans or group name and means no disrespect in using the collective term Aboriginal.

4. Wadjella is a Nyoongar term for non-Aboriginal person of Anglo-Saxon descent derived from the phrase ‘white fella’.