Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Community Strategic Plan

Who funded the project

Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

 

The project focused on the development of a Business Case for the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Community Strategic Plan. In partnership with atticusnow, Karabena Consulting led one of the strategic initiatives of focusing on inclusive and sustained decision making among people in the region.

Our approach included the review of different models across Australia, facilitated workshops, one on one interviews and in person yarning circles.

Karabena developed three models of community governance, which were presented and unpacked at community workshops, with a preference selected and refined through a follow-up workshop, with steps to implementation provided through the final report.

Summary

 

Professor Arabena’s role in the project was to lead the development of a feasible model and processes for a governance body that provides a strong and unified regional Aboriginal voice and enables Aboriginal leadership and self-determination across the Albury Wodonga region including the implementation of Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Strategic Community Plan (AWACSP).

Project Aims

 

To complete this project, Karabena Consulting utilised the following methodologies;

  • A review of existing cross-jurisdictional community governance models

  • Facilitated workshops

  • One on one interviews

  • In person yarning circles

Methodologies

 

The key outputs for this project were:

  • Three options for community governance models.

  • A Business Case and Plan detailing community desired outcomes, processes, and investment opportunities.

Project Outputs

 

By co-facilitating the development of a Business Case for the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Community Strategic Plan, Karabena Consulting was able to:

  • Highlight that the region’s cohesion is not only challenged by the states’ border, but by the ‘micro-histories’ of dispossession, the Stolen Generation's policies’ impact on families, and other Nations’ migration to the area.

  • Increase awareness that limited funding has made organisations competitors.

  • Advocate for flexible regional governance arrangements that support succession planning.

  • Outline training, supports and healing strategies that can be implemented in the community.

Project Outcomes

 

#reconciliation #BusinessCase #Regional #investment #community control #selfdetermination #Leadership

Key Words

Camille Gonza