The social science program coordinates workshops every year covering a diverse range of issues. In various ways they all, however, seek to integrate knowledges and research methodologies, and expand networks. Four workshops were held in 2006. They all revolved around developing a shared set of understandings about best practice collaborative research methods.
The Desert Knowledge CRC sponsored two workshops with the Aboriginal organisation Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi in July and September. Waltja, a registered training organisation based in Alice Springs, ran both workshops as part of a training program known as ‘research nintirintjaku’; that is, ‘becoming knowledgeable about research’. These 2 one-day Aboriginal Researcher workshops drew participants from settlements across central Australia including Papunya, Kintore, Mt Liebig, Yuelumu, Engawala, Titjikala, Wilowra and Areyonga. At the workshop ‘research nintirintjaku’ nominees jointly developed understanding of: the meaning and value of research; the role of research nintirintjaku workers in facilitating good research for their communities; how to know if researchers are doing good research; problems; value of protocols; case studies of Desert Knowledge CRC research with Central Australian communities; and NHMRC research ethics guidelines. On the final afternoon of both workshops Desert Knowledge CRC researchers were invited to make presentations about their research. This assisted in making the research training tangible in linking it with possible projects. See Waltja web link to the right.
All research nintirintjaku participants indicated their interest in collaborating with Desert Knowledge CRC research projects. At this stage the profiles of the 20+ participants appears on the Desert Knowledge CRC intranet for the internal use of Desert Knowledge CRC researchers.
The other two workshops, held in September and November, focused on participatory methodologies. They were for Desert Knowledge CRC researchers and Desert Knowledge CRC post-graduate students. Both workshops, referred to as ‘Partners, not stakeholders’, were designed to build a shared understanding of the value of participatory and collaborative research, principally with Aboriginal partners in research, and to embed a culture of socially inclusive research practice. Elements in the ‘collaborative research toolkit’ were discussed and validated at the researcher workshop. In the interests of collaboration we also invited representatives from the CRC for Aboriginal Health and representatives from a number of Aboriginal organisations, such as the CLC and the Ngaanyatjarra Council. See weblink to the CRC AH to the right.
At this stage several workshops are planned for next year. These include a further workshop early in the year to consolidate the approach to collaborative methods with those researchers who were unable to attend in 2006 and a workshop to clarify and consolidate developments in the area of Aboriginal knowledge management. This will include participation from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers in Desert Knowledge CRC projects that are leading the way in this area, such as the Plants for People project, headed by Louis Evans and the Cultural Values of Water, headed by Naomi Rae. See Aboriginal Knowledge Management.
Planning to develop a desert-based Aboriginal researcher forum is also underway. The shape of this forum is open for consideration, but its value will lie in facilitating Aboriginal researcher networks across the desert, providing an opportunity to learn from each other and discuss issues of concern. Linking in with the annual Aboriginal Researchers’ Forum may also be appropriate.
