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Community Engagement

Community Engagement. Fiona Kelly & Barb Clark Alma- Bugdlie Preschool. Alma- Bugdlie Preschool. DET Aboriginal Preschool Opened in 1994 Situated in the South of Broken Hill Off-site Support from community Single unit Good starting place Use community programs

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Community Engagement

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  1. Community Engagement Fiona Kelly & Barb Clark Alma-Bugdlie Preschool

  2. Alma-Bugdlie Preschool • DET Aboriginal Preschool • Opened in 1994 • Situated in the South of Broken Hill • Off-site • Support from community • Single unit • Good starting place • Use community programs • Great transition program • Advisory committee • Free • Great place • Brilliant staff!!!

  3. What is Community Engagement? • “Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting their well being” (Qld Emergency Services guide) • Community Engagement has following principles: * Inform * Consult * Involve * Collaborate • Empower • ‘Community Engagement' is used to describe the broad range of interactions between people. • Community Engagement need to have clarity, transparency and commitment.

  4. What are the benefits of Community Engagement? • Community members know their community best • You will be aware of your community needs • Programs will reflect this knowledge / needs / interests • Improvement in student behaviour / attendance • Student outcomes will improve • Parents support for school will be evident • Positive attitude within school • Better perception in the community • “Smoother” running of events • Makes your job easier • Honest communication • Rewarding • Barb

  5. Why can Community Engagement be hard in Aboriginal communities? • Need to understand where community is coming from • Past experiences of parents • Remember community have been excluded for a long time • Community have heard it all before • Waiting to see if you deliver • Parents very perceptive • Body language • Tokenistic involvement • Trying to move too fast • Understanding why parents are negative • Bad assumptions • Giving up too easily • Teachers’ trying too hard, be yourself

  6. How long does Community Engagement take? • Takes time • Start out small • Need time to build trust • Involves hard work and a gradual process • Exclusion time • Waiting for delivery • Varies with each community

  7. Strategies to obtain Community Engagement • AEO takes lead • Have committee and plan • Start small • Lots of talk and tea • Parents involved at all levels • Be mindful of body language • Be honest • Whole school commitment • Teacher by teacher basis • PLPs • Pick your times • Be respectful not dismissive • Have “can do” attitude • Executive need to make themselves available • Talk outside of school as well

  8. Strategies cont. • Day to day involvement • Be prepared for involvement in all areas • Offer rides • Remind • Ask personally • Ease parents into roles • Parents younger children • Listen • BBQs, Parent days, Helpers at carnivals • Advisory, SiP, AECG committees • Presenters, artists, musicians, caterers • Offer training • Come for a feed • Can’t pick and choose • Be aware of non-physical support

  9. How will I know that I have achieved Community Engagement? • You will be less stressed • Community visible in all areas • Parents discussing problems early • Honest communication • Parent support in the school • Numbers at meetings will improve • Increase in help during ATSI week and other celebrations • More parents in school • Greater support for school events • Parents willing for you to make decision and vice versa • Trust will be evident in all parties

  10. Examples of Community Engagement • Alma-Bugdlie parent days • Alma advisory committee • Alma cook up • Alma Easter hat parade • Alma athletics carnival • Alma concert and presentation day • Alma support for AFL and rugby finals • Menindee “Black Pride” night • Menindee SiP committee • Meninde understanding of death • Menindee rugby • Menindee adult Aboriginal Studies class

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