Engagement & Collaboration

# Engagement & Collaboration Want to know the difference between engagement that works and engagement that fails? Relationships. This chapter gives you practical frameworks for building those relationships, conducting genuine engagement, and centring Indigenous voices throughout your projects.¹  _Fig. 4.1: The AIATSIS Code of Ethics provides foundational principles for ethical engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.¹_ ## The Engagement Spectrum Not all engagement is equal. Where you sit on this spectrum determines whether you're meeting ethical standards or just going through the motions.² ### Levels of Engagement | Level | Description | Indigenous Role | Decision Authority | | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------ | | **Inform** | One-way communication | Recipient of information | None | | **Consult** | Gather feedback | Advisor | Limited | | **Involve** | Work together | Partner | Shared | | **Collaborate** | Joint decision-making | Equal partner | Significant | | **Empower** | Indigenous-led | Leader | Full | ### Minimum Standard For projects on Indigenous Country, the minimum should be **Involve** or higher. Inform and Consult alone don't meet NSCA 2021 requirements.³ > **How This Connects to Chapter 3:** This five-level spectrum (based on IAP2) complements the three engagement modes in Chapter 3: Consultation, Collaboration, and Indigenous-Led Design. > > - **Inform/Consult** aligns with **Consultation** (insufficient) > - **Involve/Collaborate** aligns with **Collaboration** (better, but intermediate) > - **Empower** aligns with **Indigenous-Led Design** (what to aim for) > > Use this spectrum to assess your engagement level. Use Chapter 3's framework to understand the power dynamics underneath. --- ## Step-by-Step Engagement Process Treat each phase as **inputs -> actions -> outputs**. This keeps engagement practical, traceable, and easier to review with your team and community partners. ### Phase 1: Preparation (Before First Contact) **1. Identify Traditional Owners** — Use the AIATSIS Map to identify language groups.⁴ Research Registered Aboriginal Parties in Victoria and identify relevant Land Councils or community organisations. Note that boundaries may be contested—approach with sensitivity. **2. Research the Site and Its History** — Review cultural heritage registers (ACHRIS in Victoria), research historical land use and displacement, understand the contemporary community context, and learn about significant sites or sensitivities. **3. Prepare Your Organisation** — Secure budget for engagement (fees, time, resources) and allocate an adequate timeline—months, not weeks. Identify who will lead engagement within your team and make sure leadership is committed to the process. **4. Develop Your Approach** — Draft an engagement plan to be reviewed with community. Prepare clear information about the project, identify what decisions you're seeking input on, and be clear about constraints and non-negotiables. **Outputs to document:** Draft engagement plan, stakeholder map, budget allocation, and decision log template. --- ### Phase 2: Initial Contact **1. Make Respectful Introduction** — Introduce yourself and your organisation. Explain why you're reaching out, ask about appropriate people to speak with, and be patient—responses may take time. **2. Listen First** — Ask about community priorities and concerns. Learn about cultural protocols for engagement and understand existing relationships and sensitivities. Don't rush to discuss your project. **3. Establish Relationship Framework** — Discuss how the community wants to be engaged. Agree on appropriate communication channels, identify key contacts and decision-makers, and discuss compensation and acknowledgment. **4. Share Project Information** — Provide clear, accessible project information. Be honest about scope, timeline, and constraints. Explain decision points and how input will be used, and ask what information the community needs from you. **Outputs to document:** Agreed communication protocol, named contacts, and confirmed engagement scope. --- ### Phase 3: Ongoing Engagement **1. Maintain Regular Communication** — Provide updates even when there's no specific ask. Be responsive to community questions and concerns, share design development as it progresses, and invite ongoing feedback—not just at milestones. **2. Centre Indigenous Input in Design** — Bring design options to community, not final decisions. Be prepared to change course based on feedback. Document how Indigenous input shapes design and credit Indigenous contributions appropriately. **3. Address Concerns Promptly** — Take concerns seriously and respond quickly. Be willing to pause if significant issues arise, escalate to leadership if needed, and document how concerns were addressed. **4. Build Relationships Beyond the Project** — Engagement shouldn't end when construction starts. Plan for post-occupancy connection, support ongoing community benefit, and maintain relationships for future projects. **Outputs to document:** Updated design rationale showing Indigenous input, issue-response register, and post-occupancy engagement commitments.  _Fig. 4.2: The Australian Institute of Architects First Nations Resource Hub provides architects with guidance, resources, and case studies._ --- ## Engagement Principles ### 1. Relationships Over Transactions Indigenous engagement is about building genuine relationships, not extracting approvals. Invest time in relationship-building before and beyond specific project needs. ### 2. Indigenous Time Community processes operate on their own timelines. Allow adequate time for internal community discussions, cultural protocols and ceremonies, Elder consultation and approval, and consensus-building processes. ### 3. Fair Compensation Indigenous knowledge has value. Budget for consulting fees for knowledge holders, meeting attendance payments, travel and accommodation for participants, and administrative support for community organisations. ### 4. Clear Communication Use plain language, not technical jargon. Provide information in accessible formats. Be clear about what you're asking and why. Follow up written communication with conversations. ### 5. Genuine Authority Make sure Indigenous partners have real decision-making power, not just advisory input. Be prepared to change plans based on community direction. --- ## Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) ### What ICIP Covers ICIP encompasses all forms of Indigenous knowledge, cultural expressions, and heritage — including traditional knowledge and practices, cultural expressions (art, stories, songs, designs), languages and place names, sacred and secret material, and heritage documentation and recordings.⁵ ### ICIP Rights Indigenous communities have rights to recognition of ownership over their cultural heritage, authority to approve or refuse use of their ICIP, secrecy for sacred or restricted knowledge, attribution when ICIP is used, benefit-sharing from commercial use, and prevention of misuse or misrepresentation. ### ICIP Protocols for Architects Seek permission before using any Indigenous cultural material. Provide attribution for all Indigenous contributions and negotiate benefit-sharing for commercial applications. Respect restrictions on sacred or secret knowledge, document agreements in writing, and return materials when requested. ### Common ICIP Risks in Architecture Watch out for using Indigenous patterns or motifs without permission, recording stories or knowledge without consent, incorporating sacred designs into public buildings, photographing or documenting without approval, and claiming ownership of Indigenous-influenced designs. ### ICIP Resources For detailed guidance on ICIP protocols: → **[AIATSIS Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Guide](https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property)** → **[Arts Law Centre ICIP Information Sheet](https://www.artslaw.com.au/information-sheet/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property-icip/)**⁶ → **[Terri Janke and Company](https://www.terrijanke.com.au/)** — Leading Indigenous law firm with ICIP resources --- ## Reciprocity and Benefit-Sharing ### The Principle of Reciprocity Engagement should never be extractive. Consider what your organisation offers in return:⁷ employment and training opportunities, procurement from Indigenous businesses, knowledge-sharing and capacity building, support for community initiatives, ongoing relationship beyond the project. ### Forms of Benefit-Sharing | Type | Examples | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | **Economic** | Consulting fees, employment, procurement | | **Knowledge** | Training, skill development, documentation | | **Relationship** | Ongoing connection, mentorship, advocacy | | **Recognition** | Attribution, acknowledgment, celebration | | **Community** | Support for community priorities beyond project | --- ## Documentation and Agreements ### Engagement Plans Document your engagement approach: objectives and scope, stakeholders and contacts, timeline and milestones, budget allocation, decision-making processes, communication protocols. ### Formal Agreements Consider formal agreements for consulting arrangements and fees, ICIP use and attribution, benefit-sharing arrangements, and ongoing relationship commitments. ### Records and Accountability Maintain records of all engagement activities, decisions made and rationale, how Indigenous input influenced design, and commitments made and how they were met. --- ## References ¹ AIATSIS. (2020). _AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research_. [https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research](https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research) ² International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). _IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation_. [https://www.iap2.org/page/pillars](https://www.iap2.org/page/pillars) ³ Architects Accreditation Council of Australia. (2021). _National Standard of Competency for Architects_. AACA. ⁴ AIATSIS. _Map of Indigenous Australia_. [https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia](https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia) ⁵ AIATSIS. _Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)_. [https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property](https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property) ⁶ Arts Law Centre of Australia. _Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)_. [https://www.artslaw.com.au/information-sheet/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property-icip/](https://www.artslaw.com.au/information-sheet/indigenous-cultural-and-intellectual-property-icip/) ⁷ Kimmerer, R.W. (2014). "Returning the Gift." _Minding Nature_, 7(2). [https://www.humansandnature.org/returning-the-gift](https://www.humansandnature.org/returning-the-gift) --- ## Next Steps Continue to **Chapter 5: Cultural Protocols** for guidance on Acknowledgement of Country, Welcome to Country, and appropriate language and behaviour.