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Revised Remote Engagement and Coordination Strategy released

Office of the Chief Minister

The Territory Labor Government continues to improve the way it works with regional and remote Aboriginal communities, and to this end has released the second edition of its Remote Engagement and Coordination Strategy.

The RECS is part of a suite of tools designed to improve all aspects of regional and remote engagement, travel, and coordination of community visits.

The first edition, launched in 2015, has proved to be a useful tool for government and organisations to coordinate the delivery of services to Aboriginal communities across the Territory.

The strategy was officially recognised in 2016 when it won the International Association for Public Participation in the ‘Indigenous Project’ category.

The second edition offers refreshed information that remains relevant but with more emphasis on the use of first language, relationships and getting the community ready for, and informed about, the purposes of engagement. This work was led by a group of NT Government agencies and the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory.

The RECS  includes the BushTel and BushReady websites, and the delivery of the Remote Engagement Essentials training workshops which provide professional learning that supports new and existing staff to develop knowledge, skills and behaviour required to work effectively in regional and remote communities in the Northern Territory - making them ‘bush ready’.

Since the initial ‘BushReady’ Remote Engagement Essentials training workshop in 2016, more than 500 staff have completed training and been awarded the Engagement Essentials Certificate through the International Association of Public Participation.

The ‘BushReady’ Remote Engagement Essentials training workshops are once again being rolled out across the regions with seven planned this year.

The second edition of the RECS can be accessed at www.bushready.nt.gov.au.

 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government, Chansey Paech:

“The Territory Labor Government has a strong focus on building the capacity of our remote communities and the RECS is a blueprint on engagement towards strengthening traditional governance.

 “Since it was launched in 2015, the RECS has been a powerful tool that has led to a more streamlined approach for delivering services to Aboriginal Territorians.  

“Everybody planning on visiting or working in remote communities should make themselves familiar with this document.”

 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Selena Uibo:

“The RECS has been tested with many Aboriginal community organisations across the NT and our Government has been provided useful and positive feedback. 

“The Territory Labor Government has built on the initial work with an improved edition that remains relevant.

“Effective coordination and engagement systems are the bedrock of good communication with our communities and refreshing this strategy ensures its continuing applicability.”

 

Media contact: Jasmin Afianos – 0419 361 127

 

 

 

 

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