We all know that collaboration is an important step in engaging diverse communities in our services, particularly those that face certain barriers such as linguistic and cultural differences, lack of awareness of services, or limited access to information. So, how can we collaborate with these communities?
For us, the answer often lies in co-design.
Co-design is a term known by many, but not always truly understood. It relates to the relatively lengthy process of engaging community members from the beginning to the end of a project. Community members are treated as equal collaborators and their input valued alongside other stakeholders for a final product that meets everyone’s needs. This collaborative approach leads to more successful, sustainable, and impactful outcomes.
Last week we hosted a webinar with CEH Project Officer Tere Dawson to discuss all things co-design. With more than 20 years of experience working hand-in-hand with communities, Tere is well-positioned to share her insights on what genuine co-design can look like.
In the lead-up to the webinar, we received hundreds of questions from our audience, and realised that many of you asked similar questions. Almost all of these could be grouped into the following four categories:
- The basics: Getting started
- Rationale: Framing your project
- Engagement: Approaching communities
- Stakeholders: Demonstrating the value of co-design
In our webinar, Tere elaborates on these topics and imparts valuable advice on how to make the most of the co-design process. We have also developed a resource guide to provide a starting point for you to approach your own co-design projects.
Watch the webinar and access the resource guide via our free members page.
To reflect on and improve your own knowledge and skills for working with clients from migrant and refugee backgrounds, try our Cultural Competence Reflection Tool (CCRT), which can provide you with valuable insights into your own beliefs and knowledge, and can help you identify your own areas for development.
Join us at our next webinar:
Review, reflect and take action: How cultural competence tools can support better practice
Thursday 2nd May 2024, 12-12:30 pm AEST (Melbourne time)
Register here.
Thanks for reading,
Tristan and the Training Team