A Partnership Model for Ethical Indigenous Research

Abstract

This paper describes the methodological challenges and innovative outcomes of a multi-site South Australian project investigating the use of medicines by Aboriginal people with mental health disorders (the full report of the research including outcomes of its various components appears elsewhere). Participatory action research using multiple methods and the epistimology of critical social science, enabled Indigenous research ethics to underpin the project-ensuring cultural relevance and respect throughout. Particular challenges encountered involved navigating mainstream and Indigenous bureaucratic structures, recruitment and training of Aboriginal research assistants from local communities, issues of confidentiality of individuals and families, time management that did not encroach on already stressed communities and workers, and leadership and internal research team issues. Meeting these challenges within the dynamics of a multi cultural project spanning urban, rural and remote Indigenous settings led to the development, implementation and articulation of a ‘partnership model’ for conducting Indigenous research. This model, together with its four key features-Respect, Collaboration, Active Participation, Meeting Needsis presented for consideration and potential use by other researchers and Aboriginal groups. As no previous research had investigated medication use by Aboriginal people to the depth and extent of this project, the model was necessarily innovative and developmental.