Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation

1st year visit

Alice Springs 19th March 2012

Acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Country

• We acknowledge and respect the Arrernte people whose ancestral lands we are meeting upon here today

• We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to country

• We also pay respects to the cultural authority of other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders attending this presentation

Strategic Plan ObjectivesWhat we want to beThe nationally and internationally recognised centre for expertise in remote communities and economic development.

What we doFoster partnerships and collaborations in order to conduct high quality research and broker knowledge that meets substantial national challenges, has impact and benefits end users in remote Australia and internationally.

How we do it We work in a collaborative, cross cultural and interdisciplinary ways to address enduring and systemic challenges in remote Australia. Excellence in research, research application, management and governance systems are the foundations of this work.

(Continued…)

Strategic Plan Objectives With whom we workWe work with a range of partners, stakeholders and communities to strengthen their and our own expertise in community and economic development.

Where we do itWe operate extensively across remote Australia and through a system of strategic nodes, in order to attract expertise and investment to benefit remote Australia.

We measure our performanceWe are accountable to partners, stakeholders and communities through effective systems for measuring the effectiveness of our work.

Major Achievements in first 12 months

• Robust governance structures • Nodes in Adelaide, Darwin and Perth• Management structures, policies and procedures• Partners contracted within first quarter• Three research programs & 10 research projects commenced• Research activities and outputs refined with stakeholders at 16 locations• SME engagement with over 90 organisations• All milestones completed or in progress• Recruited and inducted 17 new staff• Trained staff, particularly in cross-cultural issues• 36 Aboriginal community researchers trained• New IT systems tailored for remote users • New website; currently 3000 visits a quarter

Operating Remotely

• Remote environment requires ‘whole of system’ approach

• Dispersed nature of research covering 86% of Australia

• Highly mobile population, climate variability, cultural factors

• OH&S requires different approach• Specialised vehicles and equipment • Broader risk considerations • Collaborative activities necessitate

accommodation and catering costs• IT and teleconferencing costs higher • Very dependent on air travel with limited

high-cost services

• Independent skills based Board • Balanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander membership• Subcommittees established: Audit and Risk, IP and Ethics, Research Quality and

Innovation• Six Board meetings; 10 Subcommittee meetings; 90% attendance rate• Board members Inducted• Strategic plan developed• Innovative communication methods• Charters for Board and subcommittees• First year Board evaluation processes• Commercialisation capacity

Governance

Alison PageSydney

Harold FurberAlice Springs

David RitchieDarwin

Ian DaveyAdelaide

Jan FergusonAdelaide

Tanya HoschAdelaide

Glenise Coulthard

Port Augusta

Paul WandChair

Sydney

Tony TatePerth

Tom CalmaDeputy Chair

Canberra

• Values based approach• Recruitment via agency• Induction manual• Job matrix• Professional development

strategy• OH&S• Team building, personality

profiling• Cross cultural training• Employment Assistance

Program• Monthly briefings by

teleconference• Three way employment

contract

Our People

CRC-REP Research Programs

Research Activities & Outputs

• Research Quality Framework developed and implemented

• Innovation philosophy adopted • Ethical research practices established

and recently reviewed• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander IP

and cultural knowledge protocol • Participatory research approach

implemented• Project performance monitoring and

reporting in place• Peer review in built• Output to Usage to Outcome

Framework developed

Research Activities & Outputs

• Project Scoping Activities• 12 workshops with 146 attendees • Working papers prepared for workshops and available on website• Workshop reports provided back to attendees• Literature reviews commenced • Refined research problem and questions• Matching methodology to research questions• Project proposals prepared and now approved by the Board

Collaboration

• Partners includes COAG members, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, non-government organisations, companies, research providers, SMEs

• 30% are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations• Project Initiation Policy: participatory research approach• Stakeholder Management Plan• Partner and stakeholder briefing events with every Board meeting to date• 35 Partner Visits by Managing Director • Value adding for partners e.g. CSIRO flagships• International partners in regular contact and visits• 135 Domestic collaborations • Co-location of different partner staff

SME Engagement• 90 SMEs attending 12 workshops • 135 Stakeholder collaborations • Advisory groups mainly end-users• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

in research projects as active researchers• Work on the ground in communities

increases engagement and understanding • Training, mentoring, on- the job support for

research and facilitation • Build skills, education and capacity in

remote areas. • Uptake of the outcomes through better

ownership

Communications• Innovative style optimised for remote users• New website• Style guide• Monthly newsletter • Publications policy• Remote media database• Printed corporate materials• Field days and events• Conference presentations• Aboriginal media engagement• Online image library• Image use consent procedure• Annual report production• Developing communications strategy with each Research Project• Monthly newsletter with 1900 subscribers• Internal Communications Policy developed• Leading DIISR Inspiring Australia Desert Regions Policy

Education and Training Activities

• Graduate Student Program• Focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students• Staff Professional Development Program• Scholarship Guidelines developed • Target of 25 Post Grad and 15 Under Graduate students • Training Package for Community Researchers• 36 Community Researchers trained • Staff Recruitment 17 positions filled, 10 PRLs located

across Australia• Position descriptions, job matrix and position contracts• Induction • Research Quality Framework training• Cross cultural training

Utilisation Activities & Outputs• Output to Usage to Outcome Framework• Contributed to 6 government submissions and consultations• End- user consultations and workshops • Seven conference papers- international and national • Workshop working papers and workshop notes used by stakeholders• Monitored by Research and Quality and Innovation Board Committee• Business development as a result of CRC-REP • Participatory research provides early stage utilisation and capacity building• Represented on 3 senior government advisory boards

Performance Monitoring

• Project Tracking System • Monitoring and Evaluation framework monitored by Board• Annual performance evaluation • Risk management plan• Business plan• Management Data Questionnaire • Annual Report• Quarterly Board reports• IP and Ethics register• In-kind monitoring• Stakeholders Management Plan• Training and systems approach to Monitoring Impact Tool