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Community Development: Capacity Building in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Communities

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Community Development: Capacity Building in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Communities

Introduction

Capacity building plays a critical role in the socio-economic and political empowerment

and advancement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Studies reveal that

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities often experience high rates of crime,

violence, incarceration, poor health, poverty, and marginalization (Ewen et al., 2019). Capacity

building denotes measures that endeavor to address the socio-economic and political

disadvantages experienced by members of the community. Capacity building mitigates socio-

economic and political marginalization by addressing identified issues through empowerment;

hence, it propels individuals to take initiative and create change. The effectiveness of capacity-

building approaches in community development lies in the ability to consider and take advantage

of the unique capabilities and needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

(Ewen et al., 2019). The approaches recognize the unique strengths and needs of the

communities; therefore, community developers use the information to empower residents to take

action that leads to positive and sustainable change.

The article endeavors to explain the relevance of understanding community development

and the importance of understanding the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander communities. The article offers a detailed examination of the relevance of enhancing the

capacity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Additionally, the article

explores the effect of colonization on the study communities as concerns health, education, and

access to employment opportunities. Finally, the article analyzes the relevance of the identified
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project and its related impact in supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities.

Capacity Building

Capacity building comprises programs and intervention measures designed,

implemented, and enforced to help individuals, groups, or organizations achieve set goals and

objectives. Studies reveal that strategies selected for capacity building rely on the existing need

and the prevailing objectives in the context of education, employment, health, and social care

(Janamian et al., 2022). Capacity building continues to prove critical in addressing the socio-

economic and political needs of members of the community. Still, experts warn that the

developers, implementers, and enforcers of policies should not view capacity building as the

primary solution to the existing challenges. Furthermore, the experts point out the need to

consider the cultural context in designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives

(Janamian et al., 2022). For example, education initiatives may not guarantee expected outcomes

in communities that respect and observe cultural practices. Instead, capacity-building initiatives

should prioritize efforts that endeavor to assist the destitute members of society.

The Importance of Capacity Building in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Communities

Capacity building remains a critical component in the quest to realize socio-economic

and political development within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander neighborhoods experience challenges such as poor socio-

economic conditions; poor access to healthcare; and increasing rates of crime and incarceration

(McGuffog et al., 2023). Capacity building offers a mechanism for assisting the communities in

finding long-term and sustainable solutions to the challenges by encouraging members of the
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communities to play an active role in creating change. Involving the members of the

communities enhances the potential for success of the change initiatives because it encourages

participation and the focus of initiatives toward deserving programs (McGuffog et al., 2023).

Community development initiatives such as capacity building remain critical in the socio-

economic and political empowerment of societies because they acknowledge existing challenges

and identify practical and distinct strengths needed to mitigate the issue.

Capacity building remains a critical mechanism for community empowerment because it

enables individuals and groups to promote their problem-solving skills; and decision-making

abilities; and engage proactively in developing their quality of life. Studies reveal that

community advocates for socio-economic and political empowerment revert to capacity building

as a mechanism for tackling difficulties and elevating the lives of members of the Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islanders (Pearson et al., 2020). Capacity building allows community members to

acquire critical skills, knowledge, and human and capital resources to practically initiate

activities that enable constructive socio-political and economic transformation (Pearson et al.,

2020). Capacity building continues to demonstrate positive outcomes in the Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander communities as observed by the improvement in socio-economic

conditions; health; and low crime rates.

Contemporary Colonization Experiences and Ongoing Impacts on Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Communities

The impacts of colonization on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities remain

multifaceted and stretch across generations. Studies reveal that many members of the Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to suffer ills such as dispossession, violence,

and suffering because of colonization (Staines & Scott, 2019). As a result, the communities have
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experienced a decline in cultural preservation, linguistic diversity, and the sense of belonging to

an identified ancestral lineage. Colonization-related events such as the regular relocation of

people from one place to another adversely impact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in

the fields of health, education, and employment outcomes. The colonizers attempted to enforce

their socio-cultural and political views and practices on the members of the Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander communities (Staines & Scott, 2019). Consequently, some of the locals

embraced the new perspective and practices that led to the degradation and the erosion of

original socio-cultural and political views and practices.

Studies reveal the explicit effect of colonization on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander communities in the domains of health, education, and employment. The studies further

reveal that the members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities exhibit a

heightened prevalence of diabetes, heart conditions, and depression compared to non-Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander individuals within the aspect of comparison (Gatwiri et al., 2021).

Scholars link the difference in health between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to lower physical activity rates and

heightened rates of obesity. Furthermore, members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities exhibit low life expectancy and high rates of child mortality (Staines & Scott,

2019). Members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities demonstrate higher

unemployment rates compared to non-Indigenous Australians; thus, they suffer more cases of

poverty.

In the education sector, learners from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities repeatedly achieve lower academic performance compared to their counterparts

students from non-Indigenous Australian communities (Staines & Scott, 2019). Additionally,
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learners from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities exhibit lower intelligence

levels that emanate from low-class attendance and challenges in using English as the language

for learning and testing exams.

The members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experience

challenges associated with problems such as displacement, dispossession, and the loss of land

and cultural heritage. Consequently, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders experience issues

such as poor health outcomes, higher unemployment rates, and reduced levels of education

(Gatwiri et al., 2021). Colonization in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities led

to an increase in the rates of criminal behavior and drug abuse. It has also led to the loss of

traditional knowledge and the local languages. Studies further reveal an increase in cases of

declining mental and physical health among the locals. Colonization exposed members of the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to negative impacts. However, scholars do not

fail to acknowledge the positive impacts of colonization (Staines & Scott, 2019). For example,

colonization led to the establishment of essential institutions such as administrative and legal

institutions. The institutions continue to positively impact the lifestyle and socio-economic well-

being of the communities through practical projects that improve the socio-economic welfare of

the members of the community.

Community Development Project

The Wuchopperen Health Service is located in Townsville. The health service facility is

managed by the Aboriginal people. The facility focuses on health, education, and employment

for the local people. It offers a range of care services that include medical, dental, and mental

health. The education aspect of the services endeavors to provide culturally and linguistically

relevant education to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Further, the facility
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offers a diverse and multi-sectorial range of employment with the local town serving as an

independent law enforcement agency. The potential to offer and receive these services continues

to enhance the socio-economic position of the neighborhood and facilitate the reduction of crime

rates. The project holds a critical position since it benefits members of the Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander communities because it facilitates the mitigation of challenges and offers

employment opportunities to the locals.

Conclusion

The implementation of capacity-building projects within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander communities continues to demonstrate positive outcomes in the sectors of health,

education, and employment. Colonization led to adverse consequences such as dispossession and

displacement. Still, colonization brought with it positive outcomes such as the development of

practical administrative structures. The practicality of capacity-building projects lies in the

ability to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of the members of society; hence, the

projects should boast the capacity for modification to facilitate the incorporation of emerging and

evolving needs of the members of the community. Stakeholders of the project should incorporate

the input of members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders into the project to ensure their

participation in the implementation and enforcement of the project.

References

Ewen, S. C., Ryan, T., & Platania-Phung, C. (2019). Capacity building of the Australian

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher workforce: A narrative

review. Human Resources for Health, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-019-0344-x

Gatwiri, K., Rotumah, D., & Rix, E. (2021). BlackLivesMatter in healthcare: Racism and

implications for health inequity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in

Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9),

4399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094399

Janamian, T., Dawda, P., Crawford, G., True, A., Wentzel, M., Whaleboat, D., Fraser, T., &

Edwards, C. (2022). Building capacity in those who deliver palliative care services to

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Medical Journal of

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McGuffog, R., Bryant, J., Booth, K., Collis, F., Brown, A., Hughes, J. T., Chamberlain, C.,

McGhie, A., Hobden, B., & Kennedy, M. (2023). Exploring the reported strengths and

limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research: A narrative review of

intervention studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public

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Pearson, O., Schwartzkopff, K., Dawson, A., Hagger, C., Karagi, A., Davy, C., Brown, A., &

Braunack-Mayer, A. (2020). Aboriginal community-controlled health organizations

address health equity through action on the social determinants of health of Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. BMC Public

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Staines, Z., & Scott, J. (2019). Crime and colonization in Australia's Torres Strait

Islands. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 53(1), 25-

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