Behaviour

In many cultures people get comfortable with each other by working out what personal and family connections they have to each other and their respective groups. Being in a hurry to gain results can often simply lead to failure (usually in the form of refusal).

By presenting information in an informal manner, scheduling plenty of time during and between meetings for thorough consideration and 'digestion' of information/issues relating to the child, results may not always be the same.

Relationships need to be established, built and nurtured on a continual basis. Healthy, trusting relationships are probably the most important part of working with most Aboriginal groups, organisations or individuals.

Appropriate briefing

In many cultures people prefer to brief themselves using inside information, through networks, which are often extensive, well developed and informal. This information has often been transferred orally through generations and comes from personal or historical group experiences. The challenge for the outsider is to tap into the network. To meet this challenge a partner with inside status is essential, which can only be attained through the development of relationships as outlined above.

A second point that should be considered is the medium of communication. In many instances, English is a fourth or fifth language, so use of pictoral and other concrete communication media is preferable. Use of an interpreter can also be a good option to ensure your audience understands the concepts that you are trying to communicate.

Yes is not always 'yes'

In many cultures a forceful self-assertive manner is associated with anger or aggressiveness. Many Aboriginal people will attempt to placate an angry or pushy person by either ignoring or agreeing with everything they want even they though they feel no obligation to fulfil any of the commitments they seem to have made. In this situation - yes doesn't always mean yes, but simply a method for getting rid of you without offending.

Once again, relationships and trust are essential and for this time must be allocated, leave detailed questioning and agreements until trust is firmly established.

Kinship rules and shame

In Aboriginal culture, who people can talk to, and who they can associate with is often determined by kinship rules. This can particularly apply between men and women (eg avoidance of mother-in-law etc) and needs to be strictly observed both by people within a community and by visitors.

There is plenty of worthwhile literature available that discusses kinship issues but specific information can only be revealed through inside contacts, therefore, this needs to be researched as part of pre-meeting preparations.

Listen to non-verbal communication

In most cultures people expect others to ‘listen' to the non-verbal messages like body cues, postures and gestures to interpret the meaning of communication. When talking to any individual or group it is always wise to keep looking for people's non-verbal reactions to what you are saying.

It is critical to understand specific cultural factors such as avoidance of direct eye contact and gender roles so vital signals are not misinterpreted.

Silence

In many cultures long silences often need to occur before people feel free to speak up or have given adequate consideration to the issue being discussed. Extended pauses often give Aboriginal people time to thoroughly consider questions and perhaps translate what has been said into their own languages. This is of particular importance as for many Aboriginal people English may be a third, fourth or even fifth language.

Traditionally, information was not written in books, it was stored in stories and song. Knowing the song lines gives access to a wealth of information. For non-literate people information retrieval may take time. To demonstrate this, you know what the second word in the fourth line of Advance Australia Fair is, but you need to recite the lines before you realise that the word is ‘land'. Always leave adequate time for people to digest information and questions and respond.

Not allowing silence (especially after asking a question), or frequent breaks in meetings for consideration and private group discussion may result in the refusal of proposals. This practice is often uncomfortable for non-Aboriginal people and the temptation is often great to continue to talk and ask questions.

Too direct

In many cultures people avoid directly disagreeing, embarrassing or correcting someone in front of others in case they make them 'lose face'. In preference, they tend to value indirectness, with periods being allowed for consideration prior to consent or refusal. Asking for individual opinion and alternate views within a group context will not necessarily provide a true cross-section of attitude.

Do not expect an outcome or answer at the conclusion of your presentation, as decisions need to be made in consultation with all affected people and may need to include others not present.

Language

In many cross-cultural meetings it is often assumed that standard Australian English will be the language that most people will be most comfortable using. However, this is often not the case because many Aboriginal people, especially in remote areas, customarily speak their own dialect of English, which differs significantly from standard English.

They may also speak several other traditional Aboriginal languages. In such circumstances it is perilous to assume you will be able to reach a shared understanding or agreement without the use of an interpreter or appropriate resources.

Interpreters are usually best sourced from within the community that you wish to visit.

Stereotypes

It is dangerous to assume that every individual from another culture will conform to your preconceived ideas of what people from that culture are like. Many Aboriginal people today are receiving university education and returning to use their knowledge for the benefit of their own communities. With this in mind, it is wise to have a complete understanding of your audience and have appropriate resources prepared to meet their needs.