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Wait at the fence or front door; and
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- The people inside will decide who
should go and see you and whether to invite
you in.
Getting down to business
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Be careful where you walk when you are on
DOGIT communities. It is safer to stick to the
roads. Community people may take shortcuts
but people would be offended if you did unless
you are with them and they take you.
When visiting or talking to someone, you need
to decide when it is appropriate to talk about
the purpose of the visit or discussion.
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Sometimes matters of importance cannot be
approached too quickly or directly.
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Proceed at the pace set by the client, and check
that the message you wish to give or the one
you receive is understood, both by yourself, and
by the client. Try to relate the business to
practical realities that the client can relate to,
such as community landmarks, happenings, or
people.
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People will relate to what you do, more than
what you say or who you are. Therefore be
down-to-earth, honest (never promise
something that you know might be difficult to
deliver), and relate to actual, practical things.
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• Be open minded and flexible in your practice;
and
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• Work towards building relationships and
don’t expect people to accept you straight
away (if ever!);
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If you are new, and therefore a stranger to the
community, then you need to:
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Approaching people
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Female staff will need to be careful of the reverse
situation and avoid embarrassing men in the
community by asking questions on sensitive
issues such as family violence.
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However male staff will need to remember that it
can be very embarrassing to ask questions that
are strictly women’s business (eg child birth and
child rearing issues). He may need a go-between
or have a female Departmental representative
consult instead.
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Women in some communities have become vocal
and visibly important people in the political
structure of the community. They will tend to
be open with either a male or a female.
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• There are exceptions to every rule and you
may find that in fact, some powerful people
in the community will challenge you
immediately and expect immediate responses
to their requests.
• Observe courtesies when visiting someone’s
house:
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• Remain silent if they don’t like an idea; and
29
Pr o t o c o l s f o r Co n s u l t a t i o n a n d Ne g o t i a t i o n w i t h Ab o r i g i n a l Pe o p l e