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• Requesting a meeting at their organisation to
discuss the key issues relevant to specific
organisations.
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This should be done initially by telephone.
Explain the following when discussing the
visits:
• Expected departure date;
• How long you will be needing to talk;
depending on the issues - it may require a
series of visits over a period of time;
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• Expected arrival date - for remote
communities visits should be at the Council’s
convenience. If meeting with the Council
itself it would be preferable to arrange the
visit to coincide with the Councils normal
monthly meeting. Councils have
considerable demands upon their time,
particularly from outside agencies wanting
time. Consideration of this fact will greatly
enhance the relationship with Councillors;
• Why you need to visit;
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• Where you will be staying (finding
accommodation is not always easy);
• Who is travelling with you;
• Ask permission to advertise your visit
(if appropriate);
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• Who else you might like to talk to while in
the community, or at the organisation you
are visiting;
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• Inviting the President and/or Administrators
of key organisations relevant to the
consultation issues (eg Aboriginal & Islander
Community Health Services - AICHS;
Elders; Councils etc) to a central meeting
place; and/or
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When visiting a DOGIT or Shire community,
prior to organising travel arrangements seek
permission from the Council to visit the
community. However, in urban situations the
process is more likely to be:
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Remember cultural responses to time concepts
are different and sometimes more value is placed
on other priorities. So an “in by 9 out by 5”
process is rarely possible. Therefore, have a
flexible timetable, because arrangements could be
changed completely with little or no notice due
to a range of community issues you may not be
aware of and have no control over (e.g. “Sorry
business” a death; a funeral; a mourning
period).
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• Be prepared to concede or give ground in the
consultation/negotiation process. Think
through, prior to the visit, what potential
barriers to specific strategies might be, so
that these can be shared in the negotiation
process (eg fixed budgets, government policy,
practical environmental matters, legislative
constraints and potential areas of conflict
with other groups).
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have the same background information as
you, so prepare beforehand the information
needed to make the consultation valuable and
productive to both sides.
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protocols regarding consultation and negotiation continued
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4
24
D e p a r t m e n t o f A b o r i g i n a l and T o r r e s S t r a i t I s l a n d e r P o l i c y a n d D e v e l o p m e n t