The AVID Study – Aboriginal Voice Integration and Diffusion in Public Health Collaboratives – is an analysis of the policy principle of ‘integration’. It takes place in the Hunter New England district in the Australian state of New South Wales.
How can we see our voice, where has it gone, is anyone listening and are we being heard?
These questions relate to the integration principle that states ‘there should be collaboration between and within Governments at all levels, their agencies and funded service providers to effectively coordinate services and programs’ (National Indigenous Reform Agreement, 2008, p.A-21)
So what does integration mean for Aboriginal voice? Put as a research question we ask:
The Australian Research Council awarded Mark Lock and Peter O’Mara $736,000 to investigate that question. We will look to formal committee processes to conduct our research on, as this is where stakeholders work to integrate and collaborate.
A rigorous methodology underlies the AVID study. The data is analysed to produce information which is disseminated without social opinion or political commentary. The aim of this website is to provide information and analysis as it happens.
Our Partners
The AVID study is supported by the following organisations.
Our Methodology
The AVID-PHC study is a comprehensive research project with many avenues and methodologies used to collect the necessary information.
The outcome of the research will result in an interactive data visualisation that will allow stakeholders to understand how Aboriginal voices are integrated within public health governance structures. Through the data visualisation, stakeholders will also be able to see the reach and spread of those voices. Understanding the formal connections and inter-connections
between individuals and committees is key to all data collection and analysis for the study. To gain this understanding, the multi-faceted research project has been broken up into five stages of information collection: integration concepts, governance contexts, interlocked committees, collaboration and structuration.
Connect With Us
We have structured the study to be on-line all the time because of our commitment to transparency, accountability, and information sharing. The development of a community of practice means that you can become a partner or sponsor of the study; undertake a research higher degree using the AVID data; contribute to the discussion forum; contact the team members to discuss aspects of the AVID study; and inter-connect with the AVID study’s social media pages.
AVID News Feed
Meet Elissa
I have always had a fascination with race and ethnicity. Being the bi-racial daughter of a Mauritian mother and an Anglo-Australian father, skin colour and identity have influenced how I see the world. I can remember my mother telling me and my younger sister the story of my birth and how the delivery suite was […]