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Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance

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Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS)

Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) - Aboriginal Governance Panel as an example of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance

DCJ is undertaking the POCLS to understand more about the life-course developmental trajectories of children and young people who experience OOHC for part, or all, of their childhood. The evidence will inform policy and practice to improve the socio-emotional, cognitive, physical, mental health and other life-course outcomes for this cohort of children. The POCLS survey data provides in-depth information collected from children, young people, caregivers, caseworkers and teachers, and when linked to service data (health, education, justice, welfare), forms a significant data asset that provides strong evidence to inform policy and practice, and improve decision making and support for children and young people who cannot live safely at home.

To ensure Aboriginal community members and stakeholders are better engaged as equal research partners, and the evidence informs policy and practice to improve the outcomes of Aboriginal children and families, an Aboriginal Governance Panel (AGP) was needed to provide oversight and direction to the POCLS and play a key role in the strategic research agenda. The POCLS AGP advises on data collection, analysis, interpretation and translation of findings into policy and practice, with a focus on Aboriginal community control, accountability and engagement. The AGP meets the requirements of the AH&MRC human research ethics committee.

AbSec was engaged to provide secretariate to the POCLS AGP in March 2023. The AGP provides a dedicated Aboriginal perspective to the POCLS and plays a key role in decision-making for the POCLS strategic research agenda. The AGP advises and supports on data collection, analysis, interpretation and translation of findings into policy and practice, with a focus on Aboriginal participation and community accountability. The AGP have representation on the POCLS Scientific Working Group, the Advisory Group and the Evidence to Action Working Group. The AGP members are paid sitting fees. It is envisaged that the POCLS AGP will be integrated into a DCJ wide governance structure to provide consistency and coordination across projects.

Achievements

The Aboriginal Governance Panel (AGP) has added value to the POCLS in its 18 months of operation, for example:

  • The AGP provides oversight to POCLS analysis projects, currently 10 Aboriginal led projects, and will convene knowledge translation roundtables.
  • The AGP provided input into key decision making about survey methodology and co-designed the questionnaire for the aftercare cohort
  • The AGP has raised concerns about the POCLS measures of child development, parenting style and carer mental health and will advise on culturally sensitive measures including child trauma and resilience.

Engagement

The Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) stakeholders include several government departments (including the Ministry of Health and Department of Education), non-government agencies and universities. Given the over-representation of Aboriginal children in OOHC, the NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec) has been a partner of the POCLS since the study commenced in 2010 as the peak organisation dedicated to the welfare of Aboriginal children, young people, families and kin in NSW. The other two partners are CREATE and My Forever Family providing advocacy for children in OOHC and caregivers respectively. The POCLS has an established collaborative governance framework representing the stakeholders.

Department leading the project

NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR)