ABOUT US
I am Managing Director of Monaghan Dreaming – a 100% Aboriginal owned consultancy firm. I am a descendant of the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr Nations on the North Coast of NSW. I have spent 25 years working within the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector with national, state and local governments.
For the past 8 years I have been involved in research with the Kirby Institute within the University of NSW on multiple projects with Aboriginal communities across Australia whilst completing a Masters of Public Health degree. I have completed my PHD with my research thesis Making scale-up work: evaluation of integration and engagement with chlamydia and gonorrhoea point-of-care testing in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services in remote Australia.
Our Values
To developed strong and sustainable relationships with all people and Organisations that we work and partner with , respecting the diversity of opinions and the journey that each of us are on during our life’s course.
CONSULTING SERVICES
Monaghan Dreaming provides a variety of consultation services and interactive training workshops for the development of skills to address cultural complexities and maintain well-being in the workplace.
I am very mindful of Aboriginal communities and individuals during the research process, failing to understand difference in values and culture may be a reckless act that jeopardises both the ethical standards and quality of research. However, to do better is not always straight forward. Working in a co-design in a research context takes time, care, patience and the building of robust relationships.
Robert Monaghan
Consulting with Aboriginal Communities
I have a clear insight when engaging in proper consultation with Aboriginal people and communities on complex issues that affects them, this is an important process that must occur particularly within the government structures. An effective consultation process requires openness about how, why and when they are being consulted and how much influence they will have over the decisions being made.
Effective conduct of consultative processes and proptocols, there is a need to: Identify the sort of representation required in the first instance; work through local Aboriginal agencies to find key contacts or groups to link with for information gathering on the approach that best works.