SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

By Ara 'Julga' Harathunian

Founder, Jahavel

Jahavel Founder Ara 'Julga' Harathunian is working as part of a team on delivering the NDIS First Nations Strategy

As Jahavel’s founder, I have for many months been privileged to be part of a team working on the NDIS First Nations Strategy, so as to provide outcomes for the Highest Good of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was introduced in 2013, and I was CEO of award-winning and multi-accredited Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) when it was rolled out in Queensland. IWC was, and is, the only Aboriginal organisation in Australia to have taken on the role of Local Area Coordinator (LAC).

We covered a major regional centre, Bundaberg Local Government Area (LGA), and delivered outstanding results in terms of engagement by First Nations people with the NDIS.

It is with these credentials, as well as working at the frontline of community services for Indigenous peoples in Australia for many decades, that I joined the team working on the NDIS First Nations strategy.

I invite you to watch a short video provided by the NDIS: https://www.facebook.com/NDISAus/videos/879104277674936

During the months I have been working with the Team, our priority focus areas have been:

1. Fair and equitable access and support

2. NDIS ‘Our Way’

3. Working together well within and across sectors

4. Gathering, sharing, and revisiting knowledge about meaningful change

The first priority emphasises:

• Getting access – pathways into the NDIS

• Getting support – pathway through the NDIS

• Making choices – expanding support options

• Feeling safe – culturally safe spaces and support

In my previous IWC role, we addressed all of the above, and today as Managing Director of Jahavel I work to build skills across our nation in building bridges of communication that support each of the above.

The second priority emphasises:

• Talkin up loud’ – First Nations governance and co-design of policies, programs and quality standards

• Aboriginal community-controlled disability services

• Care ‘our way’ – community and family focused services and support

The third priority emphasises:

• Accountability for cultural safety in all services

• Integrated and flexible services through regional partnerships

• Sustainable delivery of disability services

• Strong collaboration across systems and sectors

The fourth priority emphasises:

• Indigenous data sovereignty and governance

• Truth telling – are we making a difference

• Translating our learnings into meaningful actions

• Sharing and integrating relevant data sets

Together, the strategy development team is seeking to achieve the goals of:

• Reach Agreement on Values Underlying Co-design with First Nations peoples living with disability

• Reach Agreement on Principles of Co-design with First Nations peoples living with disability

• Identify critical components of the accompanying Toolkit and Commitment Statement

I invite you to follow the progress of this important body of work, which was launched with an NDIS First Nations Co-Design Workshop that included notable Facilitators including Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, Dr Rama Agung-Igusti and Dr Kate Derry.

I will keep you updated via the Jahavel blog, which can be accessed at www.jahavel.com or on your phone via the free app, which can be downloaded by scanning this QR code.

Scan the QR code to join Jahaved on the free Spaces app

Go Well, Stay Well and Be Well

Ara ‘Julga’ Harathunian

Founder, Jahavel