Governance Designed for the Local Context with Apmer Akely-akely
Exceptional Governance: Stories of Success from the 2018 Indigenous Governance Awards explores how Apmer Akely-akely used a consultation process to design their governance to suit the local context.
The work of Apmer Akely-akely was recognised in the 2018 Indigenous Governance Awards with their selection as a Finalist in Category B: Unincorporated Indigenous Projects.
Apmer Akely-akely is the local community board for the Stronger Communities for Children program in the Utopia region, Northern Territory. Apmer Akely-akely sets the program priorities, endorses a community plan and works with partner organisations to contract services and infrastructure for the benefit of young people and families in the region. At the start of the program, consultations were conducted in local language with family groups across the region, at meetings of local organisations and through talking to staff of partner organisations. These informed development of the Apmer Akely-akely governance model and processes.
The case study identifies some key tips for developing a localised governance model, including:
- Be pragmatic about participation commitments
- Ask the people who you want to be involved if there are any barriers to their participation
- Talk to different stakeholders when setting up your governance arrangements
- Customise your governance arrangements, there isn’t a one size fits all solution
To read the full case study, check out Exceptional Governance: Stories of Success from the 2018 Indigenous Governance Awards on the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute website.
About the Stories of Success publications
Since 2014 the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute has analysed the governance practices of organisations and projects who apply for the Indigenous Governance Awards. Each Awards round, applicants are evaluated by an expert Judging Panel on 5 criteria: Innovation; Effectiveness; Self-determination and leadership; Cultural relevance and legitimacy; Future planning, sustainability and resilience.
The analysis identifies successful, real-world strategies for each criterion, which are shared through the Stories of Success publications.
Governance is most successful when ‘localised’, that is, tailored to the specific context, priorities and culture. A range of ideas and practices are shared so that you may adopt and adapt the most relevant strategies for your project, organisation, community or nation’s needs.
The collection of Stories of Success publications are available via this link.
